Singapore Research Team Develops Plant-Based, Edible Cell Culture Scaffolds
According to a recent release from the National University of Singapore (NUS), a research team has successfully used common plant proteins to 3D-print an edible cell culture scaffold, allowing more affordable and sustainable lab-grown meat to be served on the table.
Scaffolds provide structural support for the skeletal muscle cells used to grow cultured meat as those cells multiply and develop into tissues. Today, cell culture scaffolds are typically made from synthetic or animal-based materials, which are either too expensive or inedible. The NUS team, led by Professor Huang Dejian, deputy head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology, turned to plant proteins, which are biodegradable, biocompatible with animal cells and in line with common requirements for food consumption.
The team’s work, in line with NUS’ thrust to produce cutting-edge sustainability research, was published in the journal Advanced Materials on Oct. 22, 2022.