GelX series

Bioinks with dual action and versatility

CELLINK’s GelX Series leverages methacrylated gelatin to combine the biological characteristics of a crosslinkable gelatin network with printability at a wide range of temperatures. The bioinks’ ease-of-use and versatility in crosslinking facilitate bioprinting of soft and hard tissue models. The series includes bioinks modified with tricalcium phosphate, laminins and fibrinogen to create favorable environments for all cell types including cell lines, stem cells and primary cells.

GelX-based bioinks have GelMA’s biological properties with printability at a wide range of temperatures. Users can use two culture conditions to engineer tissues with GelX-based bioinks: the normal culture conditions of submerging the construct in medium and the phasic culture conditions of an air-liquid interface, which can both influence epidermal and epithelial tissue models.

The product series:

GelXG

GelXG is a gelatin-based bioink designed to withstand a wider temperature range than GelMA-based bioinks. For cells with sensitivity to alginate, GelXG is a great photocurable alternative. GelXG does not have a distinct gel point — its storage and loss modulus curves do not intercept, providing elastic properties and reducing flow after bioprinting.

GelXA

GelXA supports ionic and light-induced crosslinking. Dual crosslinking capabilities enable users to tune the construct’s stiffness to the environment of a specific cell type (Figure 20). This enables researchers to analyze tissue-specific models to observe cell-matrix interactions and responses such as cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Warming GelXA to 37 degrees Celsius liquefies the bioink and allows for gentle cell mixing.

GelXA BONE

GelXA BONE incorporates tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite particles to create an osteoinductive-like environment. GelXA BONE constructs crosslink both through photocuring and through the addition of our ionic Crosslinking Agent. As bone cell differentiation depends on environmental stiffness, users can leverage different combinations of crosslinking and timing to tune GelXA BONE for the target bone or cartilage progenitor cells.

GelXA SKIN

GelXA SKIN is designed for fabricating skin and skin-related tissue models. GelXA SKIN crosslinks with thrombin, calcium chloride and through photocuring. GelXA SKIN incorporates well-dispersed fibrinogen to provide an environment resembling the native wound-healing process. Fibrinogen is converted to fibrin in the presence of thrombin, forming stable networks and promoting tissue repair.

GelXA FIBRIN

GelXA FIBRIN incorporates fibrinogen to provide an environment that resembles the native wound-healing process. Fibrinogen is converted to fibrin in the presence of thrombin, forming a stable network and promoting tissue repair. Users can use photocuring to tune the stiffness of the bioprinted construct.

GelXA LAMININK

The GelXA LAMININKs include GelXA LAMININK 111, 121, 411, 521 and +. These bioinks incorporate different laminin isoforms to mimic the basal lamina of the natural tissue environment. Laminins are essential to cell differentiation, migration and adhesion, and help support a healthy tissue. The GelXA LAMININKs are designed to enhance tissue maintenance and survival. These bioinks maximize cell viability and are a great starting point for culture of many cell types.

GelXA CARTILAGE

GelXA CARTILAGE is designed to actively help chondrocytes to create and maintain cartilage tissue. It retains prolific cytocompatibility of gelatin and at the same time enables bioprinting at ambient conditions and provides mechanical versatility of crosslinking. The last feature makes it possible to adjust the stiffness of cell microenvironment to resemble harder tissue models such as cartilage.