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Professor Dr Saad Tayyab
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Professor Dr Saad Tayyab

Professor

Academic Qualifications

PhD in Biochemistry
M. Phil. Biochemistry
MSc. Biochemistry
BSc. (Hon) Chemistry

Areas of Interest
Ligand/ drug-protein interaction
Protein denaturation
Protein/ enzyme stability
Protein structure-function
Professional Bodies Membership

  • Fellow – Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) (since Dec 2017)

  • Fellow – Royal Society of Biology (UK) (since Jul 2019)

  • Member – Sigma Xi (USA) (since Feb 2024)

  • Member − American Chemical Society (since Jan 2020)

  • Member – Asian Council of Science Editors

  • Honorary fellow – Institute for Engineering Research and Publication (IFERP), India (since Feb 2019)

  • Life member – Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research

Current research project (PI/Co-PI)

Grants

Collaboration

Status

1.    ‘Understanding molecular interaction between anti-malarial drugs (Mefloquine and Sulfadoxine) and human serum albumin through spectroscopic and molecular docking methods’

Faculty Research Grant, University of Malaya (GPF011B-2018) (2018–2021)

Bioinformatics Division, Institut Sains Biologi, Universiti Malaya

Completed

2.    ‘Biophysical and computational approaches to unravel the molecular interaction mechanism of bromodeoxyuridine with human serum albumin’

FRG Project, University of Malaya (FG025–17AFR) (2017–2019)

Bioinformatics Division, Institut Sains Biologi, Universiti Malaya

Completed

3.    ‘Functional molecules for lifestyle diseases – Stability and interaction of functional molecules with target site’

HIR Project, Ministry of Higher Education, Govt. of Malaysia (F000002–21001) (2011–2016)

Faculty of Science & Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya

Completed

4.    ‘Studies on protein aggregation: Towards understanding the molecular mechanism involved in neurodegenerative diseases’

UMRG Project, University of Malaya (RG275/14AFR) (2014–2016)

-

Completed

5.    ‘Novel colorimetric and fluorogenic nanobiosensors for telomerase activity detection’

FRGS Project, Ministry of Higher Education, Govt. of Malaysia (FRGS/2/2014/SG06/UNIM/02/1) (2015–2017)

Nottingham University, Malaysia campus

Completed

6.    ‘Conformational stability and activity of Champedak galactose binding lectin exposed to urinary variables and storage condition’

FRGS Project, Ministry of Higher Education, Govt. of Malaysia (FRGS/2/2013/ST04/UM/02/4) (2014–2016)

-

Completed

7.    ‘Spectroscopic and computational exploration on the binding of nirmatrelvir to human serum albumin and its toxicity studies.’

UCSI University Research Excellence and Innovation Grant (UCSI/ CERVIE/REIG/2023_039)

 
-Ongoing

 

Supervision: 

PhD students (current)

 

  • Lim Jia Le (as co-supervisor)

 

Master students (current)

  • Mohammed Qadir Saeed

 

Master students (completed)

  • Haya Mohammed Qaid AlMansari (2024)

  • Ji Nigui (2024)

 

Undergraduate students (current)

  • Wong Hui Yui

  • Thee Wang Kang

 

Undergraduate students (completed)

  • Chong Yu Pei (2024)

  • Liow Yu Ming (2024)

  • Lai Chu Wen (2024)

  • Lau Yun Ying (2023)

  • Lau Sheng Khai (2023)

 

Publications

  1. Abubakar, M., Hidayat, A.F.A., Mohamad, S.B., Halim, A.A.A., Khanna, K., Rajagopal, M.S., & Tayyab, S. (2025). Multifaceted analysis of bempedoic acid binding to subdomain IIA of human serum albumin. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1322(2), 140435.

  2. Hidayat, A.F.A.,  Mohamad, S.B., Tayyab, S., Harun, W.H.A.W., & Halim, A.A.A. (2025). Molecular interaction of a protease inhibitor, leupeptin, with human serum albumin: Insights from calorimetry, spectroscopy, microscopy and computational approaches. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1321(1), 139670.

  3. Abubakar, M., Hidayat, A.F.A., Halim, A.A.A., Khanna, K., Zaroog, M.S., Gopal, M.S., & Tayyab, S. (2025). Assessing the molecular interaction between a COVID-19 drug, nirmatrelvir, and human serum albumin: Calorimetric, spectroscopic and microscopic investigations. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C – available online.(https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/znc-2024-0223/html)

  4. Abubakar, M., Mohamad, S.B., Zaroog, M.S., Mahboob, T., Rajagopal, M., & Tayyab, S. (2024). Nirmatrelvir, a COVID-19 drug, and human serum albumin: Computational analysis of their molecular interactions. ChemistrySelect, 9(22), e202400604.

  5. Rehman, F., Abubakar, M., Ridzwan, N.F.W., Mohamad, S.B., Halim, A.A.A., & Tayyab, S. (2024). Deciphering the binding mode and structural perturbations in floxuridine-human serum albumin complexation with spectroscopic, microscopic and computational techniques. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 308, 123641. 

  6. Abubakar, M., Mohamad, S.B., Halim, A.A.A., & Tayyab, S. (2024). Unveiling the molecular interaction of hepatitis B virus inhibitor, entecavir with human serum albumin through computational, microscopic and spectroscopic approaches. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics – available online. (https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2024.2311331)

  7. Abubakar, M., Mohamad, S.B., Halim, A.A.A., & Tayyab, S. (2023). Use of computational and wet lab techniques to examine the molecular association between a potent hepatitis C virus inhibitor, PSI-6206 and human serum albumin. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 294, 122543. 

  8. Tayyab, S., Tio, J.W.Q., & Halim, A.A.A. (2023) The fluorescence signal of albumin-bound bilirubin to monitor drug-induced bilirubin displacement from human serum albumin. Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 68(9), 429-434.

Journal Reviewers

  1. Journal of Molecular Liquids (Elsevier)
  2. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular & Biomolecular Spectroscopy (Elsevier)
  3. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (Taylor & Francis)
  4. Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group)
  5. Frontiers in Pharmacology (Frontiers)
  6. PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science)
  7. RSC Advances (Royal Society of Chemistry)
  8. New Journal of Chemistry (Royal Society of Chemistry)
  9. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (American Chemical Society)
  10. Heliyon (Elsevier)
  11. Journal of Physical Chemistry (American Chemical Society)
  12. Biomacromolecules (American Chemical Society)
  13. Journal of Molecular Recognition (Wiley)
  14. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology (Wiley)
  15. Luminescence: Journal of Biological and Chemical Luminescence (Wiley) International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (Elsevier)
  16.  Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology (Elsevier)
  17. Journal of Luminescence (Elsevier)
  18. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (Elsevier)
  19. Chemosphere (Elsevier)
  20. LWT - Food Science & Technology (Elsevier)
  21. Food Chemistry (Elsevier)
  22. Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier)
  23. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis (Elsevier)
  24. Biochimie (Elsevier)
  25. Journal of Molecular Structure (Elsevier)
  26. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology (Elsevier)
  27. Food Hydrocolloids (Elsevier)
  28. Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic (Elsevier)
  29. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (Elsevier)
  30. Analytical Chemistry Letters (Taylor & Francis)
  31. Spectroscopy Letters (Taylor & Francis)
  32. Journal of Environmental Science & Health Part B (Taylor & Francis)
  33. Molecular Biology Reports (Springer)
  34. European Biophysics Journal (Springer)
  35. Bioprocess & Biosystems Engineering (Springer)
  36. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Springer)
  37. International Journal of Peptide Research & Therapeutics (Springer);
  38. IET Nanobiotechnology (Institution of Engineering & Technology)
  39. Micro & Nano Letters (Institution of Engineering & Technology)
  40. Canadian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology (Canadian Science Publishing)
  41. Acta Chimica Slovenica (Slovensko Kemijsko Drustvo)
  42. General Physiology and Biophysics (Slovak Academy of Sciences)

Editorial Board Member

  1. Chief Editor – Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2015–2017)
  2. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (since 2022) (Frontiers Journals)
  3. Letters in Drug Design & Discovery (since 2015) (Bentham Science)
  4. Protein and Peptide Letters (since 2019) (Bentham Science)
  5. Biochemistry Research International (since 2013) (Hindawi)
  6. Engineered Protein Scaffold and Nanovaccines, Frontiers in Immunology (Frontiers Journals) topic editor.
  7. Biomedical Reports (2023) (Spandidos Publications)
  8. Vegetos (2019-2021) (Springer)
  9. Bioscience Education e-Journal (2008–2011) (Higher Education Academy, UK)
  10. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry (2002–2004) (Springer) 

Awards and Recognitions

  • Certificate of Excellence Award for Outstanding Faculty of the Year (2023) – at the 8th South Asian Education Award & Summit 2023. EET CRS, Research Wing for Excellence in Professional Education & Industry, Education Expo TV, India.

 

  • Honorary Fellow – Institute for Engineering Research & Publication (IFERP), India (2019)

 

  • Certificate of Excellence - The Eighth South Asian Education Award, Education Expo, India.

 

  • Certificate of Recognition – The Tenth Edition of Global Conference on Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, Magnus Group Conferences. 

 

  • Bentham Ambassador – (2018–2019) Bentham Science, UAE

 

  • Lifetime Achievement Award (Aug. 11, 2018) – Venus International Foundation, India•

 

  • Certificate of Excellence (Research Category) – (Mar. 18, 2018) EET CRS, Research Wing for Excellence in Professional Education & Industry, Education Expo TV, India.

 

  • 10th Anniversary Collection focusing on Molecular Modelling ‘RSC Advances’ (2021) includes one of our Articles entitled ‘Interaction of An Anticancer Drug, Gefitinib With Human Serum Albumin: Insights from Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Computational Modeling Analysis’. RSC Advances (2016) 6, 91756–91767 (RSC Publishing).

 

  • Journal Cover Page ‘Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology’ (2021) represents a Diagram from our Research Article ‘Serum Albumin: Clinical Significance of Drug Binding and Development as Drug Delivery Vehicle’. Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology (2021) 123, 193-218 (Elsevier).

 

  • Journal Cover Page ‘Biopolymers’ (2020) represents a Diagram from our Research Article ‘Combination Mode of Antimalarial Drug Mefloquine and Human Serum Albumin: Insights from Spectroscopic and Docking Approaches’. Biopolymers (2020) 111, e23337 (Wiley).

 

  • Expert # 1 in Fluorescence Spectrometry in Malaysia according to Expertscape (2020).

 

Other achievements

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2022) to evaluate the research work of the lecturer in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Jordan, for promotion to the rank of Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2022) to evaluate the research work of the lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for promotion to the rank of Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2020) to evaluate the research work of the lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2016) to evaluate the research work of the lecturer in the Department of Physiology & Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Jordan, for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2019) to evaluate the candidature of the lecturer  in the Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2018) to evaluate the candidature of the lecturer in the Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, for promotion to the rank of Professor.

 

  • Referee – Academic Promotion (2018) to evaluate the candidature of the lecturer in the Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

 

  • Examiner (Internal) – Ph.D. Thesis (2022) ‘Pharmacokinetic interactions effect of standardized Vernonia amygdalina on metformin in oral fixed-dose combination therapy and its modulatory effect on hepatic microsomal enzymes in diabetic sprague-dawley rats’ (Bassel Al Sabbagh) UCSI University.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2021) ‘Quality-by-design approach for development and validation of UPLC and HPLC methods to quantify the pharmaceutically important molecules’ (Nukendra Prasad Nadella) Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology & Research (Deemed to be University), India.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2021) ‘Immunochemical studies on methylglyoxal modified plasma fibrinogen' (Shahida Perween) Aligarh Muslim University, India.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2020) ‘Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer potential of Trichopus zeylanicus and Samadera indica from South India’ (C. Sindhu) Bharathiar University, India.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2020) ‘Altered recognition by the protein degradation machinery re-programmes proteostasis in cancer cells’ (Alaa Mamdouh Abdallah) Cairo University, Egypt.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2019) ‘Green synthesis of nanoparticles and assessment of their anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-proliferative activities’ (Khursheed Ali) Aligarh Muslim University, India.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2019) ‘Role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis’ (Somaiya Mateen) Aligarh Muslim University, India.

 

  • Examiner (External) – Ph.D. Thesis (2019) ‘Synthesis of some novel hybrid molecules and evaluation of their in vitro cytotoxic activities’ (Arunkumar Thirivedhi) Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology & Research (Deemed to be University), India.

 

  • External examiner - PhD Thesis. K. Lavanya. ‘Biophysical insights on the binding of coumarin analogs with biomacromolecules and their antioxidant studies.’ GITAM (Deemed University), India.

 

  • External examiner - PhD Thesis. Obaid Ur Rehman Khan. ‘In-vitro and in-silico studies of novel substituted piperidines.’ University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

 

  • External examiner - PhD Thesis. Humaira Kashif. ‘Rocephin-loaded graphene oxide-metal oxides nanocomposites as promising biological agents: Design, synthesis and characterisation.’ University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

 

  • External international grant reviewer - Chilean National Science and Technology Commission (CONICYT - Chile) International Grant Reviewer. 2017.

 

External international grant reviewer

2017. International Grant Reviewer. Chilean National Science and Technology Commission (CONICYT - Chile).

 

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