Hydroxyapatite from Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Scales as Bone Graft Material

Objective: This study aimed to produce an alternative bone graft material from the fish scales of Tilapia and compare it from the commercially available (Ingenios) bone graft material. Method: The scales were first washed in distilled water beforedeproteinized through external washing with 1N HCl solution for 24 hours at room temperature. Next, the scales were washed thoroughly with distilled water and treated with 1N NaOH solution for 24 hours at room temperature. They were then dried at 60°C in an oven for nine hours. The treated fish scales were calcined at 700°C for four hours and converted into powder form (Hap) in an incinerator. The HAp powder was sterilized at 120°C for forty minutes in an autoclave. Lower right first molar from each of the 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were extracted, where six rats received the Tilapia fish scale-extracted hydroxyapatite bone graft material (experimental group), another six rats with commercially available bone graft material (positive control group), and the last six rats without any bone graft material (negative control group). Euthanasia of 3 rats per group was conducted on the 3rd week and 5th week after tooth extraction. Soft tissues were removed and their lower jaw, specifically the extraction sites were processed for histologic examinations. X-ray Diffraction Analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) were done. Result: Spectroscopy revealed the presence of HAp in both samples. Both the positive control group and experimental group exhibited bone formation and healing on the 3rd and 5th week. Conclusion: There is no significant difference results between the synthesized hydroxyapatite from Tilapia fish scales from the commercially available hydroxyapatite bone graft material. The synthesized HAp from Tilapia fish scales was proven biocompatible to be bone graft material. This discovers another use of the Tilapia fish, the second most important fish cultured in the Philippines.