Sustainable Biomaterials from Tunicates and Fish Skin for Bioprinting

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for novel biomaterials derived from sustainable sources for tissue engineering applications, particularly for bioprinting, as existing materials may not provide adequate reproducibility and control over tissue constructs, and current sources can be costly and environmentally harmful.

Innovation Solution

Biomaterials are developed using components from sustainable sources such as tunicates, fish skin, algae, banana skin, and watermelon, incorporating extracellular matrix, collagen, cellulose microfibers, and alginate, which can be processed into bioinks for 3D printing, wound dressings, and tissue engineering constructs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional biomaterials are used for bioprinting, then tissue construct fabrication is achieved, but environmental harm and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental harmVSAvoidbiomaterial sustainability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts harmful invasive marine species into beneficial sustainable biomaterial sources. Specifically, it uses tunicate (sea squirt) ECM and fish skin collagen as alternative to conventional mammalian-derived materials, transforming previously harmful environmental factors into useful biocomponents for tissue engineering applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers and utilizes waste products from food industry and marine environments. It employs fish skin collagen from aquaculture byproducts and plant-based materials like banana stem cellulose, converting discarded materials into valuable biomaterial components for sustainable tissue construct fabrication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If existing biomaterial sources are used, then tissue engineering applications are enabled, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiomaterial availabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive, readily available biomaterial sources such as tunicate ECM, fish skin collagen, and plant-based materials like banana stem cellulose and watermelon rind. These materials replace expensive conventional biomaterials while maintaining biocompatibility and functional performance for tissue engineering applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a versatile biomaterial platform that can be applied across multiple tissue engineering applications using the same sustainable source materials. The bioink formulations incorporating tunicate ECM, fish skin collagen, and plant-based components can be used for various tissue types, maximizing the utility and cost-effectiveness of each material source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sustainable biomaterials from invasive species are used, then environmental impact is reduced, but material processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidmaterial processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary decellularization and purification steps to prepare tunicate ECM and fish skin collagen materials before incorporating them into bioink formulations. This pre-processing eliminates cells and contaminants in advance, simplifying subsequent bioink fabrication and reducing the need for complex sterilization and processing steps later in the workflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

These biomaterials demonstrate enhanced biocompatibility, metabolic activity, and cell proliferation, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for tissue engineering while minimizing environmental impact by utilizing invasive marine species and reducing waste.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of: extracellular matrix (ECM), ECM proteins, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), lyophilized dECM, collagen, cellulose, cellulose microfibers (CMFs) and alginate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtracellular matrix:

Implementation Method 2

These biomaterials demonstrate enhanced biocompatibility, metabolic activity, and cell proliferation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCell proliferation:

Implementation Method 3

These biomaterials demonstrate enhanced biocompatibility, metabolic activity, and cell proliferation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiocompatibility:

Data Source

PatentUS20240335588A1Optimized Biomaterials of Various Cells and Tissues from Sustainable Sources

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 NEW YORK UNIV IN ABU DHABI CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to biomaterials derived from sustainable sources. Described herein are biomaterials and tissue engineering constructs comprising components derived from sustainable sources such as from tunicates, fish skin and bananas.