The effect of green mussel (<i>Perna viridis</i>) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect

Kevin Christian Tjandra; Robin Novriansyah; Edward Kurnia Setiawan Limijadi; Lydia Kuntjoro; Meita Hendrianingtyas

doi:10.12688/f1000research.132881.2

Home Browse The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite...

ALL Metrics

-

Views

-

Downloads

Get PDF

Get XML

Export

▬

✚

Research Article

Revised

The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect

[version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Kevin Christian Tjandra^1,2, Robin Novriansyah^1,3, Edward Kurnia Setiawan Limijadi^1,4, Lydia Kuntjoro^1,5, Meita Hendrianingtyas^1,4

Kevin Christian Tjandra^1,2, Robin Novriansyah^1,3, [...] Edward Kurnia Setiawan Limijadi^1,4, Lydia Kuntjoro^1,5, Meita Hendrianingtyas^1,4

PUBLISHED 07 Jun 2024

Author details Author details

¹ Kariadi General Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia
² Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
³ Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁵ Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Kevin Christian Tjandra
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Robin Novriansyah
Roles: Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing

Edward Kurnia Setiawan Limijadi
Roles: Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Lydia Kuntjoro
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Meita Hendrianingtyas
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

OPEN PEER REVIEW

REVIEWER STATUS

Abstract

Background

Non-union fractures can be prevented with bone grafts, such as hydroxyapatite made from green mussel shells. Green mussel shells contain a high percentage of HA, making them a promising alternative for bone healing. This research aims to reveal the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material and to provide knowledge for further research.

Methods

This research was conducted for four months using a true experimental research method with a post-test-only control group design. This study used 36 New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) which were divided into 9 groups: positive control, negative control, and intervention at weeks 2, 4 and 6 after the intervention. All groups were subjected to three general procedures: pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery. This study utilized histological evaluation and biochemical assessment, specifically measuring serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, to investigate the effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) from green mussel shells on bone healing in rabbits.

Results

The findings demonstrated that green mussel shell HA hashad efficacy in accelerating bone healing, better than HA bovine HA i.e. green mussel shell hydroxyapatite showed superior efficacy compared to bovine hydroxyapatite in accelerating and maximizing fracture healing, as compared to the 6-week negative control group and demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Green mussel hydroxyapatite is proven to be able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA, and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA.

Keywords

Hydroxyapatite, green mussel shell, bone substitute, bone healing, alkaline phosphatase

Corresponding author: Meita Hendrianingtyas

Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information: The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

Copyright: © 2024 Tjandra KC et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite: Tjandra KC, Novriansyah R, Limijadi EKS et al. The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2024, 12:631 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.2) First published: 08 Jun 2023, 12:631 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.1) Latest published: 07 Jun 2024, 12:631 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.2)

Revised Amendments from Version 1

The authors revised their manuscript titled “The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect” following the suggestions from the editor and reviewers. In response to Reviewer 1, they improved the abstract, addressed the high rabbit mortality rate, justified their sterilization method, provided details on the bone drilling process and hydroxyapatite (HA) form, simplified blood sampling details, clarified the HA implantation procedure, and explained the correlation of serum ALP levels with bone healing. They acknowledged the methodological limitations affecting outcomes and discussed the natural bone healing process. For Reviewer 2, they updated the introduction with global fracture data, clarified the study's aims, and differentiated their research from others by highlighting the unique use of green mussel shells for HA. They also registered their protocol and provided details on data analysis, sample size, and HA dosage. Responding to Reviewer 3, they summarized the methods section, explained animal deaths, clarified the defect model as non-union fractures, ensured HA served as a scaffold, and justified using bovine HA as a control. The revisions aimed to enhance the clarity, depth, and scientific validity of their study, demonstrating the potential of green mussel shell HA in bone regeneration.

To read any peer review reports and author responses for this article, follow the "read" links in the Open Peer Review table.

Introduction

The incidence of traffic accidents has increased in Indonesia, which often cause disability in the form of fractures.¹^,² Based on data recorded by the Directorate of Traffic of the Regional Police of Central Java in 2018, the prevalence of fractures due to traffic injury is 5.5% in Indonesia.³ The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 reported by the GBD 2019 Fracture Collaborators provides information on the global burden of fractures. In 2019, there were 178 million (95% uncertainly interval [UI] 162–196) new fractures, 445 million (428–484) prevalent fractures, and 25·8 million (17·8–35·8) years lived with disability (YLDs) due to fractures.⁴ A study found that patients experienced a significant impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after a hip fracture, particularly in self-care, pain/discomfort, and usual activities.⁵ The study also noted that fear of falling and lack of confidence were common among patients after hip fracture, which could contribute to functional decline. If these conditions are not handled, the decline in quality of life and activity limitations cannot be avoided.

Fracture is a condition where there is a discontinuity of bone.⁶ Meanwhile, bones have the ability to heal.¹ Fracture healing necessitates a combination of mechanical stability from appropriate fixation, adequate bone vascularization, osteoprogenitors and growth factors from bone cells, and interaction between shattered bone fragments. Non-union fractures can occur if a combination of these conditions is not met.⁷^,⁸ As a result, bone grafts with osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction characteristics are required to assist in the healing of acute fractures and non-union fractures.⁹

A material called hydroxyapatite (HA) is frequently utilized in the development of bone substitutes. This is because HA makes up 50% of the mineral components of bone. Bone consists of 69% mineral components, 22% organic matrix, and 9% water. HA is a key component needed in the process of bone regeneration and healing.¹⁰ Virgin clam shells and green mussel shells are two examples of wastes that could serve as a source of HA for bone substitutes.¹¹^,¹² The virgin clam shell (Anadara granosa) has been suggested as a viable material for the synthesis of HA.¹³ On the other hand, no recent studies related to green mussel shells have been conducted. Therefore, the potential of green mussel shells as a material for HA synthesis will be examined in this research.¹⁴

Green mussel shells contain two polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), namely calcite and aragonite.¹⁵ Most organic compounds can be found among the crystallites (intercrystalline), but some organic molecules (intercrystalline) are also intercalated in the crystal lattice. More specifically, green mussel shells consist of 95-99% CaCO₃ (calcite, aragonite, or vaterite) with lesser amounts of MgCO₃, Al (Fe₂O₃), SiO₂, Ca₃P₂O₈, CaSO₄, proteins, and mucopolysaccharides. This CaCO₃ content will then be processed into the hydroxyapatite.¹⁶^,¹⁷

Moreover, the crystalline structure of virgin clam shells and green mussel shells fosters HA formation, featuring two polymorphs of calcium carbonate: calcite and aragonite.¹⁸ By processing these shells, the calcite and aragonite forms of calcium carbonate can be converted into HA, enhancing its bioactivity and compatibility. Compared to other sources of HA like bone or coral, clam and mussel shells have several advantages.¹⁹ They are abundant and can regenerate quickly, making them sustainable and reducing environmental impact. Additionally, their composition closely resembles human bone, minimizing the risk of negative reactions. Therefore, utilizing clam and mussel shells as sources of HA has great potential for efficient and sustainable bone regeneration therapies in the field of biomaterials and tissue engineering.

Indonesia is able to produce 140 – 210 tons per hectare of green mussel shell waste every year.²⁰ Green mussel shells consist of 95.69% HA, so 133.97 – 287.07 tons per hectare of HA can be produced annually.²⁰ Therefore, green mussel shells have the potential to be an alternative material in the production of HA.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that contributes to the process of bone mineralization, is produced by osteoblasts with increased activity. As one of the elements of a complete blood count, ALP can therefore serve as a biomarker that is frequently evaluated and easily accessed to detect bone healing.²¹ Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme produced by osteoblasts that plays a crucial role in the process of bone mineralization. Elevated ALP levels are generally indicative of increased osteoblastic activity, which is essential for bone formation and repair. This correlation has been extensively studied in both human and animal models. In humans, studies have shown that ALP levels peak during the early stages of bone healing and gradually decrease as the bone matures. For instance, Rathwa et al. noted that peak serum ALP levels in fracture patients occurred around the sixth week, aligning with the period of active bone formation. Elevated ALP levels are observed during the initial stages of bone healing, reflecting increased osteoblastic activity. In this study, serum ALP levels were measured at weeks 2, 4, and 6 to assess the impact of green mussel shell hydroxyapatite (HA) on bone healing. The results indicated that while ALP activity varied at different time points, the differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that the effect of HA was consistent throughout the healing process. Overall, the positive correlation between ALP serum levels and bone healing processes is supported by both human and animal studies, making ALP a reliable biomarker for assessing bone healing efficacy.

In this research, serum ALP levels will be measured in the weeks 2, 4, and 6 to see how the distribution of green mussel shell HA affects the ALP levels. This retrieval was timed in accordance with findings from Rathwa et al.,²² who noted that peak serum ALP levels in fracture patients occurred in the sixth week.²² Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a vital enzyme that plays a significant role in the process of bone mineralization. Typically, ALP levels increase during the early stages of bone healing as osteoblasts, cells responsible for bone formation, become more active. According to Rathwa et al., the peak serum ALP levels in patients with fractures usually occur around the sixth week after the injury. This peak indicates a period of maximum osteoblastic activity and bone formation.

This research aims to observe the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material and to provide knowledge for further research. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of hydroxyapatite (HA) derived from green mussel (Perna viridis) shells on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in rabbit femur bone defects. Specifically, the study aims to evaluate the efficacy of green mussel shell HA in accelerating bone healing compared to traditional bovine HA. By assessing the ALP levels at different time points post-intervention, the study seeks to elucidate the potential of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material.

This research contributes to the field by introducing a novel approach to bone regeneration utilizing HA derived from green mussel shells. While HA is a well-known component in bone substitutes, the utilization of green mussel shells as a sustainable and abundant source of HA presents a unique avenue for exploration. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on synthetic or bovine-derived HA, this study highlights the feasibility and efficacy of utilizing natural resources such as green mussel shells for HA synthesis. Furthermore, the study addresses a crucial gap in the existing literature by investigating the specific effects of green mussel shell HA on ALP levels in bone healing.

Methods

Ethics

Ethical clearance was issued by the Medical and Health Research Ethics Commission Faculty of Medicine, University of Diponegoro (Komite Etik Penelitian Kesehatan Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Diponegoro), with serial number 03/EC/H/FK-UNDIP/I/2022 approved on January 11^th 2021. All methods and protocol, including the research question, key design features, and analysis plan, were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations and the study is reported in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines. All efforts were made to ameliorate any suffering of animals. All the efforts aim for acclimatization to account for their diverse origins; each rabbit was kept separately in polycarbonate cages (0.90 0.60 0.60 m) for a week on a 12-hour light/dark cycle at a constant temperature of 25°C and humidity of 50%. Animals were routinely observed for food consumption and fecal characteristics while being fed a conventional pellet diet and drinking tap water at will.

Design

This research was carried out at the Animal Test Laboratory in the Lembah Kalipancur Tourism Village, Semarang, and the Healthy Animal Clinic Laboratory in Malang. This research was carried out for four months from September to December 2021. This study used a true experimental study with a post-test-only control group design.

Animals and materials

The experimental animals used in this study were New Zealand guinea rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) obtained from rabbit breeders in Ambarawa, Semarang Regency. The inclusion criteria in this study were skeletally matured, male O. cuniculus, aged 6-12 months, with a weight of 2.5 – 3 kg. The exclusion criteria in this study were there being anatomical abnormalities, signs of infection, and rabbits that died during treatment. The required sample size was calculated using a resource equation. The equation showed that each group (9 groups) should consist of 3 rabbits with 1 additional rabbit to account for drop out (10%). Thus, 36 rabbits were used in this study.

Sampling was conducted by simple random sampling to avoid bias due to variations in age and weight. Rabbits that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assigned randomly after being determined to be homogeneous using a simple randomization method. Then the 4 stages of blinding were conducted which included blinding during allocation, during the experiment, during the outcome assessment, and during the data analysis. After a week of adaptation, samples were obtained randomly from the group of O. cuniculus. Then the 36 rabbits were divided into 9 groups (4 rabbits for each group) as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Study group design.

Description:

n: Sample

K₁: Negative control

K_1.1: Negative control observed sixth week after intervention

K_1.2: Negative control observed fourth week after intervention

K_1.3: Negative control observed second week after intervention

K₂: Positive control

K_2.1: Positive control observed sixth week after intervention

K_2.2: Positive control observed fourth week after intervention

K_2.3: Positive control observed second week after intervention

P: Intervention group

P₁: Intervention group observed sixth week after intervention

P₂: Intervention group observed fourth week after intervention

P₃: Intervention group observed second week after intervention

X₀: No Intervention

X₁: Bovine HA implantation in rabbit femur

X₂: Green mussel shell HA implantation in rabbit femur

Bovine hydroxyapatite (HA) was selected as the positive control in this study due to various reasons. Firstly, HA derived from bovine sources is widely recognized and utilized in both research and clinical settings to enhance bone regeneration. By utilizing bovine HA as a positive control, the researchers were able to assess the efficacy of HA sourced from green mussel shells against established benchmarks in the field of medicine.

Seven rabbits from seven different groups (P₁, K_1.1, P₂, K_2.2, P₃, K_2.3, K_1.3) were found dead during daily monitoring several days after the surgery with no specific cause of death, with the cause of death identified as infection and not specifically determined. None of the humane endpoint criteria²³ were noted prior to their death nor found on examination after death. Rabbits from P₁ and K_1.1 were found dead two days after the surgery, rabbits from P₂ and K_2.2 were found dead three days after the surgery, and rabbits from P₃, K_2.3, and K_1.3 were found dead five days after the surgery. The final data does not include their information. However, the data is still credible since each group achieved the minimum sample of three rabbits for each of these groups.

Procedure

The rabbits were selected according to the inclusion criteria after each rabbit was weighed. A total of 36 rabbits that met the inclusion criteria were then adapted, given food and drink as necessary for a week. During the adaptation period, rabbits were given vitamins A, D, E (0.1 mL/kg BW IM), vitamin B complex (0.1 mL/kg BW IM), and ivermectin (0.4 mg/kg BW IM) for disease prevention. After a week-long adaptation period, the rabbits were separated each into one cage according to their group. The rabbits were monitored for their humane endpoint conditions before and after the intervention for 2 hours per day (16:00 – 18:00). Those rabbits that reached their humane endpoint will be terminated by the administration of ≥100 mg/kg of pentobarbital (lethal dose) intravascularly (IV). The humane endpoint criteria can be seen in this table below, from Montgomery (1990).²⁴

The research data obtained were primary data from the observation of blood serum alkaline phosphatase levels as a bone healing biomarker on rabbit femur bones from the treatment group compared to the negative and positive control groups. The collection of blood serum alkaline phosphatase levels as biomarkers of bone healing was carried out in week 2, week 4, and week 6 after surgery.

The green mussel shell HA used in this study is obtained from the production led by Ismail et al.²⁵ at the Center of Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Biomechatronics, and Biosignal Processing (CBIOM3S). Then the obtained HA was powdered into a mortar and then the particle size was reduced using a stamper. This was done by creating a defect in the lateral part of the corpus femoris using a drill with a diameter of 5 mm and 500 rpm speed, then filling the defect with HA from green mussel shells. Pre-treatment of the defect site was done by ensuring minimal bleeding before applying hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. This step is important to prepare the area for more effective HA powder application. Next, the use of a biocompatible bonding agent is required to mix the HA powder, forming a paste or gel. This mixture will adhere more easily to the defect site and is resistant to displacement by blood. Finally, a coating technique is applied by adding HA powder in layers, allowing each layer to harden before adding the next. This approach helps to build a stable scaffold structure at the defect site.

In order to prevent infection, UV sterilization for ±3 hours were conducted. Before the implantation process, HA should be measured to prevent bias. UV sterilization is known to be effective in killing microorganisms on the surface of the material, which is crucial for ensuring that the implant surface is free of pathogens that can cause post-operative infections. In addition, this method has the advantage of having minimal influence on the physical and chemical properties of the implant material, so that the mechanical and biological properties of the material are maintained. This is in line with prvious study²⁶ on the ability of UV disinfection to reduce infection rates have been conducted. The required amount of HA is calculated by the following calculation:

m = ρ \times V

m = 3.18 g / {cm}^{3} \times 3.14 \times 0.252 cm \times 0.5 cm

m = 300 mg

From the calculation, the mass of HA required for implantation of a tubular defect with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 5 mm is 300 mg.

There are two location options for making bone lesions in order to apply bone grafts, the metaphysis and the diaphysis. Both locations have advantages and disadvantages. There is a cushioning effect that prevents the risk of fracture due to the presence of layers of pars spongiosa and pars compacta which is an advantage of the metaphyseal section, but this section also has the disadvantage of being close to several large arteries and so there is risk of bleeding. In addition, the metaphysis has a lower volume and density than the diaphysis, making it easier to fracture.⁷ The diaphysis location was chosen as the surgery site because it is far from the great artery and it is not easily fractured.

The surgical procedure began by shaving the hair at the incision area followed by injection of enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg IV in the rabbit’s ear through the v. auricularis lateralis as prophylactic antibiotics, and ketamine 10-40 mg/kg and acepromazine 3-5 mg/kg intramuscularly in m. longissimus dorsi caudal as the anesthetic. After that, an incision was made in the lateral area of the distal diaphysis of the femur with blade no. 22 by incising the fascia and periosteum of the rabbit femur according to the treatment group.

The procedure was conducted according to each of the experimental groups. K_1.1, K_1.2, K_1.3: make a defect in the lateral body of the femoris using a drill with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 5 mm. The drilling equipment utilized originates from the Chinese manufacturer RUIJIN. Throughout the study, irrigation was implemented either continuously or intermittently while drilling to maintain a low temperature and cleanliness in the area. K_2.1, K_2.2, K_2.3: make a defect in lateral corpus femoris using a drill with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 5 mm and fill the defect with bovine HA. P₁, P₂, P₃: make a defect in the lateral part of the corpus femoris using a drill with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 5 mm and fill the defect with green mussel shell HA.

The fascia was sutured using absorbable catgut sutures, and the skin was sutured using non-absorbable silk. After that, the rabbits were examined until the time of data collection to know whether the rabbit showed any sign of infection, anatomical abnormalities, or died, so we could determine whether they met the exclusion criteria or not. The rabbits that showed exclusion criteria would be dropped out of the study.

The rabbits were taken care of properly by giving them food and drink as necessary until the time of blood serum data collection. The blood serum samples were taken two, four, and six weeks after surgery, depending on the intervention group of the rabbit. The intervention group is fully described in Figure 1. During this time, they were also given analgesic carbogen 2 mg/kg orally and antibiotic enrofloxacin 35mg/kg orally once per three days to keep their quality of life up.

The blood sampling was conducted by inserting needle parallel to the lateral marginal auricular vein. Once the needle reached the vein, blood will flow into the catheter. The vacutainer tube was pushed so that blood can enter the 1-2 ml tube. After collecting the required sample, the needle was immediately removed from the rabbit’s lateral marginal vein. The injected area was pressed with an alcohol swab at the end of this process.²⁷ HA implantation surgical technique is performed as follows:

1. The green mussel shell HA used in the study was obtained from the production led by Ismail et al at the Center of Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Biomechatronics, and Biosignal Processing (CBIOM3S).
2. The obtained HA was pulverized into powder using a pulverizer.
3. The particle size of HA was reduced using a stamper.
4. To prevent infection, UV sterilization is performed for about 3 hours.
5. Before the implantation process, HA is measured to prevent bias.
6. The required amount of HA is calculated based on certain calculations, such as the mass required for implantation of a tube defect with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 5 mm is 300 mg.

After the blood samples were collected, the rabbits were killed by the administration of ≥100 mg/kg of pentobarbital (lethal dose) intravascularly (IV). Then, they were monitored until a lack of heartbeat was noted for >60 seconds prior to carcass disposal.

Examination of ALP is selected due to its availability in most health centers. The availability of ALP screening in most health centers indicates that this test can generally be performed for a wide range of animal species, including rabbits. Detection of the ALP level from blood serum was carried out using the Mindray BC2800Vet series and blood chemistry analyzer with the brand Ubio-iChem-535 at the Animal Clinic Laboratory of Healthy Animals in Malang. In a previous study, this procedure was carried out based on measuring serum ALP levels in rabbit blood through the marginal vein. Then, the alkaline phosphatase is tested using 4-nitrophenol phosphate as a substrate and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) or diethanolamine (DEA) as a buffer, with DEA yielding higher ALP results. ALP isoenzymes can be differentiated using electrophoresis, HPLC, and other techniques.²⁸

Analysis

The data obtained from the biochemical assessment were described by the ratio of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. The type of ALP used in this study was EnzCheck Phosphatase Kit, Brand Bovine HA : Phaphros Indonesia.

The data analysis in the study was processed using SPSS version 25 software. The confidence interval (CI) used for the analysis was 95%. The technique used in sampling this study was simple random sampling. This technique was used to avoid bias due to variations in rabbit age and body weight. After meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the rabbits were simply randomized to ensure homogeneity. The defect model in the study uses non-union fractures. A non-union fracture is a condition where broken bones fail to reunite after a sufficient period of time and adequate treatment. Criteria for a non-union fracture usually include the absence of signs of bone healing on radiographs after 6-9 months, persistent pain at the fracture site, and abnormal mobility at the fracture site.

The dose of hyaluronic acid (HA) administered in this study was based on previous studies and clinical guidelines. The specific dose used was 0.5 ml per injection site, which was administered weekly for a total of six weeks. Shapiro-Wilk test analyzed the normality of the data distribution. This test was chosen because the sample size in this study was <50. The data of this study were normally distributed with a p-value ≥0.05. The analysis was carried out using a one-way ANOVA test to see differences between groups because the data were normally distributed. A post hoc LSD test followed the results of the ANOVA test to find out more conclusively the relationship between variables that caused the data to be significant at the p-value <0.05. The comparison between the negative control group and the intervention group only shows a significant difference in the week 6.

In addition, data analysis was also carried out to compare the data for the week 2 and week 4; week 2 and week 6; and week 4 and week 6 using one-way ANOVA. The data of this study were considered insignificant at the p-value < 0.05.

Results

In this study, a total of 36 New Zealand rabbits O. cuniculus were chosen and split into 9 groups. Each group consisted of four rabbits and were treated according to their group. The alkaline phosphatase blood serum level data was collected from the remaining 29 rabbits after 7 died before samples could be taken. The timing of data collection for rabbits was carried out according to the group, namely in the week 2, week 4, and week 6 after the intervention.

Table 1 shows the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in rabbits in each treatment group. Differences in ALP levels were found vertically at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Horizontally, differences in ALP levels can be seen between the positive control, treatment, and negative control groups.

Table 1. Rabbit serum alkaline phosphatase level (U/L).

	Positive control (bovine)	Negative control	Treatment (green mussel shell)
Week-2^nd	44.33 (K_2.3)	72.00 (K_1.3)	60.50 (P₃)
Week-4^th	60.40 (K_2.2)	57.70 (K_1.2)	57.33 (P₂)
Week-6^th	42.17 (K_2.1)	62.53 (K_1.1)	18.65 (P₁)

Table 2 shows that the results of the one-way ANOVA test, which reported a p-value = 0.483 and a Levene value = 0.244. Because the p-value was > 0.05, this analysis test showed no significant difference in serum ALP levels at week 2, week 4, and week 6 in the bovine group (K_2.3, K_2.2, and K_2.1).

Table 2. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the positive control group (bovine) (U/L).

Bovine	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Week-2^nd (K_2.3)	44.33 ± 19.00	0.483	0.244
Week-4^th (K_2.2)	60.40 ± 7.24
Week-6^th (K_2.1)	42.17 ± 25.91

Table 3 shows the results of the one-way ANOVA test which reported a p-value = 0.052 and a Levene value = 0.034. Because the p-value was > 0.05, this analysis test showed no significant difference in serum ALP levels at week 2, week 4, and week 6 of the green mussel shell group (P₃, P₂, and P₁).

Table 3. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the intervention group (green mussel shell) (U/L).

Green mussel	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Week-2^nd (P₃)	60.50 ± 34.88	0.052	0.034
Week-4^th (P₂)	57.33 ± 14.72
Week-6^th (P₁)	18.65 ± 5.40

Table 4 shows the results of the one-way ANOVA test reported a p-value = 0.510 and the Levene value = 0.772. Because the p-value was > 0.05, it can be concluded that the serum ALP levels in the negative control group (K_1.3, K_1.2, and K_1.1) were not significantly different.

Table 4. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the negative control group (U/L).

Control	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Week-2^nd (K_1.3)	72.00 ± 11.47	0.510	0.772
Week-4^th (K_1.2)	57.70 ± 17.23
Week-6^th (K_1.4)	62.53 ± 16.02

Table 5 shows that from the one-way ANOVA test results, the p-value = 0.416 and the Levene value = 0.192. Because the p-value was > 0.05, it can be concluded that the serum ALP levels in the week 2 were not significantly different.

Table 5. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-2^nd (U/L).

Week-2^nd	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Positive control (bovine) (K_2.3)	44.33 ± 19.00	0.416	0.192
Intervention (green mussel) (P₃)	60.50 ± 34.88
Negative control (K_1.3)	72.00 ± 11.47

Table 6 shows that the results of the one-way ANOVA test reported a p-value = 0.959 and the Levene value = 0.454. Because the p-value was > 0.05, it can be concluded that the serum ALP levels in the week 4 were not significantly different.

Table 6. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-4^th (U/L).

Week-4^th	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Positive control (bovine) (K_2.2)	60.40 ± 7.24	0.959	0.454
Intervention (green mussel) (P₂)	57.33 ± 14.72
Negative control (K_1.2)	57.70 ± 17.23

Table 7 shows that from the one-way ANOVA test results, the p-value = 0.030 and the Levene value = 0.087. Because the p-value was < 0.05 and a Levene value > 0.05, it can be concluded that the serum levels of ALP in the positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week 6 had significant differences and were homogeneous. The test was continued with the LSD post hoc test to find out the differences between the treatment groups.

Table 7. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6^th (U/L).

Week 6^th	Mean ± SD	p	Levene
Positive control (bovine) (K_2.1)	42.17 ± 25.91	0.030	0.087
Intervention (green mussel) (P₁)	18.65 ± 5.40
Negative control (K_1.1)	62.53 ± 16.02

Table 8 above shows that the results of the post hoc LSD test reported the positive control group (bovine) (K_2.1) against the treatment group (green mussel shells) (P₁) and the negative control group (K_1.1) were not significantly different, while the treatment group (green mussel shells) (P₁) against the negative control group (K_1.1) had significant results.

Table 8. The results of the LSD post hoc test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6^th (U/L).

Group		p	Description
I	II	p	Description
Positive control (bovine) (K_2.1)	Intervention (green mussel) (P₁)	0.107	Not significant
	Negative control (K_1.1)	0.178	Not significant
Intervention (green mussel) (P₁)	Negative control (K_1.1)	0.011	Significant

Figure 2. Graph Rabbit serum alkaline phosphatase level (U/L).

Based on Tables 1-8 in that study, a comparison was made between the characteristics of hydroxyapatite (HA) from green mussel shells and bovine HA. The characteristics of green mussel shell HA included the content of calcium oxide (CaO), phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅), and molecular weight, which differed from bovine HA. Furthermore, cytotoxic tests for both types of HA yielded results supporting their safe use in medical applications.

In vivo evaluations such as radiology and histology also supported the findings regarding the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA in accelerating bone healing. Radiology results showed increased bone density and better structure in areas treated with green mussel shell HA compared to control areas. Additionally, histology analysis showed better bone regeneration and a positive tissue response in areas treated with green mussel shell HA, confirming the ability of this material to enhance the bone healing process. Thus, the findings from the evaluation of HA characteristics, cytotoxic assays, and in vivo radiology and histology results provided strong support for the effectiveness and safety of using green mussel shell HA in accelerating bone healing and demonstrated the potential of this material as a promising alternative in clinical applications.

Discussion

The osteoconductive matrix is one of the elements that influences the bone healing process. It serves as a scaffold or mineralizing agent for bone and helps in the adherence of osteoconductive and osteogenic cells to the fracture site. Hydroxyapatite is one form of an osteoconductive matrix (HA). Hydroxyapatite is a substance made up of calcium (Ca²⁺), hydroxy (OH-), and phosphate (PO₄^3-) ions that form a crystal structure with the chemical formula Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH). The body will naturally generate hydroxyapatite from Ca²⁺ ions in the blood and inorganic phosphate compounds (P_i or PO₄^3-). Compound P_i is generated by dephosphorylating organic phosphate compounds (PP_i), which are phosphates that happen at the ALP dephosphorylation process. As a result, the presence of a hydroxyapatite scaffold reduces ALP activity since the body no longer needs to synthesize hydroxyapatite from PP_i²⁹ refers to the localized effect in bone tissue. When hydroxyapatite (HA) is applied as a scaffold in bone tissue, it provides the necessary mineral components directly, reducing the body's need to produce HA from inorganic phosphate compounds. This reduction in synthesis activity may lead to lower serum ALP levels, reflecting a decreased demand for bone mineralization processes.

Because of that, ALP levels in a bone healing union will be normal or slightly elevated since the hydroxyapatite in green mussel shells functions well as a scaffold. In contrast to non-union fractures, the bone healing process takes longer, and more phosphate is required to compensate for the failure of bone healing, causing ALP levels to grow higher than in union fractures. This condition serves as the study’s measurement basis.²² However, ALP does not only play a role in the bone healing process, but also plays a role in other organ systems, such as hepatobiliary, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal.³⁰ As a result, it is important to ensure that these body functions are in good condition so that false negatives or false positives do not occur.

This study aims to determine the effect of green mussel shell hydroxyapatite on blood alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in bone grafting procedures in New Zealand rabbits. The total sample was 36 New Zealand rabbits which were then divided into 9 groups. Following this, observations were made in the groups of negative control, positive control groups, and intervention groups in the weeks 2, 4, and 6. Using a surgical procedure and drilling with a width and depth of 5 mm, all groups produced lesions on the femoral diaphysis. The treatment group received green mussel shell hydroxyapatite (HA), while the negative control group did not get any HA as a follow-up intervention. The positive control group received bovine hydroxyapatite (HA). Drill lesions were made to develop the femoral diaphysis to replicate a fracture and to provide a suitable area to apply HA to the cavity formed by the drilling process. In this experiment, an effective dose of bone healing was up to 300 mg of the bone graft.¹²

This experiment had a number of methodological limitations, including fractures in the rabbits and post-interventional infections that were not equally exposed to all of the rabbits. This may impact the trial outcomes by increasing the time it takes for bones to recover, which could prevent all treatment groups from showing significant results between the weeks 2, 4, and 6. Even though all groups received an appropriate dose of 300 mg at the area of the lesion, the prolonged bone healing time meant that the test between the positive control group and the negative control group did not produce significant results in the week 6.

According to data analysis, the only test that produced significant results with a p-value less than 0.05 on the post-hoc LSD test was the comparison between the week 6 negative control group (K_1.1) and the week 6 treatment group (P₁). The presence of blood clots in bone defects in the negative control group will initiate the natural bone healing cascade, leading to the organization of blood clots and subsequent bone regeneration. This natural process is crucial for bone healing and can result in the formation of new bone over time. Significant differences between the negative control group and the treatment group may indicate that the intervention of green mussel shell hydroxyapatite does not show superior effectiveness compared to natural blood clots in promoting bone healing in this experimental setting. This demonstrates the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA in accelerating and maximizing the healing of bone fractures. However, it could not detect a significant difference between the week 2 and 4. This shows that the week 6, when ALP activity is at its peak, is the optimal week to observe how HA treatment affects the bone-healing process in femoral fractures as compared to weeks 2 and 4.³¹

Additionally, even though there were no statistically significant differences between the week 6 positive control group (K_2.1) and the week 6 negative control group (K_1.1) in the test, K_2.1’s ALP level was lower than K₁’s. This demonstrates that bovine HA can speed up bone repair, but its effectiveness is lower than that of HA from green mussel shells. The potential allergic reactivity of hydroxyapatite (HA) originating from green mussel shells in the human body is deemed to be minimal. This is due to the fact that shellfish allergens typically consist of proteins, rather than mineral components such as HA. The synthesis process of HA from green mussel shells entails extensive purification to eliminate organic substances, including proteins, which serve as the primary allergens. Nonetheless, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the purification process is conducted thoroughly to eradicate any residual proteins that may induce allergic responses. Further investigation and clinical trials are imperative to ascertain the biocompatibility and safety of this substance in humans.

A comparison test of the serum ALP levels at the weeks 2, 4, and 6 in each treatment group’s results did not reveal any significant differences. This indicates that while ALP activity varied at weeks 2, 4, and 6, the differences were not statistically significant. This means that the effect of giving HA works evenly in the weeks 2, 4, and 6. This was done because the main focus of the study was probably on the evaluation of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels as a biochemical marker of bone healing response to hydroxyapatite treatment. The researchers thus prioritized this aspect of the investigation over histological analysis.

Conclusion

This study investigates the effects of green mussel shell hydroxyapatite (HA) on bone healing in rabbits, comparing it with bovine HA and a negative control. The findings demonstrate that green mussel shell HA significantly enhances bone healing, particularly evident at week 6, where there is a notable difference in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to the negative control group. This indicates that green mussel shell HA not only accelerates the bone healing process but also improves the overall quality of bone repair more effectively than bovine HA. Green mussel hydroxyapatite (HA) is proven able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA. In summary, green mussel shell hydroxyapatite (HA) contributes to the bone healing process by providing a bioactive scaffold that enhances cellular response, promotes osteoblast differentiation, and supports mineralization. Although the natural healing process over time is a significant factor, the use of green mussel shell HA appears to expedite and improve the overall quality of bone repair. This study highlights the potential of green mussel shell HA as a superior bone substitute, offering a promising avenue for future research and clinical applications.

Data availability

Underlying data

Mendeley Data: Green Mussel Shell Hydroxyapatite ALP Data Set, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/gvhpb34kkr/1.³²

Data are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC-BY 4.0).

Reporting guidelines

ARRIVE checklist for ‘The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect’, https://doi.org/10.17632/vyw756k44g.1.

Data are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC-BY 4.0).

References

1. Andrzejowski P, Giannoudis PV: The ‘diamond concept’ for long bone non-union management. J Orthop Traumatol. 2019; 20(1):21. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
2. Qamar N, Aswari A: Healing or hurting: development of highway public transportation technology. J Din Huk. 2018; 18(3).
3. Kementerian Kesehatan RI: Basic Health Research Results - Hasil Riset Kesehatan Dasar (Riskesdas): 2018. Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan Kementerian RI. 2018.
4. Cauley JA: The global burden of fractures. Lancet Heal Longev. 2021; 2(9):e535–e536. Publisher Full Text
5. Amarilla-Donoso FJ, Roncero-Martin R, Lavado-Garcia JM, et al.: Quality of life after hip fracture: A 12-month prospective study. PeerJ. 2020; 8(6):e9215. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
6. Zaia A, Rossi R, Galeazzi R, et al.: Fractal lacunarity of trabecular bone in vertebral MRI to predict osteoporotic fracture risk in over-fifties women. The LOTO study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021; 22(1):108. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
7. Wildemann B, Ignatius A, Leung F, et al.: Non-union bone fractures. Nat Rev Dis Prim. 2021; 7(1). Publisher Full Text
8. Gómez-Barrena E, Padilla-Eguiluz NG, Rosset P: Frontiers in non-union research. EFORT Open Rev. 2020; 5(10):574–583. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
9. El Milla L, Mardiyantoro F, Fitriani D, et al.: Peran Cangkok Tulang Pada Regenerasi Tulang Rahang. Universitas Brawijaya Press; 2021.
10. Battafarano G, Rossi M, De Martino V, et al.: Strategies for bone regeneration: From graft to tissue engineering. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(3). PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
11. Ismail R, Cionita T, Lai YL, et al.: Characterization of PLA/PCL/Green Mussel Shells Hydroxyapatite (HA) Biocomposites Prepared by Chemical Blending Methods. Materials (Basel). 2022; 15(23). PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
12. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Sancho Vaquer A, et al.: In-depth knowledge of the low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite from waste green mussel shell (Perna Viridis). Environ Technol (United Kingdom). Published online 2023. Publisher Full Text
13. Saragih AS, Pamungkas A, Noviyanto A: Synthesis of hydroxyapatite from indonesian green mussels (Perna viridis) via precipitation methods. Key Eng Mater.2020; 833; 199–203. Publisher Full Text
14. Cao J, Ju P, Chen Z, et al.: Trash to treasure: Green synthesis of novel Ag₂O/Ag₂CO₃ Z-scheme heterojunctions with highly efficient photocatalytic activities derived from waste mussel shells. Chem Eng J. 2023; 454:140259. Publisher Full Text
15. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Ismail R, et al.: Practical insights into the recycling of green mussel shells (Perna Viridis) for the production of precipitated calcium carbonate. Environ Technol (United Kingdom). 2024; 45(2):235–245. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
16. Irfa’I MA, Prihanto A, Muryanto S, et al.: Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Derived from Green Mussel Shells Extracted from Magnesium Chloride Containing Solution. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2022; 1098:012021. Publisher Full Text
17. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Pusparizkita YM, et al.: Rapid synthesis of monocalcium phosphate using calcium carbonate extracted from green mussel shells and phosphoric acid solution. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2024; 49:1200–1209. Publisher Full Text
18. Insuasti-Cruz E, Suárez-Jaramillo V, Mena Urresta KA, et al.: Natural Biomaterials from Biodiversity for Healthcare Applications. Adv Healthc Mater. 2022; 11(1):e2101389. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
19. Oktar FN, Unal S, Gunduz O, et al.: Marine-derived bioceramics for orthopedic, reconstructive and dental surgery applications. J Aust Ceram Soc. 2023; 59(1):57–81. Publisher Full Text
20. Putra RS, Widyastiti NS, Budijitno S, et al.: Application of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells hydroxyapatite on osteocalcin levels and osteoblast cells in rabbit femur bone defect. Ann Med Surg. 2023; 85(11):5464–5468. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
21. Nazht HH, Omar RA, Al RA, et al.: Estimation of Alkaline Phosphatase Enzymes Level in the Femoral Transverse Fractures Healing in Rabbits. 2019. Publisher Full Text
22. Rathwa HS, Verma T, Chavali VH: Assessment of union in fractures: Role of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Ultrasonography. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021; 14:94–100. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
23. Ashraf Z, Alamgeer, Kanwal M, et al.: Flurbiprofen–antioxidant mutual prodrugs as safer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: synthesis, pharmacological investigation, and computational molecular modeling. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016; 10:2401–2419. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text
24. National Institutes of Health (NIH): Guidelines for Endpoints in Animal Study Proposals. National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2022.
25. Ismail R, Laroybafih MB, Fitriyana DF, et al.: The Effect of Hydrothermal Holding Time on The Characterization of Hydroxyapatite Synthesized from Green Mussel Shells. J Adv Res Fluid Mech Therm Sci. 2021; 80(1):84–93. Publisher Full Text
26. Browne K: Brought to light: how ultraviolet disinfection can prevent the nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Appl Microbiol. 2021; 1(3):537–556. Publisher Full Text
27. Wei S, Xu Y, Wang Z, et al.: Hydrogel-coated needles prevent puncture site bleeding. Acta Biomater. 2021; 128:305–313. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
28. Lowe D, Sanvictores T, Zubair M, John S: Alkaline phosphataseStatPearls. Published online 2023.
29. Mahmoud EM, Sayed M, El-Kady AM, et al.: In vitro and in vivo study of naturally derived alginate/hydroxyapatite bio composite scaffolds. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020; 165:1346–1360. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
30. van Griensven M : Bone and its interaction with other organ systems in health and disease. Orthop Proc (The Eur Orthop Res Soc 31st Annu Meet Porto, Port 27–29 Sept 2023 Part 2 2). 2024; 106-B(SUPP_2):139. Publisher Full Text
31. Sipani DA, Dhar DA, Sungte DN: Serum alkaline phosphatase: A prospective biomarker for assessment of progress of fracture healing in diaphyseal fractures of long bones in adult patients. Int J Orthop Sci. 2020; 6(2):248–251. Publisher Full Text
32. Tjandra KC, Novriansyah R, Limijadi EKS, et al.: The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect. F1000Research. 2023; 12:12. Publisher Full Text

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 2

VERSION 2 PUBLISHED 08 Jun 2023

Author details Author details

¹ Kariadi General Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia
² Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
³ Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁵ Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Kevin Christian Tjandra
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Robin Novriansyah
Roles: Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing

Edward Kurnia Setiawan Limijadi
Roles: Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Lydia Kuntjoro
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Meita Hendrianingtyas
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Competing interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

Article Versions (2)

version 2

Revised

Published: 07 Jun 2024, 12:631

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.2

version 1

Published: 08 Jun 2023, 12:631

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.1

Copyright

© 2024 Tjandra KC et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Download

Export To

metrics

	Views	Downloads
F1000Research	-	-
PubMed Central Data from PMC are received and updated monthly.	-	-

Citations

0

SEE MORE DETAILS

CITE

how to cite this article

Tjandra KC, Novriansyah R, Limijadi EKS et al. The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2024, 12:631 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.132881.2)

NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.

track

receive updates on this article

Track an article to receive email alerts on any updates to this article.

Open Peer Review

Current Reviewer Status: ?

Key to Reviewer Statuses VIEW HIDE

ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested

Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.

Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions

Version 2

VERSION 2

PUBLISHED 07 Jun 2024

Revised

Views

2

Reviewer Report 19 Jun 2024

Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Department of Biochemistry and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Fahrul Nurkolis, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

Rudy Kurniawan, Graduate School of Medicine, Hasanuddin University (Ringgold ID: 64739), Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Approved

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.166847.r288125

The authors have made significant changes to ... Continue reading

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Views

8

Reviewer Report 18 Jun 2024

George J Dias, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Approved

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.166847.r288127

I am happy with the revisions made by the authors. ... Continue reading

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Version 1

VERSION 1

PUBLISHED 08 Jun 2023

Views

8

Reviewer Report 06 Sep 2023

Maria Apriliani Gani, Pharmacology-Clinical Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia; Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

Approved with Reservations

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.145833.r200155

The manuscript “The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect” was aimed to observe the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material.

... Continue reading

The manuscript “The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect” was aimed to observe the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material.

Before being indexed, the article must go through a major revision, including data addition and extensive English editing.

Abstract:

It is recommended to summarize the background section in the abstract and detail the aim of the study.
In the method section of the abstract, kindly briefly mention the kind of evaluation that was used in the study (histology, etc.).
The results section in the abstract should be written in the past tense.

Introduction:

Kindly check and revise the grammar in this section. Please be aware of when to use past tense etc.
“If these conditions are not handled, the decline in quality of life and activity limitations cannot be avoided.” Kindly add the data based on another study regarding quality of life and fracture incidence rate before this sentence.
“As a result, bone grafts with osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction characteristics are required to assist in the healing of acute fractures and non-union fractures.” Please add the reference for this.
“A substance called hydroxyapatite (HA)”. I recommend the authors to change the word “substance” to “material.”
“Virgin clam shells and green mussel shells are just two examples of wastes that could serve as a source of HA for bone substitutes.” Kindly delete the word “just.”
The author should explain why virgin clam shells and green mussel shells are recommended to be used as HA sources. What are the differences between them with other natural sources of HA?
The author should detail the hypothesis of the use of green mussel shells in the bone healing process, in terms of the chemical and physical characteristics of this material.
“Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that contributes to the process of bone mineralization, is produced by osteoblasts with increased activity in the third stage.” Delete the “third stage” or keep it with prior explaining about bone healing stages.
“As one of the elements of a complete blood count, ALP can therefore serve as a biomarker that is frequently evaluated and easily accessed to detect bone healing.” The authors should detail the correlation of bone healing processes with ALP serum levels not only in humans but also in animal models. Does it really have a positive correlation of not statistically differ based on other papers?

Methods:

I recommend the authors summarize the methods section.
“The inclusion criteria in this study were skeletally matured, male New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), aged 6-12 months, with a weight of 2.5 – 3 kg. The exclusion criteria in this study were there being anatomical abnormalities, signs of infection, and rabbits that died during treatment.” The inclusion and exclusion criteria mean that any criteria chosen before the study begins. Rabbits who died during the treatments are not included in the criteria. Any animals that died during the treatment must be noted, observed, and reported in the manuscript.
There was a high number of deaths of the animal and it is a must that the authors should clearly explain the cause of death in the manuscript.
Does the defect model present the “non-union fractures”? The authors should mention the criteria of non-union fracture and match it with the defect model that was created in the study.
The authors treated the rabbit with HAs in powder form. How do the authors ensure that the material can serve as a scaffold in the defective tissue? Since HAs may combine with the blood in the defect site it makes the “scaffold” and the treatment fail.
Please explain why the authors use bovine HA as the positive control, as well as the company of the bovine HA that was used in this study.
Table 1 is not needed to be included in the manuscript, it is enough to mention and cite the source.
The authors should detail the product code and company that provided the ALP kit.

Results:

Table 2-9 came from the same data set, which was the ALP levels. These tables can be present in one graph only.
The authors must add another data set in the manuscript, including:

Characteristics of green mussel shells HA and bovine HA.
Cytotoxic test for the HAs.
Other in vivo evaluation results such as radiology and histology to support the current findings.

Discussion:

The authors should detail the concept of ALP levels in each timeline in the bone healing process. When usually the ALP reaches its peaks etc. and why.

“As a result, the presence of a hydroxyapatite scaffold reduces ALP activity since the body no longer needs to synthesize hydroxyapatite from PPi.” This process occurs in the bone tissue. The authors should include the correlation of the tissue and serum ALP levels.
Since the HA came from shells, is there any potential allergic reactivity of the developed material in the human body?

References:

Please update the references with the up-to-date articles.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Yes
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Yes
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Yes

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: Biomaterials, biomedical pharmacy, pharmacology.

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Views

9

Reviewer Report 06 Sep 2023

Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Department of Biochemistry and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Fahrul Nurkolis, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

Rudy Kurniawan, Graduate School of Medicine, Hasanuddin University (Ringgold ID: 64739), Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Approved with Reservations

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.145833.r200163

We have fully and carefully evaluated this manuscript, "The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells' hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect" by Tjandra et al.

Here are our comments:

... Continue reading

We have fully and carefully evaluated this manuscript, "The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells' hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect" by Tjandra et al.

Here are our comments:

1. First of all, we agree with the other reviewer who requires the authors to re-edit the abstract section. The aims of this research are not yet visible in the abstract. This "better than HA bovine" refers to control? Or which intervention? Because it is not mentioned in the abstract methods, but appears in the results.

2. Introduction:

Provide the latest data and a wider area, it is stated that the authors adapted data from "Regional Police of Central Java in 2018". This is a small part of Indonesia and does not reflect the urgency in the world; and some data got "2008 to 2009", please fix it to be more updated.
The aim of the study must also be addressed from the perspective of describing the contribution to the field under analysis and the elements of scientific novelty presented, as the last, separate paragraph of this section, to make it more easily visible. Develop it better. What differentiates your paper from others on the same topic? Give a reason for interest in this paper.

3. Methods:

Register this research protocol at https://preclinicaltrials.eu and mention the registration number in the methods section; it can be registered at any time and for free, this is to increase the readability value of this article.
Writing the Latin name Oryctolagus cuniculus at the beginning can be long, but from now on it must be O. cuniculus; and just write the Latin name without "Rabbits"; to be more efficient.
Analysis: Data analysis is processed using what software? With what CI? It should be clear and detailed.
How is the sample size calculated? What formula do the authors use?
What is the HA dosage given based on?

4. Results:
It would be more valid to display tissue histology figure observation data from Animal Experimental to prove the authors' claim to the conclusion that "Green mussel hydroxyapatite (HA) is proven able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA."

5. Discussion:
A possible mechanism for the bone healing process must be discussed in a comprehensive manner, due to the long research, this raises the question of whether Green mussel hydroxyapatite (HA) really contributes to the healing process or if it is due to the healing process over time.

6. Very brief conclusion, elaborate it with the findings that have been observed in the research.

We conclude that this article needs to be extensively revised.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

No
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Partly
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: In silico, in-vitro and in-vivo studies; natural biomaterials; nutraceuticals; functional food; biochemistry and biomolecular; natural product

We confirm that we have read this submission and believe that we have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however we have significant reservations, as outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Views

13

Reviewer Report 24 Aug 2023

George J Dias, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Not Approved

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.145833.r195140

The Abstract needs to be improved.

Page 5: Seven rabbits from seven different groups (P1, K1.1, P2, K2.2, P3, K2.3, K1.3) were found dead during daily monitoring several days after the surgery with no specific cause of death.
... Continue reading

The Abstract needs to be improved.

Page 5: Seven rabbits from seven different groups (P1, K1.1, P2, K2.2, P3, K2.3, K1.3) were found dead during daily monitoring several days after the surgery with no specific cause of death.
This is a relatively high number of deaths, 7 out of 36 - ~20%. Very surprising that cause of death such as infection, haemorrhage was not determined?

..., UV sterilization for 3 hours was conducted.
I consider this sterilization method to be inadequate for a material to be surgically implanted. Because UV light will only disinfect the surface and will not have an effect of the interior of the implant particles. Authors need to provide evidence about how this sterilization method was selected using general surgical principals.

Page 6: ... using a drill.
Give more details of the bone drilling process. What was the speed of the motor? The type and size of the bur? Was the bur irrigated during drilling?

fill the defect with green mussel shell HA.
What was the form of HA? Was it a powder? If so what is the size of the particles?

The blood sampling was conducted by inserting needle parallel to the lateral marginal auricular vein. Once the needle reached the vein, blood will flow into the catheter. The vacutainer tube was pushed so that blood can enter the 1-2 ml tube. After collecting the required sample, the needle was immediately removed from the rabbit’s lateral marginal vein. The injected area was pressed with an alcohol swab at the end of this process.
It is not necessary to provide minute details on venopuncture. It would have been preferable if this much of details were provided for the surgical technique of HA implantation.

Examination of ALP is selected due to its availability in most health centers.
Question is blood samples tested in Animal Health Centres are that of common companion animals such as dogs and cats. Therefore, can testing ALP in rabbit blood in a health centre be accurate?

Page 9: As a result, the presence of a hydroxyapatite scaffold reduces ALP activity since the body no longer needs to synthesize hydroxyapatite from PPi.
It can also be argued that the low ALP level indicate that the rate of bone remodelling is slow, leading to the rate of new bone formation to be also being low.

This experiment had a number of methodological limitations, including fractures in the rabbits and post-interventional infections that were not equally exposed to all of the rabbits. This may impact the trial outcomes by increasing the time it takes for bones to recover, which could prevent all treatment groups from showing significant results between the weeks 2, 4, and 6. Even though all groups received an appropriate dose of 300 mg at the area of the lesion, the prolonged bone
healing time meant that the test between the positive control group and the negative control group did not produce significant results in the week 6.
If most of the animals in this study experienced delayed healing of surgical sites due to infections, then the outcome of the complete investigation is brought into question?

..... negative control group (K1.1)
In the negative control, although there was no implant material in the surgical site, the bone defect would not have been empty, it would have been filled with blood clot that eventually got organised, leading to bone healing with new bone formation. Therefore, the significant difference between negative group and the treatment group may indicate that the green mussel shell hydroxyapatite may not be effective as the natural blood clot?

A comparison test of the serum ALP levels at the weeks 2, 4, and 6 in each treatment group’s results did not reveal any significant differences. This indicates that while ALP activity varied at weeks 2, 4, and 6, the differences were not statistically significant. This means that the effect of giving HA works evenly in the weeks 2, 4, and 6.
It is very curious why the authors did not take bone tissue biopsies from the surgical sites at these time points and investigate the histology, and compare these findings with that of the ALP values?

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Yes
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: Biomaterials, in-vitro and in-vovo investigations.Implants for surgical applications.

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to state that I do not consider it to be of an acceptable scientific standard, for reasons outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 2

VERSION 2 PUBLISHED 08 Jun 2023

Open Peer Review

Reviewer Status

Reviewer Reports

	Invited Reviewers
	1	2	3
Version 2 (revision) 07 Jun 24	read	read
Version 1 08 Jun 23	read	read	read

George J Dias, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Fahrul Nurkolis, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Rudy Kurniawan, Hasanuddin University (Ringgold ID: 64739), Makassar, Indonesia
Maria Apriliani Gani, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia; Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia

Comments on this article

All Comments(0)

Add a comment

Sign up for content alerts

Browse by related subjects

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

2 Views

19 Jun 2024 | for Version 2

Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Department of Biochemistry and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Fahrul Nurkolis, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

Rudy Kurniawan, Graduate School of Medicine, Hasanuddin University (Ringgold ID: 64739), Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

2 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved

The authors have made significant changes to the manuscript, which has positively affected its quality.

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

In silico, in-vitro and in-vivo studies; natural biomaterials; nutraceuticals; functional food; biochemistry and biomolecular; natural product

We confirm that we have read this submission and believe that we have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

8 Views

18 Jun 2024 | for Version 2

George J Dias, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

8 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved

I am happy with the revisions made by the authors. I consider that this manuscript is ready to be Indexed.

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Biomaterials, in-vitro and in-vovo investigations.Implants for surgical applications.

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

8 Views

06 Sep 2023 | for Version 1

Maria Apriliani Gani, Pharmacology-Clinical Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia; Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

8 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved With Reservations

The manuscript “The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect” was aimed to observe the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material.

Before being indexed, the article must go through a major revision, including data addition and extensive English editing.

Abstract:

It is recommended to summarize the background section in the abstract and detail the aim of the study.
In the method section of the abstract, kindly briefly mention the kind of evaluation that was used in the study (histology, etc.).
The results section in the abstract should be written in the past tense.

Introduction:

Kindly check and revise the grammar in this section. Please be aware of when to use past tense etc.
“If these conditions are not handled, the decline in quality of life and activity limitations cannot be avoided.” Kindly add the data based on another study regarding quality of life and fracture incidence rate before this sentence.
“As a result, bone grafts with osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction characteristics are required to assist in the healing of acute fractures and non-union fractures.” Please add the reference for this.
“A substance called hydroxyapatite (HA)”. I recommend the authors to change the word “substance” to “material.”
“Virgin clam shells and green mussel shells are just two examples of wastes that could serve as a source of HA for bone substitutes.” Kindly delete the word “just.”
The author should explain why virgin clam shells and green mussel shells are recommended to be used as HA sources. What are the differences between them with other natural sources of HA?
The author should detail the hypothesis of the use of green mussel shells in the bone healing process, in terms of the chemical and physical characteristics of this material.
“Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that contributes to the process of bone mineralization, is produced by osteoblasts with increased activity in the third stage.” Delete the “third stage” or keep it with prior explaining about bone healing stages.
“As one of the elements of a complete blood count, ALP can therefore serve as a biomarker that is frequently evaluated and easily accessed to detect bone healing.” The authors should detail the correlation of bone healing processes with ALP serum levels not only in humans but also in animal models. Does it really have a positive correlation of not statistically differ based on other papers?

Methods:

I recommend the authors summarize the methods section.
“The inclusion criteria in this study were skeletally matured, male New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), aged 6-12 months, with a weight of 2.5 – 3 kg. The exclusion criteria in this study were there being anatomical abnormalities, signs of infection, and rabbits that died during treatment.” The inclusion and exclusion criteria mean that any criteria chosen before the study begins. Rabbits who died during the treatments are not included in the criteria. Any animals that died during the treatment must be noted, observed, and reported in the manuscript.
There was a high number of deaths of the animal and it is a must that the authors should clearly explain the cause of death in the manuscript.
Does the defect model present the “non-union fractures”? The authors should mention the criteria of non-union fracture and match it with the defect model that was created in the study.
The authors treated the rabbit with HAs in powder form. How do the authors ensure that the material can serve as a scaffold in the defective tissue? Since HAs may combine with the blood in the defect site it makes the “scaffold” and the treatment fail.
Please explain why the authors use bovine HA as the positive control, as well as the company of the bovine HA that was used in this study.
Table 1 is not needed to be included in the manuscript, it is enough to mention and cite the source.
The authors should detail the product code and company that provided the ALP kit.

Results:

Table 2-9 came from the same data set, which was the ALP levels. These tables can be present in one graph only.
The authors must add another data set in the manuscript, including:

Characteristics of green mussel shells HA and bovine HA.
Cytotoxic test for the HAs.
Other in vivo evaluation results such as radiology and histology to support the current findings.

Discussion:

The authors should detail the concept of ALP levels in each timeline in the bone healing process. When usually the ALP reaches its peaks etc. and why.

“As a result, the presence of a hydroxyapatite scaffold reduces ALP activity since the body no longer needs to synthesize hydroxyapatite from PPi.” This process occurs in the bone tissue. The authors should include the correlation of the tissue and serum ALP levels.
Since the HA came from shells, is there any potential allergic reactivity of the developed material in the human body?

References:

Please update the references with the up-to-date articles.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Yes
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Yes
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Yes

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Biomaterials, biomedical pharmacy, pharmacology.

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

9 Views

06 Sep 2023 | for Version 1

Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Department of Biochemistry and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Fahrul Nurkolis, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

Rudy Kurniawan, Graduate School of Medicine, Hasanuddin University (Ringgold ID: 64739), Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

9 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved With Reservations

We have fully and carefully evaluated this manuscript, "The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells' hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect" by Tjandra et al.

Here are our comments:

1. First of all, we agree with the other reviewer who requires the authors to re-edit the abstract section. The aims of this research are not yet visible in the abstract. This "better than HA bovine" refers to control? Or which intervention? Because it is not mentioned in the abstract methods, but appears in the results.

2. Introduction:

Provide the latest data and a wider area, it is stated that the authors adapted data from "Regional Police of Central Java in 2018". This is a small part of Indonesia and does not reflect the urgency in the world; and some data got "2008 to 2009", please fix it to be more updated.
The aim of the study must also be addressed from the perspective of describing the contribution to the field under analysis and the elements of scientific novelty presented, as the last, separate paragraph of this section, to make it more easily visible. Develop it better. What differentiates your paper from others on the same topic? Give a reason for interest in this paper.

3. Methods:

Register this research protocol at https://preclinicaltrials.eu and mention the registration number in the methods section; it can be registered at any time and for free, this is to increase the readability value of this article.
Writing the Latin name Oryctolagus cuniculus at the beginning can be long, but from now on it must be O. cuniculus; and just write the Latin name without "Rabbits"; to be more efficient.
Analysis: Data analysis is processed using what software? With what CI? It should be clear and detailed.
How is the sample size calculated? What formula do the authors use?
What is the HA dosage given based on?

4. Results:
It would be more valid to display tissue histology figure observation data from Animal Experimental to prove the authors' claim to the conclusion that "Green mussel hydroxyapatite (HA) is proven able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA."

5. Discussion:
A possible mechanism for the bone healing process must be discussed in a comprehensive manner, due to the long research, this raises the question of whether Green mussel hydroxyapatite (HA) really contributes to the healing process or if it is due to the healing process over time.

6. Very brief conclusion, elaborate it with the findings that have been observed in the research.

We conclude that this article needs to be extensively revised.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

No
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Partly
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

In silico, in-vitro and in-vivo studies; natural biomaterials; nutraceuticals; functional food; biochemistry and biomolecular; natural product

We confirm that we have read this submission and believe that we have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however we have significant reservations, as outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

13 Views

24 Aug 2023 | for Version 1

George J Dias, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

13 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Not Approved

The Abstract needs to be improved.

Page 5: Seven rabbits from seven different groups (P1, K1.1, P2, K2.2, P3, K2.3, K1.3) were found dead during daily monitoring several days after the surgery with no specific cause of death.
This is a relatively high number of deaths, 7 out of 36 - ~20%. Very surprising that cause of death such as infection, haemorrhage was not determined?

..., UV sterilization for 3 hours was conducted.
I consider this sterilization method to be inadequate for a material to be surgically implanted. Because UV light will only disinfect the surface and will not have an effect of the interior of the implant particles. Authors need to provide evidence about how this sterilization method was selected using general surgical principals.

Page 6: ... using a drill.
Give more details of the bone drilling process. What was the speed of the motor? The type and size of the bur? Was the bur irrigated during drilling?

fill the defect with green mussel shell HA.
What was the form of HA? Was it a powder? If so what is the size of the particles?

The blood sampling was conducted by inserting needle parallel to the lateral marginal auricular vein. Once the needle reached the vein, blood will flow into the catheter. The vacutainer tube was pushed so that blood can enter the 1-2 ml tube. After collecting the required sample, the needle was immediately removed from the rabbit’s lateral marginal vein. The injected area was pressed with an alcohol swab at the end of this process.
It is not necessary to provide minute details on venopuncture. It would have been preferable if this much of details were provided for the surgical technique of HA implantation.

Examination of ALP is selected due to its availability in most health centers.
Question is blood samples tested in Animal Health Centres are that of common companion animals such as dogs and cats. Therefore, can testing ALP in rabbit blood in a health centre be accurate?

Page 9: As a result, the presence of a hydroxyapatite scaffold reduces ALP activity since the body no longer needs to synthesize hydroxyapatite from PPi.
It can also be argued that the low ALP level indicate that the rate of bone remodelling is slow, leading to the rate of new bone formation to be also being low.

This experiment had a number of methodological limitations, including fractures in the rabbits and post-interventional infections that were not equally exposed to all of the rabbits. This may impact the trial outcomes by increasing the time it takes for bones to recover, which could prevent all treatment groups from showing significant results between the weeks 2, 4, and 6. Even though all groups received an appropriate dose of 300 mg at the area of the lesion, the prolonged bone
healing time meant that the test between the positive control group and the negative control group did not produce significant results in the week 6.
If most of the animals in this study experienced delayed healing of surgical sites due to infections, then the outcome of the complete investigation is brought into question?

..... negative control group (K1.1)
In the negative control, although there was no implant material in the surgical site, the bone defect would not have been empty, it would have been filled with blood clot that eventually got organised, leading to bone healing with new bone formation. Therefore, the significant difference between negative group and the treatment group may indicate that the green mussel shell hydroxyapatite may not be effective as the natural blood clot?

A comparison test of the serum ALP levels at the weeks 2, 4, and 6 in each treatment group’s results did not reveal any significant differences. This indicates that while ALP activity varied at weeks 2, 4, and 6, the differences were not statistically significant. This means that the effect of giving HA works evenly in the weeks 2, 4, and 6.
It is very curious why the authors did not take bone tissue biopsies from the surgical sites at these time points and investigate the histology, and compare these findings with that of the ALP values?

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Yes
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Biomaterials, in-vitro and in-vovo investigations.Implants for surgical applications.

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to state that I do not consider it to be of an acceptable scientific standard, for reasons outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

[1] 1. Andrzejowski P, Giannoudis PV: The ‘diamond concept’ for long bone non-union management. J Orthop Traumatol. 2019; 20(1):21. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[2] 2. Qamar N, Aswari A: Healing or hurting: development of highway public transportation technology. J Din Huk. 2018; 18(3).

[3] 3. Kementerian Kesehatan RI: Basic Health Research Results - Hasil Riset Kesehatan Dasar (Riskesdas): 2018. Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan Kementerian RI. 2018.

[4] 4. Cauley JA: The global burden of fractures. Lancet Heal Longev. 2021; 2(9):e535–e536. Publisher Full Text

[5] 5. Amarilla-Donoso FJ, Roncero-Martin R, Lavado-Garcia JM, et al.: Quality of life after hip fracture: A 12-month prospective study. PeerJ. 2020; 8(6):e9215. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[6] 6. Zaia A, Rossi R, Galeazzi R, et al.: Fractal lacunarity of trabecular bone in vertebral MRI to predict osteoporotic fracture risk in over-fifties women. The LOTO study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021; 22(1):108. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[7] 7. Wildemann B, Ignatius A, Leung F, et al.: Non-union bone fractures. Nat Rev Dis Prim. 2021; 7(1). Publisher Full Text

[8] 8. Gómez-Barrena E, Padilla-Eguiluz NG, Rosset P: Frontiers in non-union research. EFORT Open Rev. 2020; 5(10):574–583. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[9] 9. El Milla L, Mardiyantoro F, Fitriani D, et al.: Peran Cangkok Tulang Pada Regenerasi Tulang Rahang. Universitas Brawijaya Press; 2021.

[10] 10. Battafarano G, Rossi M, De Martino V, et al.: Strategies for bone regeneration: From graft to tissue engineering. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(3). PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[11] 11. Ismail R, Cionita T, Lai YL, et al.: Characterization of PLA/PCL/Green Mussel Shells Hydroxyapatite (HA) Biocomposites Prepared by Chemical Blending Methods. Materials (Basel). 2022; 15(23). PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[12] 12. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Sancho Vaquer A, et al.: In-depth knowledge of the low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite from waste green mussel shell (Perna Viridis). Environ Technol (United Kingdom). Published online 2023. Publisher Full Text

[13] 13. Saragih AS, Pamungkas A, Noviyanto A: Synthesis of hydroxyapatite from indonesian green mussels (Perna viridis) via precipitation methods. Key Eng Mater.2020; 833; 199–203. Publisher Full Text

[14] 14. Cao J, Ju P, Chen Z, et al.: Trash to treasure: Green synthesis of novel Ag₂O/Ag₂CO₃ Z-scheme heterojunctions with highly efficient photocatalytic activities derived from waste mussel shells. Chem Eng J. 2023; 454:140259. Publisher Full Text

[15] 15. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Ismail R, et al.: Practical insights into the recycling of green mussel shells (Perna Viridis) for the production of precipitated calcium carbonate. Environ Technol (United Kingdom). 2024; 45(2):235–245. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

[16] 16. Irfa’I MA, Prihanto A, Muryanto S, et al.: Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Derived from Green Mussel Shells Extracted from Magnesium Chloride Containing Solution. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2022; 1098:012021. Publisher Full Text

[17] 17. Prihanto A, Muryanto S, Pusparizkita YM, et al.: Rapid synthesis of monocalcium phosphate using calcium carbonate extracted from green mussel shells and phosphoric acid solution. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2024; 49:1200–1209. Publisher Full Text

[18] 18. Insuasti-Cruz E, Suárez-Jaramillo V, Mena Urresta KA, et al.: Natural Biomaterials from Biodiversity for Healthcare Applications. Adv Healthc Mater. 2022; 11(1):e2101389. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

[19] 19. Oktar FN, Unal S, Gunduz O, et al.: Marine-derived bioceramics for orthopedic, reconstructive and dental surgery applications. J Aust Ceram Soc. 2023; 59(1):57–81. Publisher Full Text

[20] 20. Putra RS, Widyastiti NS, Budijitno S, et al.: Application of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells hydroxyapatite on osteocalcin levels and osteoblast cells in rabbit femur bone defect. Ann Med Surg. 2023; 85(11):5464–5468. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[21] 21. Nazht HH, Omar RA, Al RA, et al.: Estimation of Alkaline Phosphatase Enzymes Level in the Femoral Transverse Fractures Healing in Rabbits. 2019. Publisher Full Text

[22] 22. Rathwa HS, Verma T, Chavali VH: Assessment of union in fractures: Role of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Ultrasonography. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021; 14:94–100. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[23] 23. Ashraf Z, Alamgeer, Kanwal M, et al.: Flurbiprofen–antioxidant mutual prodrugs as safer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: synthesis, pharmacological investigation, and computational molecular modeling. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016; 10:2401–2419. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text

[24] 24. National Institutes of Health (NIH): Guidelines for Endpoints in Animal Study Proposals. National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2022.

[25] 25. Ismail R, Laroybafih MB, Fitriyana DF, et al.: The Effect of Hydrothermal Holding Time on The Characterization of Hydroxyapatite Synthesized from Green Mussel Shells. J Adv Res Fluid Mech Therm Sci. 2021; 80(1):84–93. Publisher Full Text

[26] 26. Browne K: Brought to light: how ultraviolet disinfection can prevent the nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Appl Microbiol. 2021; 1(3):537–556. Publisher Full Text

[27] 27. Wei S, Xu Y, Wang Z, et al.: Hydrogel-coated needles prevent puncture site bleeding. Acta Biomater. 2021; 128:305–313. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

[28] 28. Lowe D, Sanvictores T, Zubair M, John S: Alkaline phosphataseStatPearls. Published online 2023.

[29] 29. Mahmoud EM, Sayed M, El-Kady AM, et al.: In vitro and in vivo study of naturally derived alginate/hydroxyapatite bio composite scaffolds. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020; 165:1346–1360. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

[30] 30. van Griensven M : Bone and its interaction with other organ systems in health and disease. Orthop Proc (The Eur Orthop Res Soc 31st Annu Meet Porto, Port 27–29 Sept 2023 Part 2 2). 2024; 106-B(SUPP_2):139. Publisher Full Text

[31] 31. Sipani DA, Dhar DA, Sungte DN: Serum alkaline phosphatase: A prospective biomarker for assessment of progress of fracture healing in diaphyseal fractures of long bones in adult patients. Int J Orthop Sci. 2020; 6(2):248–251. Publisher Full Text

[32] 32. Tjandra KC, Novriansyah R, Limijadi EKS, et al.: The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect. F1000Research. 2023; 12:12. Publisher Full Text

The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords

Revised Amendments from Version 1

Introduction

Methods

Ethics

Design

Animals and materials

Figure 1. Study group design.

Procedure

Analysis

Results

Table 1. Rabbit serum alkaline phosphatase level (U/L).

Table 2. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the positive control group (bovine) (U/L).

Table 3. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the intervention group (green mussel shell) (U/L).

Table 4. One-way ANOVA test results for serum alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbits in the negative control group (U/L).

Table 5. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-2nd (U/L).

Table 6. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-4th (U/L).

Table 7. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6th (U/L).

Table 8. The results of the LSD post hoc test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6th (U/L).

Figure 2. Graph Rabbit serum alkaline phosphatase level (U/L).

Discussion

Conclusion

Data availability

Underlying data

Reporting guidelines

References

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Open Peer Review

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Open Peer Review

Reviewer Status

Reviewer Reports

Comments on this article

Browse by related subjects

Competing Interests Policy

Stay Updated

Table 5. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-2^nd (U/L).

Table 6. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-4^th (U/L).

Table 7. The results of the one-way ANOVA test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6^th (U/L).

Table 8. The results of the LSD post hoc test for serum alkaline phosphatase levels of positive control, treatment, and negative control groups at week-6^th (U/L).