Technology

Biomolecules such as enzymes, aptamers, nucleic acids, and cells possess exceptional functionality; however, their inherent instability limits the environments, applications, and durations in which they can be effectively utilized.

Professor Madoka Takai of the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, who serves as the Technical Advisor, CTO, and Co-founder of Gel Coat Biomaterials, has dedicated years of research to highly biocompatible zwitterionic polymers. These hydrophilic zwitterionic polymers form a biocompatible hydrogel along with a protective hydration layer.

This biocompatible hydrogel enables the long-term stabilization, immobilization, and thermal protection of biomolecules.

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• Industrial Application: By stabilizing enzymes used in the production of chemical products, we can increase the frequency of enzyme reuse and significantly reduce production costs.

• Pharmaceutical Application: Protecting drug molecules with our hydrogel can enhance the sustained efficacy of medications within the body.

• Future Application: In the field of biofuel cells—which generate electricity using glucose and oxygen as fuel—using electrodes that combine enzymes with our hydrogel allows for the creation of power-generating devices that can operate stably and long-term in vivo.

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Our Core Strengths

Our expertise lies in environmental, chemical, and medical applications built upon a foundation of:

• Polymer Synthesis: Precision polymerization of zwitterionic polymers.

• Interfacial Technology: Bonding zwitterionic polymers to various material surfaces.

• Evaluation Technology: Advanced assessment of biological materials.

• Interdisciplinary Expertise: A fusion of Life Sciences and Bioengineering.

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Comparison with Conventional Stabilizers

While there are several existing methods for stabilizing biomolecules, each presents significant challenges:

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1. Conventional Surfactant

Surfactants are used to stabilize and extract hydrophobic biomolecules by making them compatible with water. However, there is a constant concern regarding the structural damage or denaturation they may cause to the biomaterials.

 

2. Conventional Hydrophilic Material

These materials rely primarily on the size exclusion effect to achieve stabilization. Consequently, their ability to stabilize hydrophobic biomolecules is weak. Furthermore, they carry risks such as unintended adsorption with hydrophilic substances, immunogenicity (immune response), and issues related to increased viscosity.

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3. Conventional Bio-derived Material

Materials derived from natural sources face hurdles in mass production and scalability. Additionally, there are inherent business risks regarding the consistent storage, transportation, and commercialization of the materials themselves.

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Our Technological Superiority

Our technology features a next-generation polymer that combines artificially produced, biomimetic (cell membrane-inspired) super-hydrophilic units with hydrophobic units. By integrating the strengths of the three conventional methods mentioned above, we are able to enhance the functionality of biomolecules and ensure their activity is maintained.

Academic research has proven our super-hydrophilic units are exceptionally effective at stabilizing biomolecules because, unlike other hydrophilic materials, they do not disrupt the natural structure surrounding water molecules.

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We have already secured basic patents and have numerous additional patents pending. We are currently facilitating the growth of chemical and pharmaceutical companies by providing exclusive licensing in fields such as machine learning-driven cell culture, enzyme stabilization, biopharmaceutical stabilization, and bio-manufacturing.

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To ensure our polymer designs can be adapted to various applications at ultra-high speed, we incorporate the latest machine learning expertise from the University of Tokyo.