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Access to healthcare is a fundamental pillar of a prosperous society, ensuring that people can lead healthy and productive lives regardless of their socioeconomic status. When everyone has equitable access to medical services, it becomes possible to diagnose diseases early, prevent chronic conditions, and reduce the long-term burden on healthcare systems. Moreover, access to healthcare promotes social justice by reducing inequalities stemming from income disparities, geographic location, and education levels.

On December 12, we celebrate International Universal Health Coverage Day, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to quality healthcare without facing financial hardship.

Integrating sustainable solutions into healthcare not only supports the vision of universal health but also promotes practices that benefit both people and the environment. Although medical devices must meet strict standards of safety, durability, and functionality to minimize risks to patient health, the use of bio-based solutions and biomaterials in healthcare has been steadily advancing over the past decade.

Innovations in this field demonstrate immense potential, including the use of hydrogels, derived from natural polysaccharides like alginate and chitosan, as sealants and therapeutic patches; soy-based biodegradable materials, which have shown efficacy in bone regeneration; and collagen-based biomaterials, which are widely used in wound healing and tissue engineering. Advanced biopolymers, such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone), have found applications in implants due to their strength and biocompatibility, while nanoscale-structured materials, including hydroxyapatite composites, are being utilized for infection control in wounds and to reduce microbial biofilms.

Furthermore, bio-based materials derived from renewable resources, such as starch, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), are now being employed in the production of disposable medical supplies, including syringes, needles, and surgical trays. Even plant-derived cellulose-based materials are emerging as versatile options for diagnostic devices and antimicrobial dressings.

Despite these advancements, a full transition to bio-based materials in medical devices remains challenging, as many current options still lack critical properties, such as sterilization resistance, durability under extreme conditions, or complete biocompatibility. Nevertheless, these innovations highlight the promising future of bio-based solutions in healthcare, driving sustainability while addressing the complex demands of modern medicine.

As an innovation center focused on sustainability, AlmaScience is committed to developing bio-based, biodegradable solutions aligned with the principles of circular economy. It is no surprise, then, that AlmaScience is developing a medical device designed to aid in the detection and identification of microorganisms through a cellulose-based microbiological growth medium: PetriCell Dry™.

Ready to use cellulose-based solid growth media with extended shelf life

PetriCell Dry™ technology introduces an innovative diagnostic culture medium for microbial analysis, building up on a proprietary hydrogel that can be dried or frozen to remain active at room temperature for over six months, even when containing supplements. This solution is designed to replace conventional agar-based systems with a shelf-stable material, streamlining workflows for clinical analysis laboratories.

Developed by AlmaScience in collaboration with industrial partners such as Clara Saúde, a Portuguese company reference in clinical analysis, PetriCell Dry addresses key challenges associated with traditional agar-based Petri dishes, offering several critical advantages:

• Extended shelf life: Over 6 months of shelf life, significantly longer than agar-based solutions;
• Quick and easy preparation: Ready to use in just 15 minutes by simply adding water or media;
• Higher sample absorption: Accommodates larger sample volumes for enhanced testing efficiency;
• No refrigeration required: Eliminates the need for cold storage, enabling broader access to microbiological testing in regions with limited electricity or in emergency scenarios.

The benefits of PetriCell Dry™ align seamlessly with the goals of Universal Health Coverage Day, advocating for universal access to diagnostics, treatments, and healthcare. This underscores AlmaScience's mission to develop sustainable solutions that enhance quality of life while addressing sustainability challenges. 

There’s much more to tackle!

At AlmaScience Innovation Lab, we combine eco-design principles with sustainable materials and processes to create high-performance functional paper and biomaterial-based technologies. Our solutions are designed to meet the industry’s increasing demand for affordable, efficient, and eco-friendly innovations.
Driven by a commitment to sustainable progress, we are pioneers in shaping a future where sustainability becomes second nature. Join us as we push boundaries, harnessing the versatility of paper and cellulose with scientific ingenuity to unlock uncharted possibilities.