TU Graz researchers revolutionise production of biocompatible microfibres

Droplets are at first being hit by a liquid jet of aqueous alginic acid solution and this stream then gets hit by a jet of calcium cations. Image Source: David Baumgartner, Francesco Marangon - TU Graz By Falko Schoklitsch Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated. In biomedical technology, tissue engineering for the ex-vivo production of skin or organs is becoming increasingly important. This requires biocompatible microfibres with enclosed microcapsules of controlled size and shape, as the cells used for tissue engineering must be embedded in material that is as similar as possible to the natural arrangement in vivo. Until now, the production of such fibres at low output has been quite costly and time-consuming. Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have now developed a new method for producing microfibres with the desired properties that can be used in pharmaceuticals and biomedicine, and which provides significantly higher yields than previous methods while requiring much less production effort. Carole Planchette from the Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer at TU Graz.