Surface-enhanced Raman scattering enhancement using a hybrid gold nanoparticles@carbon nanodot substrate for herbicide detection.

The widespread distribution of herbicides in the environment poses a significant risk to human health and wildlife. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a powerful technique for detecting and analyzing herbicides. However, developing a low-cost, highly sensitive, reproducible, stable, and Raman-active nanostructured substrate for herbicide detection remains a particular challenge.

Correction to: TDZ-induced direct shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis on cotyledonary node explants of lentil ( Medik.).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12298-008-0033-z.].

Biotechnological advances in biomass pretreatment for bio-renewable production through nanotechnological intervention.

Globally, the fossil fuel reserves are depleting rapidly and the escalating fuel prices as well as plethora of the pollutants released from the emission of burning fossil fuels cause global warming that massively disturb the ecological balance. Moreover, the unnecessary utilization of non-renewable energy sources is a genuine hazard to nature and economic stability, which demands an alternative renewable source of energy. The lignocellulosic biomass is the pillar of renewable sources of energy.

Development of sustainable approaches for converting the organic waste to bioenergy.

Dependence on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are on alarming increase, thereby causing such resources to be in a depletion mode and a novel sustainable approach for bioenergy production are in demand. Successful implementation of zero waste discharge policy is one such way to attain a sustainable development of bioenergy. Zero waste discharge can be induced only through the conversion of organic wastes into bioenergy.

Carbohydrate and protein based biopolymeric nanoparticles: Current status and biotechnological applications.

Wide sustainability and reusability of biomacromolecules such as carbohydrates and proteins-based biopolymers pave the way for providing maximal importance in the field of generating biopolymeric nanoparticles. As compared to synthetic nanomaterials, carbohydrate and protein based biopolymeric nanomaterials offer unique advantages that include antibacterial, biocompatible, immunogenicity, and biodegradable properties. Additionally, they have the significant property of more size distribution.

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in Indian Gaddi (goat) breed bucks: clinical, hemato-biochemical, parasitological and chemotherapeutic studies.

The present study was envisaged with an aim to evaluate gastrointestinal parasitic infections in a herd of conserved Gaddi (goat) breed bucks (6-9 months of age) kept on semi-intensive feeding management. The individuals (n = 20) representing the herd were selected and divided into two groups; group I (n = 10), clinically ill and group II (n = 10), sub clinically infected individuals. The clinical examination revealed anemia, emaciation and rise in body temperature of the individuals of group I as compared to group II.

Recent trends in nanomaterials immobilised enzymes for biofuel production.

Application of nanomaterials as novel supporting materials for enzyme immobilisation has generated incredible interest in the biotechnology community. These robust nanostructured forms, such as nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanotubes, nanoporous, nanosheets, and nanocomposites, possess a high surface area to volume ratios that can cause a high enzyme loading and facilitate reaction kinetics, thus improving biocatalytic efficiency for industrial applications. In this article, we discuss research opportunities of nanoscale materials in enzyme biotechnology and highlight recent developments in biofuel production using advanced material supports for enzyme immobilisation and stabilisation.

Suitability of magnetic nanoparticle immobilised cellulases in enhancing enzymatic saccharification of pretreated hemp biomass.

Background: Previous research focused on pretreatment of biomass, production of fermentable sugars and their consumption to produce ethanol. The main goal of the work was to economise the production process cost of fermentable sugars. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to investigate enzyme hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose and hemp hurds (natural cellulosic substrate) using free and immobilised enzymes.

Enzyme immobilisation on amino-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes: structural and biocatalytic characterisation.

Background: The aim of this work is to investigate the structure and function of enzymes immobilised on nanomaterials. This work will allow better understanding of enzyme-nanomaterial interactions, as well as designing functional protein-nanomaterial conjugates.

Methodology/principal Findings: Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were functionalised with amino groups to improve solubility and biocompatibility.

Exploring novel ultrafine Eri silk bioscaffold for enzyme stabilisation in cellobiose hydrolysis.

The suitability of optimised ultrafine Eri silk microparticles as novel enzyme supports was studied for potential application in biofuel production. β-glucosidase (BGL) from Aspergillus niger was immobilised on Eri silk fibrion particles via an adsorption method resulting in a 62% immobilisation yield. Soluble and immobilised enzymes exhibited pH-optima at pH 4.

Immobilization of β-glucosidase on a magnetic nanoparticle improves thermostability: application in cellobiose hydrolysis.

The objective of the present work was to develop a thermostable β-glucosidase through immobilization on a nanoscale carrier for potential application in biofuel production. β-Glucosidase (BGL) from Aspergillus niger was immobilized to functionalized magnetic nanoparticles by covalent binding. Immobilized nanoparticles showed 93% immobilization binding.

Nanobiotechnology as a novel paradigm for enzyme immobilisation and stabilisation with potential applications in biodiesel production.

Nanobiotechnology is emerging as a new frontier of biotechnology. The potential applications of nanobiotechnology in bioenergy and biosensors have encouraged researchers in recent years to investigate new novel nanoscaffolds to build robust nanobiocatalytic systems. Enzymes, mainly hydrolytic class of enzyme, have been extensively immobilised on nanoscaffold support for long-term stabilisation by enhancing thermal, operational and storage catalytic potential.

Immobilization of β-d-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis on functionalized silicon dioxide nanoparticles: characterization and lactose hydrolysis.

β-D-Galactosidase (BGAL) from Kluyveromyces lactis was covalently immobilized to functionalized silicon dioxide nanoparticles (10-20 nm). The binding of the enzyme to the nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Functionalized nanoparticles showed 87% immobilization yield.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Isopropyl Acetate by Immobilized Bacillus cereus Lipase in Organic Medium.

Selective production of fragrance fatty acid ester from isopropanol and acetic acid has been achieved using silica-immobilized lipase of Bacillus cereus MTCC 8372. A purified thermoalkalophilic extracellular lipase was immobilized by adsorption onto the silica. The effects of various parameters like molar ratio of substrates (isopropanol and acetic acid; 25 to 100 mM), concentration of biocatalyst (25-125 mg/mL), reaction time, reaction temperature, organic solvents, molecular sieves, and initial water activity were studied for optimal ester synthesis.