A pedagogical approach for the development and optimization of a novel mix of biowastes-derived hydroxyapatite using the Box-Behnken experimental design.

The current study details the creation of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) using a combination of catfish and bovine bones (C&B). This is done to design the optimum processing parameters and consolidate instructional strategies to develop HAp scaffolds for biomedical engineering. The HAp produced from the novel mix of the biogenic materials (C&B) was through calcination and supported with the sol-gel technique, sintering, and low-cold compaction pressure. The ideal preparation conditions were identified with the aid of the Box-Behnken statistical design in response surface methodology. To understand the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the formulation, analytical studies on the synthesized HAp were carried out. To establish a substantial relation between the physicomechanical properties of the produced HAp scaffolds, three parameters- sintering temperature, compaction loads, and holding times were used. In the evaluation, the sintering temperature was found to have the greatest impact on the material's physicomechanical properties, with compressive strength (13 MPa), porosity (49.45 %), and elastic modulus (2.216 GPa) being the most enhanced properties in that order. The physicomechanical characteristics of the HAp scaffolds were at their optimal at 900 °C, 1 h 18 min of holding time, and 311.73 Pa of compaction pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed that powders with a dominant HAp phase were produced at all runs, including the optimum run. Therefore, using a computationally effective methodology that is helpful for novelties in biomedical engineering education, this study demonstrates the optimal process for the synthesis of a novel matrix bone-derived HAp, showing the most significant relations liable for manufacturing medically suitable HAp scaffolds from the mixture of bovine and catfish bones.

Taguchi grey relational optimization of sol-gel derived hydroxyapatite from a novel mix of two natural biowastes for biomedical applications.

The comparative study of natural hydroxyapatite (NHAp) from bovine (B) and catfish (C) bones using different fabrication parameters has been extensively researched through traditional investigation. However, the quantitative effect optimization of a novel mix proportion of hydroxyapatite from these bones, and fabrication parameters have not been examined. Hence, this study presents the effect of the powder mixture, compaction pressure, and sintering temperature (as production parameters) on the experimental mechanical properties of naturally derived HAp. The bovine bone and catfish bone biowastes were used in mixed proportions to produce hydroxyapatite via the sol-gel synthesis protocol. The powders were calcined separately at 900 °C to convert the deproteinized biowaste. Next, the powders were combined chemically (sol-gel) in the appropriate ratios (i.e. 45 g of B: 15 g of C (B75/C25), 30 g of B: 30 g of C (B50/C50), and 15 g of B; 45 g of C (B25/C75)). Taguchi design supported by grey relational analysis was employed with an L9 orthogonal array. The Minitab 16 software was employed to analyze the Taguchi design. The result revealed an inconsistency in the powder mixture as the optimum state for individual mechanical properties, but the grey relational analysis (GRA) showed better mechanical properties with a powder mix of B50/C50, 500 Pa compaction pressure, and 900 °C sintering temperature. The obtained result further showed that the novel mix of these powders is a good and promising material for high-strength biomedical applications, having a contribution of 97.79% on hardness and 94.39% on compressive strength of HAp. The obtained experimental grey relational grade of 0.7958 is within the 95% confidence interval, according to confirmation analysis (CA). The optimum powder parameter was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its structure, size, and elemental makeup were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The sample had a higher degree of crystallinity and mean crystallite size of 80.42% and 27.3 nm, respectively. The SEM images showed big, gritty grains that are not tightly packed.

Experimental data on the characterization of hydroxyapatite produced from a novel mixture of biowastes.

The purpose of this data narrative is to report the morphological structures, functional groups, elemental composition, pH adaptability and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) biomaterials synthesized from a novel mixture of biowastes (bovine and catfish bones) by a simple sol-gel method assisted with sintering at 900 °C. The produced powders were homogenously mixed by the sol-gel approach at different weights (depicted by sample nomenclature) and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), immersion in phosphate buffer saline (PBS), and mechanical measurements (hardness and fracture toughness). The SEM micrographs revealed pore interconnections in all samples. The EDX analysis revealed that the as-sintered HAp samples had Ca/P weight ratios of 2.38, 2.51, 2.86, 2.89, and 3.10 for C100, BC 75/25, BC 50/50, BC 25/75, and B100 samples, respectively. The FT-IR spectra was typical of the bands associated with hydroxyapatite (i.e., those associated with the PO4 3- , CO3 2- groups and absorbed water). The prepared biomaterials showed pH adaptability and good mechanical strength.