Introduction - Medical Devices and Biomaterials for the Developing World - page 16

Fig. 1.4 Diagram of a single
soybean. Based on image
from Texas Tech 2012
(FDA). Soybeans, like maize, are subject to genetic modification. The main com-
mercial uses of the soybean are in the production of oil, soybean meal, flour, and
meat substitutes. Because of the abundance of protein in the body and the large
proportion that protein occupies as a component of soybean, an examination of soy
as a candidate for syntheto-natural implant material would do well to first consider
soy protein.
Soy proteins exhibit “elastic, extensible, and sticky properties” (Qi et al. 2011).
These proteins are arranged into protein aggregates that are held together by disulfide
bonds. Soy proteins can also be fortified with a calcium solution to form a thicker
fiber-like material. In fact, the combination of soy with wheat has been tested and
suggested as a high-protein alternative to standard wheat bread for developing regions
(Mashayekh et al. 2008). These protein aggregates are quite pH-sensitive and are
known to denature in high- and low-pH environments. This could have implications
for potential areas of application in the human body (Hermansson 1978).
Pending studies of biocompatibility and performance in environments mimick-
ing the human body, corn- and soy-derived biomaterials both present viable options
for research into a class of biomaterials that could fill the gap between natural and
synthetic implant materials. In this topic, we aim to investigate the properties of
meshes based on these substances in connection with human cells and to arrive at a
preliminary determination of their suitability for such study.
It is important to note that further strides in this direction will have implications
not only for the clinical community but also for the agricultural agendas of develop-
ing nations. Identification of these materials as targets for future biomaterials may
stimulate inquiry into the appropriateness of other prevalent crops and help to
underscore the importance of the diversification of agriculture. While economic