Leitat advances personalized medical device capabilities through DiMεD network

Leitat Technological Center strengthened its capabilities in the development of personalized invasive medical devices through the Cervera DiMεD Network of Excellence, a project financed by Spain’s CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación) and coordinated by IDONIAL Centro Tecnológico. The network also included AIN and Vicomtech technology centers.

Over the course of the project, Leitat developed and validated a range of advanced medical solutions spanning implant design, surgical tooling, biofabrication, and preclinical validation.

Implants and surgical tooling

Leitat developed and validated osteochondral implants using metal additive manufacturing, with a focus on parametrizing new biocompatible alloys to optimize their mechanical properties for integration with bone and cartilage tissue. Post-processing techniques and functional coatings were incorporated to improve biological response and tissue integration. Cytotoxicity testing was conducted in compliance with ISO 10993 standards to confirm biological safety.

In parallel, the center designed and fabricated personalized surgical guides intended for minimally invasive procedures, including sterilization process optimization and biological validation to meet regulatory requirements for hospital use.

Bioprinting and preclinical validation

Leitat developed a custom inkjet printing system for manufacturing medical devices using biocompatible hydrogels — soft materials that more closely replicate the mechanical behavior of human tissue—opening pathways for regenerative medicine and more realistic biological research models.

The center also advanced bioprinting by developing systems that combine light-based printing and drop-on-demand technology to generate complex tissue models. These systems incorporated perfusion architectures to support tissue maturation and vascularization, enabling physiological microenvironment simulation for metabolic and vascular research in tissues, including liver and arterial structures.

In preclinical validation, Leitat conducted surgical planning and in vivo validation of personalized 3D bioimplants. Results showed significantly improved tissue regeneration in implants loaded with living cells compared to cell-free counterparts.

Certification and knowledge transfer

Among the project’s milestones, Leitat obtained UNE-EN ISO 13485:2018 certification covering the design of four categories of medical devices, consolidating its position as a technology partner across the full development cycle from research through device prototyping.

The DiMεD project also supported the training of doctoral students, contributing to two new PhD theses, and included knowledge transfer and advisory activities directed at companies within the MedTech ecosystem.