Study Finds Uses for Jellyfish Material

Growing jellyfish population concerns led Japanese scientists to develop a process for extracting a commercially viable material from the marine animals.

The surge in jellyfish worldwide — attributed to global warming and artificial reefs built along coastlines — has created a nuisance by the creatures’ clogging water intakes at nuclear and conventional power plants, Science Daily reported.

In their study, National Institute for Materials Science researchers developed a process for extracting large amounts of a protein substance called mucin that could be used as a the basis for designer mucins use for such things as drug delivery, cosmetic products or food additives. Mucins, tiny particles that make up mucus, lubricate body surfaces and sometimes have antibacterial effects.

Researchers said they found jellyfish mucin is similar to human mucin and could substitute for the biomaterial currently taken from pigs and cows.

The report will appear in the July 27 issue of American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products.