UNS — To this day, Palm Oil Empty Bunches (TKKS) are considered as solid waste from palm oil production that can harm the environment. The TKKS waste percentage can reach up to 25 percent of the total output. The low utilization of TKKS creates a significant amount of waste that requires an immediate solution. This problem motivates three Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students to transform the TKKS waste into diabetic wound therapy plaster.
This invention was initiated by Inna Zuhriah Zain (Pharmacy Study Program), alongside Tasya Saevita Nugroho (Pharmacy Study Program) and Nurani Alawiah (Chemistry Study Program). Through a Student Creativity Program in Natural Science Research (PKM-RE) hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), the team succeeded in their innovation under the supervision of Apt. Rita Rakhmawati, S.Farm., M.Si. The diabetic plaster is introduced as Zavir Plast SMART.
Aside from the waste problem, the team also considers a global problem where diabetes creates wounds that are difficult to heal.
“We consider a global issue on people with diabetes that create wounds that are difficult to heal due to inactive protein that accelerates wound healing process. This condition often leads to amputation of the patients. TKKS has high-level cellulose content, reaching up to 43-63%, which can be used as a wound bandage in the form of Hydrogel. The Hydrogel has combined with Upas Bidara (Merremia mammosa) tuber and red betel leaf as active ingredients that support Hydrogel in the process of accelerating wound healing. Upas Bidara acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and red betel leaf as antibacterial and antioxidant,” explains Inna Zuhriah Zain.
The Zavir Plast SMART becomes an environmentally friendly diabetic wound therapy plaster with a more affordable price compared to the commercial products, can be solutions to the lack of utilization of TKKS, and assisting slow diabetic wound healing. Zavir Plast SMART has a greenish transparent color and can be easily decomposed in the environment.
Inna added that the result of the research would be registered as copyright and patent. They will also disseminate the result to the 6th ICAMBF on Wednesday-Thursday (8-9/9/2021) and SANREM5th on Tuesday-Thursday (28-30/9/2021). The commercialization stage is still under further discussion. Through this innovation, the team hopes to contribute to innovative solutions to treat diabetics’ wounds that are difficult to heal, produce environmentally friendly plaster, and reduce TKKS waste problems. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti