Iranian researchers turned egg white into biological substance

A group of researchers with the help of Iranian researchers have invented hydrogel from egg white, which is used in 3D printers as biological ink and has many applications in tissue engineering. 3D bioprinting using photo cross linking hydrogels has attracted considerable attention due to its adaptability in various applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery. The polymerization between groups of polymer chains that are activated by exposure to light with or without photoinitiators is called photocrosslinking. Egg white (EW) is an organic biomaterial that has great potential in tissue engineering. This material is rich in protein along with biocompatibility, bioactivity, adjustable mechanical properties, and anti-viral and bacterial properties.

In this regard, the researchers in collaboration with Mohsen Akbari, Mahbubeh Mahmoudi, Ali Darabi, Neda Mohaghegh invented a photo-crosslinked hydrogel by modifying methacryloyl from egg white, which resulted in egg white methacryloyl (EWMA). The synthesized EWMA, after Exposure to UV light cross-links and creates hydrogels with remarkable bioactivity. The said hydrogel has tunable mechanical and physical properties that are compatible with most current bioprinters.

Also, EWMA promotes cell growth and proliferation in 3D cultures. When this material was tested with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), it facilitated endothelialization, therefore it is an attractive alternative for engineering hemocompatible vascular grafts and biomedical implants. Overall, EWMA enables biofabrication of various living structures. With the help of such a material, it is possible to increase the development of physiologically relevant 3D models in laboratory conditions.