Animal-Free Alternatives in Biomedical Materials
The biomedical sector is undergoing a decisive transition toward fully animal-free materials for regenerative medicine, advanced wound care, and premium cosmetic technologies. This shift is driven not only by ethical considerations but also by growing regulatory requirements for full traceability, pathogen safety, and reproducible manufacturing processes.
In this context, Evonik has developed VECOLLAN®—a recombinant collagen-like peptide designed for biomedical applications. VECOLLAN® is produced through a scalable, reproducible fermentation-based process and offers exceptional purity, safety, and consistency.
In a recent study, Evonik utilized VECOLLAN® to create electrospun meshes using the Fluidnatek® LE-50 equipment—a versatile electrospinning platform for advanced research and pilot-scale process optimization. The LE-50 enabled a coaxial electrospinning setup, placing VECOLLAN® in the fiber core while distributing a controlled crosslinking agent in the outer shell. This configuration delivered three key benefits:
- Enhanced mechanical stability of the scaffold
- Reduced swelling in biological environments
- Tunable dissolution behavior
These properties are critical for implantable devices, controlled drug-release platforms, and next-generation wound care solutions.
This case study demonstrates how Fluidnatek® systems empower the development of next-generation biomaterials—consistent, safe, sustainable. The LE-50’s flexibility, environmental control, and compatibility with post-processing integrations make it an essential tool for organizations seeking to accelerate innovation while minimizing process risk and time to market.
👉 Official Evonik publication: Recombinant collagen platforms
- Krauss C, Montero Mirabet M, Zhang JF, Mader K. Electrospinning of animal-free derived collagen-like protein: Development and characterization of VECOLLAN(R)- nanofibers for biomedical applications. Int J Pharm X. 2025;10:100398.
ESP