Doped hydroxyapatite bioceramic from food wastes for orthopedic applications

Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the most widespread bioceramic that is employed for biomedical applications, in particular in the orthopedic and odontoiatric fields, for the bone regeneration and replacement of hard tissues. HAp synthesis processes are very expensive and require specific chemical reagents and reactions. As a result, in recent years, more convenient and eco‐sustainable methods to synthesize HAp have been developed, starting from natural and food waste (such as eggshells and seashells). This approach also helps address the disposal challenges associated with these types of waste, whose decomposition negatively impacts the environment, and it can contribute to the spread of diseases affecting both humans and marine species. In addition, incorporating metal ions into the HAp structure offers several advantages, such as the enhancement of antibacterial properties, the improvement of cell proliferation, and the subsequent regeneration of bone tissue. In the present review, the importance of bio‐derived HAp and the methods to produce it from different species of food waste are summarized and the main studies about the incorporation of metal ions in HAp‐based materials for orthopedic applications are exhaustively discussed.