Enzymatic Anti-Biofilm Surfaces

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Turn passive surfaces into self-defending barriers – without leaching biocides or fueling resistance. acib’s immobilized enzymes activate exactly where microbes attach: generating on-contact microbicidal action and dismantling biofilm matrices to keep devices cleaner, longer. A durable, biocompatible route to next-gen coatings for catheters, endoscopes, membranes, sensors, and more.

Background

Biofilms on devices drive hard-to-treat infections by shielding microbes from antibiotics and immunity. Release-based coatings (e.g., antibiotics, silver) often rely on finite drug elution, raising concerns about depletion, leaching and the potential for resistance. Cationic polymers can lose efficacy once dead-cell layers accumulate. Anti-adhesive coatings delay initial fouling, but face challenges achieving dense, long-lasting grafts. Liquid-infused designs repel contaminants initially, yet lubricant loss and mechanical wear limit long-term stability. Photodynamic coatings can be potent, but require sufficient illumination and oxygen.

Technology

We engineer enzyme-functionalized surfaces for virtually any substrate and use case – medical devices, food-contact and packaging, membranes and sensors, textiles and films, process equipment and high-touch surfaces. Our modular design combines matrix-degrading enzymes to disperse biofilms, lytic enzymes to eliminate target organisms, and oxidoreductases that generate microbicidal H2O2 directly at the interface. We have e.g. demonstrated covalent grafting of cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) onto plasma-activated silicone (PDMS) with 60% fewer viable S. aureus after 3 h, ~70% less biofilm after 7 days, and 20% retained activity after 16 days in artificial urine, with no mammalian cell toxicity – evidence for durable, non-leaching performance. We also developed an ultrasound one-step deposition of active CDH nanoparticles that produce micromolar H2O2 and significantly reduce surface colonization, supporting scalable coating on polymers and other materials. Because CDH accepts a broad range of oligosaccharides – including components of bacterial exopolysaccharides – the system can self-activate where microbes adhere. Together with established immobilization chemistries (covalent grafting, layer-by-layer, entrapment/adsorption), this enables tailored integration across metals, polymers, glass, ceramics, and textiles.

Offer

Proven enzyme and biofilm expertise with successful data on enzyme-grafted catheters, plus access to state-of-the-art immobilization and microbiology workflows. Our designs align with current trends toward bacteria-triggered, multifunctional antibiofilm materials – bridging academic insight and deployable industry solutions. Project IP can be fully transferred to the company partner; we are happy to discuss details under NDA and provide a tailored proposal with milestones and timelines for medical devices, industrial and consumer surfaces alike.

Experts:

Prof. Dr. Georg Gübitz

Development status:

Technology Readiness Level 4 (Technology Validated in Lab)

Keywords:

Antibiofilm Surfaces, Enzymatic Coatings, Antimicrobial Enzymes, Surface Functionalization, Biofilm Control, Lytic Enzymes, Oxidoreductases, H2O2 Generation, Medical Devices, Membranes & Sensors, Food-Contact/Packaging
Picture: acib
Dr. Martin U. Trinker
Director Business Development & Fundraising
Krenngasse 37
8010 Graz
+43 316 873 9316