The effect of green mussel ( Perna viridis) shells' hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect

Background: Non-union fractures can be prevented with bone grafts, such as hydroxyapatite made from green mussel shells. Green mussel shells contain a high percentage of HA, making them a promising alternative for bone healing. This research aims to reveal the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material and to provide knowledge for further research.

Methods: This research was conducted for four months using a true experimental research method with a post-test-only control group design. This study used 36 New Zealand rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) which were divided into 9 groups: positive control, negative control, and intervention at weeks 2, 4 and 6 after the intervention. All groups were subjected to three general procedures: pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery. This study utilized histological evaluation and biochemical assessment, specifically measuring serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, to investigate the effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) from green mussel shells on bone healing in rabbits.

Results: The findings demonstrated that green mussel shell HA hashad efficacy in accelerating bone healing, better than HA bovine HA i.e. green mussel shell hydroxyapatite showed superior efficacy compared to bovine hydroxyapatite in accelerating and maximizing fracture healing, as compared to the 6-week negative control group and demonstrated a significant difference ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Green mussel hydroxyapatite is proven to be able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA, and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA.