Beyond Cosmetics: How Plant Cell Cultures Are Entering the World of Medicine
Beyond Cosmetics: How Plant Cell Cultures Are Entering the World of Medicine
At Alternative Plants, we've long used plant cell culture technology to develop high-performance cosmetic ingredients. But science doesn't stay in one lane- and neither do we. Two new EU-funded research projects are taking our biotechnology platform into entirely new territory: treating serious infections of bone and skin tissue.
When the Same Technology Meets a Different Challenge
Plant cell cultures are, at their core, precision tools for producing bioactive compounds. We grow plant cells under controlled conditions, coaxing them to produce secondary metabolites- molecules that plants use for defence, signalling, and survival. These compounds have proven highly effective as active cosmetic ingredients.
But what happens when you ask: could these same compounds, and this same production platform, be used to fight bacterial infections that are becoming increasingly difficult to treat?
That question is at the heart of two major research collaborations we've recently joined- and the answer, we believe, is yes.
Project RESCUE: Smart Biomaterials for Bone Infections
Bone infections, particularly osteomyelitis and implant-associated infections, are among the most challenging conditions in modern medicine. Bacteria form dense protective structures called biofilms that conventional treatments struggle to penetrate. Moreover, the incidence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains is increasing, narrowing the window of effective treatment options even further.
"Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis responsible for millions of deaths every year, and it is predicted to become the leading cause of death by 2050 without intervention. Bone infections significantly add to this burden, especially when multidrug-resistant pathogens are involved, which greatly complicate treatment. Antibiotic-based therapies are often ineffective due to biofilm formation, side effects, and growing bacterial resistance. That is why the goal of the RESCUE project is to develop innovative injectable nanocomposite hydrogels with both antimicrobial and osteogenic properties, reducing the need for antibiotic use," explains Mārtiņš Borodušķis, co-founder and COO of Alternative Plants.
The RESCUE project (Renewable BioEngineered Solutions to Address AntibiotiC Resistance in Bone TissUE Applications) is led by Riga Technical University, with Alternative Plants as an industry partner. Our role is to bring biotechnology expertise in the functionalisation of these injectable materials with biotechnologically produced antimicrobials, as well as safety and efficacy assessment using human cell culture systems, a method that sits right at the intersection of our cosmetic and medical capabilities.
The project runs from October 2025 to September 2028, with a total budget of €656,000, of which €509,700 comes from the European Regional Development Fund, €89,900 from the state budget, and €56,400 from private co-financing.
Skin & Soft Tissue Project: A Bacterial Platform for Wound Healing
The second project takes a different biological route, but the same underlying logic: use nature's own tools, produced sustainably, to address infections that are slipping beyond the reach of conventional medicine.
The project focuses on developing a sustainable and economically viable production platform based on Zymomonas mobilis, a bacterium with natural capability to produce antimicrobial peptides. The goal is to engineer this organism to enhance production two powerful compounds: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and levan, a natural polysaccharide. Together, these naturally derived substances show significant potential for treating skin and soft tissue infections and accelerating wound healing, offering a genuine alternative to existing therapies.
Led by the University of Latvia's Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, the project also involves the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Germany, bringing world-class expertise in heterologous protein expression to the collaboration.
Alternative Plants plays a key role at several critical stages: evaluating how AMPs work in synergy with Z. mobilisbiomass, optimising extraction methods for both levan and the peptides, conducting in vitro safety and efficacy testing, and scaling up the production platform toward industrial use. This draws directly on our fermentation science and biorefining capabilities.
The project runs from September 2025 to August 2028, with a total budget of €656,455, co-funded by the EU ERDF (€510,000), the state budget (€89,900), and private co-financing (€56,500).
The Bigger Picture
Both projects reflect something we've always believed at Alternative Plants: the technology we use to create cosmetic ingredients has far broader potential. Plant cell cultivation, microbiological fermentation, biorefining, and human cell culture testing, these aren't tools built for one industry. They're a platform. And right now, that platform is being applied where the need is most urgent.
For us, participation in these projects is a natural extension of what we do: science-based development, rigorous safety testing, and a commitment to finding sustainable solutions. The field is different. The ambition is the same.
Alternative Plants is a Latvian biotechnology company specialising in the development and production of environmentally friendly active ingredients using plant cell cultivation, microbiological fermentation, and biorefining technologies. Product development is science-based, including safety and functionality assessment through human cell culture test systems and dermatological evaluation in collaboration with partners. Learn more at alternativeplants.eu