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Biosynthesis of CuFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposite: Ultrasensitive detection and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Due to the dearth of extremely capable, sensitive, and stable catalysts, the efficient detection and catalytic removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in industrial wastewater remains a serious challenge. The detection and determination of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) presence in the environment is a matter of paramount importance because it is a high-priority hazardous pollutant that can affect people, animals, and plants. Here, we present a promising and economically viable green synthetic route for fabricating CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4@Ag hybrid nanocomposites from the leaf extract of Senna didymobotrya. The UVVis, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDXA, BET and VSM analysis were performed to characterize the synthesis of CuFe2O4@Ag nanocomposite. To evaluate the electrocatalytic capacity of CuFe2O4@Ag, electrochemical sensing stratergy was performed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The modified CuFe2O4@Ag glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (CuFe2O4@Ag/GCE) demonstrated a linear response in the range of 0.01-15 ?g/ml (71 nm-107 ?M) and the ability to detect 4-NP at low concentration (0.006 ?g/ml (43 nM)). Due to the increased surface area of CuFe2O4@Ag/GCE by ? 1.5-fold, a greater cathodic current response (-16 ?A/cm2) at a low potential of -0.81 V was observed compared to CuFe2O4/GCE alone for the detection of 4-NP. Additonally, CuFe2O4@Ag showed excellent reduction ability towards 4-NP using NaBH4 with an efficiency of 96.4 % which was higher than the CuFe2O4 (only 87.3 %) in 12 min due to the synergistic relationship among Ag NPs and CuFe2O4 nanostructures. The outcomes from this study shows that the bi-functional electrocatalyst holds vast potential for environmental remediation. 2024 The Author(s) -
Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites Using Phytogenic Nanoparticles
Heavy metals (HMs) accumulate in milieu due to various human activities that persist leading to biomagnification in food chains and cause unpleasant effects on human health and environment. Pollutants such as organic matter and HMs are reme-diated traditionally by chemical precipitation, electrochemical treatment, adsorption, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, coagulation, and photo-catalyzation, remained inef-fective. Use of nanomaterials conjugated with various compounds showed significant reduction in several contaminated sites. However, existing implication of nanotech-nology works with nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis majorly involved the use of chem-ical raw materials and physical methods which are relatively toxic and unstable. Aforesaid difficulties made researchers and entrepreneurs to reconnoitre effective, newer, and novel synthesis approaches for the replacement over older version. During the past decade, to overcome these issues plant-derived NPs are extensively used because of its less cost, efficiency, and eco-friendly in nature. Hence, advanced alternative technology like phytoremediation using nanomaterials with innovative techniques has been a boon for HM remediation. Efficiency of green synthesized NPs is based on redox reactions which makes metals stable facilitated by flavonoids and polyphenols responding to HM-stress. Several metal complexation processes are known to produce phytochelatins or other metal-chelating peptides helping the biore-mediation of HMs. Current chapter throws light on adaptive mechanism employed by NPs coupled with plant or microbial extracts in overcoming the HM stress. Further-more, here we also focus on the possible mechanism and interaction between NPs and HM in minimizing severity of polluted sites with many examples. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022. -
Bioremediation of Antibiotics as a Pollutant in Soil
The discovery of antibiotics had been a major breakthrough in the field of medicine. Apart from its use in treating disease, it is been used extensively in agricul-tural fields and animal husbandry to improve livestock and crop yield. Improper and overuse of antibiotics have found a route in the food chain and has accumulated in environmental resources like water and soil. This is of serious concern as it leads to the development of drug-resistant microorganisms which is a global threat and also alters the microbial diversity as they are bacteriostatic and bactericidal. Bioaugmen-tation and Biostimulation approaches are effective in the degradation of antibiotics in soil. For enhanced degradation of antibiotics consortia, engineered microbes and enzyme-mediated methods are feasible methods for effective remediation of antibi-otics in soil. Currently, extensive research on the bioremediation of antibiotics is carried out as they are cost-effective and eco-friendly. The present chapter deals with various contamination sources of antibiotics in soil, adverse effects of antibiotics in soil, different bioremediation approaches, and mechanisms, and regulations in the use of antibiotics. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. -
Bioremediation and Detoxification of Asbestos from Soil
Asbestos is referred to as magic mineral and used as excellent building material. It finds its application in wide range of products such as floor tiles, pipes, paper, rope, cloth, insulated partition board, etc. On average, India uses 3, 50, 000 tons of asbestos annually and asbestos fibers readily undergo weathering releasing them into soil, water and air. Occupational and environmental exposure to this asbestos is leading to asbestosis (asbestos-related disease), lung cancer, and heart failure. Considering the serious health risk, countries like Australia, Brazil, and Canada had banned the use of asbestos. As asbestos is extensively used in construction of buildings, the demolished materials are dumped in the soil and thus it finds its route in soil as pollutant. Soil borne microbes like bacteria, fungi and lichens are found to be best means to reduce the toxicity of asbestos. These microorganisms remove iron from asbestos and reduce its toxicity. Another most effective bioremediation approach is phytoremediation to clean up the soil wherein vegetative cover on contaminated soil can remove iron and breaks down asbestos as source of inorganic nutrient. The main advantage of phytoremediation is that it can be extended to any geographical area where plants can grow. This chapter emphasizes various means of use and disposal of asbestos, followed by various means of bioremediation using microbes and plants and as an alternate for the sustainable soil condition. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, corrected publication 2022. -
Bioreactor systems for micropropagation of plants: present scenario and future prospects
Plant micropropagation has been adapted in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and other related fields for large-scale production of elite plants. The use of liquid media and adoption of bioreactors have escalated the production of healthy plants. Several liquid-phase, gas-phase, temporary immersion, and other modified bioreactors have been used for plant propagation. The design, principle, operational mode, merits, and demerits of various bioreactors used for the regeneration of propagules, such as bulblets, cormlets, rhizomes, microtubers, shoots (subsequent rooting), and somatic embryos, are discussed here. In addition, various parameters that affect plant regeneration are discussed with suitable examples. Copyright 2023 Murthy, Joseph, Paek and Park. -
Bioreactor configurations for adventitious root culture: recent advances toward the commercial production of specialized metabolites
In vitro plant cell and organ cultures are appealing alternatives to traditional methods of producing valuable specialized metabolites for use as: pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, perfumes, and agricultural chemicals. Cell cultures have been adopted for the production of specialized metabolites in certain plants. However, in certain other systems, adventitious roots are superior to cell suspension cultures as they are organized structures that accumulate high levels of specialized metabolites. The cultivation of adventitious roots has been investigated in various bioreactor systems, including: mechanically agitated, pneumatically agitated, and modified bioreactors. The main relevance and importance of this work are to develop a long-lasting industrial biotechnological technology as well as to improve the synthesis of these metabolites from the plant in vitro systems. These challenges are exacerbated by: the peculiarities of plant cell metabolism, the complexity of specialized metabolite pathways, the proper selection of bioreactor systems, and bioprocess optimization. This reviews major objective is to analyze several bioreactor types for the development of adventitious roots, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type of bioreactor, and to describe the strategies used to increase the synthesis of specialized metabolites. This review also emphasizes current advancements in the field, and successful instances of scaled-up cultures and the generation of specialized metabolites for commercial purposes are also covered. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Bioprospecting Soil Bacteria for Protease Production Using Agro-Waste: Toward Sustainable Detergent Formulations
Purpose: Microbial proteases, particularly from soil-dwelling Bacillus species, are preferred over plant- and animal-derived enzymes due to their high yield, stability, and cost-effectiveness for large-scale production in industries. This study aimed to isolate and characterize potent protease-producing bacteria from soil and explore their application in developing a sustainable, bio-based stain remover. The formulation incorporates waste (citrus fruit peel and flower), promoting the valorization of agro-waste as part of a sustainable waste management strategy. Methods and Results: Soil samples collected from market waste disposal sites in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, yielded eight distinct bacterial isolates, among which strain S-5 showed the highest proteolytic activity on skimmed milk agar. Molecular identification confirmed the isolate as Bacillus aerius based on 16S rRNA sequencing.The crude enzyme extract obtained after 48h of incubation exhibited maximum proteolytic activity at pH 11, with an activity of 0.928U/mL. This confirms that enzyme production improves at higher pH levels. A biodegradable stain remover was prepared by combining the crude protease extract with citrus peel extract in water and ethanol formulations. The prepared formulation effectively removed oil, paint, and dye stains from cotton cloth within 20min of treatment without mechanical rubbing, whereas control samples showed minimal stain removal. Ethanol-based formulations demonstrated higher cleaning efficiency compared to water-based extracts, showing extensive stain removal in all replicates, while control treatments showed only minor or minimal removal. Conclusion: The integration of microbial proteases from soil-derived bacteria with agro-waste components produced an eco-friendly stain remover, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical detergents and promoting waste valorization in circular economy-based green product development. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2026. -
Bioprospecting of Fungal Endophytes in Hulimavu Lake for Their Repertoire of Bioactive Compounds
Fungal endophytes hold a prominent position in the research world, in part due to the rich repertoire of bioactive compounds useful for industrial and environmental applications. The present study aims at bioprospecting few endophytic fungi isolated from Hulimavu lake flora (Bengaluru) for characterization of biological applications of their bioactive compounds. Among the lake plants screened, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Ricinus communis and Persicaria glabra were taken forward for isolation of fungal endophytes. Subsequent biochemical analyses were performed to quantify few fungal enzymes and bioactive compounds, followed by antimicrobial and cytotoxic assays. In conclusion, this pilot study aims to probe the plethora of bioactive compounds present in fungal endophytes that possess wide ranging biological properties. Due to the species richness and diversity of fungal endophytes across different host plants and habitats, bioprospecting fungal endophytes remains a very extensive yet promising topic for research, representing broad ranging environmental and industrial applications. The Electrochemical Society -
Bioprospecting of fish scale waste as a cost effective substrate for crude protease production using Stenotrophomonas koreensis SH32 and its multifunctional applications: A sustainable strategy for circular bioeconomy
In this study Stenotrophomonas koreensis SH32 bacterial strain previously isolated from waste dumped soil was screened for protease production through qualitative and quantitative methods. The protease enzyme production in based media was optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimised conditions 295.11 IU/mL of protease activity was recorded from the crude enzyme that marked a 5.76 fold increase in protease activity as compared to unoptimised condition (51.21 IU/mL). The crude enzyme was further explored for its dehairing activity using goat skin, destaining activity using chicken blood stained cloth and metal recovery property from old X-ray films. Further the plant growth promoting characteristics and antagonistic activity of the proteolytic strain against common phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated. The results suggested that the bacteria was positive for indole acetic acid, siderophore and ammonia production. The bacterial culture also showed antagonism against Cladosporium tennuisimum, Talaromyces albobiverticillius and Fusarium solani. The plant growth promotion activity of the bacteria was further confirmed by plant growth test using Solanum lycopersicum amended with fish scale hydrolysate produced through bacterial fermentation. A significant increase in length (8.3 cm) was observed in plants treated with fish scale hydrolysate as compared to the control (6.5 cm). 2025 -
Biopolymers as promising vehicles for drug delivery to the brain
The brain is a privileged organ, tightly guarded by a network of endothelial cells, pericytes, and glial cells called the blood brain barrier. This barrier facilitates tight regulation of the transport of molecules, ions, and cells from the blood to the brain. While this feature ensures protection to the brain, it also presents a challenge for drug delivery for brain diseases. It is, therefore, crucial to identify molecules and/or vehicles that carry drugs, cross the blood brain barrier, and reach targets within the central nervous system. Biopolymers are large polymeric molecules obtained from biological sources. In comparison with synthetic polymers, biopolymers are structurally more complex and their 3D architecture makes them biologically active. Researchers are therefore investigating biopolymers as safe and efficient carriers of brain-targeted therapeutic agents. In this article, we bring together various approaches toward achieving this objective with a note on the prospects for biopolymer-based neurotherapeutic/neurorestorative/neuroprotective interventions. Finally, as a representative paradigm, we discuss the potential use of nanocarrier biopolymers in targeting protein aggregation diseases. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Bioparametric Investigation of Mutant Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2414 Extracellular Laccase Production under Solid State Fermentation
This work has been undertaken to investigate the bio parameters such as various substrates, initial moisture level, inoculum size, pH, incubation temperature, incubation period, metal ions and nitrogen sources effect on the production of laccase in solid-state fermentation using mutant Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2414. The laccase production was observed with a sesame oil cake (183.32 0.29 U/g), initial moisture level 80% (189.28 0.52 U/ g), inoculum size 1.5% (196.12 0.26 U/g), initial pH 8 (215.20 0.48 U/g), incubation temperature 37C (225.80 0.52 U/g), incubation period 48h (258.80 0.29 U/g), CuSO4 (263.16 0.12 U/g) and yeast extract (268.14 0.16 U/g) in the production medium. 2018, Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy. All rights reserved. -
Bionanosensors in the Detection of Foodborne Microbial Pathogens
Food safety is of paramount importance especially in this era of extensive use of packaged and processed foods. The reasons for this are manifoldpathogens becoming more resilient and resistant and evolving at higher rates. The conventional ways of detection demands sophisticated instruments, time, trained personnel etc. Hence there is a dire need to devise user-friendly, highly sensitive and low-cost biosensors for foodborne microbial detection be it in fresh unprocessed plant products or processed food items. Nanobiosensors (NBS) owing to their high sensitivity, small size, very high surf to volume ratio which when combined with high accuracy optical imaging offer promising solutions to this global public health concern. The present review gives a glimpse of the latest technologies in the field of NBS in food borne microbial detection which includes graphene nanomaterials, quantum dot nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles and metal organic frameworks, carbon dots etc. The advantages of these NBSs, possible problems which can come up while upscaling the technique and its potential applications are also discussed. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026. -
Bionanosensors in the Detection of Foodborne Microbial Pathogens
Food safety is of paramount importance especially in this era of extensive use of packaged and processed foods. The reasons for this are manifoldpathogens becoming more resilient and resistant and evolving at higher rates. The conventional ways of detection demands sophisticated instruments, time, trained personnel etc. Hence there is a dire need to devise user-friendly, highly sensitive and low-cost biosensors for foodborne microbial detection be it in fresh unprocessed plant products or processed food items. Nanobiosensors (NBS) owing to their high sensitivity, small size, very high surf to volume ratio which when combined with high accuracy optical imaging offer promising solutions to this global public health concern. The present review gives a glimpse of the latest technologies in the field of NBS in food borne microbial detection which includes graphene nanomaterials, quantum dot nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles and metal organic frameworks, carbon dots etc. The advantages of these NBSs, possible problems which can come up while upscaling the technique and its potential applications are also discussed. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026. -
Bionanoparticles Impact on Human Health, an In Vitro and In Vivo Status
In the hunt for a safe replacement for hazardous conventional nanoparticles that are applied in biomedicine field, bionanoparticles are known to be the ideal choice. The term bionanoparticles refers to nanoparticles made using biomolecules or that use a biomolecule to enclose or immobilize a more conventional nanomaterial. For the creation of bionanoparticles, biomolecules are taken from bacteria, plants, agricultural wastes, insects, marine life, and some mammals. Bionanoparticles, possess unique qualities with lot of potential that make them applicable in different field such as, pharmacy, aerospace engineering, biosensors, material sciences and so on. These bionanoparticles have improved biocompatibility, bioavailability, and bioreactivity and display minimal or insignificant toxic effects in humans, animals, and at the environment level. Nanoparticles can be introduced into the body either by biomedical procedures as a part of treatment, diagnosis, or the application of cosmetics. The mode of entry is usually via intravenous, intradermal, intramuscular and peritoneal injections. Unintentional entry of nanoparticles is a result of environmental pollution or accidental release. The effect of bionanoparticles on human health received much importance as they are biologically synthesized and biocompatible. The goal of this chapter is to review human exposure to bionanoparticles with an emphasis on the effects on human cells and animal models. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shakeel Ahmed; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Bionanomaterials in Improving Food Quality and Safety
Current inventions in the area of nanotechnology opened several transformations in scientific and industrial sectors. One such rapidly developing technology gets a lot of application in the food industrys changing the culture of food cultivation to its several branches, like production, processing, packaging, preservation, detection of foodborne pathogens, transportation, shelf life and bioavailability of its valuable nutrients. Far smaller in size and in surface area is strongly related to its stability in terms of chemical and biological activities. Hence, food nanotechnology empowers advancement in several novel bio-nanomaterials with an extensive choice towards potential applications. Nanotechnology benefits the food industry in several ways: to extend and predictable for the growth due to recent and swiftly developing technology influences the characteristic of the food products, which should not get exposed to human and microbial activities. Therefore, implication of bio-nanomaterials in food-related industries pose a significant contribution for economy and also a key community concern. The involvement of nanotechnology throughout the life cycle of food processing, storage, transportation, safety, and potential benefits to mankind are also briefly reviewed in this chapter. Acceptance of nano-based ingredients by the public in various phases of the food business and their associated safety and regulatory measures pertaining to food items can be improved by many methods of nanotechnology. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shakeel Ahmed; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Bionanomaterials in Food Applications and their Risk Assessment
Nanotechnology has increased impressively during the last decade for their diverse potential uses in food, environment, medical, sustainable energy and so forth. Nanomaterial synthesis by chemical methods has unintended properties on the ecological pollution and also effect on human welfare. To overcome these challenges green synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) has been used from plants and animals. The green synthesized NPs include gold (Au NPs), copper (Cu NPs), silver (AgNPs), iron and its oxides (Fe NPs). Abundant microbes and plants are used for the synthesizing NPs that are eco-friendly, cost effective and potentially safe. Further, these can be constructed using agri-food waste sources such as agricultural crops, fruits and vegetables, cereals, oil cakes, alcoholic beverages, and so forth, for synthesizing sustainable NPs, reducing environmental issues. These green synthesized metallic NPs needs to be further characterized for the synthesis, factors affecting the parameters and their potential applications in various fields with major challenges that needs to be researched such as toxicity and translational research. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shakeel Ahmed; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Bionanomaterials in Environmental Protection
The advent of globalization with ongoing anthropogenic actions has increased the rate of contaminants worsening aquatic, soil, and air systems, with increasing concern throughout the world. The several problems posed by these pollutants have endangered the environment as well as humans, leading to the application tasks of various conventional methods options to remove the pollutants. However, these technologies are costlier, of long duration, increasing energy consumption and also leading to toxins production. Nanotechnology, a newer method, has created a significant role in solving specific qualitative and quantitative, environmental issues of treating air, water, and soil by detection and removal of pollutants. Nanoparticles (NP) are low-cost, less energy consuming, eco-friendly and have higher efficiency rates. Nanosorbent, nanofiltration, nanocatalytic, and nanosensors methods have been used for the treatment of waste waters, air, and pollutant detection. There are different physical and chemical treatment options that have been employed for the synthesis of NPs, such as microwave heating and ultrasound methods. However recent decades have emphasized the green synthesis involving plant extracts and microbial sources due to their sustainability. Green synthesized NPs have gained immense interest due to their simplicity and relatively high reproducibility. In view of their capabilities, bionanomaterials can be used for eliminating pollutants and toxins, helping to maintain and spread a greener and cleaner environment. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shakeel Ahmed; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Biomimicry : An approach to sustainable architecture and design /
International Journal of Life Sciences Research, Vol.7, Issue 1, pp.318-323, ISSN No: 2348-3148. -
Biometrically activated self defense devixe for women safety /
Patent Number: 201941043621, Applicant: Dr. Debabrata Samanta.
The present invention is related to biometrically activated self-defense device for women safety. The wearable personal self-defense and altering device, comprises a biometric unit, and portable source of electrical energy, an electric discharge unit and a processing unit configured to connect a mobile computing device. The device discharge high voltage against the person attack or try to attack to user and sends the navigation location & alert message to the associated mobile computing device on the instruction of the user. -
Biomedical Waste Management: Legal and Regulatory Framework and Remedial Strategies
The present chapter begins with conceptual analysis of legal and regulatory framework from Indian as well as international perspectives. Follow through comparative analysis of Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-Boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal, 1992; Convention on the Import into Africa and the Control of Trans-Boundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa, Bamako, 1998; Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Stockholm 2004; with Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 and (Amendment 2018) of India. The chapter also presents the legal and regulatory frameworks from the perspective of the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka as case studies. The chapter focuses on addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). 2025 Moharana Choudhury, Ankur Rajpal, Srijan Goswami, Arghya Chakravorty and Vimala Raghavan.