Patent Description:
Since ancient times, meat has been a major source of high-quality protein in the human diet, and to this day it continues to provide nutrition to the exponentially growing population of the world. However, meat is a very inefficient source of food and its production has increased so much that it is now one of the largest contributors to a number of serious problems such as animal welfare, pollution and food safety issues.

The ideal replacement for animal meat would be meat produced through tissue engineering. Virtually all aforementioned downsides of meat production would be eradicated but the consumers could still enjoy the meat.

Growing muscle tissue has been subject to research & development for a long time in the medical and research field, and conducted by artificially proliferating two-dimensional (2D) muscle cells into three-dimensional (3D) tissue-specific progenitors in the presence of growth and differentiation media.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for the production of tissue from cells. The apparatus comprises an elongate body and at least one trough; the elongate body having at least one circumferential groove and being operable to extend, by close-fitting relationship, centrally through the at least one trough. When using the device of <CIT>, cells and a liquid hydrogel, comprising a scaffolding biomaterial, are added into at least one trough of the apparatus. The scaffolding biomaterial is subsequently cross-linked by exposure to heat or ultraviolet radiation, and as such a gelated transitioning intermediate is obtained with a shape corresponding to the shape of the at least one trough.

<CIT> discloses a bioreactor and methods for using said bioreactor for drug screening. The bioreactor can include a microfibrous hydrogel scaffold, that can be made of a composite alginate-gelatin methacryloyl (GeIMA) bioink, and that can have endothelial cells directly embedded within the scaffold. The scaffold can further be seeded with cardiomyocytes so that said bioreactor has a controlled anisotropy, and the scaffold can be placed in a chamber defined by a PDMS half pieces, that compress the scaffold slightly when the PDMS half pieces are fastened to each other.

It is preferred to at least partially automate the process of obtaining a cell-containing hydrogel and/or increase the speed with which the cell-containing hydrogel can be obtained. Present methods and devices only allow for very small quantities - in the order of grams - of meat to be produced, for example due to limitations in the amount of cell-containing hydrogel which can be produced. It is desired to be able to produce larger quantities of meat in relatively less time and/or with relatively less resources and/or with relatively less human effort.

It is found that the presently used cross-linking process using heat is relatively slow. Crosslinking based on ultraviolet radiation, while being faster, typically requires the use of compounds that are not considered safe for foodstuff such as cultured meat. Cross-linking processes based on for instance ionic bonds or quick chemical reactions may be faster than cross-linking processes using heat and safer than ultraviolet radiation. Cross-linking based on ionic bonds may for instance be achieved by contacting a first liquid comprising the polymer chains with a second liquid comprising ionic moieties.

It has been observed that a faster cross-linking process than e.g. thermal or ultraviolet radiation crosslinking, when used with the device of <CIT>, posed challenges. For instance, ionic crosslinking results in waves due to the two low viscosity liquids mixing, and subsequently solidifying in this shape. As such, it proved difficult to obtain a homogeneous shape and thickness of the gelated transitioning intermediate.

A first aspect provides a method of preparing a cell-containing hydrogel for use in the production of cultured meat. The method comprising the steps of positioning a central body inside a circumferential member, thereby forming an annular volume between the central body and an inner wall of the circumferential member, filling the annular volume with a cell-containing fluid, moving the central body relative to the circumferential member such that the central body moves through an outlet opening of the circumferential member, thereby creating an access area between the central body and the circumferential member, and exposing the access area to a cross-linking fluid to allow crosslinking of the cell-containing fluid to obtain a cell-containing hydrogel. The method allows the use of a fast cross-linking process by mixing the fluid cell culture with the cross-linking fluid. Different steps in the method may be performed at least partially simultaneously.

A hydrogel is a network wherein the discontinuous phase is solid and the continuous phase is water. The discontinuous phase is typically a network of hydrophilic polymer chains, which are crosslinked to form a three-dimensional network. Gels may be considered semi-solids and typically exhibit little to no flow at steady-state. The structural integrity of the hydrogel is typically not compromised by the presence of water. Hydrogels may for instance be capable of absorbing water to a high extent. Crosslinking (also referred to as gelation) of the polymer chains may be physical or chemical. Physical crosslinks for instance include ionic interactions, chain entanglement and hydrogen bonds. Chemical crosslinks are typically based upon covalent bonds between polymer chains.

The cell-containing fluid typically comprises cells of non-human mammal origin. These cells may for instance be myosatellite cells. Typically, the cells are proliferated and ready to fuse into myotubes and long muscle fibres.

The cell-containing fluid further typically comprises a polysaccharide. Such polysaccharides may for instance include starch, chitin and alginate. Preferably the cell-containing fluid comprises alginate. Alginate is an anionic biopolymer comprising α-L-guluronate (also referred to as G) and β-D-mannuronate (also referred to as M). Alginates are often used in bioengineering due to its biocompatibility and non-toxicity. Further, alginate may encourage cell proliferation and mammalian cells typically do not express any enzymes that may degrade the polysaccharide.

In particular, an alginate with a specific molecular weight and/or specific composition may be preferred. A suitable alginate for instance has a low molecular weight, such as between <NUM> to <NUM> kDa. A suitable composition may be a M/G ratio of <NUM> to <NUM>. This allows for increased biodegradability and faster stress relaxation. The faster stress relaxation may allow for the cells to spread within a hydrogel based on such alginates. Further, the faster stress relaxation typically allows for cell-cell contacts and myotubes to form. Additionally, the specific molecular weight and/or specific composition may allow for an optimal stiffness for cellular alignment.

The polysaccharide is preferably conjugated with one or more cell-adhesion peptides. The cell-adhesion peptide may be capable of binding to a receptor on the cell to encourage several processes, such as cell migration, spreading, guidance and differentiation. Cell adhesion peptides may attach to various integrin receptors on the cell surface. Accordingly, the cell-adhesion peptide may be an integrin-binding ligand, such as the peptide motif RGD (Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid). Additionally, the polysaccharide may be conjugated with a plurality of different cell-adhesion peptides.

Preferably, the cell-containing fluid comprises an aqueous solution of an alginate, typically sodium alginate, that is conjugated to one or more cell-adhesion peptides and a cell mixture comprising cells of non-human mammal origin.

The cell-containing fluid is typically exposed to the cross-linking fluid to allow for crosslinking of the cell-containing fluid. The cell-containing fluid and the crosslinking fluid are typically low viscous liquids, for instance the viscosity may resemble the viscosity of water at ambient temperature (i.e. <NUM>). The cross-linking fluid is accordingly what provides the required conditions and/or components to allow for crosslinking. Crosslinking may result in the formation of a cell-containing hydrogel.

The fast crosslinking process used in the present invention is typically sufficiently fast to allow for quick or preferably instant crosslinking of the polymer chains. Typically, for the fast crosslinking process, the cross-linking fluid first contacts the outer surface of the cell-containing fluid. Accordingly, the outer layer of the cell-containing fluid may instantaneously form a gel thereby preventing the cell-containing fluid to spread out or lose its shape as defined by the moulding volume. The inner core of the cell-containing fluid surrounding the central body may require some additional time for crosslinking. Therefore, the crosslinking time is typically between <NUM>-<NUM> minutes, preferably between <NUM>-<NUM> minutes. This may allow for roughly all the cell-containing fluid to form the cell-containing hydrogel.

Instant crosslinking may imply that the crosslinking process is sufficiently fast to fully or at least partially prevent the cell-containing fluid from flowing off the central body after being exposed to the crosslinking fluid.

A particularly suitable alginate-based hydrogel with an optimal environment for the production of muscle tissue is described in <CIT> (filed by the present applicant, not yet published).

Dependent on the type of crosslinking and type of polysaccharide, the crosslinking fluid may comprise divalent cations, a covalent crosslinker, and/or a buffer. A suitable covalent crosslinker may be genipin. For instance, when using alginate as polysaccharide, divalent cations such as calcium ions or magnesium ions (Mg<NUM>+) are preferred. Preferably calcium (Ca<NUM>+) ions are used. The divalent cations may be present in the cross-linking fluid as a dissociated salt. The cross-linking fluid may accordingly comprise an aqueous solution of a salt, such as calcium chloride (CaCl<NUM>) or magnesium chloride (MgCl<NUM>).

Preferably, the cross-linking fluid comprises an aqueous solution of calcium chloride, as this typically results in fast gelation of the cell-containing fluid. Typically, the concentration of the divalent cations is between <NUM> and <NUM>. The preferred concentration of the cations and accordingly the degree of crosslinking may present suitable chemical, topographical and mechanical properties for myosatellite cells to migrate, spread, align and differentiate into muscle tissue.

The buffer may for instance be used to provide an optimal pH or at least a pH within a range that is sufficient for self-crosslinking. Self-crosslinking is herein used to describe the process that the polymeric chains of the polysaccharide may form the polymeric network without being spaced by e.g. calcium ions or a crosslinker.

The polysaccharide may have functional groups capable of reacting with a covalent crosslinker. The functional groups may be inherently present in the polysaccharide or may be synthetically introduced. Covalent crosslinkers are typically compounds that comprise reactive groups, for instance reactive end-groups. These reactive groups may react with the functional groups of the polysaccharide, thereby forming covalent bonds that result in the crosslinking of the polymer chains. In such cases, it may be preferred that the cross-linking fluid comprises a buffer. Such buffers may for instance have a suitable pH at which the crosslinker and polysaccharide react. The crosslinker may be present in the cell-containing fluid and/or in the crosslinking-fluid. The cross-linking fluid accordingly provides the environment for the cell-containing fluid to be subjected to fast gelation.

In some cases, particularly when the used polysaccharide is alginate, the cell-containing fluid may be at least partially gelated (i.e. the viscosity is increased but the cell-containing hydrogel is not yet formed) by a slow gelation or internal gelation. Preferably, the cell-containing fluid is at least partially gelated in the mould. Advantageously, this may allow for the cell-containing fluid to obtain a high enough viscosity that minimizes any flow of the cell-containing fluid from the central body when it is exposed to the crosslinking-fluid. Accordingly, the final shape of the hydrogel is typically smoother and more defined as determined by the mould, e.g. the central body and the circumferential member. The slower gelation or internal gelation typically comprises exposing the cell-containing fluid comprising alginate to a forming fluid. This forming fluid is typically liquid, preferably it is a low viscous liquid, for instance with a viscosity similar to the viscosity of water at ambient temperature. The forming fluid may comprise calcium gluconate and/or a mixture of glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) with calcium carbonate (CaCO<NUM>). Good results have been obtained for a forming liquid comprising a GDL/CaCO<NUM> mixture. The forming liquid typically slowly releases calcium ions to obtain a slower ionotropic gelation of the alginate. As the slow gelation or internal gelation is typically only partial, it is followed by exposure to the crosslinking fluid to obtain the final cell-containing hydrogel. Accordingly, the slower or internal gelation process can be used as a complementary crosslinking method to the fast crosslinking process using the crosslinking fluid.

After the cell-containing hydrogel is formed, the hydrogel may be incubated in a differentiation medium to form tissue. A differentiation medium typically comprises the components required to promote cells to differentiate. Additionally, the differentiation medium may comprise i. divalent cations to ensure that the hydrogel is not detrimentally compromised during incubation.

The cells may adhere to the cell-adhesion peptides of the polysaccharide and exert a force on the hydrogel during at least part of the method (e.g. during incubation). By exerting such forces, water may be somewhat expelled from the hydrogel resulting in the compaction of the gel. Nonetheless, the gel may still comprise water to some extent.

The method may further comprise, prior to or during the filling of at least part of the annular volume with the cell-containing fluid, moving the circumferential member over the central body.

In a further embodiment, the method comprises, after or during the filling of at least part of the annular volume with the cell-containing fluid, moving the central body through the outlet opening of the circumferential member, for example by a movement of the central body, by a movement of the circumferential member, or a movement of both.

In any method of preparing a cell-containing hydrogel for use in the production of cultured meat disclosed herein, the method may comprise a step of forming an essentially liquid-tight sealed volume for temporarily holding cell-containing fluid in the annular volume formed between the central body and the circumferential member. To form the essentially liquid-tight sealed volume, an essentially liquid-tight seal may be formed by different components of a device for use in a process for production of cultured meat.

For example, a temporary liquid-tight seal may be formed between a circumferential member and a thickened sealing section. Additionally or alternatively, a temporary liquid-tight seal may be formed between a circumferential member and a cross-linking fluid container, in particular a bottom of the cross-linking fluid container. When the temporary liquid-tight seal is formed with the cross-linking fluid container, the thickened sealing section may not be required. In embodiments, a thickened sealing section may be comprised by the cross-linking fluid container or generally formed by the cross-linking fluid container, for example by a bottom of the cross-linking fluid container.

A method of producing cultured meat is envisioned, comprising the steps of obtaining a cell-containing hydrogel using a method according to the first aspect, incubating the cell-containing hydrogel in a differentiation medium to form tissue, and producing the cultured meat from the formed tissue, which formed tissue may be muscle tissue.

A second aspect provides a device for use in a process for production of cultured meat or for use in a process for production of cell-containing hydrogel. Hence, using the device, a cell-containing hydrogel may be obtained which is cross-linked by placing the cell-containing fluid in contact with cross-linking fluid.

The device comprises a mould, comprising a central body and a circumferential member with a hollow passage therethrough, which hollow passage is provided with an inlet opening for receiving a cell-containing fluid in the hollow passage, and an outlet opening.

The device further comprises a cross-linking fluid container with a storage volume for holding a cross-linking fluid, wherein the cross-linking fluid container is arranged for accommodating at least part of the central body.

For example for performing at least part of a method according to the first aspect, the central body is arranged to be positioned at least partially inside the hollow passage of the circumferential member, thereby forming an annular volume between the central body and an inner wall of the circumferential member, the outlet opening is arranged to allow passage of at least part of the central body, and the central body and the circumferential member are arranged to be moved relative to each other in a movement in which at least part of the central body passes through the outlet opening.

A device may be suitable for production of cultured meat for example because it is sterile, and comprises or consists of materials which are suitable for use in the production of foodstuff, in particular meat, and more in particular cultured meat. Such materials may be sterilizable. Examples of materials which may be used are stainless steel, POM , nylon, 3D printable resins, silicone, any other sterilizable material, any other material which has no negative impact on cells in the cell-containing fluid, or any combination thereof.

In general, the mould is used to shape the cell-containing hydrogel. A thickened section may imply that a cross-section area of the thickened section is locally larger than a cross-section area of an adjacent part of the central body. For example, a central body may comprise a generally circular central body and a thickened sealing section with a diameter larger than that of the central body.

In general, the circumferential member with the hollow passage may be used to determine an outer shape of the cell-containing hydrogel. A circumferential member may generally resemble a hollow tube, cylinder, or pipe.

At least part of the circumferential member and/or at least part of the sealing section of the central body may be resilient or elastic, such that a shape of a first of the at least part of the circumferential member and/or at least part of the sealing section may be formed complementary to a shape of a second of the at least part of the circumferential member and/or at least part of the sealing section.

When forming muscle tissue, it may be preferred to obtain volumes of cell-containing hydrogel with a cross-sectional shape generally resembling an annulus. An annulus may be defined as a region between two closed curves, of which one curve is an inner curve contained in another one the curves - which is an outer curve. One or both of the inner and outer curve may be generally circular, ellipsoid, rectangular, or have any other shape. The inner curve may describe the shape of a through-hole in an annular volume of cell-containing hydrogel. The inner curve may be defined by the central body, and the outer curve may be defined by the circumferential member, and as such, the mould may describe the shape of the annulus.

The thickness of the hydrogel - i.e. the distance between the inner curve and the outer curve - may be limited in absence of blood vessels and diffusion limits.

In a first example, the device may resemble a bioreactor with a cross-linking fluid container with a storage volume for holding a cross-linking fluid. The cross-linking fluid container may remain substantially stationary in use, while the central body is moved relative to cross-linking fluid container.

In a second example, the device may resemble a pick-and-place machine, wherein the circumferential member is moved relative to a central body positioned inside a cross-linking fluid container with a storage volume for holding a cross-linking fluid.

In an embodiment of the second example, the circumferential member may be moved vertically relative to the central body. As a further option, the circumferential member may be moved horizontally relative to the central body. For example, the circumferential member may be moved using a robot arm as an actuator, or for example with three orthogonal prismatic actuators.

With the device according to the second aspect, the process of preparing a cell-containing hydrogel for use in the production of cultured meat may be at least partially automated and/or larger quantities of cell-containing hydrogel may be obtained. A control unit may be comprised by the device for the automation. Such a control unit may for example comprise an electronic processing unit for controlling one or more actuators of the device.

The device may comprise any number of pumps, valves, and conduits for transporting cell-containing fluid and/or cross-linking fluid, respectively for example into a cell-containing fluid container or annular volume, or into a cross-linking fluid container. The any number of pumps and valves may be controlled by the control unit.

The central body may be positioned in the storage volume of the cross-linking fluid container, and the circumferential member may arranged to be moved between a non-sealing position in which at least part of the central body is not surrounded by the circumferential member, and a sealing position in which an essentially liquid-tight seal is formed with the circumferential member for holding a cell-containing fluid in the annular volume between the central body and the inner wall of the circumferential member.

Embodiments of the device may further comprise an actuator for moving the circumferential member relative to the central member in a direction generally parallel to an elongation direction of the central body.

The circumferential member may be fixated relative to the cross-linking fluid container, and the central body may be arranged to be at least partially moved into the cross-linking fluid container through the hollow passage and the outlet opening of the circumferential member.

Embodiments of the device may further comprise a cell-containing fluid container for holding a volume of cell-containing fluid, and a pump for transporting cell-containing fluid into the hollow passage of the circumferential member via the inlet opening. The inlet opening may be positioned opposite of the outlet opening, or the inlet opening may for example be positioned in a side wall of the circumferential member.

The central body may comprise a central shaft and one or more circumferential support protrusions protruding from the central shaft. At least one of the circumferential protrusions may be tapered towards the central shaft.

<FIG> and <FIG> schematically depict in a section view a first example of a device <NUM> for use in a process for production of cultured meat, in particular for preparing a cell-containing hydrogel, which device for example may be a bioreactor. The device <NUM> comprises a mould <NUM> comprising a central body <NUM> and a circumferential member <NUM>. In general, the central body <NUM> may have a substantially constant cross-section shape. In other embodiments, the central body <NUM> may comprise sections with different cross-sectional shapes, such as a thickened sealing section <NUM>. Examples of further central bodies <NUM> are elaborated on in conjunctions with <FIG>.

The central body <NUM> is positioned inside a cell-containing fluid container <NUM>, holding a volume of cell-containing fluid <NUM>. In the embodiment and situation of <FIG>, the cell-containing fluid <NUM> is contained between the thickened sealing section <NUM> and the cell-containing fluid container <NUM>. The cell-containing fluid container <NUM> may for example by embodied as a hollow cylinder, or any other hollow shaped member. The cell-containing fluid container <NUM> may as an option be formed by the circumferential member <NUM>. The central body <NUM> may have a greater height in its elongation direction than a height of the circumferential member <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further comprises a cross-linking fluid container <NUM> with a storage volume for holding a cross-linking fluid <NUM>. Preferably, the storage volume is essentially fully filled with the cross-linking fluid <NUM>, to prevent or reduce presence of a headspace into which cell-containing fluid may leak before being cross-linked into cell-containing hydrogel. Essentially fully filled may be understood for example as more than <NUM>% filled, or even more than <NUM>% filled. In other terms, essentially fully filled may imply that a headspace above the cross-linking fluid <NUM> is smaller than <NUM>, smaller than <NUM>, or even smaller than <NUM>. The cross-linking fluid container <NUM> may be provided with a lid <NUM> for containing the cross-linking fluid <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the device <NUM> in a sealing position in which the central body <NUM>, and in particular the thickened sealing section <NUM>, forms an essentially liquid-tight seal with an inner wall <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM>. <FIG> shows the device <NUM> in a non-sealing position, in which part of the central body <NUM>, is not surrounded by the circumferential member <NUM>. In the sealing position, the cell-containing fluid <NUM> may substantially not leak into the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, although in use some leakage may occur.

For example when the device <NUM> is in the sealing position, at least part of the cell-containing fluid container <NUM> and/or the hollow passage <NUM> may be filled with cell-containing fluid <NUM>.

To transition between the sealing position and the non-sealing position, the central body <NUM> is moved relative to the circumferential member <NUM>. In particular, the central body <NUM> may be moved downward into the cross-linking fluid container, using any actuator, for example an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator (not shown in the figures).

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the device <NUM> comprising more than one central body <NUM>. To increase production capacity of the device <NUM>, a device <NUM> such as a bioreactor may comprise any number of central bodies <NUM>, for example one, two, ten or more, one hundred or more, or even five hundred or more. The actuator for moving one central body may be arranged for simultaneously moving multiple central bodies. For example, multiple central bodies may be connected to each other to couple their movements.

As a further option shown in <FIG>, multiple central bodies <NUM> may be positioned in a single cell-containing fluid container <NUM>, and as such from a single source of cell-containing fluid, multiple circumferential members <NUM> may be filled. The cell-containing fluid container <NUM> may be formed by part of the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>. At least part of one or more circumferential members may be formed by part of the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>.

It will be understood that any option disclosed in conjunction with any of the embodiments of <FIG> may be readily applied to other embodiments of the first or second example of the device, in particular to the embodiments of another one of the <FIG>.

The circumferential member <NUM> has a hollow passage <NUM> therethrough, indicated in <FIG>. The hollow passage <NUM> is provided with an inlet opening <NUM> and an outlet opening <NUM>, for example on an opposite side of the hollow passage <NUM>. The outlet opening <NUM> may be arranged for allowing passage of at least part of the central body <NUM>.

In use, for example while the central body <NUM> is lowered in to the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, part of the hollow passage <NUM> may be filled with cell-containing fluid <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, part of the cell-containing fluid <NUM> may have already been gelated into cell-containing hydrogel <NUM>, whilst another part of the cell-containing fluid <NUM> is still present in the hollow passage <NUM> in a more fluid form.

As a particular option, the circumferential member <NUM> may be formed or comprised by the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, and/or by the cell-containing fluid container <NUM>. As a general option, any circumferential member <NUM> may comprise a plurality of hollow passages.

The circumferential member <NUM> is for example in the embodiment of <FIG> connected to the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>. The cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, in particular the lid <NUM>, comprises an opening which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM> and allows passage of the central body <NUM> and at least part of the optional thickened sealing section <NUM> into the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>.

As the central body <NUM> is moved into the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, the cell-containing fluid <NUM> is put into contact with the cross-linking fluid <NUM>, which in particular is a fast cross-linking fluid. The contact causes the cell-containing fluid <NUM> to cross-link into a cell-containing hydrogel <NUM>, shown hatched in <FIG>.

The particular shape of the cell-containing hydrogel <NUM> is defined by an annular volume <NUM> between the central body <NUM> and an inner wall <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM> - because the cross-linking process is sufficiently fast.

An optional overflow buffer may be comprised by the device, for example the devices <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. As the central body <NUM> or central bodies <NUM> are moved into the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, part of the storage volume therein becomes occupied with the central bodies <NUM> and the cell-containing fluid. The overflow buffer allows the volume in which cross-linking fluid can be present to be dynamic. A control unit may be present for controlling the volume of cross-linking fluid inside the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, for example with an aim to keep the cross-linking fluid container <NUM> essentially fully filled. The control unit may for example be arranged to control one or more pumps and/or valves. The overflow buffer may at least partially be positioned above the lid <NUM>.

An example of an overflow buffer <NUM> is indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>. It may be an object of a control unit to maintain a volume of cross-linking fluid in the overflow buffer <NUM>, and the overflow buffer <NUM> may be positioned above an access area between the central body and the circumferential member where the cross-linking fluid <NUM> contacts the cell-containing fluid <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a section view of another embodiment of the first example of the device <NUM>. In particular, <FIG> shows the cross-section and a detail <NUM>' thereof.

The embodiment of the device <NUM> depicted in <FIG> comprises a plurality of central bodies <NUM>, which are connected to and moveable by an actuator <NUM>, for example by a spindle <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be an electric motor. By operating the actuator <NUM>, the central bodies <NUM> may be moved relative to the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, and the circumferential member <NUM>. For example using a connection frame <NUM>, bottom parts and top parts of the central bodies <NUM> may be connected.

The circumferential member <NUM> is formed by a lid <NUM> of the container, and comprises a plurality of through-holes as hollow passages. One hollow passage may be provided per central body <NUM>.

In the detailed view of the device <NUM>', the plurality of central bodies <NUM> is shown protruding into hollow passages <NUM> formed by the circumferential member <NUM>. Per central body <NUM>, one or more annular volume <NUM> are formed with the circumferential member <NUM>. An access area <NUM> is provided between the central body <NUM> and the circumferential member <NUM> where cell-containing fluid <NUM> can be cross-linked into cell-containing hydrogel <NUM>.

It will be understood that not all components of the device <NUM> in <FIG> have been provided with a reference numeral for conciseness and clarity of the figure. Only some central bodies have been depicted with the cell-containing fluid <NUM> and cell-containing hydrogel <NUM> (hatched).

<FIG> schematically depict a cross-section of second example of a device <NUM> for use in a process for production of cultured meat, in particular for preparing a cell-containing hydrogel. The device <NUM> comprises a cross-linking fluid container <NUM> and a central body <NUM> positioned inside the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, and for example connected to the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the circumferential member <NUM> is depicted in a sealing position in which an essentially liquid-tight seal is formed with the circumferential member <NUM> and in this example a thickened sealing section <NUM> of the central body <NUM>. Alternatively, as depicted in <FIG>, an essentially liquid-tight seal may be obtained between the circumferential member <NUM> and the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>.

Between <FIG>, the following method steps are performed. In the situation of <FIG>, the circumferential member <NUM> is positioned above the central body <NUM>, for example using any actuator arranged to move the circumferential member <NUM> relative to the central body <NUM> and/or the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>.

In the situation of <FIG>, the circumferential member <NUM> has been lowered over the central body <NUM>, and as such an annular volume <NUM> is formed for receiving a cell-containing fluid in. An essentially liquid-tight seal is formed between the circumferential member <NUM> and the central body <NUM>, in particular the thickened sealing section <NUM>. Here and in general, essentially liquid-tight implies that sufficient cell-containing fluid can be contained in order to form the cell-containing hydrogel. Some leakage may be acceptable.

In the transition between the situation of <FIG> and the situation of <FIG>, the central body <NUM> passes into the circumferential member <NUM> via the outlet opening <NUM>. Also during the transition between the situation of <FIG> and the situation of <FIG>, the central body <NUM> passes into the circumferential member <NUM> via the outlet opening <NUM>.

From the first example and the second example of the device <NUM>, it will be understood that moving the central body and the circumferential member relative to each other may imply a movement of the central body, a movement of the circumferential member, or a movement of both.

In the situation of <FIG>, the annular volume <NUM> has been filled with cell-containing fluid <NUM>, and outside of the circumferential member <NUM>, the cross-linking fluid container <NUM> has been filled with the cross-linking fluid <NUM>. The cell-container fluid <NUM> is supplied into the annular volume via the inlet opening <NUM>.

In the situation of <FIG>, the circumferential member <NUM> has been lifted up and away from the central body <NUM> and from a bottom of the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>, but still partially surrounds an upper part of the central body <NUM>. As schematically depicted in <FIG>, part of the cell-containing fluid <NUM> has been cross-linked into cell-containing hydrogel <NUM> (shown hatched). Because the cross-linking process is sufficiently fast, the shape of the cell-containing fluid <NUM> has been determined by the shape of the central body <NUM> and hollow passage <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM>, which central body <NUM> and circumferential member <NUM> thus form a mould <NUM>. The circumferential member <NUM> may be lifted further up and away from the central body <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically depict a cross-section of another embodiment of the second example of the device <NUM> for use in a process for production of cultured meat. In this particular embodiment, the central body <NUM> protrudes away from the cross-linking fluid container <NUM>. More in particular, the central body <NUM> protrudes upwards from a bottom <NUM> if the fluid container <NUM>. In general, the central body <NUM> may be connectable to the bottom, or may be even be integrally formed with the fluid container <NUM>. The bottom <NUM> may have a substantially flat surface relative to which the central body <NUM> protrudes.

Compared to <FIG>, in the situation depicted in <FIG> the central body <NUM> has been moved relative to the circumferential member <NUM>. By virtue of this movement, the circumferential member <NUM> has been moved relative to the bottom <NUM> of the fluid container <NUM>. In the situation of <FIG>, a lower end face <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM> facing the bottom <NUM> forms a substantially liquid-tight seal with the fluid container <NUM>, in particular with the bottom <NUM> of the fluid container <NUM>. By virtue of this seal, the annular volume <NUM> between the central body and the circumferential member can be filled with cell-containing fluid <NUM> and the cell-containing fluid <NUM> can be held in said annular volume. For example during or after filling the annular volume <NUM> with cell-containing fluid <NUM>, the fluid container <NUM> may be filled with cross-linking fluid. By subsequently moving the circumferential member <NUM> away relative to the bottom <NUM> of the fluid container <NUM>, the cell-containing fluid is exposed to the cross-linking fluid.

Optionally, not depicted in the figures, one or more sealing members may be positioned between the lower end face <NUM> of the circumferential member <NUM> and the bottom <NUM> of the fluid container <NUM> to provide or improve the essentially liquid-tight seal. Such a sealing member may for example be a resilient sealing member.

<FIG> schematically depicts two embodiments of the central body <NUM>. The embodiments may be readily used in any embodiment of the device <NUM>, in particular the devices <NUM> depicted in any of the <FIG>. The central bodies <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprise a central shaft <NUM>, and a plurality of circumferential support protrusions <NUM>. After being used in for example the first example or the second example of the device <NUM>, cell-containing hydrogel <NUM> may be present between the circumferential support protrusions <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

As a particular option, at least part of one or more of the circumferential support protrusions <NUM> may be tapered, in particular tapered towards the thickened sealing section <NUM> or in use in a direction of gravity. The support protrusions <NUM> may be used for preventing cell-containing hydrogel from collapsing of the central body <NUM>, for example by the weight of the cell-containing hydrogel pressing down on itself.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, an option for any central body <NUM> is depicted. Whereas the central shaft <NUM> in <FIG> is shown with an essentially constant cross-sectional shape, in embodiments, the central body <NUM> may have a non-constant cross-sectional shape. For example, a transition between the central shaft <NUM> and a circumferential support protrusion <NUM> may be rounded, provided with a radius, and/or bevelled.

As can be seen from <FIG>, and outer shape of the thickened sealing section <NUM> may correspond or approximately corresponds to an outer shape of the support protrusions <NUM>.

The central shaft <NUM> may have a generally circular cross-sectional shape, or any other shape such as an oval, racetrack, rounded rectangle, or any other shape. The cross-section shape of a thickened sealing section <NUM> and/or a support protrusion <NUM> may correspond to the cross-section shape of the central shaft <NUM>, albeit with different dimensions.

In summary, a method of preparing a cell-containing hydrogel for use in the production of cultured meat is provided, along with examples of device for performing the method. The method comprises steps of positioning a central body inside a circumferential member, thereby forming an annular volume, filling the annular volume with a cell-containing fluid, moving the central body relative to the circumferential member such that the central body moves through an outlet opening of the circumferential member, thereby creating an access area between the central body and the circumferential member, and exposing the access area to a cross-linking fluid to allow crosslinking of the cell-containing fluid to obtain a cell-containing hydrogel.

Claim 1:
Method of preparing a cell-containing hydrogel for use in the production of cultured meat, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a central body inside a circumferential member, thereby forming an annular volume (<NUM>) between the central body and an inner wall (<NUM>) of the circumferential member;
- filling the annular volume with a cell-containing fluid (<NUM>),
- moving the central body relative to the circumferential member such that the central body moves through an outlet opening (<NUM>) of the circumferential member, thereby creating an access area (<NUM>) between the central body and the circumferential member; and
- exposing the access area to a cross-linking fluid (<NUM>) to allow crosslinking of the cell-containing fluid to obtain a cell-containing hydrogel.