Triphenylphosphonium conjugated gold nanotriangles impact Pi3K/AKT pathway in breast cancer cells: a photodynamic therapy approach.

Although gold nanoparticles based photodynamic therapy (PDT) were reported to improve efficacy and specificity, the impact of surface charge in targeting cancer is still a challenge. Herein, we report gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) tuned with anionic and cationic surface charge conjugating triphenylphosphonium (TPP) targeting breast cancer cells with 5-aminoleuvinic acid (5-ALA) based PDT, in vitro. Optimized surface charge of AuNTs with and without TPP kill breast cancer cells.

Environmental impact assessment of algal bloom Noctiluca scintillans in the Mandapam group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Southeast coast of India.

The present investigation accounts for the environmental impact assessment of an intense algal bloom caused by the dinoflagellate Noctilucas scintillans. The bloom was first observed on the 10 of September 2019, in the vicinity of the Mandapam group of Islands, spreading from Rameswaram Coast in the North (9° 14' 15″ N, 79° 9' 46″ E) to Hare Island in the South (9° 14' 51″ N, 79° 5' 48″ E). The coastal waters in and around the Mandapam region appeared dark green, and the microscopic examination of the water sample revealed the presence of N.

Water quality assessment and occurrence of seagrass associated pen shell Pinna bicolor (Gmelin, 1791) and Pinna deltodes (Menke, 1843) in Pudupattinam Coastal Area, Palk Bay, South East Coast, India.

Pen shell species such as Pinna bicolor and Pinna deltodes are found in the muddy region associated with intertidal seagrass in the coastal area of Pudupattinam. The pen shell is one of the sources of animal protein-rich, thereby encouraging the community of pen shells and their study worldwide. The water samples were collected for a year between January to December 2016 and analysed.

Extraction, identification, and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in commercial toothpaste.

Microplastics in personal care and food products are given much importance globally due to the adverse impact of microplastics on living beings. In the present study, microplastics from ten different commercially sold toothpaste in India were extracted by vacuum filtration and characterized with microscopic and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Results revealed that colorless fragments and fibers were the microparticle types of common occurrence which ranged from 0.

Greener production of compost from agricultural biomass residues amended with mule dung for agronomic application.

In this study agro-waste (Agwt) was aerobically composted using cow dung (CD) and mule dung (MD). Totally six different sets of compost treatments were prepared, as T1 (Agwt + CD, 1:1), T2 (Agwt + MD, 1:1), T3 (Agwt + CD, 1:3), T4 (Agwt + MD, 1:3), T5 (Agwt + CD, 3:1) and T6 (Agwt + MD, 3:1) in individual containers. All the compost treatments were degraded for 90 days.

Metallothionein dependent-detoxification of heavy metals in the agricultural field soil of industrial area: Earthworm as field experimental model system.

Earthworms are known to reclaim soil contamination and maintain soil health. In the present study, the concentration of DTPA extractable heavy metals, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn in vermicasts and tissues of the earthworms (anecic: Lampito mauritii; epigeic: Drawida sulcata) collected from the soils of four different industrial sites, Site-I (Sago industry), Site-II (Chemplast industry), Site-III (Dairy industry) and Site-IV (Dye industry) have been studied. The heavy metals in industrial soils recorded were 0.

Earthworm intervened nutrient recovery and greener production of vermicompost from Ipomoea staphylina - An invasive weed with emerging environmental challenges.

The invasive weed, Ipomoea staphylina (IS) with cow dung (CD) and mushroom spent straw (MS) in four different combinations (IS:CD:MS), V1 (1:1:0), V2 (2:1:1), V3 (1:0:1) and V4 (1:1:1) were pre-decomposed for 21 days followed by 50 days vermicomposting using Eudrilus eugeniae in triplicates in order to alleviate and to utilize the weed biomass in an environment-friendly manner. The contents of organic matter, organic carbon, cellulose, lignin, C/N and C/P ratios showed a decrease, while electrical conductivity, total NPK, calcium, sodium, and nitrate-nitrogen showed a significant increase in vermicompost over control. Water-soluble organic carbon to organic nitrogen ratio and C/N ratio in V1 (0.

Precomposting and green manure amendment for effective vermitransformation of hazardous coir industrial waste into enriched vermicompost.

Vermitransformation of coir pith (CP) into enriched vermifertilizer has been achieved by amending a green-manure plant, Sesbania sesban (SS) for the first time, and cow dung (CD) in five different combinations: T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. The substrates were 28 days precomposted with Pleurotus sajor-caju followed by 50 days vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae. Results showed a significant reduction in cellulose, lignin, organic carbon, C/N ratio, C/P ratio and an increase in plant nutrients compared to control.

Earthworms and vermicompost: an eco-friendly approach for repaying nature's debt.

The steady increase in the world's population has intensified the need for crop productivity, but the majority of the agricultural practices are associated with adverse effects on the environment. Such undesired environmental outcomes may be mitigated by utilizing biological agents as part of farming practice. The present review article summarizes the analyses of the current status of global agriculture and soil scenarios; a description of the role of earthworms and their products as better biofertilizer; and suggestions for the rejuvenation of such technology despite significant lapses and gaps in research and extension programs.

Biomimetic gold nanoparticles for its cytotoxicity and biocompatibility evidenced by fluorescence-based assays in cancer (MDA-MB-231) and non-cancerous (HEK-293) cells.

Biomimetic gold nanoparticles of biological origin have created a significant impact on the field of biomedicine due to the great expectations of its applications. Because of this, the influences of biomimetic gold nanoparticles have been immensely studied, targeting various cancer cells. However, the impact of biomimetic gold nanoparticles against normal non-cancerous cells is scanty, which impose several limitations in their utility.

Vermiconversion of biowastes with low-to-high C/N ratio into value added vermicompost.

Seaweed (T1), sugarcane trash (T2), coir pith (T3) and vegetable waste (T4) with cowdung (1:1, w/w) were vermicomposted using Eudrilus eugeniae (50 days). The pH in vermicomposts showed a decrease while electrical conductivity showed increment. The organic matter content, organic carbon, lignin, cellulose, C/N and C/P ratios in vermicompost was significantly lower than compost.