Biomimetic Fabrication and Osteogenic Efficacy Evaluation of Tilapia-Derived Collagen-Based Artificial Bone Scaffolds

Abstract Inspired by the natural biomineralization processes observed in terrestrial vertebrates, this study independently designed an in vitro mineralization system to activate nucleation sites within tilapia fish collagen, facilitating the fabrication of biomimetic bone substitutes. Through lyophilization and molding techniques, a three-dimensional porous scaffold with a defined spatial architecture and adequate mechanical integrity was successfully constructed. Subsequently, the physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradation characteristics of the prepared fish collagen-based artificial bone (FC-AB) were evaluated and compared to relevant standards. Furthermore, a rat tibial critical-sized defect model was employed to assess the in vivo bone regeneration capacity. The results demonstrated that the FC-AB scaffold possesses an ideal porous microstructure, excellent biocompatibility, and controllable degradation characteristics. Notably, it significantly promoted the osteogenesis and functional restoration of the bone defect. In conclusion, this research confirms the feasibility of utilizing fish collagen as a precursor for in vitro mineralization, yielding artificial bone materials with superior structural mimicry, mechanical competence, and osteoinductive potential, thereby positioning it as a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.