7 November 2024 – DTS R&D Sdn. Bhd. (DTS) and the Institute of Bioscience (IBS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), celebrated their research collaboration with a ceremonial event at DTS headquarters in Port Klang, Selangor, today. This event marks the launch of an innovative project in sustainable nanobiotechnology titled “Development of a Nanocarrier from Barramundi Fish Scales for the Incorporation of Botanical Bioactives with Antioxidative and Anti-Obesity Properties.” The ceremony featured a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) exchange between DTS Director Mr. Raymond Tea Chin Keong and IBS Director Prof. Dr. Zunita Zakaria, underscoring the collaboration’s formal beginning.

The event was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Munirah Mohd Faudzi, Head of the Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory (NaturMeds), IBS; Dr. Chan Kim Wei, Senior Research Officer of NaturMeds and Principal Investigator of the project; research team members from NaturMeds Prof. Dr. Md Zuki Abu Bakar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis, and Dr. Norsharina Ismail; IBS postgraduate student Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim; Dr. Ch'ng Soo Ee, Consultant to DTS; Dr. Teng Lai Hong, Partner of DTS; and Miss Yeo Chooi Tsien, Senior Marketing Manager of DTS .

“Today’s ceremony signifies a powerful partnership that integrates industry expertise with academic research,” said Mr. Raymond Tea. “DTS has grown from a fish trading company into a food processing leader, providing modern solutions through our ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products. This partnership marks a new milestone for us, building on our previous success with fish scale collagen jelly—a healthful product recognized for its benefits to skin, hair, and joint health. By transforming fish processing by-products into valuable biotechnological applications, we are advancing scientific innovation while promoting sustainability within the seafood industry.”

Additionally, Prof. Dr. Zunita Zakaria highlighted the importance of industry-academia partnerships: “UPM is dedicated to research that makes a difference, and our collaborations with forward-looking industry partners like DTS enable us to translate our work into societal benefits. Together, we are creating real solutions that address environmental and health challenges.”

Guided by the concept of transforming “waste to health,” the project aims to address the rising environmental challenge of fishery/aquacultural waste while enhancing health solutions for obesity. Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), commonly known as Asian seabass, is among Malaysia’s most consumed fish due to its high-quality protein. However, the scales—often considered waste in fish processing—present an opportunity. The NaturMeds research team will leverage nanotechnology to repurpose these discarded scales into nanocarriers loaded with botanical bioactives known for their anti-obesity and antioxidative properties. This innovative nanocarrier is expected to boost the bioavailability, stability, and therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated bioactives, making it a safe and valuable nutraceutical solution for obesity management.

Date of Input: 21/11/2024 | Updated: 21/11/2024 | azah