Surflay Nanotec GmbH

Their core work

Surflay Nanotec is a Berlin-based SME specializing in surface coating and nanoencapsulation technologies, particularly layer-by-layer (LbL) nanocoating of particles and sensors. They develop nanoparticle-based formulations for biomedical applications including drug delivery, cancer therapy, and label-free bioanalytics using whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensors. Their core competence lies in engineering nanoscale surface architectures — coating particles, capsules, and sensor surfaces with functional polymer and protein layers for applications ranging from optoelectronics to targeted cancer treatment.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Surflay's H2020 trajectory shows a clear pivot from materials science toward biomedical applications. Their earliest project (SYNCHRONICS, 2015) focused on supramolecular architectures for optoelectronics — a materials/photonics application of their coating technology. From 2019 onward, all three projects shifted decisively into cancer treatment and biomedical sensing: immunotherapy nanoparticles (I-DireCT), biosensors (WhisperSense), and tumor-oxygenating nanocarriers (OXIGENATED). The underlying nanocoating platform remained constant, but the application domain moved firmly into health and life sciences.

Surflay is consolidating around biomedical nanoparticle applications — particularly cancer-targeted drug delivery and tumor microenvironment modulation — making them a strong partner for future oncology and theranostics projects.

How they like to work

Surflay primarily operates as a specialist partner (3 of 4 projects), contributing nanocoating and formulation expertise to larger consortia. They coordinated one project (WhisperSense, an SME Phase 1 feasibility study), suggesting they can lead when commercializing their own technology but prefer joining research-driven consortia where they supply the nanoencapsulation component. With 21 unique partners across 14 countries, they are well-networked and comfortable in diverse international teams.

Surflay has collaborated with 21 distinct partners across 14 countries, indicating broad European reach for a 4-project SME. Their network spans academic training networks (MSCA) and innovation actions, connecting them to both university research groups and applied research institutes across the continent.

What sets them apart

Surflay occupies a rare niche as a commercial SME that manufactures nanocoating and encapsulation technology rather than just researching it. While many academic groups study layer-by-layer assembly, Surflay offers it as a product and service — making them a practical technology provider for consortia that need functional nanoparticle formulations, not just publications. Their ability to bridge optoelectronics, biosensing, and drug delivery from a single coating platform makes them unusually versatile for a small company.

Highlights from their portfolio

• I-DireCT
  Largest funding (EUR 505,577) and most thematically rich project — combining immunotherapy, nanoparticle formulations, and cancer microenvironment targeting across a major international consortium.
• WhisperSense
  Surflay's only coordinated project, exploring commercialization of whispering gallery mode biosensors — signals their push toward independent product development.
• OXIGENATED
  Represents their newest research direction — hemoglobin-based nanocarriers for tumor oxygenation — combining protein engineering with their nanoencapsulation expertise for photodynamic therapy.