[University of Tokyo Startup] Gel Coat Biomaterials Co., Ltd., Creator of Core Technology for Biomanufacturing, Raises 200 Million Yen in Series A Round

Gel Coat Biomaterials Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Shin Yoshida, hereinafter GCB) has successfully raised 200 million yen through a third-party allotment of shares (Series A round) to WUV No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership operated by Waseda University Ventures Co., Ltd. and Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. GCB plans to raise an additional 100 million yen in an extension round.

Biomolecules such as enzymes and antibodies are indispensable in various industries including food, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. However, their extreme instability imposes severe restrictions on temperature control and transportation conditions, leading to increased costs and difficulties in practical application. To fundamentally solve these challenges, GCB has developed "Gel Coat™," a biomaterial technology based on amoeba hydrogel whose structure and function can freely change, discovered by Professor Madoka Takai of the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. "Gel Coat™" contributes as a platform technology to improve productivity and expand the market in the bio-industry.

GCB has so far established biomolecule stabilization technology tailored to specific purposes, based on interaction analysis between amoeba hydrogel and biomolecules, accumulating successful cases.

For example, using "Gel Coat™," fragile enzymes that conventionally required storage at -30℃ can be stably preserved at 4℃ for four weeks. It also allows for enzyme reactions in organic solvents. Furthermore, "Gel Coat™" can provide antifouling properties.

During the Series A period, GCB will reduce development time to 1/10 of conventional methods and significantly expand its application scope to diverse biomolecules other than enzymes, such as antibodies and nucleic acids. Joint research with several major companies is already underway. "Gel Coat™" directly contributes to improving the productivity of biomanufacturing and is attracting high interest from industries both domestically and internationally.

With this funding, GCB will accelerate its efforts towards the advancement of amoeba hydrogel and strengthening its mass production system, as well as the practical application of customized "Gel Coat™" through joint research with major manufacturers and contract research and development. In addition, by actively promoting joint research with universities, exploring new functions of amoeba hydrogel, and creating "Gel Coat™" technology, GCB will fully launch initiatives for business expansion both domestically and internationally.

■ Initiatives with Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.
Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. (including group companies) is actively collaborating with academia and startups to create new businesses by merging their respective strengths, focusing on medical/healthcare and environmental/energy fields, with the aim of creating a better future through chemistry and technology.

■ About GCB's Amoeba Hydrogel and "Gel Coat™" Technology
Amoeba hydrogel is a completely new biomaterial gelled by physical cross-linking with a zwitterionic polymer as one component, and "Gel Coat™" is a functionalization technology such as enzyme stabilization using this gel. Amoeba hydrogel behaves as gel particles when dried, as a hydrogel when placed in aqueous solution, and further as a gel dispersion (Figure 1).

When "Gel Coat™" technology is used to coat enzymes, it maintains high residual activity even under harsh conditions such as high temperatures of 65℃, in organic solvents, long-term room temperature storage, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles (Figure 2, Figure 3). Gel Coat™ ensures strong competitive advantage in intellectual property through granted patents and numerous pending patent applications.

Figure 1. Appearance of amoeba hydrogel. Left: Dried gel particles. Middle: Hydrogel. Right: Hydrogel diluted and dispersed in water.

Figure 2. Enzyme activity (red) of an enzyme (β-galactosidase) protected by amoeba hydrogel at 65℃ significantly improves the duration of enzyme activity compared to without hydrogel (black).

Figure 3. Enzyme activity (center graph - red, right graph - blue) of an enzyme (β-galactosidase) protected by amoeba hydrogel in organic solvents significantly improves compared to without hydrogel (black). PBS: Phosphate buffered saline, MeOH: Methanol, AN: Acetonitrile, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide. (Center graph - red: enzyme directly covalently bonded to hydrogel polymer, right graph - blue: enzyme covalently bonded to hydrogel polymer via a spacer molecule).

About Gel Coat Biomaterials Co., Ltd.
Gel Coat Biomaterials Co., Ltd. is a startup based on the amoeba hydrogel material discovered by Professor Madoka Takai of the Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo.

About Professor Madoka Takai
Professor Madoka Takai is a leading authority in electrochemistry, biointerface, and biomaterials.