Scientists create bioink from egg whites to 3D print complex tissues

Researchers have created a new, nature-inspired bioink for tissue engineering.

California-based Terasaki Institute has unlocked the potential of a surprising ingredient: egg whites. They turned regular egg whites into a cutting-edge substance known as egg white methacryloyl (EWMA).

Tissue engineering is the process of producing new tissues, similar to those found in human bodies, to heal injuries or even design complicated organs to replace damaged ones. Bioink is important in 3D printing because it allows intricate artificial tissues to be produced layer by layer.

Composed of natural or synthetic substances, bioinks provide a supportive environment for living cells to attach, multiply, and specialize within a 3D-printed structure.

These complex structures mimic the real tissues, which means they have the potential to advance medical research, produce new medications, and, eventually, enable organ transplants in the future.

Bioink formation

The process involves transforming ordinary egg whites into a specialized material suitable for 3D bioprinting.

Egg whites are mostly made up of proteins. The team chemically altered these proteins by inserting methacryloyl groups into their structure. This process is referred to as methacryloylation. The modified egg whites are formulated into a bioink.

When this bioink is exposed to light, the methacryloyl groups react, resulting in strong crosslinks. These crosslinks form a gel-like structure, which solidifies the bioink into a 3D shape.

“This EWMA bioink offers several advantages that make it suitable for bioprinting applications. It provides abundant proteins, ensuring a nutrient-rich environment for cell growth. This bioink exhibits excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity, crucial for successful tissue engineering,” the researchers mentioned in the press release.

Unique properties

The bioink’s adaptability enables the exact fabrication of multi-tissue structures mimicking natural biology.

Interestingly, researchers may “fine-tune the material’s characteristics” to make it suitable for various tissue requirements.

According to the press release, this unique bioink contains antiviral and antibacterial capabilities, which are critical for infection prevention in medical applications.

With its unique features, EWMA bioink has the potential to be a game changer in tissue engineering .

“This innovative approach to creating bioinks from egg whites demonstrates the immense potential of bio-inspired materials in tissue engineering,” said Ali Khademhosseini, an expert in bioengineering.

“By harnessing readily available natural resources and enhancing them through clever chemical modifications, we’re opening new avenues for personalized regenerative medicine. Such breakthroughs are crucial in our quest to develop more effective and accessible solutions for organ failure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer treatments,” added Khademhosseini.

There are several benefits of using egg whites as they are a readily available and inexpensive material. Moreover, egg whites are rich in nutrients, which can support cell growth and survival within the bioink.

EWMA bioinks can speed up drug development by allowing for the production of more realistic tissue models, reducing animal testing. Ultimately, this technology could lead to functional tissue replacements for patients in need. However, the latter may take years of research and development.

The developers highlight that future research will likely uncover new ways to improve and utilize EWMA bioink.

The findings have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials .