Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density.

Microplastics are of concern due to their potential environmental risks. This research aims to find the effect of land use (agriculture, urban, and aquaculture) and population density on the abundance of microplastics contaminated with heavy metals in surface water and sediment of the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. Results indicated that population density is directly correlated with increased microplastic abundance.

Biosensors integrated 3D organoid/organ-on-a-chip system: A real-time biomechanical, biophysical, and biochemical monitoring and characterization.

As a full-fidelity simulation of human cells, tissues, organs, and even systems at the microscopic scale, Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) has significant ethical advantages and development potential compared to animal experiments. The need for the design of new drug high-throughput screening platforms and the mechanistic study of human tissues/organs under pathological conditions, the evolving advances in 3D cell biology and engineering, etc., have promoted the updating of technologies in this field, such as the iteration of chip materials and 3D printing, which in turn facilitate the connection of complex multi-organs-on-chips for simulation and the further development of technology-composite new drug high-throughput screening platforms.

Electrochemical Nano-Imprinting of Trimetallic Dendritic Surface for Ultrasensitive Detection of Cephalexin in Pharmaceutical Formulations.

Cephalexin (CFX), a first-generation cephalosporin, is used to treat various infectious diseases. Although antibiotics have achieved considerable progress in the eradication of infectious diseases, their incorrect and excessive usage has contributed to various side effects, such as mouth soreness, pregnancy-related pruritus, and gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, epigastric discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea, and haematuria. In addition to this, it also causes antibiotic resistance, one of the most pressing problems in the medical field.

Clinically Deployable Bioelectronic Sensing Platform for Ultrasensitive Detection of Transferrin in Serum Sample.

Varying levels of transferrin (Tf) have been associated with different disease conditions and are known to play a crucial role in various malignancies. Regular monitoring of the variations in Tf levels can be useful for managing related diseases, especially for the prognosis of certain cancers. We fabricated an immunosensor based on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to indirectly detect Tf levels in cancer patients.

Fungicidal activity of novel quinazolin-6-ylcarboxylates and mode of action on Botrytis cinerea.

Background: Fungal diseases remain important causes of crop failure and economic losses. As the resistance toward current selective fungicides becomes increasingly problematic, it is necessary to develop efficient fungicides with novel chemotypes.

Results: A series of novel quinazolin-6-ylcarboxylates which combined the structures of pyridine or heterocyclic motif and the N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)quinazolin-4-amine moiety, a binding group of ATP-binding site of gefitinib, were evaluated for their fungicidal activity on different phytopathogenic fungi.

Tapping on the Potential of Hyaluronic Acid: from Production to Application.

The manufacture, purification, and applications of hyaluronic acid (HA) are discussed in this article. Concerning the growing need for affordable, high-quality HA, it is essential to consider diverse production techniques using renewable resources that pose little risk of cross-contamination. Many microorganisms can now be used to produce HA without limiting the availability of raw materials and in an environmentally friendly manner.

Moving towards the enhancement of extracellular electron transfer in electrogens.

Electrogens are very common in nature and becoming a contemporary theme for research as they can be exploited for extracellular electron transfer. Extracellular electron transfer is the key mechanism behind bioelectricity generation and bioremediation of pollutants via microbes. Extracellular electron transfer mechanisms for electrogens other than Shewanella and Geobacter are less explored.

Selective vitamins as potential options for dietary therapeutic interventions: In silico and In vitro insights from mutant C terminal fragment of FGA.

We have used an integrated computational approach to explore the role of vitamin C and vitamin D in preventing aggregation of Fibrinogen A alpha-chain (FGA) protein responsible for renal amyloidosis. We modelled structures of E524K / E526K mutants of FGA protein and examined the potential interactions of these mutants with vitamin C and vitamin D3. Interaction of these vitamins at the amyloidogenic site may prevent the intermolecular interaction required for amyloid formation.

Industrial bioelectrochemistry for waste valorization: State of the art and challenges.

Bioelectrochemistry has gained importance in recent years for some of its applications on waste valorization, such as wastewater treatment and carbon dioxide conversion, among others. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the applications of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for waste valorization in the industry, identifying current limitations and future perspectives of this technology. BESs are classified according to biorefinery concepts into three different categories: (i) waste to power, (ii) waste to fuel and (iii) waste to chemicals.

Heavy Metal Contamination in the Aquatic Ecosystem: Toxicity and Its Remediation Using Eco-Friendly Approaches.

Urbanization and industrialization are responsible for environmental contamination in the air, water, and soil. These activities also generate large amounts of heavy metal ions in the environment, and these contaminants cause various types of health issues in humans and other animals. Hexavalent chromium, lead, and cadmium are toxic heavy metal ions that come into the environment through several industrial processes, such as tanning, electroplating, coal mining, agricultural activities, the steel industry, and chrome plating.

Is heterogeneity in large-scale bioreactors a real problem in recombinant protein synthesis by Pichia pastoris?

Culture medium heterogeneity is inherent in industrial bioreactors. The loss of mixing efficiency in a large-scale bioreactor yields to the formation of concentration gradients. Consequently, cells face oscillatory culture conditions that may deeply affect their metabolism.

Engineered Biosensors for Diagnosing Multidrug Resistance in Microbial and Malignant Cells.

To curtail pathogens or tumors, antimicrobial or antineoplastic drugs have been developed. These drugs target microbial/cancer growth and survival, thereby improving the host's health. In attempts to evade the detrimental effects of such drugs, these cells have evolved several mechanisms over time.

Nanobiosensors Design Using 2D Materials: Implementation in Infectious and Fatal Disease Diagnosis.

Nanobiosensors are devices that utilize a very small probe and any form of electrical, optical, or magnetic technology to detect and analyze a biochemical or biological process. With an increasing population today, nanobiosensors have become the broadly used electroanalytical tools for the timely detection of many infectious (dengue, hepatitis, tuberculosis, leukemia, etc.) and other fatal diseases, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, etc.

Drug Encapsulated Lipid-Polymeric Nanohybrid as a Chemo-therapeutic Platform of Cancer.

The focus of this research is to design a bioengineered drug delivery vehicle that is efficient in anti-cancer drug delivery in a controlled manner. The experimental work focuses on constructing a methotrexate-loaded nano lipid polymer system (MTX-NLPHS) that can transport methotrexate (MTX) in MCF-7 cell lines in a controlled manner through endocytosis via phosphatidylcholine. In this experiment, MTX is embedded with polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) in phosphatidylcholine, which acts as a liposomal framework for regulated drug delivery.

Personalized biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics: from bench to bedside applications.

The most significant feature of translational point-of-care technology "Personalized biosensors" is that it can be done quickly and by clinical staff who are not trained in clinical laboratory sciences. Rapid test results can quickly give a doctor or other medical worker answers that can help them decide what to do or how to treat a patient. This is helpful almost everywhere, from the emergency room to a patient getting care at home.

Polypyridyl Co -Curcumin Complexes as Photoactivated Anticancer and Antibacterial Agents.

Four new Co complexes, [Co(bpy) (acac)]Cl (1), [Co(phen) (acac)]Cl (2), [Co(bpy) (cur)]Cl (3), [Co(phen) (cur)]Cl (4), where bpy=2,2'-bipyridine (1 and 3), phen=1,10-phenanthroline (2 and 4), acac=acetylacetonate (1 and 2), cur=curcumin monoanion (3 and 4) have been designed, synthesized and fully characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of 1 and 2 indicated that the CoN O core has a distorted octahedral geometry. The photoactivity of these complexes was tuned by varying the π conjugation in the ligands.

Integrated computational and experimental approach for novel anti-leishmanial molecules by targeting Dephospho-coenzyme A kinase.

Coenzyme A acts as a necessary cofactor for many enzymes and is a part of many biochemical processes. One of the critical enzymes involved in Coenzyme A synthesis is Dephospho-coenzyme A-kinase (DPCK). In this study, we have used integrated computational and experimental approaches for promising inhibitors of DPCK using the natural products available in the ZINC database for anti-leishmanial drug development.

Carbon dioxide fixation and lipid storage of Scenedesmus sp. ASK22: A sustainable approach for biofuel production and waste remediation.

In this study, an airlift reactor (ALR) has been employed to evaluate the carbon dioxide fixation rate (Rc) and lipid yield (LY) of unicellular green microalgae Scenedesmus sp. ASK22, using dairy effluent as a biofuel feedstock. Independent process parameters (PPs) such as light intensity, CO concentration, and aeration rate and their effect on R and LY were revealed.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Ascorbyl Palmitate in a Rotating Bed Reactor.

Ascorbyl palmitate, an ascorbic acid ester, is an important amphipathic antioxidant that has several applications in foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The enzymatic synthesis of ascorbyl palmitate is very attractive, but few efforts have been made to address its process scale-up and implementation. This study aimed at evaluating the enzymatic synthesis of ascorbyl palmitate in a rotating basket reactor operated in sequential batches.

Development of a palm-sized bioelectronic sensing device for protein detection in milk samples.

The present study relates a portable optical sensing device supported by a small single-board (SBC) computer. The electronic architectural avenue connects the SBC with a camera, LED lights and a monitor. A 'sensor integration unit' has been linked with the device where the biological reactions were performed and assessed based on the concentration-dependent optical signal outputs.

Functional expression, localization, and biochemical characterization of thioredoxin glutathione reductase from air-breathing magur catfish, Clarias magur.

The glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (Trx) systems regulate cellular redox homeostasis and maintain antioxidant defense in most eukaryotes. We earlier reported the absence of gene coding for the glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme of the GSH system in the facultative air-breathing catfish, Clarias magur. Here, we identified three thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) genes, one of which was later confirmed as a thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR).

Gold nanostar and graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite for serotonin detection in biological fluids and human embryonic kidney cell microenvironment.

A nanosensor comprising of gold nanostars (Au-Nstars)-graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nanocomposite layered on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to detect serotonin (ST) in various body fluids has been fabricated. The nanocomposite and the sensing platform have been thoroughly characterized with UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDX), and electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The designed ST detection probe has achieved a linear dynamic range (LDR) in the range 5 × 10 and 1 × 10 M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 15.

Bioengineering of bone tissues using bioreactors for modulation of mechano-sensitivity in bone.

Since the last decade, significant developments have been made in the area of bone tissue engineering associated with the emergence of novel biomaterials as well as techniques of scaffold fabrication. Despite all these developments, the translation from research findings to clinical applications is still very limited. Manufacturing the designed tissue constructs in a scalable manner remains the most challenging aspect.

Apoptosis induction in leukemic cells by L-asparaginase preparation from : bench-scale production, purification and therapeutic application.

With the emergence of multiple side effects on the usage of commercial L-asparaginase formulations, keen interest is provoked to investigate new sources of L-asparaginases that possess antileukemic properties with minimal side effects. The present study reports the cost-effective bench-scale production, homogeneity purification and apoptosis induction potential of a new L-asparaginase preparation from against human leukemia cells. The enzyme is highly specific toward the natural substrate L-asparagine.