GELITA has announced a new partnership with Black Drop, an expert in customised 3D bioprinting solutions, following the signing of a research and development agreement.
The collaboration aims to integrate GELITA's extensive knowledge of hydrogel material science with Black Drop's expertise in bioprinting to create high-performance bioinks for biomedical applications, including three-dimensional tissue models and implants.
Both companies have stated that they share a common goal of enhancing 3D bioprinting processes and cell functionality. They will conduct practical application studies to explore innovative formulations of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) based on GELITA’s MEDELLAPRO Ultra Low Endotoxin Gelatin.
Since processing parameters and process control play crucial roles in the functionality of bioprinted tissues, the development of these bioinks will take into account their potential future applications.
Through their joint research on new GelMA variants, GELITA and Black Drop hope to showcase how material innovation and practical application can be combined efficiently and effectively.
Jannik Stadler, Head of Bioprinting Consumables and Services at Black Drop, said: "We see high-performance, clinically usable bioinks as the next crucial step in transferring 3D bioprinting to clinically relevant and industrially scalable applications."
It is therefore all the more gratifying that established partners such as GELITA are actively addressing this challenge and working with us to further develop their innovative materials in practical application studies.
Martin Junginger, Global Category Manager Pharma & Bioscience at GELITA, added: "We have recently launched our MEDELLAPRO Ultra Low Endotoxin Gelatin with endotoxin levels below 10 EU/g, which is highly suitable for biomedical applications in which gelling properties and purity are key."
This partnership will give us the ability to speed up validation of our ingredient solutions in a real-world scenario in order to match the evolving needs of leading researchers in the field of 3D bioprinting solutions.
MEDELLAPRO gelatins serve as a biomaterial platform for 3D bioprinting and cell culture in human tissue engineering.
In 3D bioprinting, they help mimic native tissue characteristics and support cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation.
As cell culture substrates, MEDELLAPRO gelatins facilitate reliable cell attachment to surfaces and promote consistent cell growth—providing a practical basis for reproducible, application-focused workflows in biomedical and pharmaceutical research.