Recognizing the need, GVD responded to an SBIR to innovate a coating solution that is able to reduce the force required to move the rubber stopper through the syringe as well or better than silicone oil, without the risk of affecting the solution inside. The results showed that GVD’s lubricious coating, which is chemically inert, provided adequate friction reduction for ideal operation of a single-use syringe. Unlike silicone oil, GVD’s coatings do not break down or cause denaturing of therapeutics within a syringe. Finally, GVD’s coating process produces conformal films in 3D, which overcomes challenges of common liquid phase coating methods that lack conformality in three dimensions. Lastly, GVD’s coating process occurs at a low temperature that does not degrade the rubber stopper materials within a syringe.
