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Developer of edible, plant-based scaffolds and microcarriers for the alternative protein industry, Matrix FT, has announced “Ohio’s first cultivated chicken”. Matrix FT’s engineering labs and biological testing facilities conduct cell culture experiments to test performance, food safety and sterility on the company’s scaffolds and microcarriers. The alt-protein developer also offers contract research services for cultivated meat companies in their biological testing facilities. The microcarriers that Matrix FT produces are used to grow cells in bioreactors for cultivated meat products. In a statement, the company said: “Scaffolds are used to proliferate, mature and differentiate cells, signalling gene expressions and protein expression, turning cells into complex tissue structures, or cultivated meat”. Matrix FT enables its customers to develop cell-based meat and dairy products by providing 3D extracellular matrixes on which cells can grow and proliferate. They also provide the product with texture and thickness. The chicken nugget is proof of concept and demonstrates how microcarriers and scaffolds contribute as a key ingredient to a cultivated meat project. Primary chicken myoblasts were obtained from a university partner and were cultivated, harvested and combined with a mixture of plant-based proteins to create a cookable, hybrid chicken nugget which was breaded and served at an internal tasting. "It had a great flavour, texture, and we were delighted to give a small example of how our customisable products can contribute to each of our customers' unique cell-based foods that they are going to take to market," said Heidi Coia, director of product development and innovation at Matrix FT.