Antibiofilm, antifouling materials

Development of the first commercially available anti-biofilm and antifouling agent based of small molecule inhibitors for protection of water pipes, marine and other applications

Market needs:

Antifouling marine paints, antifouling paints for surfaces and infrastructure constructions, prevention of biofilm formation in desalination membrane filters.

Multibillion market i.e. it is expected that only the marine antifouling paint market will reach 11.8 billion US$ by 2020.

Other potential venues: bio film for agriculture,  in dental implants, catheter and other implantable devices

Our technology involves cationic pillararenes that inhibit biofilm formation at sub-micromolar concentrations.

Key advantages:

• The most potent biofilm inhibitors reported so far in the scientific literature.

• No bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect (no interference with natural flora).No toxicity against red blood cells (RBCs)

• No organic-molecule-inhibitors of biofilm formation are being used by the industry to date.

• Cost-effective mass production process.

• No formation of toxic degradation products.

• Long shelf-life.

• Multiple uses

Project manager

Rona Samler
VP, BD Physical Science, Medical Device, Chemistry

Project researchers

Yoram Cohen
T.A.U Tel Aviv University, Exact Sciences
School of Chemistry

Micha Fridman
T.A.U Tel Aviv University, Exact Sciences
School of Chemistry