BASF and Poietis partner to advance 3D bioprinting technology

Germany-based chemicals producer BASF has signed a deal with French biotechnology firm Poietis to further develop 3D bioprinting technology for the cosmetics industry.

The framework agreement follows a research and development (R&D) deal signed between the companies in 2015, which aimed to co-develop 3D laser-assisted bioprinted skin models.

Poietis’ 3D laser-assisted bioprinting technology can print skin equivalents in two weeks for use in the study and evaluation of active ingredients in skincare products.

During the initial stages of the R&D partnership, Poietis’ technology was used for the automated reproduction of BASF’s skin model Mimeskin.

Poietis founder and president Fabien Guillemot said: “Bio-printed 3D models are the method of choice for the predictive evaluation of ingredients as these models reproduce the cell environment in-vitro by having mechanical and metabolic functionalities close to the vivo.”

BASF tissue engineering development Sebastien Cadau added: “During our cooperation, we gained important insights such as the parameters and kinetics of dermis maturation. A mature and thick dermis is an essential condition to obtain optimum results in epidermal printing.

“In a second step, we now want to jointly improve the skin models by increasing structure complexity and adding new cell types.”

The new agreement will allow further improvement of 3D laser-assisted bioprinted skin models.