German researchers advance scalable biotechnology for bioprinting and nutrition

Researchers in Germany are advancing biotechnological production methods for medical and nutritional applications. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) has established an automated, reproducible manufacturing process for modified gelatin. This process allows for consistent material quality at a kilogram scale, which is essential for 3D bioprinting, wound dressings, and medical coatings.

Separately, a research team at the University of Tübingen has demonstrated the industrial scalability of a two-stage bioreactor system. This “Power-to-Protein” method uses microbes to convert basic ingredients like carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen into proteins and vitamins, such as Vitamin B9 (folic acid), without the need for traditional agriculture or livestock. The study suggests that a production facility capable of supplying 5.6 million people with daily doses of Vitamin B9 could become profitable within five years.