Chemical Engineering Of UAD Yogyakarta Holds Research Collaboration with Foreign Universities

Chemical Engineering of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) Yogyakarta held a Research Collaboration with Flensburg University, Technische Universitat Berlin, and Leipzig University (Germany) on 9-28 December 2019 in the form of research and conferences.

Those who did the activity were UAD Chemical Engineering students: Mar’atul Husna, Tifanny Rizka Ariandi and Lia Septianingsih. The aim is to expand the research network of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) Yogyakarta students with Flensburg University, Technische Universitat Berlin, Leipzig University (Germany) and fellow of scientists in Germany. “So that it will create sustainable use of resources and facilities between institutions,” explained Mar’atul Husna, Tuesday (12/10/2019).

In addition, it is enhancing the ability of UAD Yogyakarta students in sector of research to collaborate with Flensburg University, Technische Universitat Berlin, and Leipzig University (Germany). Also increasing international recognition for the research conducted, improving the quality of research at UAD Yogyakarta students and the number of scientific publications in reputable international scientific journals.

UAD Yogyakarta students delivered “Nutrients Potential for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Patients using Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) from Marine Microalgae and Capsulated from Eucheuma Cottonii Seaweed”. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an effective treatment for couples who have infertility problems. According to statistical data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2010 there were 48.5 million couples worldwide unable to have children. Where about 2 percent experienced primary infertility and 10.5 percent experienced secondary infertility. In the success of IVF treatment, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of the important components in early reproduction, including increased fecundity, oocyte maturation and embryo implementation.

Fish oil is one of the current sources of DHA. However, the challenge of environmental damage causes difficulties in the supply of quality and safe fish oil from pollution. Therefore, this research proposes that the source of DHA used comes from marine microalgae with Aurantiochytrium species which are assessed as having high DHA purity. Aurantiochytrium found in the tropics – such as Indonesia’s mangrove forests – has unique characteristics, which can produce DHA of 30-35 percent. DHA is an unsaturated fatty acid that is needed by the body. Unfortunately, the human body cannot produce DHA itself. In fact, DHA is needed in the IVF program. Therefore, in this research a DHA supplement from Aurantiochytrium was made which is packaged in a capsule shell made from seaweed species Eucheuma Cottonii. The supplement is also rich in fiber because the capsule shell is made from seaweed. (mediamu.id)