Enhanced Biocompatibility of an Orthodontic Adhesive Modified with Hydroxyapatite Derived from Asian Moon Scallop (Amusium pleuronectes) shells

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from Asian moon scallop (Amusium pleuronectes) shells, characterize its physicochemical properties, and evaluate its biocompatibility when incorporated into an orthodontic adhesive.Materials and Methods: Calcium oxide was obtained by calcining Amusium pleuronectes shells and used as a precursor for hydroxyapatite synthesis via a wet chemical precipitation method. The resulting powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The synthesized hydroxyapatite was incorporated into an orthodontic adhesive at 2 wt% as the experimental group, whereas the unmodified adhesive served as the control. Biocompatibility with BHK-21 fibroblasts (n = 8) was evaluated using an MTT assay at 1, 3, and 5 days.Results: XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the formation of crystalline hydroxyapatite. The average crystallite size was approximately 433 nm. SEM revealed irregular submicron morphological features, whereas EDX demonstrated a Ca/P ratio approaching that of stoichiometric hydroxyapatite. Cell viability was significantly greater in the HAp-modified adhesive group than in the unmodified adhesive group at all evaluated time points.Conclusion: Hydroxyapatite synthesized from Amusium pleuronectes shells demonstrated physicochemical characteristics consistent with crystalline hydroxyapatite and improved the biocompatibility of the orthodontic adhesive when incorporated at 2 wt%. These findings indicate its potential as a bioactive additive for orthodontic adhesive systems. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to evaluate mechanical performance, ion release behavior, and in vivo biological responses.

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