Johor Bahru, 12 February 2026 – The Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly congratulates Dr. Juan Bin Matmin from the Department of Chemistry on successfully securing the International Polyurethane Research Grant (11th Research Grant Programme, FY2025).
The project, funded by the International Polyurethane Technology Foundation, was awarded a total amount of JPY 500,000. This international recognition highlights UTM’s growing global reputation in advanced materials and sustainable polymer research.
Dr. Juan’s project titled “Polyurethane Starch Silver-Embedded Nanostructured Hydrogels for Antibacterial and Biocompatible Wound Dressing Applications” focuses on the development of innovative hydrogel-based wound dressings with enhanced antibacterial properties and improved biocompatibility. The integration of silver within starch-based polyurethane nanostructures represents a promising approach toward next-generation biomedical materials, particularly for infection control and accelerated wound healing.
The project brings together a strong interdisciplinary and international collaboration team comprising:
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Dr. Mohamad Hamdi Zainal Abidin (Department of Chemistry, UTM)
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Dr. Naharullah Jamaluddin (Department of Chemistry, UTM)
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Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek (Department of Biosciences, UTM)
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Prof. Dr. Kotohiro Nomura (Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan)
This achievement reflects the Faculty of Science’s commitment to advancing high-impact research aligned with UTM Ascend 2030 and the university’s aspiration of Innovating Sustainable Solutions. The successful acquisition of this prestigious international grant further strengthens UTM’s global research network and contributes to the development of sustainable biomedical technologies.
The Faculty of Science congratulates Dr. Juan and his research team on this remarkable accomplishment and looks forward to the impactful outcomes of this project.
