Ceramic Hydroxyapatite Derived from Fish Scales in Biomedical Applications: a Systematic Review

Abstract

The production of fish waste is increasing dramatically, as more than 70% of captured fish require processing before being sold. These enormous amounts of fish by-products are mostly wasted, generating an undesirable environmental impact and a loss of value-added products. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilizing fish scale waste as a low-cost source to produce natural nano-hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramic growth and sustainability. On 1 April 2023, an electronic search was performed across four major databases (ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Scopus, and PubMed). Among the 1824 articles identified, only 27 met this review’s inclusion criteria. These studies not only extracted HAp from fish scales but conducted in vitro or in vivo assessments. The in vitro studies demonstrated the non-cytotoxic nature of the fish-scale derived HAp and its superior cell viability compared to control or synthetic HAp. Furthermore, histopathological evaluations revealed favorable bioavailability and biological responses. These findings indicate that HAp obtained from natural sources offers an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for manufacturing these materials and is fully utilized for commercial purposes. Such materials are promising for biomedical applications, contributing positively to the economy, environment, and overall community well-being.