Direct reuse of electronic plastic scraps from computer monitor and keyboard to direct stem cell growth and differentiation

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2022-02, Vol.807 (Pt 3), p.151085-151085, Article 151085
• Main Authors: Shi, Pujiang, Tan, Chiew Kei, Wu, Zhuoran, Gabriel, Jean-Christophe P., Srinivasan, Madhavi, Lee, Jong-Min, Tay, Chor Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell culture; Cell Differentiation; Chemical Sciences; Computers; Electronic-plastics; Electronics; Humans; Material chemistry; Osteogenesis; Plastics; Reuse; Stem cell differentiation; Stem Cells; Waste management; Waste valorization
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151085

Reuse of electronic wastes is a critical aspect for a more sustainable circular economy as it provides the simplest and most direct route to extend the lifespan of non-renewable resources. Herein, the distinctive surface and micro topographical features of computer electronic-plastic (E-plastic) scraps were unconventionally repurposed as a substrate material to guide the growth and differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Specifically, the E-plastics were scavenged from discarded computer components such as light diffuser plate (polyacrylates), prismatic sheet (polyethylene terephthalate), and keyboards (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) were cleaned, sterilized, and systematically characterized to determine the identity of the plastics, chemical constituents, surface features, and leaching characteristics. Multiparametric analysis revealed that all the E-plastics could preserve stem-cell phenotype and maintain cell growth over 2 weeks, rivalling the performance of commercial tissue-culture treated plates as cell culture plastics. Interestingly, compared to commercial tissue-culture treated plastics and in a competitive adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation environment, ADSCs cultured on the keyboard and light diffuser plastics favoured bone cells formation while the grating-like microstructures of the prismatic sheet promoted fat cells differentiation via the process of contact guidance. Our findings point to the real possibility of utilizing discarded computer plastics as a “waste-to-resource” material to programme stem cell fate without further processing nor biochemical modification, thus providing an innovative second-life option for E-plastics from personal computers. [Display omitted] •Innovative reuse of discarded E-plastics as cell culture substrate is presented.•Leaching of metal additives is negligible under physiological conditions.•E-plastics can support long-term self-renewability of human mesenchymal stem cells.•E-plastics surface properties profoundly impact stem cells adhesion and differentiation.