The chicken eggshell membrane: a versatile, sustainable, biological material for translational biomedical applications

Abstract

Naturally derived materials are often preferred to than synthetic materials for biomedical applications due to their innate biological characteristics, relative availability, sustainability, and agreement with conscientious end-users. The chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) is an abundant resource with a defined structural profile, chemical composition, and validated morphological and mechanical characteristics. These unique properties have not only allowed the ESM to be exploited within the food industry, but has also led to it be considered for other novel translational applications such as tissue regeneration and replacement, filtration aids and barrier devices, and environmental health engagement. However, challenges still exist in order to enhance the native ESM: the need to improve its mechanical properties, the ability to combine/join fragments of ESM together, and the addition or incorporation of drugs/growth factors to advance its therapeutic capacity. This review article provides a succinct background to the native ESM, its extraction, isolation, and consequent physical, mechanical and biological characterisation including possible approaches to enhancement. Moreover, it also highlights current applications of the ESM in regenerative medicine and hints at future novel applications in which this novel biomaterial could be exploited to beneficial use.

X‐Ray Visible Protein Scaffolds by Bulk Iodination

“…Various recent studies illustrate the versality of ESM, showing repair of damaged ear drum, nerves, cartilage, and cardiovascular defects. [93][94][95] Though silk is most commonly used as a surgical material, new material processing techniques are emerging, [96] together with a variety of cellular and acellular regenerative therapies including tendon and ligament grafts, cardiac patches, and vascular constructs. [97] Our proof-of-concept labeling demonstrated that silk exhibits a sixfold higher radiopacity than decellularized porcine dermis, in line with the sixfold higher tyrosine content of silk versus collagen.…”

A Sustainable, Green-Processed, Ag-Nanoparticle-Incorporated Eggshell-Derived Biomaterial for Wound-Healing Applications

“…Chicken (Gallus gallus) ESM is a natural biomaterial obtained from chicken egg and has good biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial, antifungal, and wound-healing properties [ 7 ]. The resemblance of the ESM to native tissue, i.e., the extracellular matrix, and its high protein and glycoprotein content, make it a highly valued resource in wound healing and capable of providing an ideal environment for tissue healing [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Furthermore, the high surface area and functional groups, porosity, biological attributes, and non-toxic character make the ESM a perfect scaffold to encourage cell growth and migration [ 7 , 10 ].…”

“…The resemblance of the ESM to native tissue, i.e., the extracellular matrix, and its high protein and glycoprotein content, make it a highly valued resource in wound healing and capable of providing an ideal environment for tissue healing [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Furthermore, the high surface area and functional groups, porosity, biological attributes, and non-toxic character make the ESM a perfect scaffold to encourage cell growth and migration [ 7 , 10 ]. Likewise, the high surface area of the ESM lets it serve as an adsorbent of drugs, nanoparticles, or microparticles to improve tissue regeneration via controlled drug release [ 7 , 9 ].…”

“…Furthermore, the high surface area and functional groups, porosity, biological attributes, and non-toxic character make the ESM a perfect scaffold to encourage cell growth and migration [ 7 , 10 ]. Likewise, the high surface area of the ESM lets it serve as an adsorbent of drugs, nanoparticles, or microparticles to improve tissue regeneration via controlled drug release [ 7 , 9 ]. Based on these characteristics, the ESM have been exploited as a potential biomaterial for dermal wound-healing applications [ 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…Likewise, the high surface area of the ESM lets it serve as an adsorbent of drugs, nanoparticles, or microparticles to improve tissue regeneration via controlled drug release [ 7 , 9 ]. Based on these characteristics, the ESM have been exploited as a potential biomaterial for dermal wound-healing applications [ 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. One important process for the use of ESM as a biomaterial is its separation from the eggshell (ES).…”