Get a free DLP bioprinter kit with your order. Order >200 ml of any bioink and get a full bioprinting setup: Anycubic Mono 4 Ultra, custom stage & vat, plus 200 ml of training bioink.

Configure your blend

Build your custom bioink: blend up to 3 GelMA bases to a combined concentration of ≤20% (w/v) + photoinitiator + additives. 100+ basal formulations for in vitro 3D tissue scaffold fabrication.

Formulation code
Base components1 of 3

Each base adds to the combined GelMA concentration, capped at 20% (w/v).

0%/ 20% max20% available
Photoinitiator & additives
Lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate. Enables light-based crosslinking.
Improves resolution and feature definition in DLP printing.
Prevents bacterial and fungal contamination.
Add-ons
Increases cell-binding cues in the bioink.
Your formulation
Volume
Est. total$0

Ready-to-use formulation, shipped ambient. Final pricing confirmed on quote.

What you can configure

Everything the mixer lets you set, and the ranges we prepare.

How the mixer works

Five steps from a blank formulation to a quote.

  1. Choose your GelMA bases. Add up to three and set the concentration of each. The combined total stays at or below 20% (w/v), and the budget bar shows what is left.
  2. Set the photoinitiator. LAP is what makes the blend photocrosslinkable, at concentrations from 0.25% to 2% (w/v).
  3. Add functional components. Tartrazine sharpens DLP feature definition, Anti-Anti protects longer cultures, and HAMA adds cell-binding cues.
  4. Pick a volume. 50 ml, 200 ml, or 500 ml, with the estimated total updating as you go.
  5. Save the formulation code or add it to your quote. Every blend produces a short code you can copy, reload later, or share as a link. We confirm final pricing and lead time, usually within one business day.

Training bioinks

Cost-effective bioinks for learning and testing bioprinting techniques.

Product Compatibility 100 ml
PopularCalibrate exposure time, layer thickness, and crosslinking. Pre-mixed with LAP photoinitiator.
DLPPopular
$350
$35/10 ml

A pre-mixed training ink for dialing in your DLP process. Use it to calibrate exposure time, layer thickness, and crosslinking before committing cell-laden material. Supplied pre-mixed with LAP photoinitiator.

Practice extrusion line width and sacrificial scaffolds. Thermo-responsive: liquid cold, gels warm.
Extrusion
$350
$35/10 ml

A training ink for extrusion practice. Use it to dial in line width and build sacrificial scaffolds. Thermo-responsive: liquid when cold, gels when warm.

Practice extrusion workflows and post-print handling. Ionic crosslink with a CaCl₂ bath.
Extrusion
$350
$35/10 ml

A training ink for practicing extrusion workflows and post-print handling. Crosslinks ionically in a calcium chloride bath.

Prefer an off-the-shelf material? The catalog lists every GelMA source and bloom strength, plus SilMA and photoinitiators, with per-unit pricing.
Browse the catalog

Questions about custom bioinks

If your question is not here, send it over and we will answer it directly.

What is a custom bioink?

A custom bioink is one formulated for your application rather than sold as a fixed catalog product. In the Cytoink Bioink Mixer you choose the GelMA sources and their concentrations, the photoinitiator level, and any functional components, then receive the result ready to use.

Which GelMA bases can I combine?

Five bases are available: Porcine GelMA 300 Bloom, Porcine GelMA 175 Bloom, Bovine GelMA 225 Bloom, Fish GelMA warm water, and Fish GelMA cold water. Up to three can be combined in a single formulation.

What is the maximum GelMA concentration?

The combined concentration across all bases is capped at 20% (w/v). Each base is set in 5% steps, so a single blend can run 5, 10, 15, or 20% (w/v) in total.

Which photoinitiator does Cytoink use?

LAP, or lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate, at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, or 2% (w/v). LAP crosslinks under 365 nm and 405 nm light, which covers most DLP and extrusion photocuring setups.

How much does a custom bioink cost?

A ready-to-use custom blend is $550 for 50 ml, $2,000 for 200 ml, and $4,500 for 500 ml. The optional HAMA add-on adds $75, $250, or $500 respectively. Final pricing is confirmed on the quote.

What is a formulation code?

Every blend you configure produces a short code that captures the full recipe. You can copy it, reload it later to rebuild the same formulation, or share it as a link so a colleague opens the mixer with your exact blend already set.

Can I get a sample of a custom bioink?

There is no standing free sample program for custom bioinks, though we do consider requests case by case, so ask if a sample would help. The complimentary 5 g first-order sample applies to catalog GelMA, which is a useful way to evaluate a base material before ordering a custom formulation.

How is a custom bioink supplied?

As a ready-to-use liquid formulation, shipped at ambient temperature with no cold chain required. Add the Anti-Anti antibiotic-antimycotic option if your cultures run long enough to need contamination control.