A narrative review: 3D bioprinting of cultured muscle meat and seafood products and its potential for the food industry

Advancements in Stem Cell Applications for Livestock Research: A Review

Stem cells (SCs), distinguished by their capacity for self-renewal and multipotent differentiation, represent a cornerstone of regenerative medicine. These cells, which can be categorized according to their differentiation potential and developmental origin, have emerged as pivotal elements in both biomedical research and veterinary science. In herbivorous species, stem cell applications have yielded particularly promising advances across multiple domains, including reproductive biotechnology, tissue engineering and regeneration, therapeutic interventions, and immunomodulation. This review synthesizes contemporary research on stem cell biology in five economically significant herbivorous species: bovine, ovine, deer, equine, and camelid. Special emphasis is placed on stem cell isolation methodologies, culture optimization techniques, and the molecular mechanisms governing key signaling pathways. The discussion encompasses both the technical impediments facing stem cell research and the ethical framework necessary for responsible scientific advancement, with particular attention to animal welfare considerations in the development and implementation of stem cell-based technologies.

Novel Protein-Rich Bioactive Bioink Stimulates Cellular Proliferation and Response in 3D Bioprinted Volumetric Constructs

3D extrusion bioprinting, a promising and widely adopted technology in the emerging field of biofabrication, has gained considerable attention for its ability to fabricate hierarchically structured, native-mimicking tissue substitutes with precisely defined cell distributions. Despite notable advancements, the limited availability of suitably bioactive bioinks remains a major challenge, hindering the construction of volumetric tissue substitutes effectively mimicking biological functionality. Therefore, this work proposes a protein-rich, low-cost, bioactive bioink: abundantly available eggwhite powder (EWP) is leveraged to functionalize an alginate-methylcellulose (AlgMC) hydrogel matrix and enhance cellular response. The developed EWP-supplemented bioinks not only maintain favorable printability and high shape fidelity but also exhibit remarkable bioactivity. Notably, incorporating EWP into AlgMC-based bioinks enhances shear-thinning features, thereby improving the viability of encapsulated cells within the bioprinted constructs. The versatility and biofunctionality of EWP in bioprinted constructs are demonstrated using three distinct cell types, encompassing sources such as a stem cell line, human soft skin, and stiff bone tissues. Furthermore, the promising and wide applicability of the EWP-supplemented bioink for biofabrication is demonstrated exemplarily in core-shell and multi-channel bioprinting strategies as a proof-of-concept for functional tissue construction. These findings underscore the significant and versatile potential of this novel bioink in biofabrication and biomedical applications.

Evaluation of the Gelation Characteristics and Printability of Edible Filamentous Fungi Flours and Protein Extracts

There is a pressing need to produce novel food ingredients from sustainable sources to support a growing population. Filamentous fungi can be readily cultivated from low-cost agricultural byproducts to produce functional proteins for food biomanufacturing of structured products. However, there is a lack of scientific knowledge on the gelling characteristics of fungal proteins or their potential in additive biomanufacturing. Therefore, this study investigated the feasibility of utilizing fungal protein extracts and flours from Aspergillus awamori, Pleurotus ostreatus, Auricularia auricula-judae as sole gelling agents in 3D-printed products. Protein extracts were successfully prepared using the alkaline extraction-isoelectric precipitation method and successful physical gels were created after heating and cooling. Results indicated that shear-thinning gel materials could be formed with acceptable printability at mass inclusion rates between 15% and 25% with the best performance obtained with P. ostreatus protein extract at 25% inclusion. A. auricula-judae demonstrated promising rheological characteristics but further optimization is needed to create homogeneous products appropriate for extrusion-based 3D printing. This work provides valuable insights for continued development of 3D-printed foods with filamentous fungi.

The Multifaceted Role of 3D Printed Conducting Polymers in Next-Generation Energy Devices: A Critical Perspective

The increasing human population is leading to growing consumption of energy sources which requires development in energy devices. The modern iterations of these devices fail to offer sustainable and environmentally friendly answers since they require costly equipment and produce a lot of waste. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has spurred incredible innovation over the years in a variety of fields and is clearly an attractive option because technology can create unique geometric items quickly, cheaply, and with little waste. Conducting polymers (CPs) are a significant family of functional materials that have garnered interest in the research community because of their high conductivity, outstanding sustainability, and economic significance. They have an extensive number of applications involving supercapacitors, power sources, electrochromic gadgets, electrostatic components, conducting pastes, sensors, and biological devices thanks to their special physical and electrical attributes, ease of synthesis, and appropriate frameworks for functional attachment. The use of three-dimensional printing has become popular as an exact way to enhance prepared networks. Rapid technological advancements are reproducing patterns and building structures that enable automated deposition of polymers for intricate structures. Different composites have been created using oxides of metals and carbon to improve the efficiency of the CPs. Such composites have been actively investigated as exceptional energy producers for low-power electronic techniques, and by increasing the range of applications, they have verified increasing surface area, electronic conductivity, and remarkable electrochemical behavior. The hybridization with such materials has produced a range of equipment, such as gathering energy, sensors, protective gadgets, and storage facilities. A few possible uses for these CPs such as sensors and energy storage devices are discussed in this perspective. We also provide an overview of the key strategies for scientific and industrial applications with an eye on potential improvements for a sustainable future.