Research Impact:
Assistant Professor Dr Low May Lee
Head of Postgraduate Studies
Academic Qualifications
PhD in Synthesis (Bioinorganic Chemistry)
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Chemistry
Areas of Interest
American Chemical Society (ACS) - Member (2014-present)
Secretary of ACS Malaysia Chapter (2018-2022), Chair-Elect (2022-2024), Chair (2024-present)
Malaysian Institute of Chemistry - Member (2015-present), Committee Member of Analytical Chemistry Section (2017-present)
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) - Member (2019-present)
Current research project (PI/Co-PI) | Grants | Collaboration | Status |
Mechanistic elucidation of ruthenium/ rhenium complexes-modified magnetic nanoparticles via click chemistry as dual-modal therapeutic agents against pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PI). | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme | IMU University, Universiti Malaya, AGTC Genomics, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier | Ongoing |
Elucidating the synergistic role of antimicrobial peptide-metallic nanoparticles against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in diabetic foot ulcers (co-researcher). | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme | IMU University | Ongoing |
Conception, synthesis and evaluation of tricarbonyl rhenium (I) complexes as potent antibacterial and/or anticancer agents (PI). | France-Malaysia collaboration programme for joint research MyTIGER | Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier | Ongoing |
Alpha-amyrin-chitosan nanoparticles as an antibacterial and antibiofilm agent against methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus on medical devices (co-researcher). | Prototype Development Research Grant (PRGS) | IMU University | Ongoing |
Signal-enhancement study for gold-coated tilted grating with streptavidin-biotin sandwich assay in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus (co-researcher). | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme | Universiti Malaya | Ongoing |
Bacterial membrane targeting agent - ruthenium/rhenium-based photosensitisers as novel effective therapeutics against multi-drug-resistant bacteria: feasibility and synergistic mechanism studies (PI 2020-2023; co-researcher 2023-2025) | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme | IMU University | Ongoing |
| Ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes conjugated with amphiphilic cell penetrating peptides as novel anticancer photosensitisers (co-researcher). | Malaysia Toray Science Foundation | IMU University | Completed |
Elucidating the synergistic role of biomimetic hybrid metal-organic framework-polyionic complexed nanofibrous scaffolds as antibacterial and diabetic wound healing promoters (co-researcher) | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme | IMU University | Completed |
| Novel gemcitabine – Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes combinations and formulations with liquid crystalline nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer photodynamic therapy and bioimaging (PI). | IMU Pancreatic Cancer Challenge Grant | IMU University | Completed |
Supervision:
PhD students (current)
Tan Kuan Teng (main SV)
Prettish Kishore Raisinghani (main SV)
Loo Ee Mun (co-SV)
Zhang Yanzhao (co-SV)
Master students (current)
Lim Heng Chee (co-SV)
Master students (completed)
Zuo Fengjin (2025)
Tan Pei Yi (2024)
Undergraduate students (current)
Phang Jie Shi (co-SV)
Tan Mei Sween (main SV)
Lok Zi Xuen (main SV)
Undergraduate students (completed)
Lee Jia Jing (2025)
Stephanie Sii Si Tin (2024)
Eyu Cher Chie (2024)
Wong Heng Ling (2024)
Willicia Ang Shao Wei (2024)
1. Yeoh, S. G., Liew, Y. K., Low, M. L., Lim, W. M., Rahman, N. A., Wong, L. C., & Then, Y. Y. (2025). Electrospun metal–organic framework-based nanofibres with natural therapeutic agents for enhanced diabetic wound healing. Discover Materials, 5(1), 66.
2. Low, M. L., Karim, J., Tahrim, N. A., Tan, M. Y., Lim, K. S., Yeap, S. P., Mijan, N. A., and Ramalingam, M. (2024). Advancing sustainable water quality monitoring and remediation in Malaysia: Innovative analytical solutions for detecting and removing emerging contaminants. ACS ES&T Water, 4(11), 4758-4773..
3. Udos, W., Tan, S. H., Lim, K. S., Low, M. L., Wei, H., and Ahmad, H. (2024). Signal amplification study for gold-coated tilted fibre Bragg-grating with Avidin-Biotin sandwich assay in the detection of SARS-CoV-2. IEEE Sensors Journal, 24(15), 23878-23885.
4. Wong, L. C., and Low, M. L. (2024) Exploring the efficacy of online synchronous debate as a tool for teaching ethics. Athens Journal of Education, 2024, 11: 1-12.
5. Vanucci-Bacqué, C., Wolff, M., Delavaux-Nicot, B., Abdallah, A.M., Mallet-Ladeira, S., Serpentini, C.L., Bedos-Belval, F., Fong, K.W., Ng, X.Y., Low, M.L., Benoist, E., and Fery-Forgues, S. (2024). 1, 2, 3-Triazol-5-ylidene-vs. 1, 2, 3-triazole-based tricarbonyl rhenium (i) complexes: influence of a mesoionic carbene ligand on the electronic and biological properties. Dalton Transactions, 5, 11276-11294.
6. Low, M.L., Mai, CW., Yeap, S.P., Then, Y.Y., Rajagopal, M.S., Tayyab, S. (2024). Advances in metal-based compounds as emerging therapeutics for cancer treatment. In: Interdisciplinary Cancer Research. Springer, Cham.
7. Ng, X. Y., Fong, K. W., Kiew, L. V., Chung, P. Y., Liew, Y. K., Delsuc, N., Zulkefeli, Low, M. L. (2024). Ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes as emerging photosensitisers for antibacterial photodynamic therapy, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 250, 112425.
8. Sharma, H., Gupta, A., Kumari, R., Low, M. L., Lim, W. M., and Milton, M. D. (2023). Substituted 1‐Aza phenothiazines and their 10‐(2′‐Morpholinylethyl) derivatives: Synthesis, characterisation and anticancer evaluation. ChemistrySelect, 8(26), e202300873.
9.Liew, H.S., Mai, C.W., Zulkefeli, M., Madheswaran, T., Kiew, L.V., Pua, L.J.W., Hii, L.W., Lim, W.M. and Low, M.L. (2022) Novel gemcitabine-Re(I) bisquinolinyl complex combinations and formulations with liquid crystalline nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer photodynamic therapy. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13(2022), 903210.
10. Gan, W. K., Liew, H. S., Pua, L. J. W., Ng, X. Y., Fong, K. W., Cheong, S. L., Liew, Y. K. and Low, M. L. (2022). Novel Cu(II) Schiff Base complex combination with polymyxin B/Phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide against various bacterial strains. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 28(2), 60.
Malaysian Journal of Chemistry
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Sains Malaysiana
Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Metallomics
International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics
Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy
Inorganic Chemistry
ChemistrySelect
Tropical Biomedicine
Special topic editor, “Exploring Novel Metal-Based Compounds for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety” Frontiers in Chemical Biology.
Guest editor, "Polymer Electrolytes for a Zero-Carbon Future" ACS Applied Polymer Materials Journal.
Silver Medal Award from Bangkok International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exposition (IPITEx) 2025 for the project “Centella Asiatica Infused Natural Facial Cleanser: Cenwort.” (2025)
五一吃瓜官网 TEACH Award – Most Promising Academician (2024)
五一吃瓜官网 Research Award – International Grant (2024)
Appointed as a member of Malaysia-France Points of Contact Network for Higher Education, Research and Innovation (2024-present)
4th Commonwealth Chemistry Posters 2023 – Poster Prize Winner in the Quality Education Theme
Silver Medal Award from IMU International Learning Resources Festival (ILRF) 2023 Inovasi Competition, Gold Medal Award and Silver Medal Award from ILRF 2022, Gold Medal Award and Silver Medal Award from ILRF 2021, Silver Medal Award from the Congress and Innovation Competition in Teaching and Learning 2021 event (kNovasi 2021)
Invited speaker/ trainer for ACS Publications Platform, Product and Publishing (PPP) series: Bridging Disciplines: Chemistry as the Catalyst for Sustainable Innovation (2024), 2024 ACS International Sciences Chapters Inaugural Asia-Pacific Regional Higher Education Students’ Academic Poster Competition, ACS Chemical Security and Safety Training for Academia and Industrial Practitioners (2023); Chemistry Professional Day forum on Gen-Z chemists: Our Future! (2022); Symposium on Best Practices and Innovations in Laboratory Management (2022); ACS Malaysia Chapter Chemical Security Training Workshop (2019); Chemical Security Capacity Building Program (2018); 20th Industrial Chemistry Seminar (2017)
Invited participant for ASEAN BCG Researcher Development Programme, Thailand (2023), 71st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Chemistry, Germany (2022); Global Young Scientists Summit, Singapore (2019); American Chemical Society Global Chemists' Code of Ethics Science and Technology Leadership Institutes Program, Australia (2017)
International Medical University Achievement Award for Leadership in Community Service 2022 (Individual Category)
Other achievements
External examiner (dissertation)
2024-2025. Appointment as examiner to Ms Maryam Al-Batul Bt Azizuddin (MAPC, IMU University), Ms Soh En Li (MAPC, IMU University) and Ms Chong Zhuen Wen (MMM, IMU University)
2023 Master of Science Thesis. Jei Vincent. “Improved Antibacterial Activity and Oxidation Stability of Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles: Clinical Bacterial Strains”. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
External evaluation activities
2025: Lindau Alumni peer reviewer for the selection process of Young Scientists for the Next Gen Science presentations during the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.
2025: Reviewer for the IUPAC 53rd General Assembly (53GA) and 50th World Chemistry Congress (50WCC) (IUPAC 2025).
2024: Reviewer for ACS International Student Chapter 2023–2024 Chapter Reviews.
2023: Technical judge (Drug Discovery and Synthesis track) for Monash International Health Science and Technology Conference (MONASH INITIATE 2023).
2023: Lindau Alumni peer reviewer to the selection process of Young Scientists for the Next Gen Science presentations during the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.
2023: Scientific Technical Committee for ASIANALYSIS 2023 (Cosmetic and pharmaceutical analysis session).
2024 and 2025 IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast at 五一吃瓜官网 University
