Research on the Extraction and Processing of Chicken Eggshell Membrane Toward Potential Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a promising waste by-product from the food processing industry, easily collected at no material cost. Rich in collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and a natural fibrous structure, ESM represents a valuable low-cost biomaterial with inherent biological functionality. Moreover, utilizing ESM aligns with the waste-to-value concept, contributing to both biomedical innovation and environmental sustainability. This study investigated the extraction and treatment of ESM by using different ratios of organic acids (acetic acid and citric acid) to improve its physical properties and evaluate its potential biomedical applications. The processing method does not require advanced fabrication technologies such as electrospinning or 3D printing, making it suitable for laboratories with limited technical resources. ESM samples were treated with acid ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:10 and analyzed thickness, porosity, fluid absorption capacity, and surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cytotoxicity tests indicated that the treated ESM is potentially suitable as a scaffold for cell culture. Based on these findings, ESM treated with a 1:8 organic acid ratio shows promising potential for applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, particularly in wound dressing materials and in vitro tissue models.