Shareholding of Fraunhofer
Fraunhofer Venture
Bio-Gate AG
The Company
Bio-Gate AG is a medical technology company that develops and markets unique silver technology applications for avoiding infections and therefore improving health. BioGate specializes in fitting materials and surfaces of all areas of everyday life with a long-term and medically active protection against bacteria, germs and other pathogens using pure silver. Bio-Gate comprises three business areas for providing versatile products with antimicrobial properties: refining of materials, coating of surfaces and testing of materials with respect to their antimicrobial or anti-adhesive properties.
As a system provider, the company with its headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, covers the entire value-added chain from development to approval to production. Furthermore, the subsidiary BioEpiderm GmbH combines the development and marketing of cosmetics and personal-care products.
The spin-off was founded as a result of joined project work of scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen, Germany, the University Erlangen and industry partners.
Technology and Applications
Technology
The Bio-Gate technology is based on the antimicrobial effect of silver ions. Only pure metallic silver is used for Bio-Gate applications. The company disposes of two different technologies: the incorporation of silver particles (for example into cosmetics, paint and veneer, or plastics) and the coating of final products (for example implants or wound dressings) with a silver-bearing functional layer.
As the particles are very small and of a spongy porosity, an increased release of silver ions is promoted. Another advantage is that the structure allows for a very precise dosage of released silver ions and sustained effects.
Bio-Gate utilizes the natural antimicrobial property of silver for refining products. In coating technology, particles as small as in nano technology applications are used to ensure that the original properties of the coated products are not altered. There is no risk of free nano particles as only an extremely small number of smallest silver particles is firmly bonded to the surface of the product. For the adding of silver to plastics, paint, or cosmetics, the "micro silver" particles are considerably larger than nano particles. Also they are embedded in the mass and do not exist as free nano particles.
Products refined by Bio-Gate are officially certified. This is what differs the company in particular from low-cost Asian producers. Some products underwent months or even years of approval, testing and certification. Bio-Gate customers are global players - and often market leaders of their industry. With these customers, tests are performed until all conceivable risks have been eliminated.
Applications
Medical technology
Antimicrobial products are effective against multi-resistant bacteria and minimize nosocomial infections. They therefore help to reduce follow-up costs and save human lives.
Technology
Antimicrobial materials keep hygiene-sensitive surfaces free from unwanted bacteria and thus help to minimize machine down times. This in turn contributes to lowering costs.
Consumer goods
The antimicrobial substances of Bio-Gate keep high-usage surfaces free from unwanted bacteria, eliminate odors and offer long-lasting hygienic protection.
Cosmetics
Antimicrobial skin care protects sensitive neurodermatitis skin against itching.
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