In a surprising fusion of ancient fermentation and cutting-edge technology, researchers have transformed kombucha tea’s bacterial film into a powerful new tool for repairing damaged tissue. The innovation, developed by scientists at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, could revolutionize how doctors treat complex wounds and injuries.
“Our prefabricated nanocellulose hydrogel network from symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast has the potential to be used as a platform bioink for in vivo tissue engineering by loading all types of biomolecules and drugs and direct bioprinting,” says Professor Insup Noh, who led the research.
The team harnessed the natural cellulose produced by kombucha’s symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to create a bioink that can be precisely applied to wounds using a special digital biopen. This bioink can carry living cells and healing compounds directly to damaged tissue.
What makes this approach unique is its adaptability to irregular wounds. Using their handheld biopen device, surgeons could potentially “draw” new tissue directly onto damaged areas, regardless of their shape or depth. The bioink’s structure also provides an ideal environment for cells to grow and form new tissue.
The researchers reinforced the cellulose material with chitosan and kaolin particles, creating a stable gel suitable for 3D bioprinting. Their digital biopen uses two counter-rotating screws to mix the ingredients uniformly, producing a homogeneous bioink that can be applied through a needle.
The technology could provide a cost-effective solution for treating large or irregularly shaped wounds without requiring laboratory tissue regeneration. “This technology allows for a quick and easy one-step process where the drug and hydrogel are mixed and immediately applied on-site to injured areas of different shapes,” Noh explains.
The research findings were published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, marking a significant step forward in the field of regenerative medicine. The team is now collaborating on long-term studies and in vivo experiments to further develop this promising technology.