Polymers From Marine Bacteria?

HotScience│Petrosains

We see and use many types of polymers every day, it’s just that it’s known to us by different names.  The most common polymer is plastics and it comes in many forms – plastic bags, ATM and credit cards, our five ringgit notes and toys.  There’s also fabrics like rayon, nylon, and polyester.  These are synthetic polymers, i.e. they are man-made.

The other type of polymers, known as natural polymers, can be found in nature and within us.  They are also known as natural biopolymers, i.e. polymers produced by living organisms. DNA is a natural polymer found in all living things and it will be very difficult for us to survive without it.  There are also other natural polymers, e.g. cotton, silk, rubber, leather and cotton; that can be modified chemically to produce many of the consumer products we love and can’t do without!

So, what’s a polymer? 

It’s a compound formed from long chains of the same molecule group. These chains repeat over and over, just like paper clips of the same type and colour joined together.  Polymers can be made to be flexible, pliable and stretchy, yet strong and firm by linking the molecule chains in several places.  Depends on what we want.

Now that we know the difference between synthetic and natural polymers, how about marine biopolymers?  As the name goes, they are polymers produced by living organisms that live in the seas.  You may ask, how useful is it to us?  Aren’t all polymers similar?

Research has shown that marine biopolymers may serve as a potential base material for biodegradable plastics as well as applications in food additives, pharmaceutical and medical polymers, wound dressings, bio-adhesives, dental biomaterials, tissue regeneration and 3D tissue culture scaffolds. 

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Prof. Madya Dr. Charles S. Vairappan and his team has developed an innovative product called Profeed.  This is a probiotic fish feed which has been cleverly developed without costly sterilization by just using a concoction of probiotic microbes to do the job through fermentation. Another possible biopolymer that may be developed is by stressing certain bacteria to produce chemicals to make polymers.

Marine-derived biomaterials science is still relatively new and the marine environment is a relatively untapped resource for the discovery of new enzymes, biopolymers and biomaterials for industrial applications.

Special facilitation by Assoc. Prof.  Dr. Charles S. Vairappan -
Director, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

This article is written in conjunction with Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 7-8 September 2013 with scientists from, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) –

1. Assoc. Prof.  Dr. Charles S. Vairappan

• Director, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

• Marine Natural Products Chemistry researcher, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

2. Mr. Thulasiramanan Ramachandram, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

3. Mr. Kishneth Palaniveloo, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation

Your Brain - Use it or Lose it!

HotScience │Petrosains

Cow's brain

The brain is the microprocessor of your body, controlling almost everything that you do.

It’s a complex organ with responsibilities that belies its weight, which is a mere 1.5kg!

The brain is the crown jewel of the human body - without it we cease to exist.

How it works  

The 3 basic units of the brain:

The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates the body's basic functions and activities. It is made up of two major divisions - central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord) & peripheral nervous system (consisting of all other neural elements).  

The Science Engagement at HotScience

Neurological disorders & treatment

There are over 600 known neurological disorders & conditions - treatment options for many of them are very limited.  A neurological disorder is a disease or injury of the central nervous system that causes paralysis of any part of the body.  It may be due to physical injury to the brain, spinal cord or nerves, or biochemical causes.  Sometimes the cause may be unknown and only the effects are seen.  Neurological disorders are common and can be life-threatening.

Some disorders:

Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease & other dementias, cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine & other headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuroinfections, brain tumours, traumatic disorders of the nervous system such as brain trauma, and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition.

Diseases that attack the nervous system: 

Infections (bacterial, viral or fungal), cancers (malignant or benign), degenerative conditions (such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease), and disorders of function (e.g. epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome).

Food which can make our brain healthier  

Many scientists the world over have done researches on ‘food for the brain’.  However studies on the effects of food on the brain are relatively young. Scientists know that certain foods and diets are better for the brain, but figuring out why is still in progress. 

Explore brains

Research suggests that four different types of chemicals and nutrients interact with the brain positively.

1. Glucose

The brain draws nearly all its energy from glucose. 

2. Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, aka omega-3 and omega-6 help strengthen the synapses in our brain related to memory.

3. Amino Acids

Amino acids come from protein-rich foods and help connect the neurotransmitters which are essential for keeping your brain sharp. 

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help regulate the oxidative stress that destroys brain cells. The stress is caused when our body is converting glucose to energy and extra oxygen is created called free radicals. Antioxidants block them so our brain doesn't have to work as hard.

The Science Engagement at HotScienc

Science Engagement Session at HotScience Petrosains

The two days session focused on brain basics – the different parts and how it works.  Some interesting interactive activities were also prepared by the University to help the public understand better this complex topic. On-going research on Alzheimer’s disease was also shared in the form of a mice which is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and how certain foods help alleviate the disease.  Those brave and not squeamish were invited to touch the cow, rabbit & rat brains – a rare opportunity for many! 

The Science Engagement at HotScience

This article is written in conjunction with Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 29-30 June 2013 with scientists from UiTM –

1. Prof. Dr. Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, pharmacist-cum-neuroscientist & Assistant Vice-chancellor (Research), UiTM

2. Prof. Dr. Kalavathy Ramasamy, head of the Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group at the Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM

3. Dr Lim Siong Meng, a senior researcher, UiTM

Versatile Bamboo!

HotScience │Petrosains

We’ve seen people rafting along a river on bamboo rafts, bamboo scaffolding at construction sites and of course the housing for Malaysia’s all-time favourite, lemang!  Now try to imagine clothes, bags, towels and soap made from bamboo.  Maybe computer casing too!  

One of the fascinating uses of bamboo is as scaffold in the construction industry.  China has been using it for the past 5000 years and today it’s still widely used in many Asian countries, not only for low rise buildings but the tallest skyscrapers imaginable!  So what’s special about bamboo?  Well basically it’s light, strong, portable, cheap and renewable! 

In 2012, researchers from the University’s BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials embarked in a collaboration with Coventry University and the University of Cambridge to explore the use of bamboo for the widespread construction of homes.  Studies are on-going.

Another interesting application is clothing.  We have cotton and woolen clothing, why not bamboo?  Bamboo fabric is impressive for the following reasons:

• Softer than cotton - its texture is similar to a blend of cashmere and silk.

• Better moisture absorption and ventilation.  

• Natural antibacterial elements.

• Ability to absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split of a second.  This makes it extremely cool and comfortable, even in hot weather. 

• 100% bamboo yarns show a great elasticity i.e. nearly 20%.

What’s available in the market now?  There’s sweaters, bath-suits, underwear, t-shirts, socks, sanitary napkins, masks, mattress, bags, bathroom products and decorating items.  All this from the humble bamboo.  Bamboo is indeed versatile!

Some Bamboo Malaysia merchandise are also available at our gift shop 'Xplorasi'.

This article is written in conjunction with an Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 20-21 September 2013 with Bamboo Malaysia.

Plastic feeding bottles and BPA

HotScience │Petrosains

Plastics comes in many forms and shape. We the laymen have no idea how dangerous some of these plastics can be.

The hue and cry over the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonates is very real. Dr. Mustafa was instrumental in having the chemical banned in baby feeding bottles in Malaysia due to his research on BPA. The ban took effect on March 1, 2012 and is in line with Regulation 27A (1) of the Food Regulations 1985. Several countries worldwide later followed suit.

With effect from the regulation, the wordings “BPA free” was allowed to be labelled on feeding bottles not containing BPA. Why is BPA such a necessity? People like things that are sturdy and clean-looking. BPA was the answer to these requirements! It makes the plastic baby feeding bottles translucent and stiffer, while those without BPA has a less clear and “dirtier” look.

Up close – let’s get to know the plastic products.

So what’s so dreadful about BPA? BPA is able to mimic the female hormone, estrogen, and pass through the placenta from mother to baby. It can cause reproductive abnormalities – defective sex organ, reduce sperm counts and cause early puberty. Human exposure to BPA comes particularly from direct food contact with polycarbonate materials that contain BPA. Scientists have found that BPA can leach out from old polycarbonate bottles and tableware used by babies and children.

Do you know what Phthalates is?

What can we do about it?
There’s a lot of hype about the dangers of BPA. What’s important is to get the real facts and not the sensationalist stuff!
1. You may have traces of BPA in you
• If you have eaten anything that comes out of a can or used anything made from hard plastic, you may have taken in some BPA.
• Not all hard plastics contain BPA. Look for the recycling codes on your plastic products. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle code 7 may be made with BPA.
• If you avoid heating the plastic, there's a good chance you won't get a substantial amount of BPA in your system.

2. BPA has a number of harmful side effects
• Doctors have found that BPA can cause your estrogen levels to rise dramatically – males & females.
• Only prolonged exposure to BPA has been shown to cause negative side effects. If you're simply using canned goods every now and then, there's a good chance the BPA levels in your body won't affect you at all.

3. Avoid taking BPA into your system• Don’t become reliant on canned goods and plastic products.
• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and only use canned goods when absolutely necessary.
• Check all of your plastic products to make sure they're not made using BPA.

4. Examine bottles and discardWorn or scratched bottles can harbour germs and in BPA-containing bottles, lead to greater release of BPA.  

About the Scientist

Professor Dr. Mustafa Ali Mohd joined the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya as a lecturer in 1994 and was promoted to a full professor in 2005. He also holds the post of Deputy Dean at the same Faculty and is currently the Deputy Director (Development) of the University of Malaya Medical Centre.

He was instrumental in establishing the Shimadzu UMMC Centre for Xenobiotics Studies (SUCXes), a prominent and state of the art facilities for analysis of trace quantities of chemicals in the blood, environment, food & drugs. He helped the nation solve the melamine crisis by setting up a monitoring unit & analytical facilities in his lab. In 2010 Professor Dr. Mustafa was appointed as Expert panel for WHO on toxicity of BPA & melamine.

He has published more than 100 papers in international and national peer reviewed journals. He was awarded Excellent Scientist Award in 2005 and Top Research Scientist Malaysia in 2012.

The Science Engagement Session

Part 6/7: What's Threatening Them?

Part 7/7: What Should We Do?