3M did have a product that as far as I recall was based upon shark scales but made a plastic film.
The idea was that the boundary layer would remain attached as a thin turbulent layer being reenergized by the coating, as the coating was like have very small vortex generators all over the aircraft.
Don’t know what came of it, I thought it was being trailed in Europe, it may be 15-20 years ago now.
The product from memory was a by product of the Americas cup boat race as the coating was designed originally to be attached to the hull of the racing yachts.
Z