DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF FISH BONE–DERIVED HYDROXYAPATITE BASED REMINERALIZING TOOTHPASTE

The main aim of the present work was to develop a remineralizing toothpaste using hydroxyapatite derived from tuna fish bone as the key active ingredient to promote enamel remineralization and improve oral health. Hydroxyapatite is the major inorganic component of tooth enamel and plays an important role in repairing enamel defects, reducing demineralization, and enhancing tooth strength. Fish bone-derived hydroxyapatite is a natural, biocompatible, and cost-effective alternative to synthetic hydroxyapatite and supports sustainable utilization of biological waste. Hydroxyapatite was prepared from tuna fish bone by cleaning, alkaline treatment with sodium hydroxide, drying, and calcination in a muffle furnace, followed by grinding and sieving to obtain fine powder. The prepared hydroxyapatite was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm its composition. The toothpaste was prepared by incorporating hydroxyapatite along with suitable excipients such as carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium lauryl sulphate, glycerine, xylitol, sodium benzoate, peppermint oil, and distilled water. The prepared toothpaste formulations were evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, pH, viscosity, homogeneity, spreadability, and antimicrobial activity. The results showed that all formulations exhibited acceptable organoleptic properties, neutral pH suitable for oral use, good viscosity, proper spreadability, and uniform consistency. To confirm the remineralization potential of the developed toothpaste, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was conducted on tooth samples. The SEM images demonstrated surface changes indicating the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals and partial restoration of the enamel surface, confirming the remineralization effect of the formulated toothpaste.