Biofabrication

Biofabrication involves the targeted production of biological structures through the interaction of cells, biomaterials, and bioprocessing techniques. As an interdisciplinary field, it combines cell and tissue technology with materials science, biotechnology, and process engineering, opening up new applications in medicine, industry, and sustainable food production.

Tissue models: in-vitro test systems for biomedicine

At Fraunhofer IGB, we work on biofabrication across the entire value chain, from cell harvesting and material development to process development and scale-up. A key focus is on the development of physiologically relevant tissue models, particularly adipose tissue models, as in-vitro test systems for biomedical applications.

Cell-based foods: meat and fish

In the field of cell-based foods, we examine the entire process of producing cultured meat and fish, from cell isolation and the establishment of suitable cell lines through the development of media and materials to process development, scale-up, and prototyping. The goal is to address technological hurdles along the value chain and enable the transfer to industrial applications.

Engineered living materials

In addition, we develop engineered living materials based on living cells, particularly fungal mycelium-based materials that can be specifically shaped and functionalized. These materials can be used, for example, in sustainable lightweight construction applications, as biodegradable components, or bioactive filtration systems, and enable precise and scalable manufacturing through additive manufacturing processes.

• Development and characterization of cell sources and cell-based systems for biomedical, industrial, and food technology applications
• Development and optimization of cell culture processes, differentiation strategies, and co-cultures
• Development and functionalization of biomaterials, bioinks, and engineered living materials
• Development of defined and sustainable cell culture media
• Process development and scale-up from the laboratory phase to application-scale
• Development of integrated biofabrication strategies, including 3D bioprinting
• Construction and characterization of tissue models and demonstrators
• Analysis, testing, and application-oriented evaluation of processes and products

A modern research infrastructure is available for biofabrication, enabling work from the laboratory to the pilot scale and supporting development along the entire value chain, from cell culture and material development through biofabrication to process development and product characterization.

Our equipment includes, among other things:

• Fully equipped cell culture laboratories for work with human and animal cells
• Incubators, safety cabinets, and systems for controlled cell culture processes
• Bioreactor systems for cultivation, process development, and scale-up
• Systems for 3D bioprinting and additive manufacturing of bio-based materials
• Laboratories for material and ink development, as well as rheological and mechanical characterization
• Microscopy and analytical platforms for investigating cell, tissue, and material properties
• Infrastructure for the construction and characterization of complex tissue models
• Facilities for the development and testing of demonstrators and prototypes
• Food technology infrastructure for the evaluation of cell-based products

1. Albrecht, F. B., Schick, A.-K., Klatt, A., Schmidt, F. F., Nellinger, S., & Kluger, P. J. (2025). Exploring Morphological and Molecular Properties of Different Adipose Cell Models: Monolayer, Spheroids, Gellan Gum‐Based Hydrogels, and Explants. Macromolecular Bioscience. https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202400320

2. Nellinger, S., Heine, S., Steeb, L., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Completely defined cell culture medium for advanced alveolar models. Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2024-2110

3. Nowakowski, S., Schmidt, F. F., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Development of an in vitro three-layered skin wound healing model for pre-clinical testing. Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2024-2113

4. Nellinger, S., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Native and cell-derived extracellular matrix exhibit disparate immunogenic and immunomodulatory effects. Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2024-2111

5. Klatt, A., Wollschlaeger, J. O., Albrecht, F. B., Rühle, S., Holzwarth, L. B., Hrenn, H., Melzer, T., Heine, S., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Dynamically cultured, differentiated bovine adipose-derived stem cell spheroids as building blocks for biofabricating cultured fat. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53486-w

6. Albrecht, F. B., Schmidt, F. F., Schmidt, C., Börret, R., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Robot‐based 6D bioprinting for soft tissue biomedical applications. Engineering in Life Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.202300226

7. Albrecht, F. B., Ahlfeld, T., Klatt, A., Heine, S., Gelinsky, M., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). Biofabrication’s Contribution to the Evolution of Cultured Meat. Advanced Healthcare Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202304058

8. Heine, S., Ahlfeld, T., Albrecht, F. B., Gelinsky, M., & Kluger, P. J. (2024). How biofabrication can accelerate cultured meat’s path to market. Nature Reviews Materials. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00650-9

9. Nellinger, S., & Kluger, P. J. (2023). How Mechanical and Physicochemical Material Characteristics Influence Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Fate. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043551

10. Albrecht, F. B., Schmidt, F. F., Volz, A.-C., & Kluger, P. J. (2022). Bioprinting of 3D Adipose Tissue Models Using a GelMA-Bioink with Human Mature Adipocytes or Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. Gels. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8100611

11. Albrecht, F. B., Dolderer, V., Nellinger, S., Schmidt, F. F., & Kluger, P. J. (2022). Gellan Gum Is a Suitable Biomaterial for Manual and Bioprinted Setup of Long-Term Stable, Functional 3D-Adipose Tissue Models. Gels. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8070420

12. Wollschlaeger, J. O., Maatz, R., Albrecht, F. B., Klatt, A., Heine, S., Blaeser, A., & Kluger, P. J. (2022). Scaffolds for Cultured Meat on the Basis of Polysaccharide Hydrogels Enriched with Plant-Based Proteins. Gels. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8020094

13. S, N., MA, R., A, S., V, W., & PJ, K. (2021). An Advanced ‘clickECM’ That Can be Modified by the Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Reaction. Chembiochem : A European Journal of Chemical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202100266

14. Kluger, P., Nellinger, S., Heine, S., & Volz, A.-C. (2020). Cell-derived extracellular matrix as maintaining biomaterial for adipogenic differentiation. https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2020-3106

15. Keller, S., Liedek, A., Shendi, D., Bach, M., Tovar, G., Kluger, P., & Southan, A. (2020). Eclectic characterisation of chemically modified cell-derived matrices obtained by metabolic glycoengineering and re-assessment of commonly used methods. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA06819E

16. B, H., E, H., I, C., K, B., & PJ, K. (2019). A versatile perfusion bioreactor and endothelializable photo cross-linked tubes of gelatin methacryloyl as promising tools in tissue engineering. Biomedizinische Technik. Biomedical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1515/bmt-2018-0015

17. Ann-Cathrin Volz, P. J. K. (n.d.). Establishment of defined culture conditions for the differentiation, long-term maintenance and co-culture of adipose-derived stem cells for the setup of human vascularized adipose tissue (pp. Online–Ressource). Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim.

18. Shkarina, S., Shkarin, R., Weinhardt, V., Melnik, E., Vacun, G., Kluger, P. J., Loza, K., Epple, M., Ivlev, S. I., Baumbach, T., Surmeneva, M. A., & Surmenev, R. A. (2018). Author Correction: 3D biodegradable scaffolds of polycaprolactone with silicate-containing hydroxyapatite microparticles for bone tissue engineering: high-resolution tomography and in vitro study. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35952-w

19. Borchers, K., Hoch, E., Wenz, A., Huber, B., Stier, S., Claassen, C., Sewald, L., Kluger, P., & Weber, A. (2018). Bioink development and bioprinting bio-based matrices. International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, 2018-September, 113–115.

20. Bauer, D., Borchers, K., Burkert, T., Ciric, D., Cooper, F., Ensthaler, J., Gaub, H., Gittel, H. J., Grimm, T., Hillebrecht, M., Kluger, P. J., Klöden, B., Kochan, D., Kolb, T., Löber, L., Lenz, J., Marquardt, E., Munsch, M., Müller, A. K., et al. (2016). Additive Fertigungsverfahren.

21. Thude, S., Kluger, P. J., & Schenke-Layland, K. (2015). In vitro skin test systems to investigate light associated skin damage,In vitro-Hauttestsysteme zur Untersuchung lichtassoziierter Hautschädigung. BioSpektrum, 21, Article 2.

22. Borchers, K., Bierwisch, C., Engelhardt, S., Graf, C., Hoch, E., Huber, B., Jaeger, R., Kluger, P., Krüger, H., Meyer, W., Novosel, E., Refle, O., Schuh, C., Seiler, N., Tovar, G., Weaener, M., & Ziegler, T. (2013). Bioink development for additive manufacturing of artificial soft tissue. International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, 223.

23. Novosel, E. C., Klechowitz, N., Schuh, C., Fischer, A., Meyer, W., Wegener, M., Krüger, H., Borchers, K., Walles, H., Hirth, T., Tovar, G. E. M., & Kluger, P. J. (2011). Biofunctionalization and dynamical culture of endothelial cells on new 3D-printable polymers for small diameter grafts. 24th European Conference on Biomaterials - Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials.

24. Kleinhans, C., Schneider, S., Müller, M., Schiestel, T., Heymer, A., Walles, H., Hirth, T., & Kluger, P. J. (2011). Evaluation of plasma-functionalized bone substitutes on the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. 24th European Conference on Biomaterials - Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials.

25. Kluger, P. J. (n.d.). Hautzellen reagieren auf bioinspirierte Substrate. Induktion morphologischer und physiologischer Reaktionen primärer humaner Hautzellen durch bioinspirierte nano- und mikrostrukturierte Substrate (neue Ausg., pp. Online–Ressource). Suedwestdeutscher Verlag fuer Hochschulschriften.

26. Kluger, P. J., Panas, M., Schober, L., M.Tovar, G. E., Mertsching, H., & Borchers, K. (2009). Amino- and carboxy-functionalized nano- and microstructured surfaces for evaluating the impact of non-biological stimuli on adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of primary skin-cells. MRS Online Proceedings Library. https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-1187-KK05-28

27. Brecher, C., Wenzel, C., Pretzsch, F., Bueth, H., & Kluger, P. (2009). Development and characterization of high volume producible micro structured surfaces for tissue engineering applications. IFMBE Proceedings, 25, Article 10.

28. Kluger, P. J. (n.d.). Induktion morphologischer und physiologischer Reaktionen primärer humaner Hautzellen durch bioinspirierte nano- und mikrostrukturierte Substrate (pp. Online–Ressource) [HOCHSCHULSCHRIFT]