Research & Development
Alpha BioMedical R&D focuses on the following major areas incorporating recent advanced biotechnology approaches to benefit the societal impact, strongly backed by our experienced research team.
Product Development Focus Areas
#EarlyDISCOVERcancer
Development of Test Kit for Cancer and Viruses
#SaveLIVEScancer
Immunotherapy using Natural Killer (NK) Cells
Early Cancer Diagnosis
The potential to save numerous lives lies in the early detection of cancer. This compels us to utilize innovative platform technologies to develop a resilient point-of-care testing kit. Our focus is on achieving heightened sensitivity in the early identification of cancer biomarkers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for liver cancer, HER2 for breast cancer, and potentially a combination of two or three other biomarkers.
NK Cells for treating Cancer
The potential of Natural Killer (NK) Cell technology appears promising in enabling both autologous and allogeneic off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy.
Our scientific endeavours concentrate on harnessing the capabilities of NK Cells as beneficial instruments in Cell therapy for the comprehensive exploration of solid cancers and autoimmune disorders, encompassing preclinical as well as clinical investigational studies.
In cases where conventional approaches to cancer treatment, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, yield unsatisfactory outcomes, NK Cells can serve as a feasible alternative or as a supplementary element in the overall cancer treatment process.
By partnering with a local lab pioneering in cancer research, we envisage that our NK cell therapy will be clinically proven, enabling the cure of liver cancer, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Stem Cells
Our focus is on mesenchymal stem cells that can differentiate into different cell types with specialised repair functions (e.g., bone, cartilage, adipose, skin, liver, muscle, nerve, myocardium, trachea, cornea). Stem cells play a pivotal role in drug therapy products. This is the reason why, clinical trial research on stem cells is being pursued worldwide. However, the mass production of cell therapy products compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations remains a global challenge.
Our research is embarked on focusing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) for pre-clinical and clinical investigational studies.
Market Size
The oncology market size is anticipated to cross an annual valuation of over USD 469.5 billion by 2026, and 522 billion by 2028 (Source: BioSpace 2021; Global Market Insights, 2021).
NK cell market size is expected to reach USD 5.1 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 17.4% (Source: Allied Market Research, 2019).
The stem cell therapy market is expected to reach $20.87 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 20% (Source: Research and Markets, May 19, 2021).
Global iPSC market is expected to reach $2.3 billion by 2026; likewise, in Asia-Pacific it is gaining momentum due to a surge in R&D projects across countries like Australia, Japan, and Singapore (Source: “Stem cell-based therapeutics poised to become mainstream option,” Bio Spectrum Asia, October 1, 2021).
*Representative Publication of Dr Shah Kwok Wei
1. Surface Modification of Silver Nanoparticles in Phase Change Materials for Building Energy Application KW Shah*
Adv. Materials Res. Vols. 622-623, 2013, 889-892, 2013
DOI:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.622-623.889, 2013
2. Composite Metal-Oxide Nanocatalysts
SH Liu, SQ Bai, YG Zheng, KW Shah, MY Han
ChemCatChem 4, 10, 1462-1484, 2012
3. Anisotropic Growth of Titania onto Various Gold Nanostructures: Synthesis, Theoretical Understanding, and Optimization for Catalysis
ZW Seh, SH Liu, SY Zhang, MS Bharathi, H Ramanarayan, M Low, KW Shah, YW Zhang, MY Han
Angewandte Chemie, 43, 123, 10322-10325, 2011
4. Synthesis and multiple reuse of eccentric Au@TiO2 nanostructures as catalysts
ZW Seh, SH Liu, SY Zhang, KW Shah, MY Han
Chemical Communications, 47, 6689, 2011
5. Colloidal Preparation of Monodisperse Nanocrystals
SY Zhang, MD Regulacio, KW Shah, T Sreethawong, YG Zheng, MY Han
Journal of Molecular and Engineering Materials Vol. 02, No. 03n04, 1430001, 2014
DOI: 10.1142/S2251237314300010
6. Aqueous Route to Facile and Functional Silica Coating of Metal Nanoparticles at Room Temperature KW Shah, T Sreethawong, SH Liu, SY Zhang, LS Tan, MY Han
Nanoscale, 6, 19, 11273-11281, 2014
7. Optimized Production of Copper Nanostructures with High Yields for Efficient Use as Thermal Conductivity-Enhancing PCM Dopant
T Sreethawong, KW Shah (co-1 st author), SY Zhang, E. Ye, SH Lim, U Maheswaran, WY Mao, MY Han
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 2, Pg. 3417-3423, 2014
8. Pyrrolophthalazine Dione (PPD)-based Donor-Acceptor Polymers as High Performance Electrochromic Materials
Q Ye, WT Neo, T Lin, J Song, H Yan, H Zhou, KW Shah, SJ Chua, J Xu
Polymer Chemistry, 9, 6, 1487-1494, 2015
9. Perfluoropolyether/poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymers with controllable self-assembly behavior for highly efficient anti-bacterial materials
J Song, Q Ye, WT Lee, X Wang, T He, KW Shah, J Xu
RSC Advances, 79, 5, 64170-64179, 2015
10. Rapid Copper Metallization of Textile Materials: Controlled Two-Step Route to Achieve User-Defined Patterns under Ambient Conditions
SY Zhang, G Guan, S Jiang, H Guo, J Xia, MD Regulacio, M Wu, KW Shah, Z Dong, J Zhang J, MY Han
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 38, 7, 21545-51, 2015
*Patents filed by Dr Shah Kwok Wei
1. “Mega Floating Offshore Fuel Storage Facility” by Shah Kwok Wei, NUS, JTC and MPA. (PCT Patent WO2009131543, Patent Application No. PCT/SG2008/000138 SG, UAE, CN, JPN)
2. “Method of Forming A Polymer Substrate with Variable Refractive Index Sensitivity” by Shah Kwok Wei, XD Su, HY Low, S J Chua. (US2013/0295325-A1, Patent App 201205611-5, ID No. 201106)
3. “A Method for Preparing A Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Particle” Shah Kwok Wei, Liu Shuhua, Michelle Low, Seh Zhiwei and Han MY (US 20130196057 A1, 201205611-6, IMRE ID No. 201105)
4. “High-Yield Green Synthesis of Copper Nanostructures Using Reusable Reaction Medium and Their Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Phase Change Material” Shah Kwok Wei, Thammanoon S, Ye Enyi, Zhang Shuang-Yuan, Han Ming-Yong. (SG Patent App 201304943-2, Patent PCT/SG2014/000308, IMRE ID 201250, International Filing Date: 26 June 2014)
5. “Multifunctional Rotatable Outdoor Climatic Test-Chamber with Interchangeable Façade and Shading Subjects” Shah Kwok Wei, Zhang SY, Tham S., Han MY (SG Patent No. 201303606-6, IMRE ID No. 201255) (b) Actual Filing Date: 9 May 2013
6. Commercial licensing a patent on “Multifunctional Rotatable Outdoor Climatic Test-Chamber with Interchangeable Façade and Shading Subjects” (SG Patent App. 201303606-6) to Nanoflux Pte Ltd (SG) 2013
7. “Co-microencapsulation of phase change and thermal conductive materials” Shah Kwok Wei, Thammanoon Sreethawong, Zhang SY, Han MY (SG Patent No. 10201402141X, IMRE ID No 201414)
8. “A Simple, Effective, and Low-Cost Aqueous Approach for Silica-Coating on Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles”, Shah Kwok Wei, Thammanoon Sreethawong, Liu Shuhua, Zhang Shuang-Yuan, Lim Suo Hon, Ang Kian Seng, Tan Li Sirh, and Han MY, (SG Patent App. 10201404279P, IMRE ID No. 201352) (a) Application No: 10201404279P (b) Actual Filing Date: 21 July 2014 (c) Priority Date: 21 July 2014
9. “Dicobalt Phosphide Nanostructures as Water Splitting Electrocatalyst”. Inventors: (1)ZHANG Shuang-Yuan (2)TEE Si Yin (3) HAN Ming-Yong (4) SHAH Kwok Wei (5) CHUA Chin Sheng (6) CHI Dongzhi (7) Andy HOR. (a) SG Patent Application No. 10201505483T (b) Actual Filing Date: 13 July 2015 (c) ETPL ref: IMR/P/09019/00/SG (d) IMRE ID No. 201494
10. “Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning and UV-IR-Filtering Nanocoatings for Glass Façade Panels and Window Systems”. Inventors are (1) SHAH Kwok Wei (2) ZHU Qiang (3) HAN Ming Yong (4) TANG Tao (5) LOW Ying Ying Lesley (6) YOW Kenneth Li Hsien (7) YOW Cheng Hoe. This SG patent application has been filed on 24 Dec 2015. The filing details are as follows: (a) SG Patent Application No: 10201510662P (b) Actual Filing Date: 24 Dec 2015 (c) ETPL ref: IMR/P/09152/00/SG (d) IMRE ref: 2015010
11. “Method for Ultra-fast Electroless Copper Plating with Patterns and Electroless Copper Plating Solutions for making the same” Zhang Shuang-Yuan, Shah Kwok Wei, Guo Hong Chen, Michelle Dela Cruz Regulacio, Zhang Jie, Han Ming Yong Han Ming Yong. The filing details are as follows: (a) SG Patent Application No: 10201500865T Filed 4 Feb 2015. Also “A Process For Plating A Metal On A Textile Fiber” PCT/SG2016/050061, PCT filed 4th Feb 2016 (b) Filing Date: SG filed on 4 Feb 2015 & PCT filed on 4 Feb 2016 (c) ETPL ref: IMRE/Z/08764 (d) IMRE ID No. 2014048)
12. “Novel cementitious composite material using high thermal-conductive nanowires-doped microencapsulated PCM in concrete with multi-functional (heat absorptive and heat insulative) thermal properties for solar-heat reduction”. Inventors are (1) SHAH Kwok Wei (2) TANG Tao (3) ZHU Qiang (4) HAN Ming Yong (5) LOW Ying Ying Lesley (6) SUN Lai Fong (Sun Fong Trading Pte Ltd). This SG patent application has been filed on 28 April 2016. The filing details are as follows: (a) SG Patent Application No: 10201603387S (b) Actual Filing Date: 28 April 2016 (c) ETPL ref: IMR/Z/09153 (d) IMRE ref: 2015011
13. “A Method for Preparing Metal Phosphide”. Inventors: (1) ZHANG Shuang-Yuan (2) TEE Si Yin (3) HAN Ming-Yong (4) SHAH Kwok Wei (5) CHUA Chin Sheng (6) CHI Dongzhi (7) Andy HOR. This USA Patent Application has been filed. Filing details are as follows: (a) Application No: 15/209,618 (b) Actual Filing Date: 13 July 2016 (c) Priority Date: 13 July 2015 (c) ETPL ref: IMR/P/09019/02/US (d) IMRE ref: 201494
14. “Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning And UV-IR-Filtering Nanocoatings For Glass Façade Panels And Window Systems” Inventor(s): (1) SHAH Kwok Wei (2) ZHU Qiang (3) HAN Ming Yong (4) TANG Tao (5) LOW Ying Ying Lesley (6) YOW Kenneth Li Hsien (7) YOW Cheng Hoe. Filing Details are: (a) Application No. PCT/SG2016/050614 (b) ETPL Ref: IMR/P/09152/01/PCT, (c) IMR Ref: 2015010 (d) filed on 23 Dec 2016.
15. “Silica Coating on Nanoparticles” Inventor(s): 1. Thammanoon Sreethawong 2. Shah Kwok Wei 3. LIU Shuhua 4. ZHANG Shuang-Yuan 5. LIM Suo Hon 6. ANG Kian Seng (BCA) 7. TAN Li Sirh (BCA) 8. HAN Ming Yong, United States of America Patent Application No. 15/327,577, ETPL Ref: IMR/P/08286/03/US, IMRE Ref: 201352
16. “A Film Coating” by Shah Kwok Wei et. al., A*STAR. (PCT Patent WO2017/111701, Patent Application No. PCT/SG2016/050614)
17. Know-How disclosure by Shah Kwok Wei “Microwave nanosynthesis of Hexagonal gold nanoparticles using organosilane”. Know-How Licensing by NUS ILO Enterprise, Dated 13 Feb 2020, to Mr Steven Quek, Quaestus Capital Pte. Ltd, 13 North Bridge Road, #01-3980, Golden Beach Vista, Singaporeby NUS Enterprise, Dated 13 Feb 2020, issued to Mr Steven Quek, Company QUAESTUS CAPITAL Pte. Ltd, 13 North Bridge Road, #01-3980, Golden Beach Vista, Singapore
18. SG Non-Provisional IPOS Application No. 10202005461U, Dated 9 June 2020, Title: Nano-Enhanced Anti-Viral Disposable Sticky Adhesion Tapes as Opaque/Transparent Overlay Protection against Virus Contamination, ILO Ref: 2020-174-01, licensing issued to NanoDyne Pte Ltd
19. NUS Filing in progress. Extraordinary color-resistant super pigments using core-shell nanostructures.
20. Method for preparing transition metal phosphide, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Patent number: 9802821 Filed: July 13, 2016
Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
21. Silica coating on nanoparticles, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Publication number: 20170173550 Filed: July 21, 2015
Publication date: June 22, 2017
Applicant: Agency For Science, Technology and Research
22. Method for preparing transition metal phosphide, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Publication number: 20170015558 Filed: July 13, 2016
Publication date: January 19, 2017
23. Method of forming a polymer substrate with variable refractive index sensitivity, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Patent number: 9011705 Filed: July 26, 2012
Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
24. Method for forming a polymer substrate with variable refractive index sensitivity, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Publication number: 20130295325 Filed: July 26, 2012
Publication date: November 7, 2013
25. Method for preparing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy particle, Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Publication number: 20130196057 Filed: July 30, 2012
Publication date: August 1, 2013
*Representative Publication of Dr Sundramurthy Kumar
1. Misfolded Protein Linked Strategies Toward Biomarker Development for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Kumar S, Karthikeyan N, Mishra S, Padmanabhan P, Radda G, Gulyás B. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Jul 24. doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1232-4
2. Lineage-specific exosomes could override extracellular matrix mediated human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Narayanan K, Kumar S, Padmanabhan P, Gulyás B, Wan ACA, Rajendran VM. Biomaterials. 2018 Nov; 182:312-322. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.08.027. Epub 2018 Aug 11.
3. Theranostic applications of nanoparticles in neurodegenerative disorders. Ramanathan S, Archunan G, Sivakumar M, Tamil Selvan S, Fred AL, Kumar S, Gulyás B, Padmanabhan Int J Nanomedicine. 2018 Sep 20; 13:5561 – 5576. doi: 10.2147/IJN. S149022.2018.
4. Peripheral Biomarkers for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. Htike TT, Mishra S, Kumar S, Padmanabhan P, Gulyás B. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Jul 14. doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1151-4.
5. Differentiation, specification, and transplantation of stem cell for new cellular therapies for motor neuron diseases Ajay Kumar, Karthikeyan Narayanan, Ravi Kumar Chaudhary, Sachin Mishra, Sundramurthy Kumar, Kumar Jayaseelan Vinoth, Parasuraman Padmanabhan, Balázs Gulyás Molecular Neurobiology, 04 Nov 2016
6. Current perspective of stem cell therapy in neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases Ajay Kumar; Karthikeyan Narayanan, Ravi Kumar Chaudhary, Sachin Mishra, Sundramurthy Kumar, Kumar Jayaseelan Vinoth, Parasuraman Padmanabhan, Balázs Gulyás. In Review Molecular Neurodegeneration – (2016) Ref.: MOND-D-16-00148
7. Nanoparticles in Practice for Molecular-Imaging Applications: An Overview. Parasuraman Padmanabhan, Ajay Kumar, Sundramurthy Kumar, Ravi K Chaudhary, Balázs Z Gulyás, Accepted for publication in Acta Biomaterialia (May 2016) Reference: AB-15-2419R1
8. Identification and Structural Characterization of a New Three-Finger Toxin Hemachatoxin from Hemachatus haemachatus Venom. Girish VM, Kumar S, Joseph L, Jobichen C, Kini RM, Sivaraman J. (Equal First Authorship) PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e48112. doi:10.1371/joournal.pone.0048112. Epub 2012 oct 29.
9. Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of a major group 7 allergen, Der f 7, from the dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae. Tan KW, Kumar S, Chew FT, Mok YK. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2011 Dec 1;67(Pt 12):1612-5. 2011 Nov 26.
10. Crystal Structure of thrombin in complex with s-variegin: Insights of a novel mechanism of inhibition and design of tunable thrombin inhibitors. Koh CY, Kumar S, Kazimirova M, Nuttall PA, Radhakrishan UP, Kim S, Jagadeeswaran P, Imamura T, Mizuguchi J, Iwanaga S, Swaminathan K, Kini RM. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26367. Epub 2011 Oct 28.
*Patents filed by Dr Sundramurthy Kumar
1. Blood thinner from Hirudin Leach
2. Making Synthetic Peptides