Spongilla lacustris (what we call Bioneedle™) was first described by Linnaeus in 1759 and has a long history of use across Central Europe and Asia for a range of skin conditions.

For centuries, Spongilla lacustris has been widely utilized in skincare applications as a folk medicine, including the management of acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and excess oil production. Traditionally, Spongilla lacustris has also been believed to support the treatment of bruises, contusions, and hematomas, as well as  extending to inflammatory conditions, such as joint pain and arthritis, further reflecting its broad potential therapeutic relevance.

Bioneedle™ is composed of 100% Spongilla lacustris, a wild harvested freshwater sponge inhabiting slow-flowing rivers in Eastern Europe. Our exclusive Bioneedle™ is minimally processed but more importantly, treated, to ensure removal of harmful impurities, and any harmful bacteria, while preserving its beneficial organic components and structural integrity of its spicules. It is free from dyes, parabens, phenoxyethanol, fragrances, silicones, and GMOs.

In addition to comprehensive testing across all stages (raw material, in-process, and finished product), our formulations undergo proactive screening for heavy metals in accordance with US Pharmacopeia guidelines. This rigorous testing approach ensures that naturally occurring elemental contaminants are tightly controlled and verified within safe limits. Through these measures, Tome maintains a high level of formulation integrity, ensuring that product composition is consistent, transparent, and aligned with labeled specifications.

While microneedling typically requires in-office treatment by a healthcare professional, Tome Bioneedling is safe to be performed both in the clinic and at-home given the length of our naturally formed spicules.

The Bioneedle™ works due to the unique organic and mechanical components produced by Spongilla lacustris for its natural defense mechanisms. These specialized mechanisms consist of unique, naturally occurring microscopic spicules that are uniquely sized and average about 0.2-0.35 mm in length. When applied these spicules penetrate the skin’s top layer, creating microchannels, allowing for the naturally occurring organic components of the Spongilla to accelerate skin renewal.

Traditional microneedling devices use arrays of needles, typically 0.5 to 3 mm in length, which penetrate deeper into the skin invasively enough to cause bleeding, and extended recovery time (Singh & Yadav, 2016).

The Bioneedle™ contains approximately 1 million naturally-derived, microscopic spicules from Spongilla lacustris in your 1 gram weekly treatment. These spicules are “naked to the eye," closely aligning with the average skins’ epidermal thickness (~0.2 mm) (Meng et al.). This allows for consistent, uniform penetration that reaches the upper dermis without exceeding optimal depth, supporting efficacy while improving tolerability and minimizing downtime.

While both microneedling and Bioneedling create controlled microchannels that promote skin longevity, microneedling is generally not recommended for active acne due to the risk of bacterial spread across the skin. In contrast, Bioneedling can be used on acne-prone skin and is designed for safe, once-weekly, full-face application.

Spongilla lacustris is a freshwater sponge that grows in rivers and lakes in commercial quantities in select regions of the world, typically in the northern hemisphere. However, there are only a limited number of places in which it grows in quantity, and of the quality necessary to be used as raw material in skincare products. 

We maintain an exclusive supply agreement with Reka Farm, based in Eastern Europe. They are one of the largest known harvesters of S. lacustris raw material with over 25 years of experience harvesting and processing the Spongilla lacustris we use in our Bioneedle™. This long-standing expertise supports consistent quality and traceability of our hero ingredient that you’ll find in all Tome products.

Our supplier implements rigorous harvest controls to ensure our raw materials are free from environmental pollutants, heavy metals, and foreign materials. Every batch of Spongilla is collected by licensed harvesters, from a monitored freshwater site and undergoes immediate preliminary processing to preserve quality from the start. Following harvest, our raw materials are subjected to multi-stage processing and third-party testing to guarantee purity, meeting FDA standards and ensuring ideal product performance.

Our supplier has been harvesting Spongilla lacustris in the same locations, by the same collection teams, following the same procedures for 25 years in accordance with Good Agricultural Collection Practices (GACP).

Our exclusive Spongilla lacustris undergoes minimal processing but more importantly, is treated to ensure removal of harmful impurities, including pseudomonas, E. coli and any other bad bacteria,ensuring a high standard of safety. The material is then further processed to achieve uniform spicule sizing (0.2-0.35 mm), supporting consistency in performance and application.

Our approach to sourcing and refinement results in a highly controlled, minimally processed powder that preserves both the structural spicules and organic components of the sponge. While Spongilla lacustris powders are available through various international suppliers, many lack the manufacturing controls necessary to ensure purity, safety, and consistency. Tome’s process establishes a new standard for this ingredient, enabling its use as a first-of-its-kind skincare treatment.

We prioritize both safety and efficacy through rigorous manufacturing and testing standards. All our products undergo rigorous microbiological evaluation in alignment with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 1111 FDA guidelines, ensuring compliance with established criteria for microbial quality. Independent third-party laboratory testing is conducted to confirm the absence of harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold.

Strict bioburden controls are maintained throughout manufacturing, packaging, and distribution to preserve product integrity. This controlled approach ensures consistent microbiological quality and supports safe use across all skin applications.

The quality and safety of Spongilla lacustris are ensured through comprehensive batch-level inspection and testing in accordance with applicable safety standards. Full traceability is maintained from raw material origin through to finished product, with complete visibility across every stage of the supply chain.

Each lot is fully documented and controlled, with no additions throughout processing. This approach ensures a consistent, traceable natural material that is handled with precision from sourcing through final packaging.

Through these practices, every batch has a certificate of analysis and can be linked to its specific collection details, including geographic origin, date of harvest, collection team, environmental conditions, and total yield. This level of traceability supports both quality assurance and supply chain integrity.

The final raw material composition is 100% purified Spongilla lacustris powder.

This raw material harvested for Tome is sourced through strictly controlled, sustainable harvesting practices that protect the delicate freshwater ecosystems. Our supplier harvests our exclusive Spongilla lacustris from protected water sources where it serves as a natural indicator of environmental health. By utilizing seasonal harvest rotations and hand-collection methods, we ensure the continued regeneration of sponge populations while maintaining the optimal purity. Our commitment to sustainability means you receive the highest quality product without compromising the biodiversity of our rivers.

Spongilla lacustris harvesting occurs seasonally to support natural regrowth cycles. In cold-water conditions, S. lacustris forms protective structures known as gemmules, which allow the organism to survive in a dormant state (think: hibernation). When temperatures rise, these structures naturally regenerate into fully functional sponges. This process happens every year, allowing for sustainable harvesting practices, year over year.

Beyond this lifecycle, S. lacustris exhibits a remarkable capacity for regeneration—even from small fragments or individual cells—underscoring its biological resilience and relevance in skin renewal applications.