Need

3D bioprinting is a powerful technology that can produce 3D biomedical structures, artificial tissues and organs imitating the critical characteristics of a natural tissues or organs. The lack of ideal bioinks is one of the main bottlenecks limiting the progress of bioprinting.

Solution

3D CelluGel is nanocellulose based bioink. Our solution includes a methacrylation step where a photo- cross-linkable functionality is added to nanocellulose. Upon photocuring, it leads to a long-term stable 3D scaffold with a tuneable mechanical stiffness, an important customizable parameter for a broad range of cell lines in in vitro 3D cell culture research.

Applications

3D cell culturing and 3D cancer cell research.

Unique benefits

• Tuneability optimized for in vitro 3D cell culture model or tissue equivalent research
• Good porosity and viscoelastic 3D scaffolds properties to support cells´ activities
• Mechanical fragmentation of 3D CelluGel into microgels providing more room to promote the activity of encapsulated cells
• Suitable for different printing technologies like extrusion and DLP printing

Team

3D CelluGel team from the Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology (NMT) and Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory develops novel nanocellulose-based bioinks utilizing the biomaterial from the Finnish natural resources, forests.

Professor Chunlin Xu (PI)
Academy Research Fellow Dr. Xiaoju Wang (co-PI)
Ms. Marjo Lehtinen (Business Champion)

The 3D CelluGel project, co-funded by Business Finland (R2B), includes the preparation of commercialization of the research outcome. Our innovative approach will provide a highly profitable value-chain for bio-based economy and provides new health promoting applications. We strive to make our innovation as globally recognized 3D bioink products and services.