Wellness Innovation Technology (WIT)

⮚ iKohza Name: Wellness Innovation Technology (WIT)
⮚ Leader's Name and Title: Prof. Dr. Azila Abd Aziz
⮚Main Contact Email: r-azila@utm.my
⮚Location/Office: WIT Laboratory, level 4, MJIIT, UTM Kuala Lumpur

⮚Main Research Themes/Keywords:
Bioprocessing; Biosensor; Drug delivery; Food technology; Skincare; Structural bioinformatics

⮚Description of Research Focus Areas:
Current research activities focus on sustainable innovation and health-oriented solutions through advanced biotechnological and materials-based approaches. In pharmaceutical and dermatological sciences, studies are being conducted on curcumin-loaded, hyaluronan-modified flexible liposomes to target inflamed keratinocytes in psoriasis treatment, with investigations into their binding mechanisms and kinetics. Skincare development is also progressing, with product lines such as NK Age-Reverse®, NK Beuteen™, and Naturel Kiss emphasizing natural and effective formulations. In natural product research, Azadirachta excelsa extract is being encapsulated in biopolymers, exploring its controlled release and insecticidal properties. Another study focuses on converting roselle seed waste into valuable oil, aligning with the "waste to wealth" concept. Nanotechnology is also applied in BeuT-Complex™, a novel formulation for enhanced skin benefits. In enzymology and marine bioprocessing, the hydrolysis of collagen from Mahseer and Barramundi skin using enzymatic and ultrasound-assisted techniques is being optimized to yield bioactive peptides with antioxidant potential. Complementary kinetic studies under subcritical conditions aim to understand the structure-function relationship of collagen peptides. Lastly, green sensor technology is being advanced through the development of a tyrosinase/biochar-based biosensor for electrochemical detection of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food. Efforts in pectin extraction from pineapple by-products further exemplify sustainable material utilization.

• Bioreactor
• Centrifuge
• Heating stirrer
• Oven
• Sonicator
• Hot bath
• Orbital shaker

🧾 List of Ongoing/Recent Projects or Grants :

1. Targeting of curcumin loaded hyaluronan-modified flexible liposomes to inflamed keratinocytes for the management of psoriasis: mechanism of binding and kinetic studies.
2. Encapsulation of Azadirachta excelsa extract in biopolymer: design, synthesis, characterization, control release and insecticidal property
3. Electrochemical detection of bisphenol A in food using tyrosinase/biochar biosensor
4. Development of skincare products - NK Age-Reverse®, NK BeuteenTM, and Naturel Kiss
5. Plant extraction: waste to wealth concept of roselle seed oil
6. Nanotechnology: BeuT-ComplexTM
7. Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Technique of Collagen From Mahseer Skin
8. Antioxidant Effect of Barramundi Skin Collagen Extracted Using Microbial Protease Derived from Bacillus natta and Aspergillus oryzae
9. Enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen from barramundi skin aided with ultrasound-assisted pre-treatment and their potential bioactivities
10. Kinetics of collagen hydrolysis of Barramundi skin using subcritical water and structural-biofunctional properties relationship of bioactive collagen peptides
11. Pineapple by-product utilization for pectin extraction and extraction process scale up

🧾Selected Publications:

1. Mohd Mokhtar , M.A, Abdul-Aziz, A., Norulfairuz Abang Zaidel, D . Castro, Synthesis and CharCharacterization of Curcuminchemical sensors in food safety analysis: A short review’. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 3003, 012027.
2. Chan, B. L., Samad, N. A., Jusoh, Y. M. M., Muhamad, I. I. & Zaidel, D. N. A. (2025). ‘Mathematical modeling of drying on ready-to-eat food using oven and microwave’. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3056.
3. Mohammad, N. A., Zaidel, D. N. A., Iemsam-Arng, J., Unger, O., Muhamad, I. I., Yaakob, H. & Hamid, M. A. (2025). ‘Synergistic effects of homogenisation methods for stabilising nanoemulsions of mangosteen pericarp with pea protein isolate and soluble soybean polysaccharide’. Food and Bioprocess Technology.
4. Amirah Illyana Harun, Azila Abdul-Aziz , Guillermo R. Castro, Inflammatory Markers for Potential Targeted Therapies for Psoriasis: A Review, Journal of Advanced Research in Micro and Nano Engineering (accepted for publication)
5. Alisa Shafira Badrul Hisham, Azila Abdul-Aziz, Guillermo R. Castro, Synthesis and Characterization of Curcumin Loaded Flexible Liposomes Decorated with Hyaluronic Acid and Po Peptide, Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology (accepted for publication)

🧾 Patents:

1. A LABEL FREE BIOSENSOR (IP/PT/2014/4743)
2. A NEW POTENTIAL COSMECEUTICAL INGREDIENTS : VCO-SOMES (IP/PT/2012/3008)
3. ANTIOXIDANT COATED LIPOSOME AS THE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR HERBAL BASED SERUM (IP/PT/2012/3006)
4. MEAL-2-HEAL READY-TO-EAT DESIGNED FOOD FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF (IP/PT/2016/1376)
5. METHOD FOR EXTRACTING ROSELLE EXTRACTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION THEREOF (IP/PT/2017/0335)
6. FISH FEEDS FOR MODERN COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE (IP/PT/2014/4538)

• MARDI
• University of Tsukuba
• Imperial College London

⮚ Academic Staff (Name, Position, Area of Expertise):

	Name & Position	Area of Expertise
	Prof. Dr. Azila Abd Aziz (Head of ikohza)	Drug Delivery Systems Biosensor Natural Products Bioprocessing
	Prof. Dr. Siti Hamidah Mohd Setapar	Chemical Separation Processes Extraction Technologies, Micellar Nano-Technologies Bioproduct Development
	Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Dayang Norulfairuz Abang Zaidel (Head of Department Chemical & Environmental Engineering, MJIIT)	Enzymatic Processes, Carbohydrate Chemistry Food Hydrocolloids Food Rheology Functional Food
	Dr. Nurulbahiyah binti Ahmad Khairuddin	Molecular Simulations Structural Bioinformatics

⮚ Postdocs/Researchers: Dr. Norfazilah binti Muhamad

⮚ Postgraduate Students:

⮚ Group Photo:

⮚ Activity or Lab Photos (optional):
⮚ Logo (if any):

 Link to Video:
 Refer to the sample video shared:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uCct65sTQaNmssiLeKSd5RqQP_5EUMfs/view?usp=drive
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