Bern-based CELLnTEC joins NEOLIVER project to develop bioprinted liver constructs

CELLnTEC is playing a key role in the NEOLIVER project, a European-Swiss initiative developing the world’s first autologous bioprinted liver for clinical use. The project, co-funded by the EU and the Swiss government, aims to address the global organ donor shortage through innovative bioprinting technologies.

CELLnTEC is contributing its expertise in precision cell culture media to the NEOLIVER project, a pioneering initiative in regenerative medicine. Supported by a EUR 10 million grant from Horizon Europe and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI), NEOLIVER is led by the University of Utrecht and involves twelve research partners across Europe.

Liver disease is responsible for two million deaths annually, with a chronic shortage of transplantable organs exacerbating the crisis. NEOLIVER aims to offer an alternative through bioprinting functional liver constructs using patient-derived organoids and supporting cells, ensuring a scalable and personalized treatment option. The project builds on the success of ORGANTRANS, a previous EU-funded initiative that achieved the transplantation of small liver constructs into mice. NEOLIVER takes this further by automating the bioprinting process and developing larger, clinically viable liver tissue structures.

CELLnTEC is bringing its advanced knowledge in fully defined, animal and human component-free precision media to NEOLIVER. The company’s expertise is crucial in optimizing the expansion and standardization of patient-derived cells, ensuring the quality and reproducibility of the bioprinted tissue.

Advancing bioprinting technology for clinical applications

NEOLIVER integrates multiple innovative technologies, including laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) bioprinting for precise tissue structuring, vascularization strategies combining bioprinted and native donor vessels, and an automated GMP-compliant production system to scale up tissue generation. Preclinical trials in immune-deficient pigs will evaluate safety and efficacy, preparing for first-in-human trials.

In the company’s press release, Dr. Stefan Bärtschi, Head of R&D at CELLnTEC, highlighted the transformative potential of NEOLIVER: “We are excited to contribute our expertise in precision media to accelerate the clinical application of bioprinted liver constructs. This project brings us closer to solving the global organ shortage.”

By combining biotechnology, automation, and medicine, NEOLIVER represents a major step forward in tissue engineering, bringing functional, transplantable bioprinted livers closer to reality.