TECHINNOVATION TECH OFFERS

There is a high demand for invitro diagnosis (IVD) test kits for various diseases in ASEAN and this technology is suited to provide product support to commercialise IVD test kits especially for public health problems faced in ASEAN. Produced under ISO13485 certified production, the IVD tests have high sensitivity and specificity, especially supporting the specific types of local ASEAN microorganisms detection. The technology services have supported the production of test kits for infectious disease for specific conditions such as Covid-19 and Leptospirosis.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects individuals above the age of 65. However, most patients are diagnosed only when significant symptoms appear, by which time severe brain pathology and neuronal cell death have already occurred, resulting in significant brain atrophy. Consequently, the optimal treatment window is often missed, leading to a fatal outcome. The technology is a simple, non-invasive, and accurate diagnostic solution for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which can distinguish patients with AD from healthy people and evaluate disease status from a single drop of blood, with more than 96% accuracy. By combining proprietary machine learning algorithms for data analysis, this cutting-edge technology can be applied towards developing a clinical tool for population-scale screening, early diagnosis, staging and monitoring of the disease.

The skincare industry is seeing an upward exponential shift in consumer preferences for natural and sustainable products with stricter regulations on materials and components bans which has been shown to result in long-term harm to the well-being of users. The current skincare chemicals and materials in the market possess various health challenges such as skin irritation and allergy where skincare and cosmetic companies are increasingly sourcing for sustainable, renewable, and safe bio-based materials. This technology presents a scalable solution to produce a bioingredient, nanofibrillated cellulose to replace petroleum-based materials in skincare.  Cellulose is an abundant material in nature, this technology develops a process to extract nanofibrillated cellulose for various applications. Nanofibrillated cellulose is a renewable biopolymer with high flexibility in structure which enables it to exhibit increased mechanical strength, optical, thermal and fluidic properties compared to cellulose. The nanostructure and rich hydroxyl groups allows for modifications in hybridization to fabricate materials ranging from films, membranes, soft gels and creams at reduced size and porosity.  The product has been validated to have excellent water retention, is highly biocompatible and can be applied as a thickening agent, emulsifiers, humectants, texture, and viscosity modifiers. Functional and cytotoxicity tests are completed to ensure the safety of the material. The technology owner is seeking to work with OEMs of skincare and cosmetic products to advance their business where sample testing are available. 

Fragrance and deodorising sprays for home care, fabric care and pet care applications often suffer from inconsistent and shortlived performance. This Nano Delivery Technology encapsulates fragrances, essential oils and other odourous compounds into nano sized biodegradable capsules that can anchor themselves efficiently to fibres and hairs, while regulating the release of the encapsulated compounds over prolonged time periods. The encapsulation process takes place at room temperatures, using low energy methods, that preserves the integrity of the actives. The technology is designed as a ready-to-use adjuvant allowing manufacturers to nano encapsulate the actives independently and easily using their existing process and production equipments. 

This technology involves the development of a spray designed to enhance immunity and combat inflammation while effectively inhibiting respiratory viruses, including H1N1, RSV, and COVID-19, as demonstrated in pre-clinical testing. The product is a result of a comprehensive process, starting from the cultivation of specific target plants for extracting key compounds, leading to formulation development, and culminating in non-clinical and clinical studies. The primary problem addressed by this technology is the need for effective virus prevention and inflammation reduction, particularly among individuals interested in maintaining their health and preventing viral infections, such as reducing susceptibility to respiratory diseases. The target audience for this technology includes individuals who are interested in proactive health maintenance and seek to protect themselves from viral infections while mitigating inflammation-related health issues. This IP addresses a significant need in the marketplace by offering a proactive solution for individuals looking to bolster their immune systems and reduce the risk of viral infections, which has become especially pertinent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the technology's focus on inflammation reduction aligns with the growing awareness of the importance of immune system support and overall health optimization, making it a relevant and valuable innovation for health-conscious consumers. The technology owner is seeking for licensing and R&D collaborations into other various applications.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects over 50% of the global population and is a major cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Current antibiotic regimens face challenges such as antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. Natural products provide a promising alternative, but their efficacy must be scientifically validated before clinical use. To address this need, we have developed an in vitro platform to evaluate anti-H. pylori properties of botanical extracts in a robust and reproducible manner. The model comprises two components: 1) Direct antimicrobial activity determined by minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations; 2) Anti-infective effects against live H. pylori infection of gastric epithelial cells. Using this platform, we have evaluated the anti-H. pylori properties of Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot) extracts. This provides evidence for the traditional use of fingerroot and validates it as an herbal medicine candidate. Our in vitro infection model allows rapid screening of natural product libraries to discover novel anti-H. pylori phytotherapies. It offers a standardized method as a part of a preclinical evaluation of safety and efficacy prior to human trials. This platform could be utilized by nutraceutical or pharmaceutical companies interested in scientifically developing new botanical therapies for H. pylori infection and gastritis. It addresses the need for evidence-based natural medicines to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment options against a global infection. Besides uncovering novel targets for traditional medicine, the technology owner is able to provide screening, extraction, compound analysis and validation tests for natural compounds at the facilities. 

In recent decades, Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackies A16 (CA16), Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and/or Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) have been the major cause of epidemic of several diseases worldwide. This technology presents an antiviral pharmaceutical composition using at least one plant-based compound as the therapeutic agent to inhibit viral replication in a host upon administering the composition to the subject accordingly. The composition comprises a polar extract of Astraeus asiaticus, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients selected from the group consisting of a solvent, an additive, a buffering agent, a preservative, a flavoring agent, and a stabilizer. The composition has shown to be effective against EV71, CA16, HSV-1, and/or HSV-2. EV71 and CVA16 are the primary cause of Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina. HSV-1/HSV-2 are the causative agent of oral/genital herpes. The composition can be formulated including, but not limited to, oral spray, oral paste and hand gel.  The discovery of this active ingredient A. asiaticus can significantly prevent EV71 infection where infants and children under five years old are more vulnerable to severe complications. Currently, there are no commercial product for Acyclovir-resistant strains but the active ingredient A. asiaticus is shown to be effective against HSV-1/HSV-2 and Acyclovir-resistant HSV infections. The technology owner is seeking collaborations with OEMs, pharmaceutical and health supplement companies for manufacturing and further R&D to formulate the active ingredient into health supplements. 

Melioidosis, caused by the environmental gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a tropical disease often manifesting as severe sepsis. In tropical regions where melioidosis is prevalent, the mortality rate for sepsis and melioidosis is alarmingly high with 40-80% of patients exhibiting bacteremia and pneumonia, underlining the urgent need for effective diagnostic solutions. Currently, available methods for identifying melioidosis patients are limited, contributing to under recognition and misdiagnosis of this fatal pathogen. In addressing this critical healthcare challenge, the ready-to-use real-time PCR kit for B. pseudomallei detection is a significant breakthrough. Its purpose is to enhance the diagnosis process for melioidosis suspected patients. The kit provides high sensitivity and quick diagnosis capabilities which are essential for timely patient management and clinical decision-making, enabling prompt administration of appropriate antimicrobial agents for melioidosis. This not only reduces disease severity but also impacts the mortality rate and the overall cost of hospital care. The gold standard for diagnosis is bacterial culture but has a low sensitivity of 60% and a low throughput rate, which does not meet the demands for quick and accurate detection in melioidosis cases. This technology addresses this gap by offering a rapid, highly sensitive diagnostic tool that is crucial to reduce severe infections that lead to high mortality rate. The technology owner is seeking collaborations with medical institutions (particularly those specializing in infectious disease diagnosis and treatment), device manufacturers capable of producing and distributing the kit at scale, research institutions and academic organizations.

Professional football clubs have a strong economic motivation to invest in injury prevention and rehabilitation programs. Among sports-related injuries, ankle sprains stand out as one of the most common injuries, accounting for 10-30% of such injuries. Even more concerning is the recorded data indicating that a substantial 80% of ankle sprains result in injury recurrence and enduring instability. This underscores the critical need for innovative solutions to address and prevent such joint injuries, ultimately enhancing players’ performance, prolonging their careers, and safeguarding the financial interests of professional football clubs. Through interdisciplinary research, the technology owner has developed a second skin designed to provide optimal support and protection for ankle joints, emerging as a promising avenue in the pursuit of minimizing these pervasive and recurrent injuries. This innovative second skin is made of a non-woven fabric that incorporates graphene fibers using a spraying technique. The application of this second skin should be prior to each practice session, as the level of support it provides decreases during physical activity. The second skin has remarkable performance and high impact resistance, ensuring a user-friendly experience. The technology owner is seeking collaboration with relevant partners, such as football clubs and sports medical centers in Asia and Europe.