Polish 3D printer company CD3D has inaugurated its first open 3D bioprinting cluster in Europe. Located in Lodz, Poland, the cluster consists of 21 SKAFFOSYS bioprinter units, which will be used to pursue research and development in the biomedical arena.
The new center, called as 3D Biocluster, will be chiefly operated by CD3D’s medical division, CD3D Medical, with assistance from the Laboratory of Molecular and Nanostructured Biophysics at the Bionanopark, one of the largest lab complexes in Poland. The prolific site hosts a range of innovative projects relating to biotechnology and medicine.
The 3D Biocluster will enable scientists at the Bionanopark to carry out biochemical, biological and molecular research by providing the ability to create three-dimensional structures on site and on demand. The bioprinter cluster will not only benefit the researchers at the facility, however, as the open nature of the 3D Biocluster means that external researchers and groups from Poland and abroad can commission the bioprinter units for R&D purposes.
The bioprinting cluster is made up of 21 Polish-made SKAFFOSYS bioprinters. The hardware is capable of printing scaffold structures out of hydrogel materials which support the growth of cells. The deposition-based technology uses a 5ml syringe to deposit the hydrogel onto a print bed. The bioprinter can also be used for bioplotting.
The units installed as part of the cluster were specifically developed for CD3D Medical. In the future, the cluster could integrate more advanced 3D bioprinter models with new functionalities. The flexibility of the system enables it to be updated and to be modified to address new applications and challenges.
Overall, the expansive 3D Biocluster will serve the biomedical field for a range of applications, including studying new biocompatible materials, creating cell cultures, exploring regenerative medicine, testing new therapies on tissue models and even investigating new, alternative food sources.
CD3D hopes the bioprinting cluster will bring together research and industry partners to investigate a range of boundary pushing biomedical solutions. External parties seeking to leverage the bioprinter cluster will be supported by the expertise of CD3D Medical and the Laboratory of Molecular and Nanostructural Biophysics at the Bionanopark.
