Academic Profile : Faculty
Prof Loo Say Chye Joachim
Associate Dean (Students), College of Engineering
Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering
Professor, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering
Professor, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (Courtesy Appointment)
Courtesy Appointment, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
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Dr. Joachim Loo is Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at NTU, Singapore. He holds a joint appointment at the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMed). He was a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) USA, and had past affiliations with the University of California Los Angeles (UC CEIN), the Loughborough University UK and the Mayo Clinic USA. He was also an international member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) for Sustainable Waste Management, and a member of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations (UN).
His research interests lies in designing encapsulation systems for controlled and targeted delivery from agri-food, biomedical, environmental to pharmaceutical applications. He has published more than 220 journal papers (h-index: 69), three book chapters and filed more than 20 patents to his name, of which three has been licensed. He was also awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to develop delivery systems for nutraceuticals. More recently, he spun-off two companies; LiberaTx and Dietrics, to formulate an extended-release oral drug delivery system and to valorise cellulose for fat absorption as a food ingredient, respectively.
As an educator, he had received six education awards, including the Nanyang Education Award (School) in 2011 and 2016, and more recently the Nanyang Education Award (College) in 2020. Currently, he is Associate Dean (Students) under the College of Engineering (COE), managing student outreach, admissions and student-life for COE. At the national level, he is currently a co-convenor of the ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnology National Working Group (WG3), under the Singapore Chemical Industry Council. He was awarded the Enterprise Singapore & Singapore Standards Council Commendation Award in 2021 and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) Science Excellence Award in 2022. He is also serving as the Associate Editor of the ACS Sustainable Resource Management journal since 2023.
His research interests lies in designing encapsulation systems for controlled and targeted delivery from agri-food, biomedical, environmental to pharmaceutical applications. He has published more than 220 journal papers (h-index: 69), three book chapters and filed more than 20 patents to his name, of which three has been licensed. He was also awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to develop delivery systems for nutraceuticals. More recently, he spun-off two companies; LiberaTx and Dietrics, to formulate an extended-release oral drug delivery system and to valorise cellulose for fat absorption as a food ingredient, respectively.
As an educator, he had received six education awards, including the Nanyang Education Award (School) in 2011 and 2016, and more recently the Nanyang Education Award (College) in 2020. Currently, he is Associate Dean (Students) under the College of Engineering (COE), managing student outreach, admissions and student-life for COE. At the national level, he is currently a co-convenor of the ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnology National Working Group (WG3), under the Singapore Chemical Industry Council. He was awarded the Enterprise Singapore & Singapore Standards Council Commendation Award in 2021 and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) Science Excellence Award in 2022. He is also serving as the Associate Editor of the ACS Sustainable Resource Management journal since 2023.
I. Formulations, Encapsulation and Delivery (FED) Systems for Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Applications.
II. Controlled-release for Aquaculture Fish Feeds
III. Antimicrobial and Probiotics Delivery Systems
IV. Valorizing Waste as Encapsulant Materials.
Spin-offs:
1. LiberaTx Pte. Ltd.
2. Dietrics Pte. Ltd.
Patents in last five years (total: 20):
1. Combinatorial Supplementing Of Functional Fish Feeds For Synergistic Enhancement Of Disease Resistance And Growth Rates. (TD No.: 2023-320-02-SG PRV). Singapore provisional patent application number 10202402284Q. (Filing Date: 31 Jul 2024).
2. Oral Delivery Of Encapsulated Hormone For Fish Spawning And Beyond. (TD No.: 2023-322-02-SG PRV). Singapore provisional patent application number 10202402285U. (Filing Date: 31 Jul 2024).
3. Encapsulation Of Live Microorganisms For Gastrointestinal-Targeted Delivery. (NTU No.: 2021-054). Singapore Application No.: 11202304851U (Filing Date: 22 Jun 2023). US Patent No.: US 2024/0074984 A1 (Filing Date: 7 Mar 2024).
4. Motorized Fluid-Differentiating Device Based On Alternating Electrical Current. (NTU No.: 2023-110). Singapore Application No.: 10202301328X (Filing Date: 12 May 2023). PCT Application No.: PCT/SG2024/050305 (10 May 2024)
5. Magnetic-Controlled Rotating Polymeric Janus Particles For Physical Disruption Of Biofilm And Others. (NTU No.: 2021-485). Priority Filing Date: 27 Jun 2022. Singapore Application No.: 10202250294K (Filing Date: 27 Jun 2022)
6. Ultra-long Floating Hydrogel Raft for Prolonged Gastric Retention and Applications Requiring Buoyancy with Controlled-Release. (NTU No.: 2022-021). Priority Filing Date: 18 Feb 2022. Singapore Application No.: 10202201599S (Filing Date: 18 Feb 2022)
7. Complete Recyclability of Okara Waste by Solubilizing the Insoluble Components. (NTU No.: 2021-486). Priority Filing Date: 24 Nov 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202113050W (Filing Date: 24 Nov 2021)
8. Loo S.C.J., Lim YGJ and Lee HW. Magnetic-controlled Rotating Polymeric Janus Particles for Physical Disruption of Biofilm and Others. (NTU No.: 2021-485). Priority Filing Date: 18 Nov 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202112819U (Filing Date: 18 Nov 2021)
9. Spray-Chilled Lipid-Based Encapsulation Systems For Encapsulation Of Nutrients. (NTU No.: 2021-347). Priority Filing Date: 12 Aug 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202108816W (Filing Date: 12 Aug 2021)
10. Next-Generation Nasogastic Tubes With Perpetual Monitoring Functions. (NTU No.: 2021-196). Priority Filing Date: 19 May 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202105253V (Filing Date: 19 May 2021)
11. In-Situ Polymeric Cross-Linking During Spray Drying For Encapsulation Of Live Microorganisms For Gastrointestinal-Targeted Delivery. (NTU No.: 2021-054). Priority Filing Date: 19 Feb 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202101688R (Filing Date: 19 Feb 2021)
12. Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles For Localized and Sustained Delivery of Antimicrobials. PCT/SG2019/050009 (Jan 2019).
II. Controlled-release for Aquaculture Fish Feeds
III. Antimicrobial and Probiotics Delivery Systems
IV. Valorizing Waste as Encapsulant Materials.
Spin-offs:
1. LiberaTx Pte. Ltd.
2. Dietrics Pte. Ltd.
Patents in last five years (total: 20):
1. Combinatorial Supplementing Of Functional Fish Feeds For Synergistic Enhancement Of Disease Resistance And Growth Rates. (TD No.: 2023-320-02-SG PRV). Singapore provisional patent application number 10202402284Q. (Filing Date: 31 Jul 2024).
2. Oral Delivery Of Encapsulated Hormone For Fish Spawning And Beyond. (TD No.: 2023-322-02-SG PRV). Singapore provisional patent application number 10202402285U. (Filing Date: 31 Jul 2024).
3. Encapsulation Of Live Microorganisms For Gastrointestinal-Targeted Delivery. (NTU No.: 2021-054). Singapore Application No.: 11202304851U (Filing Date: 22 Jun 2023). US Patent No.: US 2024/0074984 A1 (Filing Date: 7 Mar 2024).
4. Motorized Fluid-Differentiating Device Based On Alternating Electrical Current. (NTU No.: 2023-110). Singapore Application No.: 10202301328X (Filing Date: 12 May 2023). PCT Application No.: PCT/SG2024/050305 (10 May 2024)
5. Magnetic-Controlled Rotating Polymeric Janus Particles For Physical Disruption Of Biofilm And Others. (NTU No.: 2021-485). Priority Filing Date: 27 Jun 2022. Singapore Application No.: 10202250294K (Filing Date: 27 Jun 2022)
6. Ultra-long Floating Hydrogel Raft for Prolonged Gastric Retention and Applications Requiring Buoyancy with Controlled-Release. (NTU No.: 2022-021). Priority Filing Date: 18 Feb 2022. Singapore Application No.: 10202201599S (Filing Date: 18 Feb 2022)
7. Complete Recyclability of Okara Waste by Solubilizing the Insoluble Components. (NTU No.: 2021-486). Priority Filing Date: 24 Nov 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202113050W (Filing Date: 24 Nov 2021)
8. Loo S.C.J., Lim YGJ and Lee HW. Magnetic-controlled Rotating Polymeric Janus Particles for Physical Disruption of Biofilm and Others. (NTU No.: 2021-485). Priority Filing Date: 18 Nov 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202112819U (Filing Date: 18 Nov 2021)
9. Spray-Chilled Lipid-Based Encapsulation Systems For Encapsulation Of Nutrients. (NTU No.: 2021-347). Priority Filing Date: 12 Aug 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202108816W (Filing Date: 12 Aug 2021)
10. Next-Generation Nasogastic Tubes With Perpetual Monitoring Functions. (NTU No.: 2021-196). Priority Filing Date: 19 May 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202105253V (Filing Date: 19 May 2021)
11. In-Situ Polymeric Cross-Linking During Spray Drying For Encapsulation Of Live Microorganisms For Gastrointestinal-Targeted Delivery. (NTU No.: 2021-054). Priority Filing Date: 19 Feb 2021. Singapore Application No.: 10202101688R (Filing Date: 19 Feb 2021)
12. Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles For Localized and Sustained Delivery of Antimicrobials. PCT/SG2019/050009 (Jan 2019).
- Combinatorial Supplementation of Fish Feeds through Encapsulation for Enhanced Growth Rates in Aquaculture
- Cost-effective Nutrient Encapsulation through Microfluidics for Customized 3D-Printable Food Inks
- Fortifying the Asian Seabass with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) through Waste-fed Mealworms
- Live It Up! - Bringing Engineering to Life
- Nanyang Education Award (College)
- Retractable Guidewire Sensor to Replace X-ray Imaging for Nasogastric-tube Intubation in Both Acute-care and Homecare Nursing for the Elderly
- Revolutionizing Aquaculture Productivity: Encapsulated Bioactive Feeds for Quality Spawning
- Uncovering the Mechanical Coupling of Nanoparticle and Extracellular Matrix Elasticities for Enhanced Tumor Targeting
- Unravelling the Role of Native Probiotics Mixture in Conferring Disease Resistance across Fish Species in Aquaculture
US 2018/0016618 A1 : Electrochemical Detection Of Microorganisms (2019)
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample using an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the method comprises (a) contacting the sample with an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the electrochemically active reporter is a conjugate comprising a sugar moiety and a redox active reporter moiety that are covalently linked such that the covalent bond can be enzymatically cleaved in the presence of the microorganism by an enzyme expressed by the microorganism, wherein the redox active reporter moiety is selected from the group consisting of resorufin and compounds of formula (I) as defined herein, under conditions that allow enzymatic cleavage of the covalent bond between the sugar moiety and the redox active reporter moiety and reduction of the redox active report moiety in the presence of the microorganism; (b) electrochemically determining the released redox active reporter moiety; and (c) determining the presence of the microorganism and, optionally, number of the microorganisms in the sample based on the determined released redox active reporter moiety. Also encompassed are the electrochemically active reporters used in the described methods and their use for determination of the presence of microorganisms in a sample.
US 2013/0281977 A1: A Device For Controlled Release Of A Bioactive Agent (2017)
Abstract: Present invention relates to a device for controlled release of a bioactive agent. The device comprises a thin film located on the surface of the device, wherein said thin film comprises a bioactive agent-containing layer comprising a polymeric matrix and at least one bioactive agent.
US 2013/0302429 A1: Method For Encapsulating Particles (2017)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for encapsulating particles of a water-insoluble material within a capsule of a water-insoluble polymer, comprising (a) dispersing particles of the water-insoluble material or a solution containing the water-insoluble material in a first aqueous phase containing a first surfactant to obtain a first dispersion; (b) collecting the particles of the water-insoluble material coated with the first surfactant; (c) washing the collected particles; (d) adding the washed surfactant-coated water-insoluble material particles to a polymer solution containing the water-insoluble polymer of the capsule to obtain a polymer mixture; and (e) dispersing the polymer mixture in a second aqueous phase containing a second surfactant to obtain a second dispersion comprising the particles of the water-insoluble material encapsulated within the capsule of the water-insoluble polymer.
US 2015/0164815 A1: Floating Capsules Encapsulating Particles Loaded With One Or More Drugs (2016)
Abstract: The invention relates to capsules encapsulating particles loaded with one or more drugs, and in particular, to such capsules that are able to float. The capsules may be used for drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. Methods for forming the capsules are also disclosed, and in particular, double emulsion methods are used in forming the capsules.
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample using an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the method comprises (a) contacting the sample with an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the electrochemically active reporter is a conjugate comprising a sugar moiety and a redox active reporter moiety that are covalently linked such that the covalent bond can be enzymatically cleaved in the presence of the microorganism by an enzyme expressed by the microorganism, wherein the redox active reporter moiety is selected from the group consisting of resorufin and compounds of formula (I) as defined herein, under conditions that allow enzymatic cleavage of the covalent bond between the sugar moiety and the redox active reporter moiety and reduction of the redox active report moiety in the presence of the microorganism; (b) electrochemically determining the released redox active reporter moiety; and (c) determining the presence of the microorganism and, optionally, number of the microorganisms in the sample based on the determined released redox active reporter moiety. Also encompassed are the electrochemically active reporters used in the described methods and their use for determination of the presence of microorganisms in a sample.
US 2013/0281977 A1: A Device For Controlled Release Of A Bioactive Agent (2017)
Abstract: Present invention relates to a device for controlled release of a bioactive agent. The device comprises a thin film located on the surface of the device, wherein said thin film comprises a bioactive agent-containing layer comprising a polymeric matrix and at least one bioactive agent.
US 2013/0302429 A1: Method For Encapsulating Particles (2017)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for encapsulating particles of a water-insoluble material within a capsule of a water-insoluble polymer, comprising (a) dispersing particles of the water-insoluble material or a solution containing the water-insoluble material in a first aqueous phase containing a first surfactant to obtain a first dispersion; (b) collecting the particles of the water-insoluble material coated with the first surfactant; (c) washing the collected particles; (d) adding the washed surfactant-coated water-insoluble material particles to a polymer solution containing the water-insoluble polymer of the capsule to obtain a polymer mixture; and (e) dispersing the polymer mixture in a second aqueous phase containing a second surfactant to obtain a second dispersion comprising the particles of the water-insoluble material encapsulated within the capsule of the water-insoluble polymer.
US 2015/0164815 A1: Floating Capsules Encapsulating Particles Loaded With One Or More Drugs (2016)
Abstract: The invention relates to capsules encapsulating particles loaded with one or more drugs, and in particular, to such capsules that are able to float. The capsules may be used for drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. Methods for forming the capsules are also disclosed, and in particular, double emulsion methods are used in forming the capsules.
Awards
Enterprise Singapore & Singapore Standards Council Commendation Award 2021.
Singapore Food Agency (SFA) Science Excellence Award 2022.
Singapore Food Agency (SFA) Science Excellence Award 2022.
Courses Taught
MS4610 - Advanced Biomaterials