Original article: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174002
The need for new materials to help with tissue grafting and healing wounds is growing because traditional options often don’t work well with the human body, can be expensive, and are not always sustainable. At the same time, salmon farming produces a lot of waste, which could be reused to make useful medical materials—especially for helping bones grow or heal during surgery.
In this study, we looked at how to turn salmon waste into a valuable bone-healing material. First, we cleaned the waste using a standard process to remove unwanted substances like proteins and fats. What’s left is a mineral-rich material.
We tested different methods—such as using strong bases (alkaline hydrolysis), heating (calcination), and other chemical treatments—to find the best way to make tiny, functional particles of a bone-like substance called hydroxyapatite.
After running detailed tests using tools like Raman spectroscopy and X-ray analysis, we found that a special combination of alkaline hydrolysis and heating gave us high-quality hydroxyapatite. It had the right chemical makeup, a strong crystal structure, and was very safe for the body.
The final material, made from salmon, showed excellent properties for bone repair and even performed as well or better than similar materials made from synthetic sources, cows, pigs, or humans. This makes it a strong option for future use in tissue engineering, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.