Matrix F.T. (formerly Matrix Meats), an Ohio-based biotechnology company specializing in the development of proprietary and custom-engineered animal-free nanofiber matrices and microcarriers, developed what it claims to be the first cultivated chicken made in Ohio.

Created as a proof of concept, this cultivated chicken nugget showcases the company’s edible microcarriers and scaffolds that act as key ingredients in cultured meat products which are identical to their animal counterparts. The most commonly used types of microcarriers in the market are inedible and must be removed prior to consumption.

The company’s first chicken myoblasts (muscle cells) were cultivated by its director of product development and innovation, Heidi Coia, Ph.D. The cells were combined with a proprietary mixture of plant-based proteins after the harvesting process to create the hybrid chicken nugget.

Analyst QuickTake: Microcarriers are matrices that allow for the growth of adherent cells in bioreactors allowing to overcome limitations of surface area while scaffolding aids in cell differentiation to give cultivated meats their structure. While Matrix F.T.’s scaffolds and microcarriers are edible, Forsea Foods ’ organoid technology can bypass the scaffolding stage altogether to achieve a higher rate of production at cost-effective prices. Further, companies such as Umami Meats , BlueNalu , and SCiFi Foods have begun developing cultivated meat through single-cell line suspension which eliminates the need for microcarriers.