Jellagen, an innovative biotech company developing a proprietary next-generation biomaterial, Collagen Type 0, announced a partnership with Copner Biotech, a pioneer in 3D bioprinting, to develop the world’s first Jellyfish bio-ink or hydrogels for tissue regeneration. This announcement comes after it managed to secure an innovation funding of £123,724 from SMART Cymru.
SMARTCymru supports Welsh businesses to develop, implement and commercialise new products, processes, and services. It does this by co-investing in Research, Development, and Innovation projects that help to deliver sustainable growth
This partnership has the potential to transform the 3D bioprinting market, which is projected to reach £1.4 billion by 20281. Clinical applications for 3D bioprinted materials are broad and range from skin, bone, cartilage and blood vessel printing. Jellyfish-derived Collagen Type 0 has proven to promote an anti-inflammatory driven tissue response that produces fewer side effects than traditional collagens derived from mammals, producing a high-quality, compatible and reproducible jellyfish bio-ink. Copner Biotech brings to the partnership advanced algorithm software, enabling heightened precision of 3D bioprinting. Together, the collaboration has the potential to create a paradigm shift in 3D bioprinting, at a time of high market growth.
JELLAGEL™ Jellyfish Bio-ink
JellaGel™ is a Next Generation Jellyfish Collagen Hydrogel for in vitro cell culture and tissue engineering, offering customers a natural, non-mammalian alternative to mammalian and synthetic hydrogels currently on the market.
Hydrogels are an important tool in a researcher mission to grow and maintain cells successfully. Two-dimensional cell culture has been used for some time now, but growing cells in flat layers on plastic surfaces does not accurately model the in vivo state. Hydrogels allow cells to grow and interact with all of their surroundings thanks to the 3D environment. Cells grown in 3D models have proven to be more physiologically relevant, with improved cell viability, morphology, proliferation, and differentiation.
“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Jordan Copner and his team at Copner Biotech. SMART Cymru has enabled the creation of an exciting collaboration between two high-growth Welsh businesses at the forefront of exciting technological innovation in 3D software design capability and medical tissue engineering.”
– Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Jellagen
Jordan Copner, Founder and CEO of Copner Biotech further added, “This is an enormously exciting scientific collaboration between Copner Biotech and Jellagen, and a reflection of the increasing significance of 3D bioprinting in the Global medical research landscape. Our partnership aims to push the boundaries to advance innovation in biomedical engineering.”
This Jellyfish Bio-ink development project is partly funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
About Jellagen: Founded in 2015 by Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg, a Scottish marine biotechnology pioneer, Jellagen is a marine biotechnology company manufacturing marine-sourced Collagen Type 0 for medical and scientific research applications. It is our deep belief in building sustainable sources for critical biomaterials which do not carry the environmental and human health risks of traditional collagen sources.
About Copner Biotech: Copner Biotech Ltd was founded in 2020 with the vision to disrupt the 3D cell culture market with innovative technologies. The 3D cell culture space has the potential to further important medical research with real world benefits, such as cancer research and tissue engineering. Copner Biotech’s goal is to design, create and utilise new software platforms to manufacture competitive products for the 3D cell culture market.
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