SBIR Phase I: Microbe-based scaffold for the generation of structured cell-based meat

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是通过基于细胞的肉类生产来应对动物养殖的挑战。大约30%的地球表面、70%的可耕地和29%的全球淡水供应用于畜牧业。畜牧业占全球温室气体排放量的18%，是生物多样性的主要威胁。在美国使用的所有抗生素中，有70%用于农场动物，并导致了抗药性细菌的出现。据估计，基于细胞的肉类开发将显著减少温室气体和土地，水和能源的使用，以及肉类生产中的抗生素。该项目旨在开发新技术，以加速基于细胞的肉类开发。该项目开发了一种新的支架材料，用于生成动物组织，特别是骨骼肌。拟议的项目将最终推进当前关于组织生成机制的科学知识，并阐明组织发育过程中细胞粘附，分化和动物细胞生长的分子原理。关键技术目标包括证明所提出的支架可以成功地定制为包含任何感兴趣的细胞粘附分子，并证明新型生物材料可以用作组织培养级试剂。荧光显微镜将用于确定动物细胞在拟定支架上粘附和生长的程度。这些研究将促进对动物细胞与细胞外环境相互作用的理解，以及环境分子特性和线索如何调整以影响体外从头组织发育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address challenges of animal farming through cell-based meat production. Approximately 30% of the Earth’s surface, 70% of all arable land, and 29% of the global freshwater supply is dedicated to animal farming. Livestock is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a major threat to biodiversity. 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are used on farm animals and contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Cell-based meat development is estimated to generate significant reductions in greenhouse gases and use of land, water, and energy, as well as antibiotics in meat production. The proposed project aims to develop novel technologies that will accelerate cell-based meat development.The proposed project develops a novel scaffolding material for the generation of animal tissue, specifically skeletal muscle. The proposed project will ultimately advance current scientific knowledge on the mechanisms underlying tissue generation and elucidate the molecular principles governing cell adhesion, differentiation, and growth of animal cells during tissue development. Key technical objectives include demonstrating that the proposed scaffold can be successfully customized to harbor any cell adhesion molecule of interest, and proving that a novel biomaterial can be adapted as a tissue-culture-grade reagent. Fluorescence microscopy will be used to ascertain the extent of animal cell adhesion and growth on the proposed scaffold. These studies will advance understanding of animal cell interactions with their extracellular milieu, and how environmental molecular properties and cues are tuned to influence de novo tissue development in vitro.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.