Facile Synthesis of Ficus carica Fruit Extract Incorporated Blue Crab Shells Biowaste Derived Nanohydroxyapatite/Marine Fish Collagen Biocomposite: Evaluation on In vitro Antibacterial and Anticancer Activities

In this study, we propose a facile and efficient approach to fabricate a biocomposite of Ficus carica fruit (FCF) extract incorporated into blue crab shells derived nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) and marine fish collagen (COL) biocomposite for improved biomedical applications. The rod-shaped nHAp with an average particle size of 88.3 nm was synthesized via a thermal calcination technique. The FCF extract, known for its antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, was incorporated into the nHAp matrix. The marine fish collagen acts as a biopolymer that can synthesise materials with flexible properties such as the biodegradability, biocompatibility, renewability, affordability and availability, all are vital for designing effective biocomposite. The characterization techniques including the DLS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, FESEM-EDX mapping confirmed the structural and compositional properties. The FESEM showed agglomerated rod-like nHAp particles, while biocomposite exhibited a more uniform and refined morphology. AFM analysis showed that nHAp/FCF/COL exhibited the smoothest and most uniform surface, indicating enhanced compatibility for cell attachment. The contact angle measurements showed an improved hydrophilicity, decreasing from 32.0° to 15.4°, and also showed the increased water absorption slightly from 10.6 to 26% after 48 h, indicating an enhanced hydrophilicity of the biocomposite. The enzymatic degradation also increased significantly in the biocomposite, reaching 46.2% over 14 days, when compared to 14.8% in the pure nHAp. The zeta potential ranged from − 16.7 mV to − 18.4 mV, showing a good surface charge stability. The Antibacterial testing revealed the maximum inhibition zones of 17 mm (Escherichia coli) and 15 mm (Klebsiella pneumoniae). The in vitro anticancer activity against MG63 osteosarcoma cells portrayed the dose-dependent inhibition, with 79.5% cell death at 200 µg/mL. The AO/EB staining confirmed apoptosis at the concentrations of 25–100 µg/mL. However, the results conclude that the nHAp/FCF/COL biocomposite exhibits an improved physicochemical, antibacterial, anticancer, degradability, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility properties which makes it as a promising material for various biomedical applications.

Graphical Abstract