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Development and optimization of decellularized seaweed scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Gobinath Chithiravelu1,2, Marion J Jones1,2, Ivana Hernandez de Estrada1,2
1Inspired Materials and Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St., Corvallis, Oregon 97331.
Biointerphases
|October 21, 2025
Summary
Pacific dulse, a seaweed, offers a sustainable, animal-free tissue scaffold for growing human heart cells. This green biomaterial shows excellent biocompatibility and cell growth for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Marine Biotechnology
Background:
- Traditional tissue scaffolds often rely on animal-derived materials, raising ethical and contamination concerns.
- Developing sustainable, biocompatible, and animal-free alternatives is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine.
- Marine organisms, like seaweed, present unique extracellular matrix properties suitable for biomaterial development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the red seaweed *Devaleraea mollis* (Pacific dulse) as a novel, sustainable, animal-free tissue scaffold.
- To develop and characterize cellulose-based scaffolds derived from Pacific dulse for supporting human cardiomyocyte growth.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and cell proliferation capabilities of these seaweed-derived scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- Decellularization of native dulse using varying concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Triton X-100, and NaClO.
- Comprehensive characterization of scaffold architecture and composition using light microscopy, SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.
- In vitro assessment of scaffold biocompatibility, biodegradation, and human cardiomyocyte attachment, viability, and proliferation.
Main Results:
- Scaffolds processed with 10-15% SDS demonstrated superior structural integrity and preserved cellulose content.
- Seaweed-derived scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility with human cardiomyocytes.
- High cell viability, proliferation (2.5x normalized), and significant surface coverage (90% by day 6) were observed.
Conclusions:
- Seaweed-derived cellulose, specifically from *Devaleraea mollis*, is a highly promising biomaterial for tissue engineering.
- These scaffolds offer a sustainable, biocompatible, and animal-free alternative for cardiac cell culture and regenerative medicine.
- This research opens new avenues for innovative biomedical applications using eco-friendly marine resources.
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