Controlled Fabrication of Alginate-Based Microspheres Incorporating Biogenic Hydroxyapatite for Enhanced Mineralization and Angiogenic Tissue Regeneration.

Abstract

This study presents a facile and controlled approach for fabricating alginate-based microspheres integrated with biogenic hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from bovine bone. The direct crosslinking strategy enabled the formation of uniform, stable microspheres that closely replicate the composition and architecture of native bone tissue. Incorporation of biogenic HAp markedly enhanced the physicochemical stability and biological performance of the alginate matrix. The optimized microspheres demonstrated accelerated apatite nucleation within 7 days, indicating superior bioactivity and promoted the rapid sprouting of new blood vessels within 3 h, confirming their proangiogenic potential. These synergistic properties highlight the dual functionality of the developed system in supporting both osteogenic and angiogenic responses. The results further reveal that naturally sourced HAp can effectively replace synthetic analogues, providing a sustainable, cost-effective, and highly bioactive alternative for bone tissue engineering. Overall, this work establishes a simple, eco-conscious fabrication route for multifunctional biomaterials with enhanced mineralization and vascularization potential, paving the way for next-generation regenerative therapies.