Utilizing Chicken Bone Waste for Nerve Tissue Biomaterials: Gelatin–Carbonate Apatite Composites and Cytotoxicity Testing

Abstract This study investigates the use of chicken bone waste as a natural source of carbonate apatite (CO 3 Ap) for the fabrication of gelatin-based composite membranes intended for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. Chicken bones, rich in bioactive minerals, were processed to extract CO 3 Ap, which was incorporated into gelatin—a biocompatible polymer derived from collagen—to form composite scaffolds. The resulting membranes were characterized for their physicochemical properties using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), swelling ratio, degradation behavior, and tensile strength testing to evaluate their structural and functional performance. The study evaluated the effect of incorporating chicken bone–derived CO 3 Ap on the mechanical properties and degradation behavior of the gelatin matrix. Cytotoxicity assessments were carried out using L929 fibroblast cells in accordance with ISO 10993-5 standards to determine the biocompatibility of the materials. The composites did not induce cytotoxic effects in vitro . These findings provide insight into the potential use of poultry waste–derived CO 3 Ap in the development of sustainable, low-cost biomaterials for nerve tissue regeneration.