Current 3D‑printing bioinks rely heavily on animal‑derived collagen/gelatin or GelMA, with variability, pathogen and immunogenicity concerns, and reliance on UV or chemical crosslinking that can harm cells. There is a growing demand for fully xeno‑free, mechanically tunable bioinks that print complex, load‑bearing constructs without external crosslinkers while maintaining high cell viability.

The technology:

• A fully xeno‑free bioink platform composed of self‑assembling short peptides reinforced with cellulose nanofibers:
  • No animal‑derived collagen/gelatin and associated regulatory and immunological risks
  • Crosslinker‑free, rapid gelation via peptide self‑assembly, simplifying processing and preserving cell viability
• ​Components co‑assemble into ECM‑like hydrogels under mild conditions and can be formulated at different peptide ratios for tuned stiffness and printability
• Hydrogels support extrusion‑based bioprinting, multilayer printing of different formulations in one construct, and high‑fidelity fabrication in suspension baths for complex geometries such as mandible defect scaffolds.

Potential Applications:

• Patient‑specific implants such as cranio‑maxillofacial scaffolds
• 3D in vitro bone and composite tissue models for drug screening and mechanobiology.
• Xeno‑free bioink platform adaptable to other tissues and bioactive additives

Stage:
The platform is validated in vitro with optimized lead formulations and is ready for preclinical evaluation in bone and maxillofacial models

References:
F.Netti et al, “Xeno-Free Biocompatible Peptide-Based Bioinks Reinforced with Cellulose Nanofibers for 3D Printing.”  Adv. Healthcare Mater.15, no. 3 (2026)