[Star Daily News = Reporter Kyujoon Hwang]
Mimetics Co., Ltd., a company that seeks solutions inspired by nature, announced on the 20th that it has been selected for the TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startups), a technology startup investment program hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
The TIPS program is designed to support promising tech-based startup teams through private operators and government backing, providing matched support including angel investment, incubation, mentoring, and R&D funding.
Mimetics began as a student startup at Sungkyunkwan University and has steadily enhanced its R&D capabilities over the past five years in collaboration with Professor Chang-Hyun Bang and his research team. To date, the company has completed four technology transfers and filed over 30 domestic and international patents.
Mimetics discovered through theoretical and experimental studies that the micro three-dimensional dome structures of octopus suction cups generate physical negative pressure, enabling adhesion regardless of environmental or surface conditions. These 3D dome structures maintain excellent adhesion in various environments, including moist skin, silicone oil, and water, and provide consumer-friendly adhesion through physical negative pressure.
Leveraging the octopus-inspired 3D dome structures, Mimetics is actively advancing research toward transdermal drug delivery systems. Using this principle, the company developed a wearable patch platform that applies negative pressure to the stratum corneum, creating microchannels for drug delivery. The company explains that this patch can increase skin penetration depth up to three times for molecules over 500 Daltons, such as hyaluronic acid and peptides.
A company representative stated, “Mimetics is focusing on product development ahead of its first product launch in August. Through the selected TIPS program, we aim to develop higher-level products, accelerate commercialization, and expand into the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets.”
Source: Star Daily News (https://www.stardailynews.co.kr)
Reporter: Kyujoon Hwang | news@stardailynews.co.kr
