SMART REACTORS TRANSFORMING MEDICAL DEVICE COATINGS

“The ultimate challenges for scientist around the world is to develop synthetic coating that will make a medical device truly biocompatible”

This is exactly what Smart Reactors has been working toward since its inception.

Founded by Brian Haddigan and Mark Brassil, entrepreneurs with decades of experience in the medical device sector, Smart Reactors has grown rapidly, assembling a highly skilled team and preparing for major international expansion. The company has developed a proprietary coating technology designed to reduce the risk of blood clots while promoting healing in implanted medical devices.

For decades, the medical device industry has relied on heparin-based coatings to prevent clotting. However, regulatory concerns, supply chain issues, and safety risks have led authorities in the U.S. and other markets to scrutinize these coatings.

In response, Smart Reactors has developed a heparin-free, proprietary coating designed for medical implants, cardiac interventions, and respiratory support devices. This breakthrough solution is positioned to become the preferred alternative, offering a safer and more sustainable approach. The company licenses its intellectual property (IP) to major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, ensuring widespread adoption and commercialization.

a cross-border presence in Northern Ireland, the company initially focused on ECMO and Perfusion (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) coatings and has since expanded into vascular implants, neurovascular devices, dialysis membranes, and beyond.

Under the leadership of co-founders Brian Haddigan and Mark Brassil, Smart Reactors has built a global reputation for innovation, reliability, and scientific excellence. Their expertise in medical device development and commercialization has positioned the company as a trusted partner for medical device manufacturers worldwide.

Device categories that Camouflage™ can be used on.

Advancing Biocompatibility in Medical Devices

Smart Reactors specializes in advanced surface treatments for medical devices, addressing critical challenges in thrombosis prevention, inflammation control, and endothelialization.

The company’s flagship technology, Camouflage™ Coating, is backed by intellectual property (IP) and enhances medical implants by:

Preventing blood clot formation (anti-thrombogenic properties)
Reducing inflammatory response (minimizing complications)
Encouraging endothelialization (promoting natural healing and integration with the body)

Through extensive collaborations with global medical device manufacturers, Smart Reactors provides coatings that make medical devices safer, longer lasting, and more effective for patients worldwide.

Securing Intellectual Property

Smart Reactors recognizes that innovation in medical device coatings relies on a strong foundation of intellectual property (IP). To maintain its leadership in biocompatible coatings, the company has prioritized IP protection for Camouflage™, ensuring it remains at the forefront of surface technology. By safeguarding proprietary advancements in biocompatibility, thrombosis prevention, and endothelialization, Smart Reactors reinforces its competitive edge in the global medical coatings industry while securing long-term value for medical devices.

Biocompatibility Challenges in Medical Devices

Medical device manufacturers face significant challenges in improving the integration and performance of implants. Smart Reactors addresses these critical issues with coatings designed to:

Enhance endothelialization to support natural tissue growth and improve long-term functionality.

Provide anti-inflammatory properties to reduce immune system reactions and improve patient comfort.

Deliver anti-thrombogenic effects to minimize clot formation and associated risks, ensuring safer implant performance.

By solving these problems, Smart Reactors enables medical device manufacturers to develop implants that are more biocompatible, reducing the likelihood of complications and improving patient outcomes.

The Services Smart Reactors Provides

Smart Reactors offers end-to-end coating solutions for medical device manufacturers, including:

Prototype Coatings – Custom development of surface treatments to meet specific biocompatibility needs.
Design & Process Optimization – Enhancing medical device surfaces to improve performance, durability, and manufacturability.
Technical Transfer & Manufacturing Support – Ensuring seamless integration of Smart Reactors’ coatings into large-scale production.
After-Sales Support – Continuous guidance on coating performance and regulatory compliance.

These specialized services enable medical device manufacturers to achieve the highest standards of safety, performance, and regulatory approval.

Global Reach in Medical Device Coatings

Smart Reactors has collaborated with leading medical device companies worldwide, providing customized coating solutions that enhance the biocompatibility of implantable and extracorporeal devices. Camouflage™ is utilized across multiple device categories in diverse healthcare markets.

Strong Collaboration with domestic & Northern Irish MedTech

Smart Reactors was established in 2019 with support from Enterprise Ireland (EI) and other state-backed programs that fuel innovation in life sciences and medical technology.

With offices in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, the company has benefited from:

Cross-border access to MedTech research hubs
Funding for R&D initiatives
State-backed resources for scaling internationally

This foundation has enabled Smart Reactors to collaborate with leading universities, research institutions, and medical device manufacturers, accelerating growth and innovation in the competitive medical coatings market.

Cutting-Edge Research & Development

Beyond coatings, Smart Reactors is pioneering breakthrough research in artificial lung technology through the Cell Membrane project, which focuses on developing a nanocellulose membrane for use in artificial lung devices. With lung disease being the third leading cause of death worldwide and millions relying on short-term artificial lung support, existing devices face critical challenges, including poor blood flow, thrombosis risks, and limited usability.

By leveraging 3D printing and biomaterials, Smart Reactors is developing a highly biocompatible, cost-effective membrane that improves gas exchange efficiency and reduces clot formation, enabling longer-term support for patients awaiting transplants.

“This approach is a radical shift from traditional artificial lung manufacturing,” says Brian Haddigan, CEO. “By mimicking human lung function and improving blood compatibility, we aim to create a safer, more effective solution.”

Working alongside Brunel University of London, the University of Tübingen, and the University of Galway. and research institutions, CELLINK, Smart Reactors is advancing:

Next-generation biomaterial membranes for respiratory support

New surface treatments that enhance biocompatibility for emerging medical applications

As the lead partner, Smart Reactors is managing collaboration milestones, ensuring the project aligns with clinical and regulatory standards. The first phase is expected to result in a functional prototype designed for real-world application in artificial lung devices

Physical Presence at leading MedTech Trade expeditions

Smart Reactors exhibits at major international medical technology events each year, including:

These platforms enables Smart Reactors to showcase its technology, expand partnerships, and further its mission of transforming medical devices.

The Future of Smart Reactors

As Smart Reactors marks its five-year milestone, the company is focused on:

Strengthening research partnerships to drive the next wave of biocompatibility breakthroughs.
Expanding the portfolio into new medical device categories.
Continuing contributions to the Irish and Northern Irish life sciences sector.

With a strong foundation, state support, and global recognition, Smart Reactors is positioned to become the leading provider of medical device coatings worldwide.

Discover more about Smart Reactors’ innovations at www.smartreactors.com