UPM Biomedicals

UPM Biomedicals is the forerunner in producing high quality (ISO13485) nanofibrillar cellulose for life science and medical applications.

We are part of UPM, the Biofore Company.

The nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) we produce can be used in numerous forms and it acts as an underlying building block for bridging the worlds of biomaterials, biomanufacturing and medicine.

We actively collaborate with universities, research centers and key industrial partners on future innovations and products in the field of high throughput drug screening, personalized medicine, advanced cell therapies, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering and advanced wound care.

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What is Nanocellulose?

UPM Nanocellulose is an animal-free biomaterial produced from sustainably grown birch trees that are first processed into cellulose and further refined into nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC). Unlike cellulose, nanocellulose possesses unique properties owing to its exceptional surface-to-volume ratio. This in turn makes it much more biocompatible than cellulose, provides higher capillary force (water retention) and gives it non-Newtonian state.

While many synthetic biomaterials are produced with the bottom-up approach limiting their manufacturing to small or even minute volumes, our nanocellulose is produced in the top-down approach and therefore is readily available in large volumes. It is the first plant-based nanocellulose manufactured in ISO13485 quality. More than 300 patents protect our nanocellulose manufacturing processes, existing as well as future products.

Our nanocellulose is available in many forms: injectable gel, printable bioink, coatings, wound dressing and freeze-dried. It is also offered as an OEM material for life science applications.

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UPM Nanocellulose is made of birch and water

UPM Nanocellulose is produced from birch trees that are first processed into cellulose and further refined into nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC). Our products are manufactured in Lappeenranta, Finland. 

 
 

UPM Biomedicals products

 

Our products are manufactured in Lappeenranta, Finland. Since we launched GrowDex® in 2014, we have continued developing our nanocellulose product portfolio together with leading researchers and clinicians in their respective fields. Our current portfolio is centered around four main product categories.

 
 

Our future vision for regenerative medicine

We aim to provide Nanocellulose as a living cell carrier from source through the cell manufacturing all the way to the cell therapy treatment administered to a patient.

New modalities are gaining attention across the biotech and pharma field. However, a non-animal carrier is required for their successful registration with EMA/FDA. Our nanocellulose hydrogel not only suits the cell differention, manufacturing and purification, but also transportation of the ATMP product to the medical center without the need of freeze cycle. Finally, the application to a patient is possible in different forms: as an injection, as an implant, as topical treatment on a wound dressing, and as a freeze-dried product.

 

 

Science behind our products

 

UPM has been the forerunner in nanocellulose research for decades. We pioneered the field together with academic and research centers in Finland and developed the manufacturing into an industrial scale at medical quality.

We have more than 150 optimized protocols for different cell types, more than 200 scientific publications including in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

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Our latest press releases

UPM joins the Forward Faster Initiative to accelerate the progress of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
News | 09/19/2023 06:00:00 | 3 min

UPM joins the Forward Faster Initiative to accelerate the progress of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

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Wound dressing FibDex® to be clinically tested for treatment of superficial dermal burns
News | 06/22/2023 09:00:00 | 4 min

Wound dressing FibDex® to be clinically tested for treatment of superficial dermal burns

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UPM Biomedicals enters the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area site Main Campus, Europe’s top life sciences hub
News | 05/11/2023 07:00:00 | 5 min

UPM Biomedicals enters the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area site Main Campus, Europe’s top life sciences hub

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CDP recognises UPM with triple ‘A’ score for climate, forests and water security actions
News | 12/13/2022 07:00:00 | 4 min

CDP recognises UPM with triple ‘A’ score for climate, forests and water security actions

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Latest articles

Plant power: 3 ways how nature’s inherent abilities can solve the biggest issues of our time
Story | 09/16/2022 04:53:26 | 9 min

Plant power: 3 ways how nature’s inherent abilities can solve the biggest issues of our time

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3D organs developed in space and cells that create energy: The future of health-tech
Story | 08/18/2022 10:48:55 | 11 min

3D organs developed in space and cells that create energy: The future of health-tech

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Model development for ex vivo precision oncology
Story | 08/04/2021 10:08:27 | 5 min

Model development for ex vivo precision oncology

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