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UPM Biomedicals

From cell to a cell product

One cell carrier to protect what's irreplaceable

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UPM Biomedicals is the forerunner in producing high quality nanofibrillar cellulose for medical and life science applications. More than 300 patents protect the existing and future products that rely on the Finnish birch pulp. 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.

We are part of UPM, the Biofore Company that creates value from renewable and recyclable materials. In 2020, UPM’s sales were approximately EUR 8.6 billion. UPM has production plants in 13 countries and a global sales network. UPM employs approximately 18,000 employees worldwide. UPM shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange. At the end of 2020, UPM had approximately 113,000 shareholders.

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A novel animal-free biomaterial based on birch nanocellulose

 

This biomaterial is biocompatible, scalable, reproducible, sustainable, temperature stable and easy-to-use with laboratory automation (liquid dispensers, bioprinters). The material can be used throughout the cell harvesting, bioprocessing, and applied to a patient in different forms. The hydrogel can be enzymatically degraded into sugars.

  • Available in many forms: dry powder, injectable gel, printed implants, wound dressing
  • ISO 13485
  • Make it your own: drug delivery vehicle, preservative, microcarrier, etc.
     
 
 

Advancing bio-innovations from renewable resources

Our patented 3D hydrogel technology is used in a wide range of biomedical applications.

1. Tree

2. Logs

3. Fibres

Nature has provided the perfect source of raw materials from which we have developed our ready to use room temperature stable products for the biomedical area.

Pulp fibres processed to nanoscale diameter can be easily modified into various forms, such as hydrogels, films and aerogels. These physical and mechanical properties have made nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) useful as a drug and cell carrier, cell scaffold and composite material. Furthermore, the potential of NFC for wound treatment applications has also been demonstrated.

 

Our products utilizes these unique characteristics of nanofibrillar cellulose.

Biocompatibility, high hydrophilic potential and the nanocellulose fibre scaffold provide cells with an environment that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) supporting cell growth and differentiation. High water content ensures easy diffusion of nutrients and metabolites and allows our products ton be mixed easily with cells, media or drugs.

Shear thinning properties ensures easy dispensing for HTS assays, 3D printing or injection for drug release or organ-on-a-chip models.

Controllable mechanical properties ensures that the hydrogels are suitable for a wide range of cells, tissues and applications.