Research Article Eggshell Based Nano-Engineered Hydroxyapatite and Poly(lactic) Acid Electrospun Fibers as Potential Tissue Scaffold Vitus A. Apalangya , 1,2 Vijaya K. Rangari , 2 Boniface J. Tiimob , 2 Shaik Jeelani, 2 and Temesgen Samuel 3 1 Department of Food Process Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana 2 Department of Material Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA 3 Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Vijaya K. Rangari; vrangari@tuskegee.edu Received 31 December 2018; Accepted 1 April 2019; Published 2 May 2019 Academic Editor: Wen-Cheng Chen Copyright © 2019 Vitus A. Apalangya et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Nanocomposite electrospun fbers were fabricated from poly(lactic) acid (PLA) and needle-like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles made from eggshells. Te X-ray difraction spectrum and the scanning electron micrograph showed that the hydroxyapatite particles are highly crystalline and are needle-liked in shape with diameters between 10 and 20 nm and lengths ranging from 100 to 200nm. Te microstructural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the electrospun fbers were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing techniques. Te SEM study showed that both pristine and PLA/EnHA fbers surfaces exhibited numerous pores and rough edges suitable for cell attachment. Te presence of the rod-liked EnHA particles was found to increase thermal and mechanical properties of PLA fbers relative to pristine PLA fbers. Te confocal optical images showed that osteoblast cells were found to attach on dense pristine PLA and PLA/HA-10 wt% fbers afer 48 hours of incubation. Te stained confocal optical images indicated the secretion of cytoplasmic extension linking adjoining nuclei afer 96 hours of incubation. Tese fndings showed that eggshell based nanohydroxyapatite and poly(lactic acid) fbers could be potential scafold for tissue regeneration. 1. Introduction Hydroxyapatite (HA), like other calcium phosphate bioce- ramics, has demonstrated immense bone integration and ingrowth capabilities [[1–6]. HA is nontoxic and biodegrad- able and easily adsorbs onto surfaces of bioactive molecules. Tese characteristics make it useful for both tissue engi- neering (TE) and drug delivery applications [2, 7]. How- ever due to the inherent brittle nature of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, they are usually incorporated into polymeric nanocomposites to ensure easy processing [8, 9]. Tus, the elastic polymeric matrix overcomes the intrinsic brittleness of the bioceramic by improving upon its design fexibility. Te HA nanoparticles play a dual function as they provide the scafolds with bioactive bone forming material while tailoring their high stifness to forming strong cell and tissue supports [10, 11]. Nanoparticles particularly HA nanoparticles or rods can be excellent fllers of damage and bone defects as their size and surface morphology match those of natural bones [12]. Moreover the porous surfaces of fbers are amenable to carrying bioactive and growth factors which promote speedy tissue formation and integration when they are incorporated with HA nanoparticles [13]. Polymer/HA scafolds have been produced using diferent varieties of technologies such as extrusion, stereo lithography, coprecipitation, electrospinning, etc. However, the simplicity of experimental setup, low cost, the high porosity, and high interconnectivity of electrospun fbers makes them ideal tissue scafolds [14–17]. HA nanoparticles are incorporated into the polymer matrix either through biomineralization of pristine polymer fber mats or coelectrospinning of the poly- mer and the HA nanoparticles [4, 18]. Te incorporation Hindawi International Journal of Biomaterials Volume 2019, Article ID 6762575, 11 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6762575