MiU 2023: ‘CANDISTAN Nano’ and ‘Smart Buoy For Safety Monitoring’ clinch top honours

‘CANDISTAN Nano’ emerged victorious as the overall champion in the bachelor’s level category at the 11th Made in UniKL (MiU) 2023.

Developed by Sharifah Nurjiha Syed Mohatha from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Institute of Medical Science Technology (UniKL MESTECH), the groundbreaking nystatin nanoparticles demonstrated significant antibiofilm activity for combating candidiasis in poultry.

This exceptional achievement not only secured the top spot in its category but also earned Sharifah Nurjiha the newly-introduced CWAL Award and a Gold medal.

In her final year project, Sharifah Nurjiha’s research revealed that CANDISTAN Nano inhibited 60% biofilm formation by C. tropicalis and eradicated 45% of the grown biofilm on C. krusei.

Under the guidance of Dr. Tong Woei Yenn and Dr. Ahmad Najib Hasan, the team is now collaborating closely with Range Pharma Sdn. Bhd for the commercialisation of this groundbreaking product.

Simultaneously, ‘Smart Buoy For Safety Monitoring,’ a project from UniKL Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET), secured the overall champion position and a Gold medal in the diploma level category.

Spearheaded by Nur Naqiuddin Mohamed Fauzi, Muhammad Azmin Azram Ahmad Sani, and Danial Irfan Norshamsul Kamal Ariffin, the project aims to enhance coastal safety through a proficient warning system designed to protect swimmers.

The key innovation lies in the integration of an ultrasonic sensor detection system within the buoy, enabling swift detection of swimmers in proximity and triggering immediate notifications.

This comprehensive system incorporates a range of sensors dedicated to maritime safety, including object movement sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and environmental monitoring capabilities.

Notably, 80 students from nine campuses collaborated to present their innovative ideas and prototypes at MiU 2023.

The university-level competition, hosted by UniKL Malaysian Institute of Chemical & Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) in collaboration with the Centre for Research and Innovation (CoRI), showcased 44 innovative projects to industry judges and representatives from various Public Higher Education Institutions(IPTA).

Of these, 13 teams were awarded Gold medals, underscoring the outstanding calibre of projects presented at the event.