Scientists unlock seaweed's structure to create sustainable biomaterials
Researchers have discovered how to transform brown seaweed into functional hydrogel materials without extensive chemical processing, preserving the plant's natural architecture. The discovery could lower production costs and environmental impact for industries using hydrogels in food, pharmaceuticals, and packaging—while reducing reliance on synthetic alternatives.
Originaltitel: Integrating Biological Architecture and Biomaterial Function: Exploring the Native Hydrogel Structure of Brown Seaweed
**Brunalger ger nya möjligheter för biomaterial i livsmedel** Forskare vid Luleå tekniska universitet utvecklar funktionella biomaterial direkt från brunalgers naturliga struktur utan kemisk omarbetning. Genom att bevara alginernatets och cellulosan inneboende arkitektur skapar de hydrogeler med upp till 3600 % vätskeabsorption och 93 % porositet — relevant för förpacknings- och konserveringslösningar. Materialet framställs genom mekanisk fiberisering och 3D-printing eller frystorkning. Cytokompatibilitetstestning visar 73 % cellviabilitet vid normal koncentration, dock sjunkande effekt vid högre doser, vilket signalerar behov av dosoptimering för biomedicinskapsyk. För livsmedelsproducenter öppnar detta vägen till miljösnål förpackning från ett lokalt råmaterial. Regelramverket för biomaterial i direktkontakt med livsmedel kräver dock ytterligare validering före kommersialisering — en process som sannolikt tar 2–3 år. Brunalger från havsbotten blir potentiell konkurrens till syntetiska lösningar.
<p>Brown seaweed is a naturally occurring composite that integrates alginate and cellulose within a hierarchical, hydrated architecture analogous to engineered hydrogel systems. This study hypothesizes that leveraging the native structure–function relationships of brown seaweed enables the development of functional hydrogel biomaterials while minimizing synthetic and chemical processing. Strategies are investigated to exploit the intrinsic biological structure and composition of brown seaweed blades across multiple formats, including native and purified blade structures, as well as fibrillated blades reassembled into hydrogels and foam structures via 3D printing and freeze-drying. The resulting biomaterials are characterized in terms of structure, hydrogel stability, and liquid absorption capacity in different media. The effects of purification are compared with those of native materials. In addition, porosity, mechanical, rheological, and cytocompatibility properties of the fibrillated and reassembled structures are evaluated. By preserving the natural architecture and avoiding extensive fractionation, this approach demonstrates the potential to create resource-efficient biomaterials with high liquid absorption (∼3600%), high porosity (∼93%), and shape-memory behavior after compression. Cytocompatibility reaches ∼73% viability at 50% extract but decreases to ∼59% at full concentration, indicating a concentration-dependent biological response, underscoring the need to balance minimal processing with biological performance for biomedical applications.</p>