From cocoa waste to sustainable bioink: valorising pectin for circular economy-driven tissue engineering

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112967
• Publication Date: 2024-03-24T23:25:17Z
• Authors: Joel Girón-Hernández; Abraham Tombe; Mufeeda Chemban K...; Karen T. Salas-Ca...; Alex Charlton; Corinne Wills; Piergiorgio Gentile
• Keywords: Pectin; Husk; COCOA BEAN

Cocoa bean production, a cornerstone of many developing economies, currently adheres to linear economic model, giving rise sustainability concerns. The expansion cocoa butter and liquor consumption has resulted in the increased generation residual biomass, constituting 60–70 % fresh fruit. absence management plans for this biomass cocoa-producing countries poses risk phytosanitary issues. This study proposed circular economy approach by valorising pod husk-derived pectin tissue engineering. optimised an alkaline-based protocol extract from husk, resulting ∼ 20 yield with 47 degree esterification. Methacrylation transformed extracted into methacrylate (PECMA), confirmed FTIR-ATR NMR analyses. PECMA hydrogels, crosslinked CaCO3 UV, exhibit rapid gelation superior water uptake properties. SEM revealed distinct morphological differences UV exposure, showing improved interconnectivity anisotropic porosity while mechanical testing demonstrated enhanced compressive modulus rheological properties crosslinking. PECMA-based bioink encapsulates chondrocytes, maintaining cell viability over 6 days. innovative bioink, derived waste, holds promise sustainable engineering applications.