Emerging applications of 3D engineered constructs from plant seed extracts

Abstract

Seeds, by-products derived from various plants such as mango, quince, and apples, are considered waste, though they have emerging commercial potential, and have been used in biological, industrial, and physiological research. Seed-derived natural macromolecules- mainly polysaccharides, mucilage, gums, and cellulose-have physicochemical and structural diversification, giving the potential for forming gels, texturing, thickening, and providing interfacial adsorption. Seed-derived natural macromolecules have been widely used during the last few years in cell research and tissue engineering applications. Their widespread approachability and safety, high rate of biodegradability, biocompatibility, supporting cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix synthesis are the main properties making plant seed derivatives appropriate for use. The gel-forming ability of these derivatives gives them the capability of creating natural polymer-based scaffolds with the aptitude to resemble extracellular matrices (ECM). These ECM exhibit the high potential in scaffolds for tissue renewal. A deeper knowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of seed-derived mucilage and gum has been indicated as a key ingredient in several pharmaceutical preparations, but it has been remarkably utilized in nanomedicine for the last few years as a drug carrier for drug delivery, in gene therapy, and as scaffold components for tissue engineering purposes. Here, we afford up-to-date data about the different extracts from plant seeds-mainly mucilage and gum, we summarize the extraction techniques used to isolate these macromolecules, and we focus on their application in scaffold fabrication for tissue engineering purposes and regenerative medicine applications.

Keywords: Seed-extract; natural macromolecules; scaffolds; tissue engineering.

Figure 1

Various applications of plant seed-derived extracts (created by Biorender).

Figure 2

Worldwide research and application area of mucilage for scaffold preparation. Updated on 07/06/2022.

Figure 3

The steps to extract mucilage quince seeds by preparation of silica precursor for developing Si-QSM based cryogels with microwave-assisted technique. Figures A, B, C, and D show the examination of cryogel morphology with SEM microscopy with of hAMSCs attachment on QSM cryogel and Si-QSM cryogel on days 7, 14, and 21. Reproduced, with permission, from Yilmaz et al. (2021).

Figure 4

SEM images from fibroblasts (L929) culture experiment and surface examination of the biocompatibility of nanofibers of mucilage from Mozote, Chan, and Linaza with PVA. Cell proliferation on mucilage/PVA NFs was significantly higher than that on PVA NFs, with better proliferation in the presence of chan seed mucilage. Reproduced, with permission, from Urena-Saborio et al. (2018).

Figure 5

(Left) Oxidized quince seed gum (OX-QSG) preparation and formation of Chitosan/OX-QSG/halloysite nanotubes (CS/OX-QSG/ HNTs) hydrogels. (Right) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Chitosan/Oxidized Quince Seed Gum (CS/OX-QSG) hydrogels with different content ratios of CS/OX-QSG (a) 75:25, (b) 50:50, (c) 25:75, and (d) SEM images of NIH3T3 fibroblast cell attachment. Reproduced with permission from Yavari Maroufi and Ghorbani 2021.

Figure 6

SEM images of (a) native collagen scaffold and its (b) cross-section morphology (100/0 wt.% C/GSP) and the hybrid scaffold (100/100 wt.% C/DSP), (c,d). Reproduced, with permission, from Cheirmadurai et al. (2016).