Hydroxyapatite extraction from fish scales of Tilapia.

Hydroxyapatite is the inorganic component of human bones. To be used for bone replacements, hydroxyapatite can be synthesized or extracted from natural components. In this work we present the hydroxyapatite extraction from fish scales of the same Orechromis family (Tilapia) but from two different species usually consumed in Mexico and in Spain. Our results indicate, for both species, that it is possible to obtain hydroxyapatite, and moreover, that this biomaterial is enriched with magnesium for the Mexican Oreochromis hunteri, and with aluminum for the Spanish Oreochromis niloticus.

Biomateriales para Regeneración de Tejido Óseo Extraídos de Desechos de Pescado / Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Regeneration Extracted from Fish Wastes

Resumen Los biomateriales para regeneración ósea comúnmente se basan en el diseño natural del hueso, el cual mezcla la dureza de un material cerámico como la hidroxiapatita con la flexibilidad de un polímero como el colágeno. Ambos materiales pueden extraerse de los desechos del pescado consumido en la dieta humana, tales como escamas, piel e incluso huesos. Esta extracción tiene la ventaja de aportar biomateriales naturales, de baja toxicidad y como añadido, que evitan la transmisión de enfermedades que se ha reportado para colágenos provenientes de animales mamíferos. En este trabajo se hace una revisión de bibliografía referente a la extracción de colágeno tipo I, precursores de hidroxiapatita y síntesis de compósitos de ambos, para proponer la recuperación de estos biomateriales como una alternativa amigable con el ambiente y útil para usos médicos.

Abstract Biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration are commonly based in the natural design of bone where the stiffness of a ceramic material as hydroxyapatite is combined with the flexibility of a polymer such as collagen. Both materials can be extracted from human consumed fish waste, such as scales, bones and skin. The recovery of these biomaterials from fish waste has the advantage of yielding natural materials of low toxicity, avoiding the possible disease transmission found for the collagen coming from mammalians. In this article, we review several reports about collagen type I and hydroxyapatite precursors extraction, and composite synthesis, from fish waste in order to propose these methods as a green alternative for biomaterials useful for medical purposes.