Growing cell based meat requires the following inputs:
1. Muscle Pre-Cursor Cells (starting cells taken from an animal to replicate)
2. Scaffold
3. Bioreactor (an aseptic temperature and PH controlled environment i.e. a home)
4. Cell Culture Media (a growth medium i.e. food)
Scaffolds provide structure for cells to replicate and enables the growth of a variety of structures of meat such as steaks or chicken breasts.
Many different materials can be used as scaffolds — all containing a set of design requirements: biocompatibility, biodegradability, elasticity, pore size, geometry, tensile strength. Some examples of scaffold materials are silk, collagen, gellan gum and alginate.
A “cell based tech” scaffold is not a physical structure or stage like those used for construction.