Support firm for 3D Printed Implants Developer

4D Biomaterials, has received backing of £1.6 million for a new biomaterial suitable for printing 3D medical implants. The funding will be used to develop a range of products through partnerships with medical device companies and expand its team with the creation of five new jobs at its premises in MediCity.

The funding round was led by DSW Ventures and backed by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund’s (MEIF) Proof of Concept and Early Stage Fund, Mercia’s own funds, and existing investor SFC Capital.

 The biomaterial 4Degra, can be printed to the exact shape required for a tissue cell scaffold with an open cell honeycomb structure. This also has the advantage of being able to degrade as natural tissue begins to grow back through the voids. Its use is aimed at patients recovering from surgery such as tumour removal in breast cancer patients and could help patients recovering from other types of surgery and trauma following accidents. 4Degra was developed for over 15 years in Professor Andrew Dove’s research group at the University of Warwick and University of Birmingham.  Recently published research has shown the printed tissue scaffolds have ‘shape memory’ so that their structure is retained when the scaffold is implanted. They were also shown to highly promising tissue-healing performance, including the ability to support cell migration, the ‘ingrowth’ of tissues and revasculation occurs.

Having spun out of the universities last year, the company appointed Phil Smith, an entrepreneur with a track record in biotech spin-outs, as its CEO. 4D Biomaterials is the trading name of 4D Medicine Ltd, based in Birmingham.

“I am delighted to welcome DSW Ventures and Mercia on board at this exciting time for the company. The raise was oversubscribed by 60%, helped by the continuing support of SFC Capital and our angel investors. This puts us in a strong position as we move into the next phase of taking our products to market.”

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

More information online.