UPM Biomedicals launches FibGel the world's first injectable nanocellulose hydrogel for medical devices

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UPM Biomedicals, a company producing high quality nanofibrillar cellulose for medical and life science applications, announced the launch of FibGel— a natural injectable hydrogel for permanent implantable medical devices.

FibGel is a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel made from birch wood cellulose and water only, offering a safe, sustainable and biocompatible alternative for medical device developers. Designed and manufactured in Finland and designed for medical applications, FibGel is poised to transform the fields of soft tissue repair, orthopaedics, regenerative medicine and more. Unlike synthetic and animal-derived hydrogels, FibGel is a natural hydrogel— manufactured from renewable and responsibly-sourced Finnish birch wood—offering a safe, sustainable, animal-free solution. As a stable, non-degradable material, FibGel is designed for long-lasting use in the human body without causing adverse immune reactions or the formation of fibrotic capsules common to animal-derived and plastic-based alternatives. FibGel also benefits from robust temperature stability, enabling it to be handled and stored at room temperature for ease of use and quick preparation. It's long 18-month minimum shelf life delivers reliable performance without special storage conditions, reducing logistical challenges.
FibGel is customizable owing to its tunable properties that allow adjustable stiffness and the incorporation of additional components. This flexibility enables tailored solutions for varying clinical needs, covering a wide range of medical applications, including soft tissue repair, orthopaedic treatments, aesthetics, drug delivery, and cell transplantation. UPM has extensive expertise in developing sustainable, animal-free hydrogels and rigorous testing has demonstrated FibGel's biocompatibility. Based on the preclinical studies, its stability supports permanent implant and one-time injection applications, critical for patient convenience and saving health care providers' time.

Johana Kuncová-Kallio, Director of UPM Biomedical said, "We are thrilled to be the first company to develop plant-based nanocellulose for use in medical devices. It enables minimally invasive procedures, which compared to surgery means rapid patient recovery."