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Malarmugila Manimaran,1,* Yin Yin Teo,2 James Chen Yong Kah,3 Adilet Beishenaliev,1 Yean Leng Loke,2 Yiing Yee Foo,1 Shiow-Fern Ng,4 Chin Fei Chee,5 Sek Peng Chin,6 Farid Nazer Faruqu,1 Chia-Yu Chang,7 Misni Misran,2 Lip Yong Chung,6 Bey Fen Leo,8,* Shih-Hwa Chiou,9,10 Chia-Ching Chang,7,11– 13 Sun Tee Tay,14 Lik Voon Kiew1,7 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; 4Centre for Drug Delivery Technology and Vaccine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 5Nanotechnology Catalysis Research Centre, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 6Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 7Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China; 8Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 9Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; 10Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; 11Department of Electrophysics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China; 12Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China; 13Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; 14Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chia-Ching Chang; Lik Voon Kiew, Email ccchang01@nycu.edu.tw; lvkiew@um.edu.myIntroduction: Over 75% of clinical microbiological infections are caused by bacterial biofilms that grow on wounds or implantable medical devices. This work describes the development of a new poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/alginate-coated gold nanorod (GNR/Alg/PDADMAC) that effectively disintegrates the biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a prominent pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections.Methods: GNR was synthesised via seed-mediated growth method, and the resulting nanoparticles were coated first with Alg and then PDADMAC. FTIR, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–Vis spectrophotometry analysis were performed to characterise the nanoparticles. The efficacy and speed of the non-coated GNR and GNR/Alg/PDADMAC in disintegrating S. aureus-preformed biofilms, as well as their in vitro biocompatibility (L929 murine fibroblast) were then studied.Results: The synthesised GNR/Alg/PDADMAC (mean length: 55.71 ± 1.15 nm, mean width: 23.70 ± 1.13 nm, aspect ratio: 2.35) was biocompatible and potent in eradicating preformed biofilms of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) when compared to triclosan, an antiseptic used for disinfecting S. aureus colonisation on abiotic surfaces in the hospital. The minimum biofilm eradication concentrations of GNR/Alg/PDADMAC (MBEC50 for MRSA biofilm = 0.029 nM; MBEC50 for MSSA biofilm = 0.032 nM) were significantly lower than those of triclosan (MBEC50 for MRSA biofilm = 10,784 nM; MBEC50 for MRSA biofilm 5967 nM). Moreover, GNR/Alg/PDADMAC was effective in eradicating 50% of MRSA and MSSA biofilms within 17 min when used at a low concentration (0.15 nM), similar to triclosan at a much higher concentration (50 μM). Disintegration of MRSA and MSSA biofilms was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy.Conclusion: These findings support the potential application of GNR/Alg/PDADMAC as an alternative agent to conventional antiseptics and antibiotics for the eradication of medically important MRSA and MSSA biofilms.Keywords: biofilm, gold nanorod, S. aureus, PDADMAC, MRSA, MSSA

Stephanie Sally Fong,1,&ast; Yiing Yee Foo,1,&ast; Wen Shang Saw,2 Bey Fen Leo,3 Yin Yin Teo,4 Ivy Chung,1 Boon Tong Goh,5 Misni Misran,4 Toyoko Imae,6 Chia-Ching Chang,7– 11 Lip Yong Chung,2 Lik Voon Kiew1,7 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; 4Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; 5Low Dimensional Materials Research Center, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; 6Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan; 7Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068, Taiwan; 8Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30050, Taiwan; 9Department of Electrophysics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan; 10Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan; 11Taiwan-Malaysia Semiconductor and Biomedical Oversea Science and Technology Innovation Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lik Voon KiewDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, MalaysiaTel +603-79675720Email lvkiew@um.edu.myChia-Ching ChangDepartment of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068, TaiwanTel +886-3-57131633Email ccchang01@nycu.edu.twPurpose: The use of nanocarriers to improve the delivery and efficacy of antimetastatic agents is less explored when compared to cytotoxic agents. This study reports the entrapment of an antimetastatic Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) dimerization blocker, Stattic (S) into a chitosan-coated-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (C-PLGA) nanocarrier and the improvement on the drug’s physicochemical, in vitro and in vivo antimetastatic properties post entrapment.Methods: In vitro, physicochemical properties of the Stattic-entrapped C-PLGA nanoparticles (S@C-PLGA) and Stattic-entrapped PLGA nanoparticles (S@PLGA, control) in terms of size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, Stattic release in different medium and cytotoxicity were firstly evaluated. The in vitro antimigration properties of the nanoparticles on breast cancer cell lines were then studied by Scratch assay and Transwell assay. Study on the in vivo antitumor efficacy and antimetastatic properties of S@C-PLGA compared to Stattic were then performed on 4T1 tumor bearing mice.Results: The S@C-PLGA nanoparticles (141.8 ± 2.3 nm) was hemocompatible and exhibited low Stattic release (12%) in plasma. S@C-PLGA also exhibited enhanced in vitro anti-cell migration potency (by > 10-fold in MDA-MB-231 and 5-fold in 4T1 cells) and in vivo tumor growth suppression (by 33.6%) in 4T1 murine metastatic mammary tumor bearing mice when compared to that of the Stattic-treated group. Interestingly, the number of lung and liver metastatic foci was found to reduce by 50% and 56.6%, respectively, and the average size of the lung metastatic foci was reduced by 75.4% in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice treated with S@C-PLGA compared to Stattic-treated group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: These findings suggest the usage of C-PLGA nanocarrier to improve the delivery and efficacy of antimetastatic agents, such as Stattic, in cancer therapy.Keywords: nanocarrier, STAT3 protein, breast cancer, metastasis, chitosan-coating

The rheological behavior of the olive oil-in-water emulsions has been studied by varying the oil to water ratio as well as the surfactant concentration. The viscoelastic property of the olive oil emulsions was investigated with a cone-and-plate system, using a Bohlin C-VOR Rheometer. The obtained results indicated that the emulsions with greater oil and surfactant concentrations are highly packed systems with greater interdroplet interactions as well as higher critical strain. The viscoelastic property of the emulsions can be enhanced by increasing the oil concentration. The elastic modulus of the emulsions was always predominant over the viscous modulus, thereby emphasizing the elastic character of the above mentioned emulsions. The emulsion with a higher oil composition shows greater elasticity, which implies a strong dynamic rigidity of the emulsions. A high oil composition also enhanced the structural integrity as well as the interdroplet interactions of the emulsion.

This study investigates the impact of smart hotel technology on guest satisfaction and loyalty by examining the perceptions and experiences of hotel guests. Through a sample of 332 guests staying at smart technology-equipped hotels, Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between user competency, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and loyalty. The results reveal that user competency significantly influences guests' perceptions of the benefits and convenience of smart hotel technology. Moreover, as reflected in guests' perceptions, the adoption process significantly affects both satisfaction and loyalty levels. These findings underscore the importance of understanding user perspectives and market readiness for successful technology implementation in smart hotels. The study's implications extend to smart hotel managers, highlighting the necessity of ensuring user competency and readiness to maximize technology's potential benefits. Furthermore, this research contributes to developing a comprehensive model for understanding smart hotel guest loyalty, offering a novel user-centric perspective on enhancing guest experiences in the digital tourism era.

Sumberbulu Hamlet is a Tourism Village located in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java Province. The people of this village are trying to develop their village into an advanced tourist village that is attractive for many tourists to visit. However, in its development, community participation in village development is felt to be not optimal, especially the participation of people who are classified as millennials. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the forms and levels of millennial community participation in efforts to develop their villages. This study used a descriptive qualitative method with informants from several residents belonging to the millennial age group and village officials. The results of the study show that the form of participation is included in Pseudo-Participation, while the level of participation, in general, is at the Partnership level. It is recommended that the village government and other stakeholders can improve education and training for millennial communities in the development of tourism villages, so that they can strengthen their abilities and knowledge in developing tourism in Sumberbulu village.

Microgels of carbohydrate polymers are non-toxic and biocompatible that can readily be used in applications such as drug delivery, medicine, and pharmacy. In this work, Arabic gum (AG) microgels and methacrylic acid modified Arabic gum microgels (AGMAA) were synthesized via the water in oil emulsion polymerization technique using Tween 20 as the surfactant and hexane as the solvent. The microgels were characterized using various physicochemical methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal stability using differential scanning calorimetry, diffraction pattern analysis using X-Ray diffraction, morphology observation using field emission scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering was used to analyze the size and zeta potential. The rate of deformation was higher in the AG microgels compared to the AGMAA microgels. The particle size and zeta potential of the AGMAA microgel were found to be larger and more negative than AG microgel, respectively. The particle size and zeta potentials of the microgels were found to be dependent on the amount of methacrylic acid as the modifying agent. The microgels were encapsulated with doxorubicin through the swelling method and the in vitro release was studied in mediums with pH values of 4.2 and 7.4. The results suggest the potentials of these microgels for drugs delivery.

Politics is a discipline of science that is part of social science. What distinguishes political science from other social sciences is the object studied. The development of research on the theory of political science and politics becomes a question in this paper. Topic mapping and topic classification based on keywords, countries, and themes discussed were the main focus of this research, including visual density based on keywords, showing the level of saturation political science theory. In this study, the data used were data that had been downloaded from the Scopus database with several limitations to limit and be more specific to the results of the discussion. After the documents to be reviewed and analyzed are bibliographical using the VOSViewer and NVivo 12 Plus software, the data is exported .CSV and .RIS formats. This study aims to provide insights into subsequent research on the theory of political science

Liposomal gel has played an important role in administration of drugs via topical and transdermal routes. Incorporation of liposome into gel not only has overcome the liquid nature of liposomal dispersion but also helped to preserve the original structure of liposome. In this study, we formulated a liposomal gel consisting of Carbopol gel and a diethylaminoethyl dextran (DEAE-DX) coated liposome. The effect of coated and non-coated liposomes on the rheological properties of Carbopol gel was investigated. The rheological results indicated that incorporation of liposomes into Carbopol gel modified the viscoelastic and flow behaviour of the gel significantly. Apart from that, liposomal gel consisting of DEAE-DX coated liposomes exhibited more solid-like behavior compared to the non-coated liposomal gel. Incorporation of DEAE-DX coated liposomes increased the yield stress of liposomal gel compared to non-coated liposomes. This supports the findings obtained from the amplitude and frequency tests whereby addition of DEAE-DX enhanced the rigidity of the gel so that the resultant gel was more resistant to flow.

This paper uses a spatial econometric method known as Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to investigate the impact of accessibility to the CBD on the high-rise condominium price gradient in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Using a GWR method, after having controlled other factors, this study clearly reveal the impact of accessibility to the CBD on high-rise condominium varying prices across the study area, having a much larger positive impact in some areas but less and counterintuitive impact in others. In general, the results from this study show accessibility to the CBD measured by the travel times does affect high-rise condominium prices (high-rise condominium prices decrease as travel times to the CBD increase) in most part of the areas, hence proved Alonso, Muth and Mills were still right.