COATINGS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

From research to global impact. It sounds simple on paper, but the journey from academic knowledge to medical application is a long one. Jasper van Weerd and his team at LipoCoat know this better than anyone. Yet, this University of Twente (UT) spin-off is successfully navigating that path toward impact. Since 2016, the LipoCoat team has been developing coating technologies designed to make medical devices safer, more comfortable, and more effective.

Medical devices used on or inside the body for extended periods, such as contact lenses, catheters, and implants, can cause discomfort and complications, including friction, a lack of lubrication, contamination, and infections. The surface of the device often plays a critical role in these issues. While coatings can provide a solution, many of those currently in widespread use are not sustainable and may contain harmful substances. LipoCoat develops coatings based on technology inspired by nature. The platform is built on lipids: the same fundamental components found in cell membranes. This allows LipoCoat to offer an alternative to existing coatings, without relying on substances like antibiotics or PFAS.

A future-oriented solution

LipoCoat’s coatings are designed to enhance the comfort, safety, and performance of medical devices. “We aim to develop solutions that not only function well but are also future-proof,” says Jasper. “This means taking a critical look at our choice of materials, safety, and the overall impact on people and the environment.” This is particularly relevant today, as the use of medical devices continues to grow and the requirements for the materials used in them are becoming stricter. For instance, the use of PFAS and antibiotics is increasingly being restricted. “In laboratory research, we have observed that our coating can significantly reduce the adhesion of bacteria to catheters. In doing so, we target a crucial initial step in the formation of biofilms. For other applications, such as medical devices intended for short-term use, the focus shifts to creating a smooth surface with reduced friction, which enhances patient comfort.” In addition to LipoCoat, the company has a second coating technology called SonoCoat. “While LipoCoat improves the interaction with the human body, SonoCoat enhances the visibility of instruments under ultrasound. This helps physicians work more accurately and efficiently, for example, during a biopsy.”

Developing academic knowledge into commercial success

Jasper has built LipoCoat into a company that collaborates with international partners to make healthcare safer. However, his entrepreneurial skills had to be developed over time. “Transforming academic knowledge into something commercially viable was quite a journey,” Jasper explains. “When we decided to file for a patent and explore market opportunities with the support of Novel-T (at that time Kennispark, ed.), I began taking courses on entrepreneurship and intellectual property. It is a completely different world from academia. I also made a conscious effort to expand my network to include people from outside the academic sphere who possessed the right experience. As a researcher, you primarily look at what is technologically feasible; as an entrepreneur, however, you must understand the specific problem you are solving for a customer and the value of that solution. The technology is only one part of the story. By listening carefully to our customers, we were able to further refine our value proposition.”

More time

They found the ‘sweet spot’ between science and entrepreneurship by paying close attention to customer needs and market dynamics. However, it took longer than expected. “It always takes more time,” Jasper explains with a laugh. “As a technology supplier to the medical industry, you aren’t just dependent on your own development. Clients have to validate their processes, and certification procedures for medical devices often take a long time. The further you progress with a client, the more your own planning becomes intertwined with theirs.” That is why LipoCoat deliberately opted for a platform strategy. “We didn’t follow the advice to focus on just one application. Fortunately for us, because instead, we are developing multiple applications in parallel. This allows us to seize opportunities in various markets and it makes us less dependent on the progress of any single product. Throughout this, we have always maintained a clear focus: the medical sector.”

Passing on lessons

Jasper now shares the lessons he has learned with other entrepreneurs in Twente and beyond. “In the early days of LipoCoat, I benefited greatly from all those conversations with other entrepreneurs,” he explains. “Now, researchers or budding entrepreneurs come to me with questions about how I approached certain things. There is immense potential for new business activity there, so if I can contribute to that with my experience, I’m more than happy to do so.”

In every hospital

While there are plenty of experiences to share with others, there are still big dreams for the future. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have expected us to reach such a level of maturity as a company. What began as fundamental research at the University of Twente has grown into a MedTech firm with a team of dedicated specialists, two coating platforms, and our own laboratory. Furthermore, we have started constructing a new production lab, complete with a cleanroom, which will allow us to apply coatings to high-quality products for our clients. Our coating is already being used on catheters that have been sold in Taiwan since early 2026, and we aim to bring this application to Europe as well. In Asia, we are also working on coatings for contact lenses. The next step is to scale up our technology and make it available internationally. Ultimately, it’s not about the coating itself, but about the difference it makes for patients and healthcare providers. If you truly want to make an impact in healthcare, it takes time. Still, my ambition is that, ten years from now, you could walk into any hospital and be sure to find a medical device featuring one of our coatings.”