Brinter, the Finnish bioprinting startup is joining forces with LED Tailor to incorporate a disinfecting blue-light feature embedded in its multi-material 3D-bioprinter. The new system allows for the safe production of tissue models and drugs, among other products, and decreases the need for separate cleanrooms.
Brinter’s modular bioprinter can produce multi-material, complex-tissue 3D structures. It is able to print both rigid and soft materials, such as liquids and hydrogels with living cells, bio-paste, metal with binder material, and thermoplastics; and according to the company, can be set up in just minutes.
Brinter has stated that “part of the visible-light spectrum, from 400- to approximately 500-nm wavelength, blue light is completely safe for humans but kills all forms of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Unlike UV-light in the 100- to 400-nm wavelength, visible blue light does not deteriorate materials or cause other hazardous effects”. Crucial to the creation of this disinfection system was the discovery that all microbes contain blue light–sensitive compounds inside their cells as a part of their natural metabolism.
A destructive chemical reaction begins when these light-sensitive compounds are exposed to specific wavelengths of disinfecting blue light at the proper intensity. This produces reactive oxygen radicals inside the microbial cell, damaging any structure inside the microbial cell and destroying it from the inside.
“Our photon disinfection innovation is an automatic and sustainable solution to microbe problems. The system enables safe bioprinting, production of food and beverages, restrains epidemics, and answers the needs of cleanrooms. Our solutions improve safety and vitality of employees and reduce microbiological and chemical risks in healthcare and industrial sites,” said Harri Rautio, CEO at LED Tailor.
“The partnership with LED Tailor makes Brinter the first 3D bioprinter in the world using blue-light disinfection technology that can be utilized both inside and outside the device to clean the environment around the bioprinter,” added Brinter CEO Tomi Kalpio.
Brinter is currently active in more than 10 countries, including the United States, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom. Some of the company’s customers include bio and pharmaceutical companies, as well as research organizations such as VTT, BEST group at the University of Glasgow, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, the University of Oulu, University of Turku, Tampere University, and the University of Helsinki.
