From Mythical Regeneration to Medical and Culinary Innovation

A Medical and Culinary Marvel

Inspired by the mythical tale of Ne Zha's body reconstruction using the Seven-Colored Lotus in the Chinese film "Ne Zha 2," a scientific team in Wuhan, China, has spent a decade developing a groundbreaking medical application using extracts from lotus root fibers.

This research team from the School of Food Science and Engineering of Wuhan Polytechnic University has pioneered a method to create customized bone scaffolds using 3D printing technology. These scaffolds, tailored to individual bone defect areas, stabilize fractured skeletons and guide cell growth along the lotus fiber structures, accelerating bone tissue regeneration.

Lead researcher Jiang Xueyu highlights the advantages of these lotus fiber scaffolds over traditional steel nail implants. Unlike steel implants, which can cause issues like poor adaptability and extensive surgical exposure, lotus fiber scaffolds significantly reduce the risk of patient rejection and boast a degradation rate that perfectly aligns with new bone growth, eliminating the need for secondary removal surgeries.

Currently undergoing animal trials, this technology holds immense promise for drastically lowering treatment costs and alleviating suffering for fracture patients.

Beyond medical breakthroughs, the team has also achieved remarkable progress in developing functional food ingredients and health products from lotus roots. Their patented lotus root powder retains nearly all nutrients and can be used to create instant beverage mixes, fish cakes, cookies, and even high-activity probiotic products through lactic acid bacteria fermentation. This gelatinized powder also serves as a material for 3D-printed foods, opening up the possibility of crafting whimsical treats shaped like Ne Zha or his Wind and Fire Wheels on demand.