Natural hydroxyapatite obtained from pufferfish teeth for potential dental application

Hydroxyapatite and associated calcium phosphate ceramic materials are commonly applied as implant resources because of their close resemblance in structure with natural bone. In the present study, the elemental composition and potential usage of pufferfish teeth were examined as natural bioceramic for dental applications. The teeth of pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus were removed from the fish, rinsed with deionized water, measured, and kept in the furnace at 105 degrees C. The dehydrated teeth were pulverized with the planetary ball. ICP-MS, TTX, XRD, and nanoindentation test analyzes were made on the obtained hydroxyapatite. In the ICP-MS analysis, the elemental composition of the teeth was 52% calcium, 39% phosphate, %2.5 Mn, %1.5 Mg, %1 Ti, %0.8 V, and %3.2 the others. Ca/P atomic ratio value was 1.32. The present study preliminary revealed that the use of pufferfish teeth can be a natural alternative source for biomedical and other industrial purposes since it has no economic value and is very abundant in the world marine waters. On the other hand, the required tests are mandatory to be accomplished before any human use.