The seaweed sample before preparation and SEM images of the seaweed scaffolds with new cells. Credit: Gobinath Chithiravelu.

Seaweed shows excellent biocompatibility with cardiomyocytes, cells found in adult heart ventricles, reducing the need for animal testing.

Seaweed is found around the world. The name ‘seaweed’ comprises a diverse range of species, from microscopic phytoplankton to the giant forests found in various bodies of water.

Seaweed species aren’t just crucial parts of marine ecosystems, though; they also provide numerous health benefits for humans and have been dubbed a superfood by marketing companies, a term used to encompass healthy, nutrient-rich foods. 

Now, researchers from Oregon State University have found yet another use for seaweed as a cheap, vegan, and eco-friendly tissue scaffold. 

Author Gobinath Chithiravelu said: “Rather than using animal-derived or synthetic [chemically derived scaffolds], we want to utilise naturally found materials to produce the tissues, especially for use in preclinical testing.”

Alternative to animal testing

Tissue scaffolds are used in tissue engineering to provide a stable, structural environment for cells to grow.

It’s not just the biocompatibility of seaweed that makes it a promising candidate; seaweed scaffolds provide a great alternative to animal testing. 

The researchers sourced their seaweed from a commercial brand they originally discovered at a farmers’ market.

After cleaning and drying the marine red seaweed, known as Pacific dulse, they removed the cells from it, leaving only the extracellular matrix (ECM).

The ECM of Pacific dulse is compatible with human cardiomyocytes, which are cells found in adult heart ventricles.

Chithiravelu said: “So initially, we want to utilise the natural framework [of the seaweed] — we don’t want to disturb the structure.”

Effective treatment

Once the cells were grown on the seaweed scaffold, they were analysed to identify which conditions were most similar to the native scaffold of the cells.

The team identified the best initial treatments that promoted the tissue’s growth into fibrous networks and reduced cell interference from the seaweed.

This showed that treatment with the reagent sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is commonly found in labs, is an effective treatment to prepare the seaweed scaffold.

In the end, they found that all their seaweed scaffolds had excellent biocompatibility with the cardiomyocytes, showing a promising future for this line of research.

Not only will these scaffolds decrease animal testing at the preclinical phase, but they are a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic scaffolds. 

Chithiravelu said: “Why can’t we utilise seaweed? It’s abundant in the oceans and — when compared with animal derived or synthetic material — the cost is very low.”

The study is published in Biointerphases.