Nanocomposites of Bio-Base Polyester Containing Natural Hydroxyapatite and Duck Eggshell Made by Electrospinning: Fabrication and Characterization

Novel polymer composites were fabricated from bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), fishbone-derived hydroxyapatite (HAp), and eggshell-derived Ca(OH) 2 (TDES) by electrospinning technology. Hydroxyapatite and Ca(OH) 2 were processed from fishbone and duck eggshell food residues. The HAp and TDES powders (5–30 nm) were combined with PHA or MPHA in an electrospinning machine using a biaxial feed method and manufactured into 50–150-nm-diameters nanofibers. To improve the dispersibility and interfacial adhesion between the polymer matrix, HAp, and TDES powders, PHA was grafted with maleic anhydride to form modified PHA (MPHA). Analysis of the resulting tensile properties and morphological characteristics demonstrated enhanced adhesion of HAp, TDES, and MPHA in MPHA/THAp (the MPHA, HAp, and TDES hybrid composite) nanofibers. The MPHA/THAp nanofibers showed better tensile strength and hydrophilicity, and a lower decomposition rate, compared with the PHA/HAp composite. Evaluating cell growth and cell-cycles of NIH/3T3 embryonic fibroblasts established that the PHA/HAp and MPHA/THAp nanofibers displayed good cytocompatibility, cell adhesion, and cell proliferation. These composite nanofibers showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus due to the eggshell-derived Ca(OH) 2 component. Based on the extensive data analysis, PHA/HAp and MPHA/THAp nanofibers have potential application to bone tissue engineering. Graphic Abstract