Lynk Solutec is a startup specializing in the development of coating materials that prevent the attachment of blood and bacteria to endoscope lenses. Founded in July 2020 by Seo Jungmok, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Yonsei University.

CEO Seo introduced Lynksolutec as a company commercializing nano-coating technology that has been developed in collaboration with researchers for a long period.

Nano-coating is a medical device coating technology that inherently inhibits thrombosis and side effects caused by bacteria.

“The advancement of medical equipment has been linked to the development of medical technology, saving countless lives through treatment. Among them, endoscopes are the only tools for observing our body precisely during surgery, and the clear condition of the lens is especially important. While conducting collaborative research with doctors, we learned about persistent issues that occur during endoscopic surgery. During surgery using endoscopes, the lens frequently becomes obscured due to factors such as fogging from the patient’s respiration or bleeding caused by tissue excision. Traditionally, approaches like attaching devices injecting saline solution or using anti-fog agents were used to address these issues. However, saline solution runs the risk of being aspirated into the respiratory system during bronchial-related surgeries, and the anti-fog agents have limitations in preventing blood attachment,” CEO Seo explained.

He began researching ways to fundamentally prevent visual impairment beyond the conventional methods. As a result, they developed a nano-coating that can inherently prevent the attachment of any substance.

“The nano-coating technology of Lynksolutec uniformly applies a very thin liquid to the surface. This liquid can inherently inhibit the attachment of substances, such as water vapor, blood, and bacteria, that cause issues before and after surgery on the surface of medical devices. The nano-coating can be directly applied to various materials of medical devices, including metals, ceramics, and polymers,” he added. He further stated that they plan to expand the application of nano-coating technology to various medical devices such as orthopedic artificial joints, dental implants, urological stents and catheters, and ECMO.

“Recent advancements in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries have significantly reduced surgery times and incision sites. However, the only method of observing the surgical area remains endoscopy. Due to the attachment of steam and blood during surgery, there is a significant inconvenience requiring personnel to constantly clean the endoscope on-site. Depending on the level of standardization at different hospitals and the proficiency of individuals, the frequency of adverse events varies, resulting in substantial costs for education and management. The nano-coating technology developed by Lynksolutec can inherently inhibit the attachment of substances that cause harmful effects to the surface of medical devices. The advantage of this item lies in its infinite potential applications. The fact that doctors are directly participating in research and development is also a competitive advantage.”

CEO Seo was asked about how he started the business. He said, “While conducting research, I always dreamed of seeing the technology I had developed being practically applied and commercialized. During this time, doctors who were experiencing inconvenience using endoscopes showed interest in Lynksolutec’s technology, which led me to challenge entrepreneurship. Through preliminary startup packages, leading laboratory startup projects, and initial startup packages, we have been able to consistently pursue research and development.”

In 2022, Lynk Solutec received investment from Daily Partners and Yonsei University’s technology holding company. It was also selected for TIPS.

Regarding future plans, CEO Seo said, “We will focus on obtaining medical device approvals for the commercialization of caps for endoscope vision, which is our first product. We also plan to enter foreign markets through collaboration with global medical device companies.”

[HanKyung Job & Joy, Reporter Lee Jin-Ho]

Yonsei University Technology Holding Company, led by CEO Kim Ji-hyun, has announced that they have successfully secured a ₩1 billion seed investment for Lynk Solutec, a specialized bio-medical device company.

Lynk Solutec, founded in July 2020, is built on the foundation of the nano-coating technology developed by Professor Seo Jung-mok’s research team at Yonsei University. The company possesses innovative medical device coating technology that prevents the adhesion of infection factors such as blood and bacteria on the surfaces of various medical devices and effectively inhibits thrombus formation, thus addressing a wide range of pre-and post-surgical side effects.

Currently, Lynk Solutec is focusing on the development of a technology that resolves the problem of impaired visibility in medical endoscopy due to blood and mucus during surgery. Based on this breakthrough, they plan to introduce products that completely eliminate side effects associated with transplantable medical device materials, such as medical tubes, plastic surgery implants, and stents.

The seed investment was made jointly by Yonsei University Technology Holding Company and Daily Partners, a specialized bio-venture capital firm. The investment took place during Lynk Solutec’s business expansion phase as they received technology transfer from Yonsei University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Division.

Kim Ji-hyun, CEO of Yonsei University Technology Holding Company and concurrently the Director of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Division, expressed, “The technology holding company has supported Lynk Solutec’s growth through technology commercialization programs, ranging from startup preparation to business validation through the Ministry of Education’s BRIDGE+ program, investment utilizing university startup funds, and subsequent R&D support through TIPS (Technology Innovation Program Support).” She further stated, “We plan to continue our support to ensure the successful commercialization of Yonsei University’s outstanding research outcomes.”

With this recent investment, Lynk Solutec aims to advance their nano-coating technology called Lynk Coating to achieve 1st or 2nd grade medical device approval and commercialization. They also plan to intensify their R&D efforts for developing coating technology that can be applied to all medical materials.

• Image: Endoscopic consumables with nano-coating technology to prevent blood and mucus attachment.
• Joint investment by Yonsei University Technology Holding Company and Daily Partners.

Kyung Hee University’s Campus Town Business Unit, led by President Han Guntai, announced that on the past Friday, the 14th, they hosted the ‘CampaVision’ Demo Day through a live broadcast on YouTube at the Dance Department Building on the Seoul Campus.

During this Demo Day, nine exceptional startups nurtured by the Business Unit participated. These resident startups presented their business ideas, progress updates, and growth potential. Accelerator representatives and venture capital professionals were on-site to evaluate these aspects.

The panel of judges included Huh Yoonseok, Director of Daesung Startup Investment Co., Ltd., Yang Kyungjoon, CEO of Crypton Co., Ltd., Go Yeongha, Chairman of the Korea Association of Angel Investors, Cho Myeongwoo, CEO of Bain Ventures Co., Ltd., and Choi Gyeonghee, Partner at Sopoong Ventures Co., Ltd.

The judges assessed the originality of the startup ideas, the feasibility of their execution and potential for growth, market viability in terms of revenue, and the presentation skills of the participants. The event unfolded with team presentations followed by interactive question and answer sessions.

Among the participating resident startups were MindsGround (CEO Min Hwangi), Merlin’s Beard (CEO Kim Byungsoo), Bevery Wear (CEO Yang Hyeri), Kiwi Studio (CEO Park Cheonmyeong), Danpoonggori (CEO Kim Beomseok), Panacura (CEO Jang Hyeongjin), Lynk Solutec (CEO Seo Jeongmok), Umtul (CEO Park Seongryul), and EdmicBio (CEO Ha Dongheon).

The grand prize was awarded to Kiwi Studio, while Lynk Solutec Co., Ltd. received the top honor, and Panacura Co., Ltd. and EdmicBio Co., Ltd. were recognized with excellence awards.

Lynk Solutec, the recipient of the top honor, is a subsidiary of Yonsei University’s technology holding company. Leveraging their nano-thin film coating technology designed to prevent the attachment of blood, viruses, and bacteria, they are pioneering the development of safe and swift medical devices for patient treatment. Presently, they are focused on the development of an endoscopic cap to prevent fogging and blood attachment, crucial for maintaining a clear endoscopic view.

Over the past two years, the Business Unit has organized two startup competitions, selecting 69 teams, providing approximately 480 million KRW in startup support funds and prize money. The resident startups have attracted around 8 billion KRW in investments across 8 projects and secured approximately 4 billion KRW in government support for 87 projects.

Generating approximately 2.6 billion KRW in revenue, the startups have significantly contributed to activating the local economy of Dongdaemun-gu. The Business Unit’s commitment continues, aiming to provide tailored support to young entrepreneurs, leveraging the capabilities of the university and the local community.

[Reported by Beta News Journalist Kang Gyusoo]

Lynk Solutec, a startup specializing in cutting-edge medical solutions, has recently undertaken research into an innovative coating technology designed to proactively prevent the attachment of various substances to lenses used in endoscopic surgeries. Established by Lee Yeon-Taek (28), who collaborated closely with medical professionals at the Bio-Surface and Sensor Systems Laboratory, the company is targeting the persistent issues encountered during endoscopic procedures.

Throughout endoscopic surgeries, lenses frequently become obstructed due to factors such as patient respiration and bleeding resulting from tissue resection. Conventional methods to alleviate these problems involve integrating saline solution injection devices with the endoscope or utilizing anti-fog agents. Nevertheless, these approaches have limitations, including the potential inhalation of saline solution during airway surgeries and the inability of anti-fog agents to prevent blood adhesion.

In response, the founder of Lynksolutec embarked on a research endeavor to create a novel solution that fundamentally prevents the attachment of substances, thereby addressing lens obstructions. The outcome was the development of a nano-thin film coating with the capability to prevent the adhesion of various substances. The startup is currently in the process of producing a prototype of this technology in a user-friendly cap form suitable for endoscopic applications.

Lynk Solutec’s competitive edge is derived from its strong connection to real-world demands. With a team proficient in research and development, production, and clinical verification, the company is well-equipped to compete effectively. Notably, this collaboration includes the involvement of Kwon Hyuk-Ho, a researcher from precision injection molding company D-PharmTech, responsible for endoscope cap production, and Professor Seo Jung-Mok from Yonsei University, responsible for research and development.

The active participation of medical professionals in the startup’s research and development adds to its market potential. The founder stated, “Products related to medical devices prioritize safety and reliability due to their nature. This leads to the continued use of conventional methods and products.” Additionally, Lynk Solutec intends to collaborate with advanced hospitals that have been engaged since the early stages of development and then expand its target market to include private hospitals.

One of the challenges faced by the founder post-launch was the lack of expertise in areas such as accounting and legal matters. Notably, the mentoring provided by Yonsei University’s Startup Support Center significantly benefited the company, particularly in areas such as tax-related legal knowledge. Lynk Solutec’s potential has been recognized through its selection for the Preliminary Startup Package and Leading University Projects for Laboratory Startups.

Looking ahead, Lee Yeon-Taek envisions broadening the applications of the nano-thin film coating through further research and development. He highlighted that Lynksolutec’s coating technology can inhibit not only fogging and blood adhesion but also the attachment of proteins and bacteria, making it applicable to various medical devices such as prosthetics coatings and blood collection tubes. He expressed the company’s aspiration, saying, “Our aim is to provide both medical professionals and patients with an enhanced healthcare environment by offering products that facilitate safe and efficient surgeries.”

[Source: Hankyung Job N Joy, Reporter Jo Soo-Bin]