A Surface-Based Approach to Preventing Biofilm Formation

The “slimy” buildup often found in water-related environments is commonly associated with biofilms, which form when microorganisms adhere to surfaces.Gel Coat Biomaterials is developing a new approach to biofilm control using its proprietary Gel Coat™ technology.

By creating highly hydrophilic surfaces to which microorganisms are less likely to adhere, the technology aims to suppress biofilm formation at an early stage.

In laboratory evaluations, Gel Coat™-treated substrates demonstrated anti-adhesion effects of 98% for freshwater bacteria, and 84% for marine bacteria.

Our biofilm prevention technology was also featured in the July 3, 2026 edition of The Chemical Daily, highlighting its potential to address microorganism-derived surface fouling.

Looking ahead, we will continue to explore applications in aquaculture, power plants, chemical plants, water treatment facilities, and other environments through collaborative development and field evaluation with industry and research partners.

Gel Coat Biomaterials will continue to advance its proprietary nanoparticle hydrogel technology to address a broad range of surface-related challenges.

Article on Our Biologics Stabilization Platform Technology Featured in Nikkei Biotechnology

We are pleased to announce that an article featuring Gel Coat Biomaterials' biologics stabilization platform technology, Gel Coat™, was published in Nikkei Biotechnology Online on June 30, 2026.

The article highlights Gel Coat™, our biologics stabilization platform based on our proprietary nanoparticle hydrogel technology, and introduces both the technological advances and business development activities of Gel Coat Biomaterials.

Biomolecules such as enzymes and proteins, which are widely used in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, regenerative medicine products, and diagnostic reagents, are highly sensitive to temperature and storage conditions. As a result, strict temperature control throughout manufacturing, storage, and transportation is often required. Dependence on cold-chain logistics presents significant challenges, including increased distribution costs, limited accessibility in certain regions, and difficulties in maintaining stable supply during natural disasters or in areas where cold-chain infrastructure is insufficient.

Gel Coat™ is a platform technology developed by Gel Coat Biomaterials to improve the storage stability of biomolecules through a simple formulation-based approach, without chemically modifying the active ingredients themselves. Because it can be readily incorporated into existing manufacturing processes, the technology has the potential to suppress degradation during storage while preserving the native functionality of biomolecules.

In validation studies using enzymes that conventionally require ultra-low-temperature storage at −30°C, Gel Coat™ maintained more than 80% of enzymatic activity after 28 days of storage at 4°C. Ongoing studies are also evaluating its ability to improve storage stability under room-temperature and elevated-temperature conditions.

Figure 1. Comparison of Enzyme Activity Retention Between Conventional Storage and Gel Coat™ Formulation

The Gel Coat™ formulation maintained more than 80% enzyme activity after 28 days of storage at 4°C, demonstrating a significant improvement in storage stability.

Left: Conventional storage without Gel Coat™.Right: Storage with Gel Coat™ formulation.

The article also introduces our ongoing research into safety evaluations and pharmacokinetic design for future human applications. Looking ahead, Gel Coat Biomaterials plans to expand the application of Gel Coat™ beyond in vitro diagnostics to regenerative medicine and biopharmaceutical products, while accelerating joint research and licensing activities with pharmaceutical companies and regenerative medicine partners.

In addition, the article highlights the strong international interest in our technology demonstrated during BIO International Convention 2026, where meetings with several global pharmaceutical companies provided new opportunities for future collaboration. Building on these achievements, Gel Coat Biomaterials is further strengthening its partnering activities through joint research, technology evaluation, and strategic business collaborations.

Gel Coat Biomaterials will continue advancing innovative biomaterials based on its proprietary nanoparticle hydrogel technology while promoting collaborative research and product development with partners worldwide. Through these efforts, we remain committed to addressing key challenges in the life sciences and accelerating the practical implementation of our technologies.

Media Coverage

Nikkei Biotechnology Online

Featured Article

"Gel Coat Biomaterials Advances Hydrogel Validation for Human Applications — Toward Reducing Dependence on Cold-Chain Logistics"

Please note that access to the article may require a subscription to Nikkei Biotechnology Online.

Development of Long-Term Hydrophilic Modification Technology for Silicone Surfaces

Gel Coat Biomaterials, Inc. (GCB) has developed a surface modification technology that enables silicone surfaces to maintain a highly hydrophilic state for an extended period.

Silicone materials, including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are widely used in microfluidic devices, diagnostic chips, medical devices, and optical components because of their excellent transparency, flexibility, durability, and biocompatibility. However, their hydrophobic surface properties can cause issues such as bubble adhesion and protein adsorption. Although plasma treatment is commonly used to improve wettability, the hydrophilic effect generally decreases over time.

To address this challenge, GCB applied its proprietary zwitterionic coating technology, Gel Coat™, to silicone surfaces.

Working in collaboration with Samco Inc.（Samco, GCB investigated the long-term stabilization of hydrophilicity on silicone surfaces. After plasma treatment using Samco’s Aqua Plasma^® Cleaner AQ-500, Gel Coat™ was applied to the surface and the water contact angle was evaluated.

As a result, the combined treatment achieved a water contact angle of 10 degrees, a remarkably low value indicative of a highly hydrophilic surface, and maintained this state for at least 31 days under ambient conditions.

This technology is expected to contribute to a wide range of applications, including microfluidic devices, diagnostic chips, cell culture devices, Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) systems, medical devices, optical components, underwater sensors, and flexible electronics.

GCB will continue to advance surface engineering technologies utilizing Gel Coat™ and contribute to the development of innovative solutions in life sciences, diagnostics, and healthcare.

▼ Media Coverage Details

・The Chemical Daily

東大発新興、独自コートでシリコーンに長期親水性 : 化学工業日報 電子版

Source: The Chemical Daily, June 10, 2026