📝 Summary
Three postgraduate students from Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia, completed a four-week research attachment at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable biomaterial synthesis, cell culture and biological evaluation. The programme strengthened the research partnership between the two universities and generated preliminary findings to support future collaborative studies in biomedical materials.
JOHOR BAHRU, 30 Jul – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through the Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano) and the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, hosted three postgraduate students from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Indonesia, for a Research Attachment Programme from 26 June to 23 July 2026.
The participating students were Ajeng Lintang Kinasih Suroso, Eysa Tsabita Qurrota A’yun and Annisa Putri Cantika Mahkota Pertiwi, all enrolled in the Master’s Programme in Biomedical Sciences at Universitas Brawijaya. Their research activities were conducted at the Nanomaterials Laboratories in Building T02, Faculty of Science, UTM.
The attachment was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek from the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, together with Dr. Happy Kurnia Permatasari, MD, PhD, Head of the Master’s Programme in Biomedical Sciences at Universitas Brawijaya.
Implemented as part of the Universitas Brawijaya Student Academic Research Scheme, or UB STARS, the programme aimed to strengthen the students’ research competencies through international exposure, practical laboratory training and multidisciplinary scientific collaboration.
The programme also continued the established cooperation between UTM and Universitas Brawijaya in student mobility, academic exchange and collaborative research. Earlier engagements between both institutions had identified student exchange, curriculum benchmarking and joint research as important areas for developing a stronger educational and research partnership. (UTM News)
Sustainable biomaterials for biomedical applications
The students’ research focused on the preparation and preliminary biological evaluation of hydroxyapatite-embedded silica aerogel reinforced gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels, known as HAESA–GelMA composites.
The project combined hydroxyapatite, a bioactive calcium phosphate material, with highly porous silica aerogel and photocrosslinkable GelMA hydrogel. The silica aerogel was prepared using silica derived from rice husk ash, demonstrating how agricultural waste could be transformed into a potentially valuable material for biomedical research.
Different HAESA–GelMA formulations were investigated using HSF-1184 human dermal fibroblasts. The studies were designed to obtain preliminary information on cell viability, attachment and interactions with the composite hydrogels.
The materials have potential for further development in tissue engineering, wound healing, regenerative medicine, biomedical scaffolds and three-dimensional or four-dimensional bioprinting. However, additional optimisation, material characterisation and repeated biological testing will be required before their performance can be conclusively established.
Hands-on laboratory and research training
Throughout the attachment, the students participated in laboratory orientation, occupational safety training, literature reviews, research planning and scientific discussions.
Their practical activities included extracting sodium silicate from rice husk ash, preparing silica aerogel, formulating HAESA–GelMA composites and learning the synthesis of GelMA. They were also trained in aseptic laboratory practices, mammalian cell culture, cell passaging, cell counting and cell seeding.
For biological evaluation, the students conducted MTT assays to assess cellular metabolic activity and Crystal Violet staining to observe fibroblast attachment and morphology. They also gained experience in operating laboratory instruments, including biosafety cabinets, carbon dioxide incubators, inverted microscopes and microplate readers.
The programme further introduced the students to data processing and visualisation using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism. Through laboratory meetings and research presentations, they developed competencies in experimental interpretation, scientific writing, data visualisation and professional communication.
Exposure to the wider nanomaterials research community
Beyond their individual projects, the students participated in the Workshop on Nanomaterials held at CSNano on 20 July 2026. The workshop introduced fundamental concepts in nanomaterial classification, properties, applications and suitable characterisation methods.
They also attended the Colloquium on Functional Materials and Nanotechnology on 23 July 2026. Jointly organised by CSNano and Hainan Normal University, China, the colloquium brought together researchers working in functional materials, nanoscience, chemistry and physics.
The colloquium provided the students with opportunities to learn about current developments in nanomaterials, interact with international researchers and strengthen their scientific communication skills. The event also promoted future joint publications, research projects, student exchanges and collaborative grant applications. (UTM News)
Preliminary outcomes and future collaboration
The attachment generated preliminary experimental data on the cytocompatibility of HAESA–GelMA composites. Silica aerogel and related HAESA-based materials were prepared, while Crystal Violet observations indicated that fibroblast cells could attach to the composite scaffold under the conditions examined.
The students’ reports also identified variations in some MTT assay results. These findings highlighted the importance of repeating the experiments with improved sample uniformity, additional biological replicates and stricter procedural standardisation. Further studies involving techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and advanced cell imaging were recommended.
In addition to the research findings, the students reported improvements in biomaterial preparation, cell culture, laboratory management, data analysis, scientific writing and presentation skills. The experience also enhanced their adaptability, teamwork, problem-solving abilities and confidence in conducting research in an international environment.
Following the laboratory attachment, the students delivered their final research presentations on 30 July 2026, outlining their research objectives, methodologies, preliminary findings, experimental limitations and proposed future work.
The Research Attachment Programme reflects the commitment of UTM and Universitas Brawijaya to providing meaningful international research experiences for postgraduate students. It also strengthens knowledge exchange between Malaysia and Indonesia while creating opportunities for future joint research, mobility activities, scientific publications and postgraduate collaboration.
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Prepared by: Ajeng Lintang Kinasih Suroso, Eysa Tsabita Qurrota A’yun, Annisa Putri Cantika Mahkota Pertiwi and Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek
