Challenges and Prospects of Plant-Protein-Based 3D Printing

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a rapidly developing additive manufacturing technique consisting of the deposition of materials layer-by-layer to produce physical 3D structures. The technique offers unique opportunities to design and produce new products that cater to consumer experience and nutritional requirements. In the past two decades, a wide range of materials, especially plant-protein-based materials, have been documented for the development of personalized food owing to their nutritional and environmental benefits. Despite these benefits, 3D printing with plant-protein-based materials present significant challenges because there is a lack of a comprehensive study that takes into account the most relevant aspects of the processes involved in producing plant-protein-based printable items. This review takes into account the multi-dimensional aspects of processes that lead to the formulation of successful printable products which includes an understanding of rheological characteristics of plant proteins and 3D-printing parameters, as well as elucidating the appropriate concentration and structural hierarchy that are required to maintain stability of the substrate after printing. This review also highlighted the significant and most recent research on 3D food printing with a wide range of plant proteins. This review also suggests a future research direction of 3D printing with plant proteins.

A biocompatible pea protein isolate-derived bioink for 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering

“…10–12 Despite these advantages, plant proteins, especially those from legumes and cereals, present challenges, such as limited solvent compatibility, which hinders their application as biomaterials. 13 Since the biocompatibility of plant proteins remains unclear, further evaluation of their potential immunogenicity and derivatives is required. Considering the abundant availability and the low immunogenicity and cost of plant proteins, it is profitable to develop bioinks derived from plant proteins.…”

“…18–21 Moreover, a few studies have reported utilizing plant proteins as raw material for bioinks used in tissue engineering, but with a focus on food printing, such as cellular meat. 13,17,18 For example, bovine muscle cells have been cultured on inexpensive and sustainable three-dimensional plant protein scaffolds; David et al investigated two processing techniques for solubilising pea proteins, which led to the fabrication of cost-effective, protein-rich scaffolds with high nutritional value, thus greatly facilitating the commercial production of cultured meat. 22,23 Hence, the primary focus lies in enhancing the water solubility of bioinks derived from plant proteins and imbuing them with photocrosslinking properties for gel formation to tailor them for DLP 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering applications.…”