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Author Spotlight: A Novel Approach for Embedding Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Reactions in Hydrogels
Published on: June 23, 2023
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Plant-based hydrolysates as building blocks for cellular agriculture.
James C Charlesworth1, Andrew Jenner2, Johannes le Coutre3
1School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Food Chemistry
|August 1, 2024
Summary
Cellular agriculture can be more sustainable by using plant and feed hydrolysates in cell culture media. These cost-effective materials, especially from cattle rearing pellets, promote cell growth with reduced or no fetal bovine serum (FBS).
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Sustainable Agriculture
Background:
- Cellular agriculture aims to produce animal products via tissue culture, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional farming.
- Current methods often rely on fetal bovine serum (FBS) or expensive growth factors, hindering scalability and cost-effectiveness.
- Developing affordable, scalable growth media is crucial for the commercial viability of cellular agriculture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of hydrolysates from Kikuyu grass, Alfalfa grass, and cattle rearing pellets as cost-effective components for cell culture media.
- To identify conditions that support C2C12 myoblast cell growth in low-serum or serum-free media using these hydrolysates.
- To evaluate the efficacy of hydrolysates, particularly when combined with common growth promoters.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and testing of hydrolysates from Kikuyu grass, Alfalfa grass, and cattle rearing pellets.
- Culturing C2C12 myoblast cells in media supplemented with varying concentrations of hydrolysates and reduced/absent fetal bovine serum (FBS).
- Assessing cell growth promotion in the presence and absence of insulin, transferrin, and selenium (ITS).
Main Results:
- Hydrolysates from Kikuyu grass, Alfalfa grass, and cattle rearing pellets were evaluated for their ability to support C2C12 cell growth.
- Significant cell growth was observed in media containing 0.1% and 0% serum supplemented with these hydrolysates.
- Cattle rearing pellet hydrolysates demonstrated the most pronounced growth-promoting effects, especially when combined with insulin, transferrin, and selenium (ITS).
Conclusions:
- Plant and feed hydrolysates show promise as cost-effective, scalable ingredients for cellular agriculture media.
- The use of these hydrolysates can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in cell culture.
- Combining hydrolysates with established growth factors like ITS can enhance their efficacy, paving the way for commercially viable cellular agriculture.
