Bio Barrier Dynamics
Nature-inspired lipid-based bioengineered multifunctional coatings for sustainable packaging and seed coatings.
Static Materials in a Dynamic World
Current materials can’t adapt to changing conditions, creating costly inefficiencies.
In Packaging
- One-third of all food is being wasted globally, partly due to inadequate packaging
- The packaging industry is under regulatory pressure to eliminate plastics
- The packaging industry often fails to combine durability, water resistance, regulation, and biodegradability in one product
- Static barriers can’t optimize for changing product needs
In Agriculture
- Up to 30% of seeds fail to germinate due to unpredictable weather
- Reduced yields and significant financial losses due to extreme weather. For instance, £1 billion total loss for UK farmers during the extreme wet weather of 2023/2024
- Traditional coatings can’t respond to drought, cold, or variable conditions
- Current seed coatings struggle with uniform coverage, loss during handling, and limited biological functionality
Our proposed Innovation: Learning from Nature, Engineering Beyond It
Insects have thrived for millions of years using thin wax coatings on their surfaces that automatically adapt to conditions—waterproofing against dehydration, enabling movement, and self-healing when damaged.
Inspired by this natural ‘smart coating’, we envision designing bio-inspired coatings that can intelligently respond to conditions like moisture and temperature, protecting seeds during unpredictable weather and keeping packaged food fresh while reducing waste.
For Packaging
Adaptive Barrier Coatings
Barrier Optimisation
- Designing for controlled oxygen & moisture permeability
- Targeting food preservation/quality requirements
- Aiming to develop product-specific formulations
Environmental Response
- Testing adaptive barrier mechanisms
- Engineering temperature-responsive properties
- Investigating humidity-triggered transitions
Durability Features
- Exploring self-repair mechanisms
- Testing coating resilience
- Investigating damage response
Application Specific Design
- Aiming to tailor to different food categories
- Aiming to customize for product requirements
- Optimizing gas exchange profiles
For Agriculture
Adaptive Seed Coatings
Moisture Response
- Designing for high water retention when dry, but becomes permeable when moisture is adequate
- Investigating the lipid compositions that optimise this transition
- Aiming to control premature germination and optimise germination timing
Temperature Adaptation
- Formulating to maintain functionality across temperature ranges
- Targeting to maintain coating flexibility across spring temperature ranges
- Investigating whether temperature-responsive properties can improve germination timing
Protective Properties
- Investigating self-healing mechanisms
- Testing coating durability during handling
- Targeting robust seed protection