Plant-Based Microfibrous Scaffolds for Cultured Meat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing plant-based scaffolds for cultured meat face challenges in creating biocompatible, edible, and scalable 3D structures that support high cell yield, due to the use of synthetic polymers and toxic solvents, which are not environmentally friendly and pose regulatory compliance issues.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing cell culture scaffolds using plant-based microfibrous structures composed of at least 60% plant-based proteins, polysaccharides, and carbohydrates, spun using air and centrifugal forces to create a 3D network with controlled fiber diameter and porosity, eliminating the need for synthetic polymers and toxic solvents, and ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrospinning is used to create nanofibers with high surface area, then cell attachment and growth are promoted, but toxic solvents and synthetic polymers are required which are not biocompatible and edible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful components (toxic solvents and synthetic polymers) from the electrospinning process by using plant-based materials that can be dissolved in water or food-grade solvents, eliminating the harmful factors while maintaining the beneficial nanofiber structure for cell growth
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from synthetic polymers to plant-based proteins and polysaccharides, and from toxic solvents to water or food-grade solvents, transforming the system to achieve both high cell attachment and biocompatibility
2Ease of manufacture
If plant-based materials are used for scaffold production, then cost-effectiveness and edibility are improved, but creating a porous 3D structure with high cell yield is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical 3D printing or molding processes with electrospinning, which uses electrical fields to automatically form porous nanofiber structures, achieving precise 3D architecture with plant-based materials at lower cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inherently creates porous structures through the electrospinning process itself, where the nanofiber mat formation naturally produces interconnected pores, eliminating the need for additional porogen removal steps and achieving high cell yield with plant-based materials
3Strength
If synthetic polymers like PEO, PDGL, and PCL are used as carrier agents, then scaffold mechanical properties are tunable, but digestive breakdown is difficult leading to incomplete nutrient absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer composition from synthetic to plant-based, maintaining mechanical tunability through variations in plant protein types, concentrations, and blending ratios, while achieving complete digestibility and nutrient absorption
4Ease of manufacture
If volatile solvents like acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, phenol, and dimethylformamide are used for spinning, then fiber formation is achieved, but regulatory compliance and environmental safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the volatile organic solvents from the spinning process, replacing them with water or food-grade solvents, thereby removing the harmful factors while maintaining the fiber formation capability through alternative dissolution and spinning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water or food-grade solvents as intermediary substances that can dissolve plant-based materials and enable fiber formation without the harmful effects of volatile solvents, serving as safe mediators in the spinning process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a biocompatible, edible, and scalable scaffold that supports high cell yield and differentiation, is environmentally friendly, and compliant with regulatory standards, enabling large-scale, cost-effective production of cultured meat while ensuring safety and nutritional value.
Implementation Method 1
spun using air and centrifugal forces to create a 3D network with controlled fiber diameter and porosity
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~3a
Figure 3b~4a
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to plant-based microfibrous scaffolds and a method for producing these scaffolds for culturing meat, providing a biocompatible, edible, and scalable 3D structure that supports high cell yield. The scaffold comprises plant-based proteins, polysaccharides, and carbohydrates, eliminating the need for synthetic polymers and toxic solvents. The method for producing these scaffolds comprises dissolving the components, creating a homogeneous solution, spinning the fibers using air volume and centrifugal forces, and heating to achieve crosslinking. The resulting scaffolds have controlled fiber diameters, thicknesses, and area densities, enhancing cell growth, nutrient diffusion, and structural integrity and provide an efficient and sustainable solution for large-scale cultured meat production.