WCPS: Elemental Analysis of Spent Media For Cultivated Meat Media Cell Type Optimization

Importance of the topic

Protein is essential for growth, repair, and energy in the human body. The rapid development of plant-based and cell-cultured meat alternatives demands reliable elemental profiling to ensure nutritional quality and detect potential contaminants. Multi-element analysis underpins product safety, regulatory compliance, and consumer confidence.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work adapts the US FDA Elemental Analysis Manual (EAM) 4.7 to quantify 23 elements in plant-based meat substitutes and 29 elements in cell culture media used for cultivated meat. The aim is to establish a unified, high-throughput method for assessing essential nutrients and heavy metals across diverse matrices.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Plant-based samples underwent microwave-assisted acid digestion; cell culture media were diluted. Analysis was performed on an Agilent 7850 ICP-MS equipped with an ORS4 collision cell in He-KED mode, UHMI aerosol dilution, Micro Mist glass nebulizer, temperature-controlled quartz spray chamber, and nickel-plated cones. Automated autotuning and an Agilent SPS 4 autosampler enabled efficient, interference-free measurements.

Key Results and Discussion

Calibration curves for major and trace elements (Na, Mg, Mn, Cu, As, Hg) showed linearity with correlation coefficients ≥0.9999. Instrument detection limits and method LOD/LOQ met EAM 4.7 requirements. Quality control checks—including fortified blank spikes and continuing calibration verifications—delivered recoveries within ±10%.
IntelliQuant screening generated periodic table heatmaps revealing unexpected rubidium in a plant-based “minced beef” analog, confirmed via isotope template matching. Spent media analysis of primary chicken fibroblasts, myoblast precursors, and a murine myoblast line illustrated distinct elemental depletion patterns, guiding cell type–specific media formulation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The validated protocol offers comprehensive multi-element quantification for alternative protein products, facilitating safe formulation, process monitoring, and regulatory submission. Automated tuning and single-mode acquisition accelerate method implementation in QA/QC laboratories.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging directions include expanded element panels, integration with stable isotope ratio studies, and high-throughput screening of novel ingredients. Real-time monitoring of bioreactor media and advanced data analytics may further optimize cultivated meat production and sustainability metrics.

Conclusion

The adapted Agilent 7850 ICP-MS method reliably quantifies essential and trace elements in both plant-based foods and cell culture media. Its robustness, speed, and alignment with regulatory guidelines make it a powerful tool for advancing alternative protein research and industrial applications.

Reference

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