Development of Sustainable Konjac Glucomannan-Based Microcarriers for Cultivated Meat Production
Date
2024
Authors
Singh, Satinder
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Abstract
The global demand for sustainable alternatives to conventional meat production has promoted advancements in cultivated meat technologies, with scaffolding materials playing a key role in supporting cell growth and mimicking natural meat structures. This study investigates konjac glucomannan (KGM), a plant-based polysaccharide, as a biocompatible and cost-effective material for microcarrier generation in cell culture technologies. A method was developed to synthesize KGM hydrogels and fabricate microcarriers via controlled acidic degradation and crosslinking with epichlorohydrin (ECH) using a water-in-oil emulsion technique. The resulting microcarriers demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, mechanical stability, and a reticulated structure that may support cell adhesion and proliferation, competing with conventional dextran-based microcarriers while offering cost and sustainability benefits. These findings highlight KGM's potential as a cruelty-free microcarrier material for cultivated meat production and other biomedical applications, supporting the objectives of ethical innovation and global sustainability.
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Keywords
Konjac Glucomannan (KGM), Meat Cultivation, Microfluidics, Batch-Emulsion, Epichlorohydrin (ECH), Microcarriers, Plant-Based Materials