The　rapid　growth　of　the　abalone　industry　has　brought　a　great　burden　to　the　environment　because　of　their　inedible　shells.　Aiming　at　environmental　and　resource　sustainability,　porous　microspheres　of　carbonate-substituted　hydroxyapatite　(HAP)　were　prepared　by　a　hydrothermal　method　using　abalone　shells;　then,　they　were　further　used　as　a　carrier　for　doxorubicin　(DOX)　in　a　drug　delivery　system.　The　porous　HAP　microspheres　were　approximately　6　μm　in　size　with　a　considerable　specific　surface　area　and　average　pore　size　(128.6659　cm2/g　and　9.064　nm,　respectively),　which　ensured　excellent　drug-handling　capacity　(95.542%).　In　addition,　the　pH　responsiveness　of　the　drug　release　system　was　favorable　for　effective　in　vivo　drug　release　in　an　acidic　tumor　microenvironment.　Moreover,　the　drug-loaded　microspheres　could　effectively　induce　apoptosis　of　MCF-7　cells　but　were　less　cytotoxic　to　MC3T3-E1　cells.　Because　of　its　good　biocompatibility,　high　drug　loading　capacity　and　controlled　drug　release　property,　the　porous　microspheres　prepared　in　this　experiment　have　potential　application　value　in　drug　delivery　and　tumor　therapy;　furthermore,　they　make　full　use　of　abalone　shells,　providing　environmental　sustainability.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.