Startup seeks funding for 3D bioprinting technology

Jetbio is based at Newcastle University but has collaborations with Cambridge (Stem Cell Institute and Orthopaedics) and Bristol (cancer modelling).

In biotechnology, creating accurate in vitro models that mimic the human cellular environment is crucial for advancing drug discovery and development, the company says.

Current 3D cell culture techniques, though promising, face limitations in achieving the high cell densities necessary for effective tissue modelling, it argues.

Jetbio says it is tackling these challenges directly and believes its approach promises to enhance the preclinical screening process, reduce dependency on animal testing, bring lower costs and accelerate research timelines.

It is commercialising Reactive Jet Impingement (ReJI). ReJI is said to merge the precision and speed of traditional drop-on-demand (DoD) bioprinting – a method that ejects bioink droplets only when needed, with the ability to achieve high physiological cell densities, essential for creating tissue-like structures.

Jetbio says that while conventional DoD systems offer fine control they often suffer from nozzle blockages and low cell densities. ReJI is said to address these issues by delivering continuous, high-density cell deposits without clogging issues, ensuring robust and viable tissue constructs.

By overcoming these limitations, it posits, ReJI enables more reliable and efficient bioprinting, facilitating the creation of complex tissue structures with enhanced precision.

The system employs microvalves in custom-designed printheads to jet bioink materials that interact in mid-air to form a gel on the substrate, allowing for rapid and precise bioprinting.

This technological leap positions Jetbio at the forefront of 3D bioprinting, offering scalable solutions that promise to enhance drug discovery and regenerative medicine through the production of reliable in vitro models, the company maintains.

Jetbio focuses on printing tissue models for diseases such as osteoarthritis, leukaemia, skin diseases, liver cancer and cardiotoxicology – crucial for disease modelling and drug testing applications.

Jetbio was founded by Professor Kenny Dalgarno, the Sir James Woodeson Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at Newcastle University, who leads the company's technical team.

Over the past decade, he has spearheaded additive manufacturing research at Newcastle, focusing on rapid prototyping, biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, supported by notable institutions including EPSRC, the European Commission, Arthritis Research UK, the Carbon Trust, and industry partners.

CEO and co-founder is Dennis Camilleri, who brings 35 years of senior management experience in business development, mergers and acquisitions within the DeepTech and MedTech sectors.

With expertise in photonics and optical engineering, Camilleri has led commercial and technology teams across Europe and the US from startup phases to successful exits.

Jetbio has collaborated with end-users and achieved promising laboratory results with miniREJI bioprinter installations for validating tissue constructs and models for cancer research. It holds patents in the US and Europe.

The business is currently raising its first round of funding, aiming for £650,000 to advance bioprinting technology and expand operations. It has secured a £100,000 pledge from four angel investors, contingent on completing the funding round.

Funds will be used to drive product development, strengthen technical capabilities, expand commercial efforts, build strategic partnerships to accelerate growth and establish a dedicated R & D and product assembly facility.

This facility is designed to enhance Jetbio's in-house expertise in hardware and software engineering as well as the production of specialised biomaterials for their portable ink-jetting system.

The Jetbio miniREJI 3D Bioprinter was demonstrated to end-users through workshops held in February in Bristol, Newcastle, and Cambridge (Stem Cell Institute) Universities.

Jetbio was also invited by Versus Arthritis to showcase its bioprinting capabilities at an All-Party Parliamentary Group Life Sciences event at the Houses of Parliament where it says the technology received excellent feedback.