ACTIVE PROJECTS
Ongoing research projects at ACTRL. Student-led, with international students working alongside.
Total · 10
Cluster I · Bio
Engineering membraneless organelles (MLOs) inside bacteria using CAHS2 proteins to spatially isolate target enzymes and improve therapeutic protein production yields.
Cluster I · Bio
Directed evolution of enzymes (MMLV RT, Tgo polymerase, Phic31 integrase) to amplify xeno-nucleic acids such as morpholinos — through enzyme mutation, screening, and selection.
Cluster I · Bio
A multiplex molecular-diagnostic platform combining toehold switches with nanopore sequencing for simultaneous detection of multiple viruses.
Cluster I · Bio
A comprehensive review of equine hair as a non-invasive biomarker for health assessment — nutrients, heavy metals, and cortisol — and its integrated value for welfare and performance evaluation.
Cluster II · Cosmetics
Developing a testing framework for infant and child cosmetic safety, combining in-house analysis with external expert-institution collaboration.
Cluster II · Cosmetics
A safe stress-relief solution for cats — catnip ethanol extract encapsulated in glucose-based β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex to address volatility, photodegradation, and bitterness.
Cluster III · Environment
Comparative in vitro and in vivo study of PLA (biodegradable) and PET (petroleum-based) microplastics from everyday exposure (e.g., bottled water) and their potential carcinogenic mechanisms in colorectal cancer.
Cluster III · Environment
PLA only degrades under industrial composting (>55 °C). This work develops a trigger system using CTAB and activated carbon to depolymerize PLA in household microwave conditions (2.45 GHz).
Cluster III · Environment
A biodegradable superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for hygiene products — based on carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate — designed to retain absorbency while gaining biodegradability.
Cluster III · Environment
A UV-Vis spectrophotometric method for selective PLA quantification — combining alcoholysis, alkaline hydrolysis, and FeCl₃ colorimetric reaction. Low cost, high accuracy in polymer blends.
Published in Scientific Reports (2026)