UPM Biomedicals, the forerunner in producing nanofibrillar cellulose for medical and life science applications, has launched FibGel—a natural injectable hydrogel for permanent implantable medical devices. Designed and manufactured under ISO 13485 standards in Finland and designed for medical applications, FibGel is poised to transform the fields of soft tissue repair, orthopedics, regenerative medicine, and more. 
 
FibGel is a nanofibrillar cellulose, natural hydrogel made from birch wood cellulose and water only, offering a safe, sustainable, and biocompatible alternative for medical device developers. It is manufactured from renewable and responsibly sourced wood as a safe, sustainable, animal-free solution. 
 
FibGel is designed for long-lasting use in the human body without causing adverse immune reactions or the formation of fibrotic capsules common to animal-derived and plastic-based alternatives. 
 
“We are thrilled to be the first company to develop plant-based nanocellulose for use in medical devices. It enables minimally invasive procedures, which compared to surgery means rapid patient recovery” commented Johana Kuncová-Kallio, Director of UPM Biomedicals. “In 2020 we launched our own FibDex topical medical device (MDD/MDR, class IIb) for advanced wound care, which has been used to successfully treat hundreds of patients. Now, with the launch of FibGel, we can provide the same safe, sustainable, animal-free material in an injectable hydrogel form to medical device companies. Based on our pre-clinical evidence for FibGel, our initial partners have been able to speed up their device development and are now planning to start the clinical phase in 2025. We aim to partner with more companies interested in developing new solutions in the areas of soft tissue repair, joint and disk repair, wound care, drug delivery, and cell therapy based on FibGel technology.” 
 
FibGel is customizable with tunable properties that allow adjustable stiffness and the incorporation of additional components. This flexibility enables tailored solutions for varying clinical needs and can serve a wide range of medical applications, including soft tissue repair, orthopedic treatments, aesthetics, drug delivery, and cell transplantation.
 
This injectable is also in accordance with ISO 10993, making it an ideal component for companies developing medical devices for use in various soft tissue repair and orthopedic applications. 
 
Based on the preclinical studies, its stability supports permanent implant and one-time injection applications, critical for patient convenience and saving healthcare providers’ time. FibGel is highly tunable, easy to use, and remains injectable even at high stiffness thanks to its shear-thinning properties.
 
FibGel also benefits from robust temperature stability, enabling it to be handled and stored at room temperature for ease of use and quick preparation. It has an 18-month minimum shelf life and delivers reliable performance without special storage conditions, reducing logistical challenges.
 
The company’s first partners are planning initial clinical investigations based on FibGel technology in 2025.