Conditioning of microalgae-derived extract nutrients for expansion of bovine myogenic cells in cultivated meat production

• “Conditioning” increased nutrients in microalgae-derived extracts • “Conditioning” induced the digestion of polysaccharides and proteins in extracts • “Conditioning” decreased inhibitory compounds for bovine cells in extracts • The extracts are available for thawing, growth, and passaging of bovine cells • “Conditioning” effects on bovine cell growth were maintained for 2 years Cultivated meat production, utilizing cell culture technology, holds the potential to alleviate the ethical, environmental, and public health concerns associated with conventional livestock-based meat production. In the new meat production, more grain cultivation will be required to produce culture medium, as glucose, amino acids, and vitamins are typically extracted from grains. Our group has previously reported that nutrients can be extracted from Chlorella vulgaris via ultrasonic fragmentation, and that the microalgae-derived medium can serve as a new basal medium for culturing bovine myogenic cells. This study reports a method to enhance the usability of Chlorella vulgaris extract-based medium by preserving it at 4°C for 1 month. The “conditioning” process increased nutrient levels and decreased “inhibitory compounds” levels through the digestion of proteins, peptides, and polysaccharides. Consequently, the nutrient-rich medium derived from microalgae was available as a basal medium for large-scale cell expansion. In addition, the “conditioning” process effectively eliminates lot-to-lot variation in the extract, and the quality is maintained over several months. This simple protocol will facilitate the constant production of cultivated meat using a nutrient-rich, eco-friendly medium in the near future.