Non-migrating tunable silicone coating for medical devices and soft silicone surfaces
Minamo offers a proprietary non-migrating coating platform for silicone surfaces. The tunable coating controls tack, friction, and wettability, prevents migration of low-molecular-weight components, and can provide antimicrobial and abrasion-resistant functions while preserving silicone mechanical properties. Based on non-toxic reagents, it is designed for medical devices, implants, and other soft silicone products.
Overview
Minamo’s proprietary coating technology is designed for soft and firm silicone surfaces, addressing common challenges such as surface tack, high friction, unwanted wettability, and migration of low-molecular-weight silicone components. The coating can be tuned to achieve desired surface characteristics—skin-like feel, controlled grip, or easy-clean behavior—while preserving the mechanical and elastic properties of the underlying silicone.
The platform is particularly relevant for silicone-based medical devices, implants, orthotics, and other healthcare products where surface performance and biocompatibility are critical. It can also provide antimicrobial functionality and increased abrasion resistance, helping to reduce healthcare-associated infections and biofouling. Because the coating is non-leaching and based on non-toxic reagents found in edible or household products, it is intended to minimize regulatory barriers and occupational safety concerns compared to traditional antimicrobial treatments.
Technical specifications
How it works:
- The coating is applied through a two-step process: environmentally friendly surface activation with hydroxyl amines in a non-toxic solvent, followed by biomolecule coating to confer the desired surface properties.
- The formulation is tunable, allowing control of tack, friction, wettability, and other surface characteristics to meet application-specific requirements.
- It can be applied to both soft and firm silicones without compromising mechanical or elastic performance.
Key features:
- Non-migrating and non-leaching, preventing low-molecular-weight components from reaching the surface.
- Stable under extended washing with organic and aqueous solvents at various pH levels, machine washing, autoclaving cycles, and mechanical wear.
- Can provide antimicrobial function and increased abrasion resistance.
- Simple, short, automation-friendly application process.
- Low marginal material cost—estimated at less than $0.01 per device.
Technology readiness level
The coating is currently in the second-generation development stage and has demonstrated stability and performance through in-house testing, including solvent exposure, autoclaving, and mechanical wear. Planned validation includes optimization using design of experiments, stability testing under controlled humidity and in simulated fluids, leachables analysis, and ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity testing against fibroblasts. The company is pursuing co-development partnerships to advance the technology toward prototype coated devices and manufacturing scale-up over a 12–18 month horizon.
About Minamo
Minamo is a 2023 spinoff from the University of Iceland that develops patent-protected, antimicrobial silicone coatings designed to prevent healthcare-associated infections and biofouling. The company's technology is a two-step process involving environmentally friendly surface activation with hydroxyl amines in a non-toxic solvent, followed by biomolecule coating to confer antimicrobial properties. This approach seeks to enhance the biocompatibility of medical devices, such as implants and orthotics, without relying on toxic additives or antibiotics. By creating surfaces that deter bacterial adhesion, Minamo aims to improve patient safety and long-term device performance in clinical environments.
The technology is significant for the medical device industry as it addresses the critical challenge of infections related to silicone-based medical equipment. Through grants from organizations such as the Icelandic Technology Development Fund and recognition in international innovation forums, Minamo has demonstrated potential for scaling its research. The company actively engages with the global medical and silicone industries to forge collaborations and refine its solutions, aiming to provide a safer, more sustainable alternative that avoids occupational hazards and regulatory barriers typically associated with traditional antimicrobial treatments.
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