Hydroxyapatite-Polysaccharide Composites Synthesized from Maize Lime-Cooking Wastewater for Bone Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Bioceramics Engineering
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is crucial for bone tissue engineering but faces challenges in cost-effective synthesis.
• Nejayote, a maize nixtamalization wastewater, offers a potential low-cost source of calcium and polysaccharides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the synthesis of HAp-polysaccharide composites from nejayote.
• To compare HAp synthesis under controlled versus uncontrolled pH conditions.
• To assess the cytocompatibility and osteogenic potential of the synthesized composites.

Main Methods:

• Chemical precipitation of HAp from nejayote using ammonium phosphate.
• Synthesis under controlled and uncontrolled pH, followed by calcination at 550 °C.
• Characterization using XRD, FTIR, and monomeric composition analysis.
• Cell viability and proliferation assays using human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB 1.19).

Main Results:

• Controlled pH synthesis yielded higher recovery, better calcium removal, and smaller particle sizes.
• HAp formation was confirmed, with crystallinity increasing post-calcination.
• Uncalcined composites from uncontrolled pH significantly promoted osteoblast viability and proliferation (126% at 633 μg/mL).

Conclusions:

• Nejayote is a viable and sustainable source for HAp-polysaccharide composite synthesis.
• Uncalcined composites from uncontrolled pH exhibit superior osteogenic potential.
• These findings highlight a novel, low-cost route for creating advanced biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.