7/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 7, 2025 theSunday Special III

WHILE countries like the US, Japan and China dominate the global nanotech race, Southeast Asia is quietly building momentum and Malaysia is not far behind. NanoMalaysia Berhad, a gov ernment-backed agency, has been spearheading nano-related R&D since 2011. Its NANOVerify programme, the world’s first voluntary nanotech product certification, offers consumers peace of mind when navigating “nano” claims on products. Singapore is home to the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), which is exploring nano-drug delivery and nano-enabled diagnostics. The country’s strong regulatory and re search infrastructure makes it a regional hub for nano-health applications. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand both have invested in nano-agriculture and nano-enabled food packaging, aiming to boost shelf life, reduce waste and add value to exports. Thailand, in particular, is using nanotech to enhance its traditional herbal remedies and cosmetics. From food safety to medicine and even textiles, nano is no longer a far-off dream. As Southeast Asia continues to invest, expect more nano-enhanced products to land in your shopping cart – often without you realising it. Southeast Asia’s quiet leap Dr Sritharan Vellasamy is a media entrepre neur, researcher and CEO of Wordlabs Global. He writes on media, technology and society. OHDGHUV /HYHUDJLQJ RQ WKH 1$129HUL¿HG mark, Malaysian nanotechnology prod ucts have entered major regional markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam – further cementing our reputation.” At the industrial level, nanotech is FRQWULEXWLQJ WR PRUH Ḣ FLHQW VRODU SDQHOV lighter construction materials and even FRUURVLRQ UHVLVWDQW FRDWLQJV LQ R̆ VKRUH structures. It’s not something the average consumer will see daily, but it’s helping power and protect the infrastructure we all depend on. Everyday marvels you might miss One of the most underappreciated contri butions of nanotechnology, Johan adds, was during the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of nano-lipids in vaccines. “It’s also there in the sunscreen you use, with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles offering UV protection without leaving a white residue,” he said. “From antibacterial sportswear to wrinkle-resistant clothing, nano-coatings have quietly improved comfort and hy giene in our daily lives.” As nanotechnology continues to in tegrate itself into everyday life, it brings along a subtle but important question: How much do we really need to know DERXW WKH WKLQJV ZH XVH" ,Q D ZRUOG RI WLQ\ WHFK ZLWK VLJQL¿FDQW LPSOLFDWLRQV perhaps it’s time we started paying a little more attention.

“Unfortunately, there are irrespon sible businesses that market so-called nanotechnology products with overly optimistic claims. Some don’t even con tain nano materials,” he warned. “ 7KDW¶V ZK\ RXU UROH DV WKH ZRUOG¶V ¿UVW and only ISO-accredited nanotechnology FHUWL¿FDWLRQ ERG\ LV WR SURWHFW 0DOD\VLDQ and regional consumers from fake nano technology products.” Tiny tech, big questions Naturally, no new technology comes without its caveats. Critics have raised concerns about how nanoparticles behave once released into the environment. Because they are so small, they can pass WKURXJK ¿OWHUV DQG SRWHQWLDOO\ DFFXPXODWH in unexpected places, including the hu man body. Long-term effects are still being studied. Malaysia’s regulatory frameworks are gradually adapting, but much of the global nano-debate remains unsettled. $UH QDQR VLOYHU VRFNV ÀXVKLQJ SDUWLFOHV LQWR WKH RFHDQ" &DQ QDQR FRDWHG IRRG FRQWDLQHUV OHDFK LQWR RXU PHDOV RYHU WLPH" These aren’t apocalyptic questions, but they are worth asking. S WLOO WKH EHQH¿WV DUH KDUG WR LJQRUH Medicine, for instance, is one area where nanotech is making major headway. Drug delivery systems that target cancer cells more precisely or implants that release medication gradually over months are already being tested around the world. While most of these remain in the clinical realm, it’s only a matter of time before WKHLU LQÀXHQFH WULFNOHV LQWR JHQHUDO KHDOWK care. Some Malaysian hospitals and clinics are also experimenting with nano-silver dressings for wound care, particularly for diabetic foot ulcers. These dressings reduce infection risk and can speed up healing, providing a critical tool in long term diabetic care. Johan points out that Malaysia is now seen regionally as a hub for nanotechnol ogy commercialisation. “Strong government policies like MOSTI’s National Nanotechnology Policy & Strategy have helped position us as

Nano-silver in activewear promises odour control, but also raises environmental questions.

The invisible upgrade Even your food might have had a nano makeover. Some food packaging uses nano-layers to slow down spoilage or improve heat resistance. There are also nano-encapsulated nutrients, designed to help vitamins survive stomach acid and UHDFK WKH EORRGVWUHDP PRUH H̆ HFWLYHO\ While Malaysia hasn’t adopted these on a large scale yet, the trend is inching closer. According to Johan Iskandar Hasan, Managing Director of NanoVerify, nano technology adoption in Malaysia has been growing steadily since 2010, with six main sectors showing extensive application: electronics, energy and environment, cosmetics, coatings, agriculture, textiles and food. “Currently, there are just over 2,000 nanotechnology products on the shelves, IURP IHUWLOLVHUV OXEULFDQWV SDLQWV ¿OWHUV sanitisers, toothpaste, all the way to nano sugar,” he said. “To ensure authenticity of these prod ucts, it is essential for consumers to look RXW IRU WKH 1$129HUL¿HG FHUWL¿FDWLRQ mark.” In agriculture, too, nanotechnology is making early moves. Nano-fertilisers and pesticides are being tested to im prove nutrient absorption and reduce environmental impact. Though not yet mainstream here, such innovations could address food security issues in increas ingly urbanised areas. Even the paint on your walls might have D QDQR WZLVW $QWL IXQJDO KHDW UHÀHFWLYH and air-purifying nano-paints are gaining

popularity in tropical climates. The ben H¿W" &RROHU LQWHULRUV IHZHU UHDSSOLFDWLRQV and reduced mould growth in Malaysia’s humid conditions. Not just for the elite What’s interesting is how democratised nanotech has become. You no longer need WR EH D 6LOLFRQ 9DOOH\ IRXQGHU WR EHQH¿W ,Q fact, nanotech is increasingly embedded in household items sold at your local hypermarket. Take cleaning products, for instance. Some claim to use nano-molecules to break down dirt more effectively, re ducing the need for harsh chemicals. Car waxes infused with nano-polymers promise longer-lasting shine. Even textiles WUHDWHG ZLWK QDQR ¿QLVKHV DUH PDUNHWHG DV wrinkle-resistant or UV-blocking. Personal protective equipment is an other area. During the pandemic, several brands marketed face masks with nano- ¿OWHUV GHVLJQHG WR WUDS SDUWLFOHV VPDOOHU than traditional fibres could manage. These masks became widely available in Malaysian pharmacies and were often rewashable, adding both value and con venience. In the automotive sector, nano-coatings are being used for scratch resistance and water beading on windscreens. While luxury car owners may have led the trend, PRUH D̆ RUGDEOH RSWLRQV DUH QRZ EHLQJ R̆ HUHG DW ORFDO GHWDLOLQJ VKRSV Johan notes that consumer expecta tions can sometimes be unrealistic and that can be exploited.

Nano-packaging may help extend shelf life by reducing air and moisture permeability.