Algae Boosts Skin Growth for Burn Victims

New technique slashes costs and reliance on animal products.

A novel cell cultivation method employing algae may revolutionize skin graft production for burn victims, potentially accelerating healing times and reducing costs. The process leverages a unique type of Queensland algae to enhance tissue cell growth.

Key Development

Dr. Melanie Oey and her team at the University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience discovered that combining a new type of Queensland algae, Chlorella BDH-1, with mammalian cells significantly improves tissue cell growth.

Our work shows muscle cells co-cultivated with the algae grow faster, live longer and require fewer expensive additives.

—Dr. Melanie Oey, UQ’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience

The team’s research indicates that this approach could greatly benefit tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, accelerating the production of 3D tissues and skin grafts. According to the American Burn Association, approximately 486,000 burn injuries require medical treatment each year in the U.S. alone (ABA 2023).

Algae Advantages

In cell cultures, researchers observed over an 80% increase in cell growth, up to three times the number of usable cells, and cell cultures that remained viable for extended periods. Moreover, they noted a 50% reduction in the necessity to use animal cells.

The algae act like tiny life-support systems that can solve multiple problems at once.

—Dr. Melanie Oey, UQ’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience

Cultivated Meat Applications

The algae-based method may also make cultivated meat production more affordable. Recently, Food Standards Australia New Zealand approved the sale of lab-grown or cell-cultured meat. Cost, however, remains a significant hurdle.

According to Dr. Oey, the growing global population demands more protein, which is the most expensive macronutrient. Animal farming also raises climate concerns.

But growing meat in the lab is expensive largely due to the nutrients and oxygen the cells need and the waste they produce, said Dr. Oey.

Our research could make cultivated meat a sustainable, affordable, ethically acceptable alternative protein source.

Additional Applications

Further potential uses for Chlorella BDH-1 algae in cell culture include:

• Growing organoids for drug testing, reducing the need for animal testing.
• Improving the efficiency, lowering overhead, and reducing input needs for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Dr. Oey explained that Chlorella BDH-1 algae was selected for its unique properties: it does not consume glucose and does not compete with mammalian cells for nutrients. It also naturally produces oxygen and removes waste, fostering a better environment for muscle cells to thrive.

In the human body blood delivers oxygen and removes waste, but in a lab setting you don’t have that system, she said.

By adding algae we’re essentially creating a mini-symbiosis or mutually beneficial interaction where the algae provide oxygen and take away waste, helping the cells grow better.

It’s a simple idea with broad potential.

By working with nature – using algae to improve the cellular environment – we’ve created a scalable way to support healthier, longer lasting and more efficient cell cultures.