Targeting tau in Alzheimer's and beyond: Insights into pathology and therapeutic strategies.

Tauopathies encompass a group of approximately 20 neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau in brain neurons. The pathogenesis of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of tauopathies, is initiated by hyperphosphorylated tau protein isoforms that cause neuronal death and lead to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other complex neurodegenerative diseases. Current applications of tau biomarkers, including imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood-based assays, assist in the evaluation and diagnosis of tauopathies.

Biomimetic green synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers using α-amylase: from antimicrobial to toxicological evaluation.

Biologically mediated synthesis of nanomaterials has emerged as an ecologically benign and biocompatible approach. Our study explores enzymatic synthesis, utilizing α-amylase to synthesize ZnO nanoflowers (ZnO-NFs). X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed crystal structure and elemental composition.

Microbial Biofilm Inhibition Using Magnetic Cross-Linked Polyphenol Oxidase Aggregates.

Microbial biofilm accumulation poses a serious threat to the environment, presents significant challenges to different industries, and exhibits a large impact on public health. Since there has not been a conclusive answer found despite various efforts, the potential green and economical methods are being focused on, particularly the innovative approaches that employ biochemical agents. In the present study, we propose a bio-nanotechnological method using magnetic cross-linked polyphenol oxidase aggregates (PPO m-CLEA) for inhibition of microbial biofilm including multidrug resistant bacteria.

Surface expression of carbonic anhydrase on E. coli as a sustainable approach for enzymatic CO capture.

The utilisation of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in CO sequestration is becoming prominent as an efficient, environment friendly and rapid catalyst for capturing CO from industrial emissions. However, the application of CA enzyme in soluble form is constrained due to its poor stability in operational conditions of CO capture and also production cost of the enzyme. Addressing these limitations, the present study focuses on the surface display of CA from Bacillus halodurans (BhCA) on E coli aiming to contribute to the cost-effectiveness of carbon capture through CA technology.

Carbonic anhydrase as a tool to mitigate global warming.

The global average temperature breaks the record every year, and this unprecedented speed at which it is unfolding is causing serious climate change which in turn impacts the lives of humans and other living organisms. Thus, it is imperative to take immediate action to limit global warming. Increased CO emission from the industrial sector that relies on fossil fuels is the major culprit.

Bio-imprinted magnetic cross-linked polyphenol oxidase aggregates for enhanced synthesis of L-dopa, a neurodegenerative therapeutic drug.

Bio-imprinted magnetic cross-linked enzyme aggregates (i-m-CLEAs) of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) obtained from potato peels were prepared using amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. Bio-imprinting is being used to improve the catalytic efficiency and conformational stability of enzymes. For bio-imprinting, PPO was incubated with different imprint/template molecules (catechol, 4-methyl catechol and l-3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine) before cross-linking with glutaraldehyde.

An outlook on potential protein targets of COVID-19 as a druggable site.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 disease has started a pandemic episode all over the world infecting millions of people and has created medical and economic crisis. From December 2019, cases originated from Wuhan city and started spreading at an alarming rate and has claimed millions of lives till now. Scientific studies suggested that this virus showed genomic similarity of about 90% with SARS-CoV and is found to be more contagious as compared to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

Magnetic combi CLEA for inhibition of bacterial biofilm: A green approach.

In the present study different enzymes (α- amylase, trypsin, cellulase, horse-radish peroxidase and pectinex ultra clear) were studied for bacterial biofilm inhibition and Pectinex ultra clear showed best inhibition. So, m-combi-CLEA of Pectinex ultra clear was developed by cross linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) formation on APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) modified iron oxide nanoparticles. Different parameters were optimized and it was observed that 0.

Antibacterial efficacy of facile cyanobacterial silver nanoparticles inferred by antioxidant mechanism.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained importance in technological advances owing to their user friendly enhanced and efficient physical, chemical, and biological characteristics compared to their bulk counterparts. Biological synthesis of NPs by using a microorganism, enzymes, or plant extracts offers a greener and eco-friendly approach besides many advantages over physical or chemical approaches. This study reports the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Nostoc muscorum NCCU 442 aqueous extract as the reducing and capping agent for AgNPs synthesis.

Immobilization of Transglutaminase on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and its application as bioinspired hydrogel scaffolds.

The chemical cross-linkers are difficult to be removed from the scaffold materials, which limit their application in tissue engineering; designing an efficient biocompatible hydrogel is though challenging is desirable. The aim of the present study was to immobilize microbial Transglutaminase (MTGase) enzyme on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for its application in hydrogel scaffolds designing. MTGase from Streptomyces mobaraensis, a non-toxic biological cross-linker, was employed for a greener approach with enhanced biochemical and structural properties.

Development of low-cost paper-based biosensor of polyphenol oxidase for detection of phenolic contaminants in water and clinical samples.

In the present work, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme was purified from potato peel using three-phase partitioning (TPP). In this method, ammonium sulfate and t-butanol were added to precipitate the protein/enzyme from the crude aqueous extract. The PPO enzyme precipitated as an interfacial layer between the upper organic solvent phase and lower aqueous phase.

Exposure of biosynthesized nanoscale ZnO to Brassica juncea crop plant: morphological, biochemical and molecular aspects.

The present work describes the in vitro synthesis and characterization of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an enzyme alpha amylase, the synthesized nanoparticles were used to study their beneficial effect in the growth and development of Brassica juncea. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) image reveals the average size of ZnO NPs was 11 nm and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) suggests nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. In-silico study confirmed lysine, glutamine and tyrosine present in alpha amylase enzyme, plays a crucial role in the reduction of Zinc acetate dihydrate to ZnO NPs.

Preparation and characterization of reusable magnetic combi-CLEA of cellulase and hemicellulase.

Cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) is a technology to overcome the limitation of enzymes for its application in chemical industries. The inability of repeated use of enzymes, stability and ease of separation from reaction mixture limits its applications. Here, magnetic combi-CLEA has been synthesised by adding amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles into pectinase ultra-clear (containing pectinases, xylanases and cellulases).

Development of sustainable and reusable silver nanoparticle-coated glass for the treatment of contaminated water.

Water contaminants like pathogenic microbes and organic pollutants pose a serious threat to human and aquatic life forms; thus, there is an urgent need to develop a sustainable and affordable water treatment technology. Nanomaterials especially metal nanoparticles have extensive applications in wastewater treatment, but the recovery and aggregation of nanoparticles in solution is a major limitation. In the present work, green synthesized silver nanoparticles were covalently immobilized on a glass surface to prevent aggregation of nanoparticles and to enhance their applicability.

Ampicillin Silver Nanoformulations against Multidrug resistant bacteria.

The present study reported a single step synthesis of silver nanoparticles using ampicillin (Amp-AgNps), a second-generation β lactam antibiotic to get nanoformulation having dual properties that of antibiotic and silver. The Amp-AgNps was characterized by UV-VIS spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA. FTIR and TGA results suggested that amine group of Ampicllin reduce the metalic silver into nano form.

Removal of toxic contaminants from water by sustainable green synthesised non-toxic silver nanoparticles.

The study describes the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using 21 different plant extracts having medicinal properties. Molecular ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy shows that the of nanoparticles synthesised by different plant extracts varied and ranged between 400 and 468 nm. The ultraviolet results revealed that although synthesis of nanoparticles occurred by all plant extracts successfully, their size varies, this was further confirmed by differential light scattering.

A reusable multipurpose magnetic nanobiocatalyst for industrial applications.

A multipurpose magnetic nanobiocatalyst is developed by conjugating Pectinex 3XL (a commercial enzyme containing pectinase, xylanase and cellulase activities) on 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane activated magnetic nanoparticles. The nanobiocatalyst retained 87% of pectinase, 69% of xylanase and 58% of cellulase activity after conjugation on modified nanoparticles as compared to their soluble counterparts. Thermal stability data at 70°C showed increase in enzyme stability after conjugation to nanoparticles and the kinetic parameters (K and V) remain unaltered after immobilization.

Reusable magnetic nanobiocatalyst for synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles.

In the present work, we describe a simple procedure for the biosynthesis of nanosilver and gold by the reduction of silver nitrate and auric chloride respectively using a nanobiocatalyst. The nanobiocatalyst was prepared by covalent coupling of alpha amylase on (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) modified iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The nanobiocatalyst retains 77% of its activity as compared to free alpha amylase.

Screening of cyanobacterial extracts for synthesis of silver nanoparticles.

Improvement of reliable and eco-friendly process for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is a significant step in the field of application nanotechnology. One approach that shows vast potential is based on the biosynthesis of nanoparticles using micro-organisms. In this study, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using 30 cyanobacteria were investigated.

Cellulase assisted synthesis of nano-silver and gold: Application as immobilization matrix for biocatalysis.

In the present study, we report in vitro synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) using cellulase enzyme in a single step reaction. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-VIS spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Spectroscopy (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Circular Dichroism (CD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). UV-visible studies shows absorption band at 415nm and 520nm for silver and gold NPs respectively due to surface plasmon resonance.

Immobilization of cellulase on TiO2 nanoparticles by physical and covalent methods: a comparative study.

Immobilization of cellulase from Aspergillus niger on TiO2 nanoparticles was studied by two different approaches--physical adsorption and covalent coupling. A. niger was selected, as it is generally non-pathogenic, is found in nature in the broad range of habitats and produces cellulase extracellulary.

Alpha amylase assisted synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles: structural characterization and application as antibacterial agents.

The enzyme alpha amylase was used as the sole reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) methods. The XRD data confirms the monophasic crystalline nature of the nanoparticles formed.

Immobilization of enzymes by bioaffinity layering.

Bioaffinity immobilization exploits the affinity of the enzyme to a macro-(affinity ligand). Such a macro-(affinity ligand) could be a lectin, a water-soluble polymer, or a bioconjugate of a water-soluble polymer and the appropriate affinity ligand. Successive layering of the enzyme and the macro-(affinity ligand) on a matrix allows deposition of a large amount of enzyme activity on a small surface.

Evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles.

In the present study silver nanoparticles (silver(np)) were synthesized from AgNO3 through simple green routes using either purified Alpha Amylase or aqueous leaf extracts of Ashoka and Neem respectively. The use of plant extract/enzyme for synthesis of nanoparticles is a single-step, cost effective and eco-friendly process. The silver(np) obtained by these three different ways were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, DLS, TEM, XRD and FTIR.

Preparation, characterization and biocatalytic activity of a nanoconjugate of alpha amylase and silver nanoparticles.

The primary challenge in developing nanoparticle based enzymatic devices is to be able to chemically immobilize an enzyme, which will retain its activity or improve its function while being attached to the nanoparticle. This would be of even greater significance if the whole process could be performed under benign conditions without having to resort to functionalization of key molecules at various steps. In the present study the conjugates of amylase and silver nanoparticles were synthesized using neem leaf extract as the reducing and stabilizing agent.