BioInteractions throws down the gauntlet at MD&M West with market-leading feature set for its Assist™ Durable Hydrophilic Coating
Pioneers of Surface-Active Systems demonstrates best in class durable hydrophilic coating Assist™ at MD&M West with features including lowest co-efficient of friction and lowest particulation levels
February 4th, 2026: BioInteractions, pioneers of the Surface-Active Systems category of coatings, is throwing down the gauntlet at MD&M West by showcasing the market-leading features of its Assist™ Durable Hydrophilic coating technology. With the industry’s lowest coefficient of friction (CoF <0.003) without swelling and lowest particulation levels, Assist™ has been developed to deliver the highest performing lubricious surface for minimally invasive and medical implant applications within high-movement, tortuous environments including neurovascular and cardiovascular surgeries.
“Having a hydrophilic coating with the lowest particulation and very low coefficient of friction is the kind of technology neurovascular and cardiovascular medical specialists will want on the devices they rely on,” explains Prof. Kyriakos Lobotesis, Professor of Practice and Head of Speciality in Interventional Neuroradiology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. “In procedures where device friction and tissue interaction directly affect both ease of use and procedural accuracy, coatings like Assist™ could make a meaningful difference in clinical outcomes.”
Advances in surface enhancements, especially low friction hydrophilic coatings, have accelerated minimally invasive surgery growth. Compared to other commercially available hydrophilic coatings, Assist™ UV and Assist™ HC testing offer the best CoF (<0.003) whilst reducing tissue irritation, improving surgical implantation and enhancing patient comfort as well as device performance. This high level of lubricity enables devices to navigate tortuous anatomical pathways while reducing tissue irritation and adding to patient comfort.
In use, devices from large balloon catheters to dynamic delivery systems coated with Assist™ Durable Hydrophilic withstand demanding clinical conditions whilst delivering instantly active lubricity, eliminating the need for pre-soaking and requiring far less force to move the device and position it within the patient. With minimal swelling of just 2% from dry to wet*, it maintains a flexible and thin layer that is also abrasion resistant to ensure ultra-low particulation, making it ideally suited for applications where particle generation from a coating is critical, such as those undertaken by cardiovascular and neurovascular surgeons.
“Assist™ has been successfully applied to FDA-approved and CE-approved medical devices for over 25 years,” expands Arjun Luthra, Commercial Director at BioInteractions. “Our performance data suggest some of the lowest coefficients of friction in its class, paired with negligible particulation, a combination that could redefine expectations for surface coatings in minimally invasive and long-term implantable applications. We look forward to demonstrating Assist’s capabilities at MD&M West and helping our partners bring next-generation devices to market.”
More information about Assist™ can be found here. In addition, BioInteractions will be showcasing its full Surface-Active Systems portfolio including TridAnt®, an enhanced antimicrobial coating, as well as AstutePlus®, an advanced antithrombogenic coating, at MD&M West, booth 1533.
* Assist UV coated PEBAX samples were measured for dry and hydrated thickness.
