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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Corinne Wills, Dr Piergiorgio GentileORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2024 The Author(s)Cocoa bean production, a cornerstone of many developing economies, currently adheres to a linear economic model, giving rise to sustainability concerns. The expansion of cocoa butter and liquor consumption has resulted in the increased generation of residual biomass, constituting 60–70 % of fresh fruit. The absence of management plans for this biomass in cocoa-producing countries poses a risk of phytosanitary issues. This study proposed a circular economy approach by valorising cocoa pod husk-derived pectin for tissue engineering. The study optimised an alkaline-based protocol to extract pectin from cocoa pod husk, resulting in ∼ 20 % yield with a ∼ 47 % degree of esterification. Methacrylation transformed extracted pectin into pectin methacrylate (PECMA), confirmed by FTIR-ATR and NMR analyses. PECMA hydrogels, crosslinked with CaCO3 and UV, exhibited rapid gelation and superior water uptake properties. SEM revealed distinct morphological differences with UV exposure, showing improved interconnectivity and anisotropic porosity while the mechanical testing demonstrated enhanced compressive modulus and rheological properties with UV crosslinking. PECMA-based bioink encapsulated chondrocytes, maintaining cell viability over 6 days. This innovative bioink, derived from cocoa waste, holds promise for sustainable tissue engineering applications.
Author(s): Giron-Hernandez J, Tombe A, Chemban Koyilot M, Salas-Calderon KT, Charlton A, Wills C, Gentile P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Polymer Journal
Year: 2024
Volume: 210
Print publication date: 24/04/2024
Online publication date: 24/03/2024
Acceptance date: 23/03/2023
Date deposited: 09/04/2024
ISSN (print): 0014-3057
ISSN (electronic): 1873-1945
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112967
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112967
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