Biocompatible coating
Biocompatible coatings are a type of material that can be applied to medical implants, devices, and other products to ensure they are compatible with biological systems. These coatings are designed to prevent the body’s immune system from rejecting or reacting to the implant or device, thereby reducing the risk of complications or failure.
Key features of biocompatible coatings
Biocompatible coatings are typically made from materials that are biologically inert, meaning they do not trigger an immune response or cause inflammation. These materials can be modified to mimic the surface properties of natural tissues, allowing them to interact with biological systems in a way that is more natural and less disruptive. Biocompatible coatings can be applied to a wide range of materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics. The choice of coating material depends on the specific application and the properties required.
Biocompatible coatings can also be designed to release drugs or other therapeutic agents over time. This is particularly useful in applications where sustained drug delivery is required, such as in cancer treatment or pain management. By incorporating drugs into the coating material, it is possible to achieve targeted and sustained drug delivery, reducing the risk of adverse reactions and improving the efficacy of the treatment.
Where biocompatible coatings are used
Many medical devices, such as pacemakers, artificial joints, and stents, are made from materials that can trigger an immune response, leading to inflammation, infection, or rejection. By applying a biocompatible coating to these devices, it is possible to reduce the risk of adverse reactions and improve the longevity and performance of the implant.
- Catheters (cardiovascular, urology, neurovascular)
- Stents
- Endoscopes
Known considerations
A biocompatible coating must be non-toxic, non-allergenic, and free of carcinogenic or mutagenic risks. It should ensure that no harmful chemical byproducts leach into the tissue over time.
Second, a medical coating should be safe for the body. If a coating delaminates or flakes off, it can cause catastrophic device failure or dangerous particulate debris in the bloodstream
The LipoCoat alternative
LipoCoat has developed a biocompatible coating that can be applied in a wide variety of medical devices. A key advantage of LipoCoat’s coating is that it mimics the phospholipid bilayer surrounding a cell membrane. This makes the coating highly compatible and should not elicit an inflammatory response. With the application of LipoCoat’s biocompatible coatings, high performance medical devices can be delivered.
How the LipoCoat® platform technology works
LipoCoat® technology is engineered to mimic the human cell membrane. By combining cell biology with nanotechnology, we developed a coating that is free of PFAS, silicones and active pharmaceutical ingredients. LipoCoat® technology generates a thin hydration layer on your medical device, working as a shield that reduces pathogen and protein adhesion.
Interested in enhancing your portfolio with our platform technology? Compare our mechanical and biological properties with existing industry standards by downloading this comparison table.
An medical coating that is suitable for various clinical applications
Tailored to your specific application
Whether you need a thinner, smoother finish, or enhanced wettability and lubricity, we understand that every application has unique requirements. Thanks to the LipoCoat® platform technology, we can tailor our coatings to your exact specifications without altering the device's underlying mechanical properties or dimensions.
Catheters
LipoCoat catheter products provide a passive and drug-less solution to reduce biofilm formation, improve blood compatibility and prevent tissue damage.
Needles
LipoCoat is the biological alternative to (traditional) silicone coating used on needles.
Contact Lenses
LipoCoat contact lens products are aimed at improving comfort and safety properties of the contact lens materials by increasing surface wetting, increasing surface lubricity and reduce surface contamination by reducing deposits and bacterial build-up on the lens material.
Versatile medical coating solution
Our technology replaces persistent chemicals and active drugs with a passive, biocompatible barrier, creating a more durable coating
Safe by design: Creates a biological shield that prevents pathogens and proteins from binding to the medical instrument.
ISO 10993 validated: Fully tested and passed all relevant biocompatibility tests
Non-Animal Components: The coating is derived exclusively without animal products.
Non-Thrombogenic & Hemocompatible: It significantly reduces hemolysis, platelet activation, and protein adsorption (such as fibrinogen and albumin),
Fouling reduction
Anti-fouling defense
Compared to uncoated control samples, LipoCoat®-treated surfaces sustained near-complete inhibition of biofilm formation for up to 29 days under continuous exposure.
Tailormade coating thickness
LipoCoat medical coating can be customized from a 5-nanometer monolayer to a thicker multilayer medical coating.
Coating thickness
API, Si and PFAS
Bio-Inspired medical coating technology
LipoCoat® works as a passive physical barrier that reduces pathogen and protein fouling. It contains no active substances, so nothing leaches and there is no pathway to antimicrobial resistance.
Easy to integrate
In your production process
LipoCoat® can be integrated on top of your existing product portfolio without the lengthy pharmaceutical classification processes. Furthermore, the coating requires no specialized handling, utilization, or disposal protocols, facilitating seamless integration into existing manufacturing workflows.
Documented for your submission
Full ISO 10993-1 programme passed, with test reports available for your technical file
Low barrier to entry
No curing or complex equipment required
FAST dip-coating process
Compatible with standard dip coating at room temperature.
Low material usage
Minimal material consumption during application.
FAQ
The most frequently asked questions about the LipoCoat® platform technology.
Traditional medical coatings typically rely on thick synthetic polymer matrices (such as PVP or PTFE) or active leaching biocides (such as silver ions or antibiotics). In contrast, LipoCoat® is a bio-inspired technology that mimics the natural phospholipid bilayer of human cell membranes. At a nanoscale thickness from 5 nanometers, it turns the device surface into a passive anti-fouling interface that reduces adhesion of proteins, platelets and bacteria.
The nanoscale structure is a major engineering advantage. The hydrophilic headgroups of the phospholipid bilayer attract water molecules and form a dense, stable hydration layer. Because LipoCoat® is bound at the molecular level rather than applied as a thick, brittle polymer film, it is designed to minimise delamination, cracking and particulate generation (flaking), a common point of failure flagged in FDA safety alerts for traditional lubricious coatings. Particulate behaviour is verified for your device and substrate during testing.
The LipoCoat® technology platform offers universal surface compatibility across a broad spectrum of medical materials, including:
Polymers: Polyurethane (PU), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Silicone, PEBAX, PEEK, Nylon, Hydrogels, and Silicon-hydrogels.
Rigid Substrates: Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lens materials and metallic/ceramic components.
Primary device applications include central venous catheters (CVCs), peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), Foley/urological catheters, contact lenses, vascular access sheaths, and implantable medical components.
Because LipoCoat® is applied at a nanoscale thickness, it has virtually no impact on the mechanical specifications, wall thickness, outer diameter (OD), inner diameter (ID) or fluid flow dynamics of your device. Parameters such as tensile strength, pushability, trackability and lumen flow rate are designed to remain unchanged, and dimensional impact is confirmed on your device during feasibility testing.
LipoCoat® is designed for scalable manufacturing integration. The application process is a single-step dip-coating method that operates under mild ambient conditions. It requires no UV curing, thermal polymerization or complex chemical cross-linking steps. Process parameters and coating thickness control are programmed into the molecular formulation, so OEMs can upgrade existing production lines without capital-intensive facility re-engineering.
LipoCoat® has been evaluated according to ISO 10993, including cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5), intracutaneous reactivity, sensitisation, acute and systemic toxicity, pyrogenicity, and haemocompatibility (ISO 10993-4). Because it contains no antibiotics or biocides, nothing leaches into surrounding tissue and there is no mechanism through which the coating drives antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Still have questions?
Please contact us to discuss your project.