Israeli researchers recently reported a scaffold material rich in plant protein that can be used for the manufacture of “cultured meat” in the international journal “Biomaterials”. The new study is expected to promote the industrial-scale production of “cultured meat”.
The “cultured meat” industry aims to use tissue engineering techniques to grow edible artificial meat tissue to address the growing global demand for meat products and the resulting environmental pressures. Tissue engineering techniques include the use of appropriate animal cell types, scaffold materials, and fabrication techniques needed to mimic complex natural tissues. To mimic the microenvironment of primary cells, tissue engineering techniques utilize scaffolds as cell growth platforms. The properties of the scaffold must support cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, and allow for nutrient diffusion and cell migration. Digestibility and nutritional value of scaffolds also need to be considered when used as part of the final edible “cultured meat” product.
3D bioprinting is a promising fabrication method for creating thick and complex structures. In the new study, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Aleph Farms attempted to create customizable, 3D-printable scaffolds for use in artificial meat tissue culture using two sets of plant protein-rich mixtures. The two blends consist of pea protein isolate or soy protein isolate, respectively, and modified alginate.
Using bovine muscle satellite cells as cells for culturing artificial meat, the researchers evaluated these two groups of plant protein-rich scaffolds in several steps: first to confirm the suitability of the two mixtures as scaffolds, and then to develop a The “extrusion” 3D printing method using agar as a medium, and finally observe whether bovine muscle satellite cells can achieve 3D cell printing. The researchers also evaluated the applicability of the above-mentioned 3D printing culture method to bovine mesenchymal stem cells, another cell type commonly used in artificial meat culture.
Experiments and analysis show that this type of plant protein-rich material is suitable for use as a scaffold for 3D printing “cultured meat”. At the same time, this kind of non-animal derived scaffold material also has suitable nutritional value and lower risk of allergic reaction. New research promises to advance the industrial-scale manufacturing of 3D-printed “cultured meat” and push the field forward.