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A simplified scheme for the isolation of biosurfactant-producing actinomycetes from soils was developed using different combinations of pretreatments and selective media supplemented with antifungal agent, cycloheximide (0.1 g/l). Pretreatments using hot air-drying techniques as well as soil suspension in phosphate buffer solution (5 mM, pH 7.0) treated with peptone (6%) at 45 °C for 10 min proved to be effectual in decreasing the number of vegetative bacterial cells while preserving many actinomycetes spores. Out of 945 actinomycetes isolates collected from various types of soils, 126 isolates of distinct morphologies were screened for biosurfactant production and 28 isolates were proven positive with 18 from contaminated areas while 10 of the positive isolates were from relatively non-contaminated soils. The combination of coal-vitamin medium, supplemented with antifungal agent, cycloheximide (0.1 g/L), on soil samples treated with peptone (6%) and SDS (0.05%) in 5 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, produced the highest number of actinomycetes isolates recovery. Initial screenings for biosurfactant production using combination of microplate assay, drop collapse method, emulsification activity, and tributyrin agar test were found adequate for copious isolates as these methods also assessed for both low- and high-molecular mass biosurfactant types and worked well for high throughput screening analyses.

This study examined the impact of the number of laser shots on the quantity of ablated materials and the optical, structural, and morphological characteristics of WO3nanoparticles (NPs) produced via pulsed laser ablation utilizing a tungsten plate. Ablation medium used deionized water as the at fixed fluence of laser at 76.43 J/cm2. The ablation procedure was conducted using a 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and various laser shots of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 shots, respectively, at room temperature. The absorption analysis revealed an obvious correlation between the number of laser shots and the amount of material ablated. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) pictures provided evidence that the grain size of the resulting nanoparticles (NPs) increases as the number of laser pulses is increased. The UV–visible spectrum shows an absorbance rise and slight shift towards longer wavelengths (red shift). The result Photoluminescence produced a red shift as the number of laser pulses increases. Further, the X-ray pattern revealed a polycrystalline structure with a preferential orientation at the (220) plane, corresponding to a diffraction angle of 58.84°. The optical bandgap energy of WO3-NPs decreases as the number of laser pulses increases. These energies were calculated to be 3.45, 3.42, 3.34, 3.33, and 3.3 eV for 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 laser pulses, respectively. The photoluminescence results are consistent with the predicted bandgap values. The purpose of the research was to determine how the parameter laser, or the quantity of laser pulses, affected the optical, structural, and morphological characteristics of WO3nanoparticles created by pulsed laser ablation in a liquid medium. It was found that the concentration and size of WO3Nanoparticles increased with an increase in the number of laser pulses.

The coconut (Cocosnucifera) is renowned for its endocarp, commonly referred to as the coconut shell, which is believed to harbor a high concentration of silicon, potentially serving as a source for the production of silicon nanoparticles (SiO2NPs). This study demonstrated the synthesis of SiO2NPs derived from coconut shells and their application in the removal of metal contaminants, notably copper. SiO2NPs were synthesized with a recovery rate of 25.6%, yielding a white powder through the sol–gel method. Analysis via ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy revealed an absorbance peak maximum at 345 nm, indicative of strong surface plasmon resonance, thus confirming SiO2NPs formation. Morphological characterization conducted through field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) confirmed the smooth-faced nature of the SiO2NPs, presenting finely clumped particles with an average size of 62 nm. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses exhibited distinct peaks corresponding to oxygen (O) and silicon (Si), confirming SiO2NPs formation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the particles, with a 25% weight loss observed at 500 °C according to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Assessment of the adsorption capacity for heavy metals from water solutions by spiking various copper (II) sulfate concentrations indicated the highest adsorption rate at 0.05 M copper, diminishing with increased copper ion concentrations. Evaluations utilizing different SiO2NPs concentrations demonstrated optimal copper (Cu) removal efficiency at 0.2 g/mL SiO2NPs.

Murraya koenigii(curry leaves) is a herbal plant native to India and is primarily used as a flavouring agent in Indian cuisine as well as in many other South Asian cuisine. This study is focused on extracting the metabolites from the M. koenigiileaves collected from two different locations in Tamil Nadu, India, (Sample A is Tiruvallur and Sample B is Coimbatore) and assessing its antioxidant, antibacterial properties and the compounds were docked against various targets to evaluate its biological activity. The leaves were collected from two different areas in Tamil Nadu and the secondary metabolites were extracted by using three different polarity-based solvents; hexane, chloroform, and methanol were analyzed by GC–MS. The common compounds found in three different solvents for the Tiruvallur sample were caryophyllene, humulene, and β-eudesmene and those from Coimbatore were caryophyllene and humulene. Gram-negative bacteria like Chromobacterium violaceumand Pseudomonas aeruginosawere used to test the antibacterial activity of extracts from M. koenigiileaves. Hexane extracts of both samples showed higher resistance against the selected bacteria. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using FRAP, DPPH, NOS, and ABTS assay. It was observed that Sample A exhibited more free radical scavenging activity than Sample B. Molecular docking of selected compounds from the literature was carried out against various targets like human Superoxide Dismutase I (hSOD1) [PDB ID: 5YTO], S. aureusDNA gyrase [PDB ID: 4PLB], Human glucose transporter 4—GLUT4 [PDB ID: 7WSN], protein kinase b [PDB ID: 2FUM], Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 [PDB ID: 6GUE], Human HER2 (ERBB2) [PDB ID: 3PP0], and Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) [PDB ID: 5FTO]. Docking studies have also been carried out for the common compounds found in three solvents of the two samples. Thus, this study represents the presence of bioactive compounds with the number of biological activities in the M. koenigiileaves.

A Mach–Zehnder electro-optic modulator (MZM) was designed using AFM COMSOL software  and fabricate using pulse laser deposition method  in this work. A successful multilayer structure of (nanoSi/nano SiO/nano LiNbO3) was prepared at optimum condition that obtained previously using theoretical simulation. Two designs were simulated depended on millimeter scale and micrometer scale for device fabrication. The second design was depended for wave guide (WG) fabrication. The size of the utilized Si WG was in the range of 0.7–3 µm, the results show that effective index tended to increase as the thickness and width of the Si WG increased, however, upon the addition of the LN layer, the effective index values decreased. The effective mode area increased in both MZM and MZM–LN devices alongside the Si WG width increment. In contrast, the effective mode area exhibited a reduction in the acquired values as the Si WG thickness increased. In the confinement variation, high confinement was noticed at a low Si WG width, while a high-order mode and low confinement were observed at a larger width. Refractive index of (Δn≥0.13) is required to achieve 100 GHz electrical modulation bandwidth, and a device length of 2 cm produced significant figure of merit (Vπ·L) values in the range of 2.12–2.25.

An unclad single mode fiber-optic sensor operating at 650 nm was designed and simulated by using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS Finite Element Method and utilized the effect of surface plasmon resonance of the gold nanoparticle (Au NP). Au NPs (40 nm thickness) were deposited on the fiber core. The fiber then is immersed in different liquids of different refractive indices (air, water, colon tissue, and liver tissue) at the thickness of (3 μm). The performances of the sensor were determined at analyte refractive index range from na = 1.00027632 to 1.3753. The wavelength sensitivity and resolution of the sensor was found to reached its maximum at 4301.07527(nm/RIU) for colon tissue with the resolution of 2.33 × 1 0–5(RIU).

A photo-electrochemical etching method was employed to fabricate the porous silicon (PSi) substrate meticulously. Next, a thin layer of a high quality aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) target was precisely produced at 532 nm of laser wavelength, 50:50% of Al2O3and GaN, 300 ⁰C of substrate temperature and different laser energies (600–1000 mJ) on this porous Si (PSi) substrate using the pulsed laser deposition process. By using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was possible to identify the unique crystalline structure of the AlGaN thin film at 900 mJ of AlGaN structure with an average crystallite size of 23.2 nm. These diffraction angles, which correspond to the planes (002), (002), (101), and (103) plane, are 34.5⁰, 34.58⁰, 36.1⁰, and 36.13⁰, respectively. This method of deposition effectively enhanced the surface morphology and film quality. When examined with an atomic force microscope, oval particles were evenly distributed throughout the whole surface (AFM). The values of root mean square and average surface roughness increased from 600 to 900 mJ laser energy but decreased at 1000 mJ laser energy. Using a field emission scanning microscope (FESEM), images of the aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) layer deposited at 532 nm wavelength showed a uniformly covered porous silicon substrate. This proved that the spherical particles were distributed smoothly and uniformly. The thickness of the generated AlGaN nanofilms using 900 mJ laser energy during the PLD process was found to be roughly 2.426 μm. The AlGaN nanofilms were found to exhibit UV bands (345.9, 358.3, 361.2, 363.4, and 366.8 nm). Additionally, the AlGaN nanofilms produced with 900 mJ laser energy have a wavelength of 363.4 nm and an energy gap of 3.41 eV, which is closer than other laser energies to the theoretical value of E of GaN of 3.4 eV, all these results gives an indication to use the deposited AlGaN nanostructures in optoelectronic devices ans different sensors.

This study examines the impact of thermal annealing on ZnO nanorods produced by vapour phase transport. Nanorods were annealed at temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C. It has been demonstrated through X-ray diffraction that the annealing process led to an increase in crystalline size from 34 to 51 nm, indicating improved crystallinity. The optical bandgap decreased from 3.28 to 3.22 eV as a result of defect minimization during annealing. Due to increased crystallinity and fewer defects, annealing increased the dark conductivity from 0.8 to 2 S/cm, as shown by electrical experiments. After annealing, the photosensitivity increased from 10 to 35 and the responsivity rose from 0.18 to 0.48 A/W. The quantitative results demonstrate that annealing modifies the physical properties of ZnO nanorods and improves their photodetection capabilities.

Optoelectronics devices and applications based on optical fibers become very popular in many applications. In this work, pure and doped Gold nanorods have been ablated at different pulsed laser wavelengths of 532 nm and 1064 nm, using pulse laser ablation in the liquid by using tattoo removal Nd: YAG laser (nanosecond pulses). The structural, morphological, optical, and photoluminescence properties of the ablated nanorods are studied and analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Ultraviolet–Visible test, and PL tests. The obtained results showed that the results of using the shorter wavelength (second harmonic generation) of the laser used in ablation were the best in all tests and analyses. The obtained by using the second harmonic generation was the highest intensity and the longest, with a length of approximately 7 µm, and the results of optical analyzes using the visible ultraviolet rays test, and the PL test showed higher intensity in addition to a shift towards blue wavelengths caused by the denser nanorods and more crystallization. From the previously presented results, we conclude that the obtained nanorods can be used in electro-optical and photonic applications, and even in different types of optical sensors.

Edible oils play a tremendous role in the human diet. The production and consumption of edible oils have extensively increased due to their nutritional and economic significance. As a result of exponential population growth, the demand for edible oil has prompted adulteration, which has become a global crisis. Adulteration causes a variation in the fatty acid profiles, unique to each oil. The addition of adulterants is associated with gallbladder cancer, epidemic dropsy, cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, and several other life-threatening diseases. Hence, monitoring the purity of edible oils at regular intervals has become inevitable. This study is to evaluate the quality of edible oils such as sesame, groundnut, coconut, mustard, sunflower, soybean, and olive oils by screening their fatty acids and secondary metabolites composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and thereby identifying the adulterants in comparison between the unrefined and refined oils. The fatty acid profiles of the unrefined oils were found to be in accordance with the literature survey, whereas the commercially available refined oils were mainly adulterated with palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, and myristic acids. Contrastingly, numerous health-promoting secondary metabolites have been detected in unrefined oil samples. In conclusion, unrefined oils have nutritional values, and authenticity used for human consumption rather than refined edible oils.

Black cumin seed oil has been traditionally used as Karumjeerakam kuzhi thailam(Siddha formulation) in India more than 500 years ago. This study was conducted to find out the bioactive molecules present in black cumin seed oil. The oil was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) techniques, and the obtained results were compared with the National Institute of Standard Library to identify the presence of chemical compounds. Based on GC–MS and LC–MS analyses, several bioactive compounds were detected such as octanoic acid (m/z144.21), benzene, 1,3-bis (1,1-dimethyl ethyl) (m/z190.32), maculosin (m/z260.1), capric acid (m/z172.26), 3-ketosphingoshine (m/z297.3), hygrine (m/z141.1), tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester (m/z256.42), and 2-monomyristin (m/z302.4). Moreover, the oil was further evaluated for its anti-bacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and was found that it inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureusand Pseudomonas aeruginosaat a concentration of 10 µg/mL. Besides, molecular docking with capric and caprylic acid from the oil has shown a stable binding affinity with major quorum-sensing proteins. Laetisaric acid showed the best binding scores among the 11 compounds selected for the study with the corresponding receptors. These interactions could provide more insight into understanding the action of the identified compounds on various targets.

Lead has been the major source of environmental pollution today. The removal of this pollutant has been a topic of significant importance among the scientific community. Therefore, to emphasise the quantity and specific removal of lead ion through the reactivity of lead toward NAAM was the objective of this study, and to analyse mechanisms involved in absorption and adsorption of lead. Thus, the study reports preparation of activated alumina based on green in house coupled with design of experiment (DOE) based on response surface methodology six parameters that were found significant in determining the quality NAAM produced (pH, NaOH, H2SO4, DI (H2O), and Al). The trend showed that a higher amount of aluminium, the micro-pore volume, and the adsorption cumulative volume of the pores for the activated alumina were 0.000821 cm3/g, 0.00221 cm3/g, and 0.002203 cm3/g. The produced NAAM have been tested for their potential to remove lead ion Pb2+from wastewater, and the results have been promising. Adsorbent temperatures, dose, concentrations, contact time, and temperature have all been observed to affect the adsorption of Pb2+onto membranes in laboratory experiments. The investigations were conducted at varying pH of the natural solution. The Langmuir and Freundlich models for the equilibrium data was well-fitting, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 25 mg of lead/g of the nanomembrane. The two model was further supported by the pseudo-second-order model introduced. The results of the experimental data revealed that the maximum removal rate for lead ion was 100% when the conditions were perfect. During the first 5 min, the sorption of lead ion on the membrane was rapid, and equilibrium was achieved in less than 20 min and confirmed by the Langmuir and Freundlich models and as well as the pseudo-second-order model where the kinetic of the lead on adsorption obeyed with the model. Thus, when it came to the removal of lead ion from aqueous solution, the membrane tested in this study shows excellent potential.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is considered a breakthrough optical phenomenon. SPR sensors have significantly advanced in both technology and sensor applications. Plasmonic sensors are based on plasmonic material, affecting sensor sensitivity results. The sensitivity parameter is used to determine how the possibility of a variable of interest is affected by the surrounding environment. This parameter plays a vital role in any plasmonic sensor due to its strong impact on the results and the final decision of sensor performance. A single and dual symmetrical D-shape fiber-based plasmonic sensor was theoretically studied. The effect of the polishing depth and the dopant concentrations of GeO2was investigated. A single D-shaped optical fiber shows that the highest peak loss was 2 dB/cm at the polishing depth of 36.5 μm and almost 0.0 dB/cm loss at 33.5 μm polishing depth. The resonance wavelength at the maximum loss was 1.47 μm. The highest wavelength sensitivity (1500 nm/RIU) for D-shaped fiber (D-SF) design at a maximum loss with a dopant concentration of 19.3% of GeO2for the core and 50 nm thickness of Au layer. While the highest wavelength sensitivity (150 nm/RIU) for dual symmetrical D-shaped optical fiber design at a maximum loss with a dopant concentration of 19.3% of GeO2for the core and 50 nm thickness of the Au layer. Nanorods were applied for a dual SD-SF sensor, which was successful at 1.20 and 1.21 refractive indices; the maximum sensitivity was 5000 nm/RIU with a dopant concentration of 15.3% of GeO2for the core. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report for analyzing dual symmetrical D-shaped optical fiber. Also, the comparison between single and symmetrical D-shaped optical fiber has not yet been presented.

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Borassus flabelliferL., commonly known as Asian palmyra, is native to South and Southeast Asia. The endosperms of B. flabellifer(known as nungu in Dravidian culture) are widely consumed during the summer season. It is rich in various nutrients and helps in reducing weight, treating skin and digestive issues, lowering body temperature, and managing migraines and diabetes. This study focuses on identifying the small molecules and proteins from the two varieties of B. flabellifertender fruit endosperms collected from districts around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The collected free nuclear endosperm was subjected to direct extraction and the mesocarp and cellular endosperms were lyophilized and homogenized. Metabolites were extracted by hexane, methanol, and chloroform and investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The compounds identified were from the classes of carboxylic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, alkaloids, fatty acids, oligopeptides, vitamins, and glycosides. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was employed to estimate the quantity of amino acids, wherein the total amino acid in the green variety was found to be higher than in the black variety. Proteins were identified after simulating with a gastrointestinal enzyme using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based peptide mass fingerprinting. The different mineral oxides present in the tender fruit endosperm were identified using X-ray diffraction studies, which confirmed the presence of mineral oxides, such as Br1.25ClO2.75Pb3.88, calcium zirconium tantalum oxide, and barium fluoroniobate. This study validates the presence of bioactive metabolites in green and black varieties of B. flabellifertender fruit endosperm with a range of activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-diabetic properties.

The production of strontium oxide nanoparticles from an aquatic plant extract is described here. UV–vis spectroscopy at ~ 220 nm was used to confirm the biosynthesis of these particles, and the color of the mixtures altered from colorless to green. The morphology of Elodea canadensisstrontium oxide nanoparticles (EcSrONPs) was characterized using FE-SEM. FE-SEM images demonstrated that these particles adopted disordered, irregular shapes with agglomeration and slightly smooth surfaces. FE-TEM confirmed the results of FE-SEM analysis. These particles were also evaluated using XRD, XPS, and FTIR. The XRD pattern revealed a face-centered cubic crystalline structure at (209) and (217), while the XPS results verified the presence of both strontium and oxygen in the synthesized EcSrONPs. FTIR results confirmed that phytochemical functional groups served as capping agents during EcSrONP synthesis. In addition, zeta potential analysis confirmed the stability of EcSrONPs. Finally, the antibacterial potential of the produced EcSrONPs against Escherichia coliand Bacillus subtiliswas evaluated. The largest inhibitory zone against E. coli(diameter, 22 mm) and B. subtilis(diameter, 20 mm) was observed at a EcSrONPs concentration of 24 µg·mL−1. Collectively, the findings of this research show that the biosynthesis of EcSrONPs is a viable option for developing novel materials for biomedical applications.

Lignocellulosic biomass especially, sugarcane bagasse Saccharum barberisp., appears to be a more suitable material for partial substitution of transport fuel (diesel) than Saccharum officinarumsp., due to its structural similarity to transport fuel (diesel). Besides that, less research has been implemented on this type of species. Bio-oil can be implemented as biodiesel by processing it further using chemical reactions such as hydrodeoxygenation and cracking with zeolite catalyst. Hence, the purpose of this study is to determine the compatibility of pyrolytic bio-oil produced from Saccharum barberisp. in comparison with S. officinarumsp. for use as transport fuel (diesel) in automotive applications. This purpose can be accomplished by comparing the oil’s bio-physiochemical properties for both species. The experiment is conducted on a bench-scale on which bio-oil of Saccharum barberisp. is secured from the catalytic pyrolysis process at a temperature of 500°C and heating rate of 50°C/min with the addition of ZSM-Zeolite catalyst. Thermogravimetric analysis of Saccharum barberisp. reveals that cellulose is more reactive than lignin, evidenced by the high percentage of weight loss at temperatures ranging from 251°C to 390°C. The high contents of carbon (40.7%) and hydrogen (6.50%), as well as slight traces of sulphur (0.08%) and nitrogen (0.85%), in bio-oil (Saccharum barberisp.) indicate that it is conceivable to be partially used for replacement in biofuel production. Overall physiochemical properties reveal that Saccharum barberisp. shows more potential than S. officinarumsp. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis reveals that bio-oil consists of high amounts of aromatic hydrocarbon (26.2%), phenol (14.8%) and furfural (13.0%) in comparison to S. officinarumsp.Biofuel was produced from sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum barberisp.) in a bench-scale pyrolysis reactor at 500°C using a zeolite catalyst. Measured properties of the biofuel make it suitable for partial substitution of diesel in transport fuel.Biofuel was produced from sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum barberisp.) in a bench-scale pyrolysis reactor at 500°C using a zeolite catalyst. Measured properties of the biofuel make it suitable for partial substitution of diesel in transport fuel.

Since conventionally prescribed drugs lead the side-effects, complementary and alternative medicines are more effective for autoimmune diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and psoriasis. On the other hand, green synthesis using plant extracts results in nanoparticles of very small size in homogenous solution and they can be eliminated from the body. The extracts of leaf, seed, flower, and root can reduce the precursor salts and the bio-active components are adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles. Plants having antidiabetic effects have been used to prepare nanoparticles; thus, obtained nano formulations are analyzed for their antidiabetic activities. In addition, various natural nanoparticles like curcumin and quercetin are used for the treatment of diabetes. Polymers, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles encapsulated with phytochemicals having antidiabetic activity are also revealed. This review gleaned the potentials of plant-based biosynthesized nanoparticles to be antidiabetic agents.

Certain population in rural zones are still getting assistance from the traditional and folkloric medical systems. Before they cease to exist, this practice and knowledge need to be documented. Acorus calamusis a well-known aromatic herb with a rhizome that has been exhibited various therapeutic applications like gastroenteritis, antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-asthmatic activity. In Siddha system, the thermally treated dried rhizome of A. calamusis generally used to cure gastrointestinal and neurological ailments occur especially in infants by mixing the powder of rhizome with milk, ghee, and water. In this study, we evaluate the effect of thermal treatment on screening of bioactive compounds from A. calamusrhizome. The dried rhizome was thermally treated at different temperatures and incubation periods followed by ethanol extraction for 12 h to obtain the bioactive compounds profile. The temperature was optimized to 500 °C for 100 s of incubation based on the number of identified compounds through GC–MS analysis. The optimized samples were further analyzed by using LC–MS/MS, FTIR, micro-Raman, DLS-zeta potential, and XRD. A number of sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, sterols, and glucosides were detected in the aforementioned methods. The difference was observed in the size and charge of thermally treated and control dried rhizome. This indicates the short time exposure of thermally treated rhizome to be enough to retrieve the major bioactive compounds and also has tremendous application to revert the ailments, over to dried control rhizome.

Production of industrial solvents and chemicals from a renewable resource is quite appealing due to the dwindling fossil fuel reserves. It is essential to replace the utilization of plastic materials with biodegradable plastic materials like poly-lactic acid (PLA). In the current work, Pediococcus pentosaceusHLV1, a newly identified acetogenic strain, was used to produce LA from sugarcane field residue (SFR). One of the several lignocellulosic potential substrates that are readily available in tropical regions is SFR. SFR has a cellulose content of 40.3 3.5%, a hemicellulose content of 28.5 3.0%, and lignin content of 20.3 2.6%. Around 69% of the lignin and 73% of the hemicellulose were solubilized after the sequential dilute alkali and acid treatments. Cellulase was used to perform enzymatic saccharification of the pretreated substrate at a concentration of 10% (w/v), and produced 0.681of glucose per gram of pretreated biomass. 5 g/l of residual sugar and 61.5 g/l of LA were produced during the batch fermentation procedure. The actual fermentation procedure yielded a 1.12 g LA/g substrate used with a productivity of 0.86 g/L/h. HMF and furfural were reduced to 0.65 g/L and 0.15 g/L from 1.83 g/l to 0.91 g/l, respectively, after fermentation. In the polyphenols, the most inhibitory compounds vanillin and syringaldehyde were reduced to very low concentrations to 0.087 and 0.09 g/l from 0.284 to 1.536 g/l respectively. These compounds have not shown any inhibitory action on microbial growth and lactic acid production. The current study describes how SFR was sequentially acid pretreated and then enzymatically hydrolyzed to acquire the greatest amount of fermentable sugars, as well as how freshly isolated Pediococcus pentosaceusHLV1 was used it to produce lactic acid.

The increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) has stressed the need to develop new treatments. In this regard, alkaloids from medicinal plants are being identified and developed as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, other enzymes, and receptors associated with the onset of NDDs. Nardostachys jatamansi, a medicinal herb native to the Himalayan region and belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, has long been used in Indian traditional medicine to treat neurobiological symptoms. In this study, we have isolated and identified the major alkaloids from N. jatamansiusing LC–MS/MS analysis.The dried root extract of N. jatamansicontained actinidine and glaziovine as its major alkaloids. These compounds were identified using LC–MS/MS fragmentation pattern and purified by semi-preparative HPLC. The molecular docking analysis was performed for the purified alkaloids with 15 target proteins associated with NDDs pathology. Notably, actinidine and glaziovine showed better interaction energy with the acetylcholine esterase, VGF nerve growth factor, cyclin-dependent kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase when compared to the clinically used drugs memantine and tacrine. Glaziovine also showed better interaction energy when docking was performed with GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor, β-secretase, tyrosine phosphorylation regulation kinase, necrosis factor-kappa, adenosine A2A receptor, alpha-synuclein, beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1, c-Jun N terminal kinase, monoamine oxidase B, compared to tacrine, galantamine, and memantine. Furthermore, actinidine and glaziovine showed borderline cytotoxicity on PC12 and SH-SY 5Y cells with IC50values ranging from 85.32 ± 0.87 μM, and 92.12 ± 0.56 μM, respectively, indicating that these alkaloids can be further developed as promising drug leads.

Graphical Abstract:

Reduced graphene oxide is a nanomaterial with an ultrathin 2-dimensional structure, one of the most utilizing materials, which has been extensively applied in several down-stream purposes owing to its good optical, mechanical, physical, and thermal properties. The most reliable and widely used methods to get high quantity and quality of reduced graphene oxide is by chemical synthetic pathway. However, in the process of deoxygenated graphene oxide synthesis, the chemicals involved in the reaction are extremely hazardous. From this point of view, scientists have put in their effort in finding environmentally friendly methods to replace the use of a hazardous chemical reductant. Medicinal phytoextract reveals another route that can be an excellent reductant to reduce graphene oxide, due to the presence of phenolics, alkaloids, lipids, proteins, carbohydrate, terpenoids, and other nitrogen-containing compounds. Since the nature of phytoextract is clean and non-poisonous, the reduced graphene oxide obtained by using medicinal phytoextract as a reductant can then be applied in biomedical applications. This review presents the methods to synthesize graphene oxide by different approaches using various medicinal phytoextracts as a biological reductant to reduce graphene that could motivate researchers to generate and improve the cleaner methods for industrial-scale production.

Abstract: Chlorine is widely used in the disinfection process of water supply systems to eliminate pathogens. However, a complication that occurs during the disinfection process is the formation of by-products that include volatile organic compounds such as chloroform and other trihalomethanes. This study is intended to assess the risk of trihalomethanes in tap water. Water samples were taken from end-user tap water near wastewater treatment plants in various locations in Perlis, Malaysia. Following the standard procedure and calculation method proposed by the US EPA, the exposure dose (mg/kg day)) for oral ingestion, dermal absorption and inhalation was calculated. A total of 90 independent data were obtained from the Perlis regions. Risk assessments were calculated and three groups were formed to represent three separate waste water treatment plants. The assessment of cancer risk in the Timah Tasoh area by ingestion routes for dibromochloromethane, bromo-dichloromethane and chloroform was 3.04 × 10–5, 1.73 × 10–4, and 2.67 × 10–5, while for the dermal pathway it was 6.65 × 10–4, 3.97 × 10–4, and 7.19 × 10–5and inhalation for dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane, bromoform and chloroform—1.33 × 10–3, 1.02 × 10–3, 1.38 × 10–3, and 6.32 × 10–5. Another study area, Kuala Sungai Baru, has the lowest trihalomethane content. Obviously, the lowest risk as some of the compounds were found to be below the US EPA limit. The combined risk of cancer in these three study areas for the ingestion method was 1.23 × 10–5, 1.07 × 10–4, and 1.11 × 10–5. The results showed that the carcinogenic risk assessed for chloroform, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane was within the established limit in some areas, but exceeded the acceptable level in other areas of the study. In addition, the greatest risk from trihalomethanes appears to arise from inhalation followed by ingestion and skin contact. This study made the Perlis Exploration Area Warning as a reference point for other nearby areas.

The present study aims to develop a statistical model utilizing the response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the performance of oxalic acid-choline chloride deep eutectic solvent (OA-ChCl DES) in hydrolyzing amorphous domain of the bleached rice straw pulp (BP), while liberating the oxalic acid-choline chloride DES cellulose nanocrystal (OA-ChCl DES CNC). The process parameters, including temperature, reaction time, and BP to OA-ChCl DES mass ratio, were optimized through the RSM coupled with the face-centered central composite design (FCCCD). The mathematical models were generated, while the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine the most significant factors influencing the response which was measured in terms of yield. The findings revealed that the OA-ChCl DES CNC yield as high as 55.08% was attained under the acidic DES hydrolysis conditions of 79.5 °C, 4 h, and 1:12.64 mass ratio. This regression model enables researchers to predict the OA-ChCl DES CNC yield with respect to the influencing parameters as well as providing an insight for further scale-up process.

In severe cases, Parkinson’s disease causes uncontrolled movements known as motor symptoms such as dystonia, rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremors. Parkinson’s disease also causes non-motor symptoms such as insomnia, constipation, depression and hysteria. Disruption of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neural networks in the substantia nigra pars compacta is a major cause of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, due to the difficulty of clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, it is often misdiagnosed, highlighting the need for better methods of detection. Treatment of Parkinson’s disease is also complicated due to the difficulties of medications passing across the blood–brain barrier. Moreover, the conventional methods fail to solve the aforementioned issues. As a result, new methods are needed to detect and treat Parkinson's disease. Improved diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease can help avoid some of its devastating symptoms. This review explores how nanotechnology platforms, such as nanobiosensors and nanomedicine, have improved Parkinson’s disease detection and treatment. Nanobiosensors integrate science and engineering principles to detect Parkinson’s disease. The main advantages are their low cost, portability, and quick and precise analysis. Moreover, nanotechnology can transport medications in the form of nanoparticles across the blood–brain barrier. However, because nanobiosensors are a novel technology, their use in biological systems is limited. Nanobiosensors have the potential to disrupt cell metabolism and homeostasis, changing cellular molecular profiles and making it difficult to distinguish sensor-induced artifacts from fundamental biological phenomena. In the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, nanoparticles, on the other hand, produce neurotoxicity, which is a challenge in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Techniques must be developed to distinguish sensor-induced artifacts from fundamental biological phenomena and to reduce the neurotoxicity caused by nanoparticles.

The storage of food grains against the fungal infection has been a great challenge to the farmers, but nanotechnology provides a solution to address this problem. The application of nanotechnology for the storage of food grains replaces synthetic fungicides in agriculture. Inorganic nanoparticles such as silver and zinc oxide are well-known for their antifungal activity. Green synthesized nanoparticles show enhanced antimicrobial activity than the chemically synthesized nanoparticles. Extracts and essential oils derived from plants exhibit very good antifungal properties. The synthesized nanoparticles can be impregnated in packaging materials, which are used to store food grains. Natural materials are having advantages like non-toxicity and easier to degrade and are suitable for food safety. This overview discusses the nanomaterials-mediated protection of food materials from mycotoxin and its releases into the open environment.

Ganoderma species are common wood-rotting fungi that cause root and stem rot in most monocots, dicots, and gymnosperms. It influences plantation crops such as oil palm and rubber in Malaysia, but the effects vary greatly within the genus. Because of the complex chemistry of Ganoderma, extracting and identifying the physiologically active chemicals is often time-consuming and necessitates extensive bioassays. This study investigated the specific identification of the most infectious Ganoderma species using a sub-20-nm gold electrode. Three electrodes were created using chemically controlled etching (2, 10, and 20 nm). An AutoCAD mask containing nanogap pad electrodes was used to create a chrome glass surface, which was then translated and built. Following the successful construction of the device, the sensor was evaluated using a combination of conventional photolithography and a size reduction technique to imprint the nanogap design onto the gold surface. Ganoderma boninensetarget DNA was synthesised and surface-modified to enable interaction at extremely low molecular concentrations. The proposed device has a detection limit of 0.001 mol/L, which is seven times lower than the detection limits of currently available devices. The capacitance, conductivity, and permittivity of complementary, non-complementary, single mismatched, and targeted biomolecules changed during hybridization. This sensor correctly differentiated between all samples. The sensor's performance is further validated by comparing experimental data from the sensor to theoretical data from the sensor's corresponding circuit model. The two data sets are very similar.

Halloysite is naturally occurring nanotubular clay with a phyllosilicate structure and widely used as solid support to modify various redox mediators. We prepared a hemin modified halloysite (Hemin/HNT) by a simple impregnation method, in which a known amount of halloysite was dispersed in ethanolic solution of 1% hemin and reacted for 12 h. The resulting pure Hemin/HNT was employed as electrocatalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite by cyclic voltammetry. The coverage of hemin molecule over the nanotubular halloysite was confirmed by TGA, FT-IR, XRD and XPS studies. The electron transfer behavior of Hemin/HNT was studied by CV and EIS. It was noted that hemin/HNT modified GCE showed two-fold enhanced oxidation peak current for nitrite with a peak potential of + 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl in 0.1 M PBS. For a quantitative electrochemical analysis of nitrite ion at the trace levels the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and amperometry methods were used based on hemin/HNT modified GCE. A linear calibration plot was constructed by plotting the peak current against the concentrations of nitrite in the ranges of 0.6 × 10−6M to 24.6 × 10−5M, (R2= 0.9968) and 0.6 × 10−8to 43.3 × 10−7M (R2= 0.9996) and the detection limit was found to be 42 and 43 nM with a sensitivity of 23.55 and 22.96 μA.μM−1.cm−2by DPV and amperometry, respectively. The repeatability of the proposed sensor evaluated in terms of relative standard deviation of 1.7% for 5 measurements (3.3 × 10−6 M) nitrite. The inference effect of various anions and cations on nitrite oxidation peak current was studied by amperometry method. A stable and reliable current response was obtained for nitrite analysis in water samples.

Methods are demonstrated for antibody-based detection of influenza viruses using the monolithic-sensing-plate technology of an evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensor. To facilitate the detection of viruses at lower concentrations, a strategy of complexing the virus with Coomassie Brilliant Blue dye was used to amplify the signal. By applying this method, hemagglutinins from avian influenza virus (H5N1) and human influenza virus (A/Panama/2007/1999) were detected. An intact human influenza virus (A/Brisbane/59/2007) was also detected. The method is suitable for the detection of virulent viruses that may emerge at various stages of evolution.

This paper describes the synthesis of graphene-based activated carbon from carbonaceous rice straw fly ash in an electrical furnace and the subsequent potassium hydroxide extraction. The produced graphene has a proper morphological structure; flakes and a rough surface can be observed. The average size of the graphene was defined as up to 2000 nm and clarification was provided by high-resolution microscopes (FESEM and FETEM). Crystallinity was confirmed by surface area electron diffraction. The chemical bonding from the graphene was clearly observed, with –C=C– and O–H stretching at peaks of 1644 cm−1and 3435 cm−1, respectively. Impurities in the graphene were found using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The measured size, according to zeta-potential analysis, was 8722.2 ± 25 nm, and the average polydispersity index was 0.576. The stability of the mass reduction was analyzed by a thermogravimetric at 100 °C, with a final reduction of ~ 11%.

This work evaluates the fungicidal effect of essential oil from Coleus aromaticus(C. aromaticus) by solvent-free microwave-assisted extraction with a yield of 0.54%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was utilised to identify the functional groups, which were O–H, C–O, C–H, and C=C. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was performed to determine the primary essential oil components, namely, thymol (92.62%), thymoquinone (2.64%), creosol (1.77%), linalool (1.68%), p-Cymene-2,5-diol (0.73%), and p-Cymene (0.56%). The inhibitory effect of essential oil extracted from C. aromaticusagainst the isolated fungi, Aspergillus nigerfrom mango, was investigated. The mycelial growth inhibition of the extracted essential oil by the poisoned food test and disc diffusion assay showed the reduction at 79.63 ± 1.7 and 70.45 ± 6.54%, respectively. In vivo experiment was conducted with artificially wounded and unwounded mangoes, applying the extracted essential oil to the wounded mangoes inoculated with A. nigerthat could decrease the disease incidence from 100 to 58.33 ± 14.43%. Meanwhile, the treatment of the extracted essential oil did not affect the quality of the mango and it also shows improvement in weight loss reduction of the mango in comparison to the chemical fungicide and untreated mango. Hence, essential oil from C. aromaticusby solvent-free microwave-assisted extraction could be used as an effective control for the fruit spoilage and potential source of fruit preservative.

This work focused on the detection of cortisol on an interdigitated electrode sensor surface using an anti-cortisol antibody. To improve immobilization, antibodies were conjugated with silver nanoparticles and attached to the surface of the sensor. Cortisol interacted in a dose-dependent manner on the antibody-immobilized sensor surface, and current changes were observed. Linear regression analysis was performed by a 3σcalculation, and the limit of detection fell into the range of 0.01 and 0.1 ng/mL. The sensitivity of cortisol was calculated to be 0.01 ng/mL and the sensor discriminated against other hormones, namely norepinephrine and progesterone, with higher selectivity for cortisol. This result represented the selective detection of cortisol with high performance, which can help to determine anxiety disorders.

In this study, biological deoxygenation of graphene oxide (GO) using an Eclipta prostrataphytoextract was performed via the infusion method. The presence of oxide groups on the surface of graphene and removal of oxides groups by reduction were characterized through morphological and structural analyses. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the synthesized GO and rGO were smooth and morphologically sound. Transmission electron microscopy images showed rGO developing lattice fringes with smooth edges and transparent sheets. Atomic force microscopy images showed an increase in the surface roughness of graphite oxide (14.29 nm) compared with that of graphite (1.784 nm) due to the presence of oxide groups after oxidation, and the restoration of surface roughness to 2.051 nm upon reduction. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated a difference in the carbon/oxygen ratio between GO (1.90) and rGO (2.70). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum revealed peak stretches at 1029, 1388, 1578, and 1630 cm−1for GO, and a decrease in the peak intensity after reduction that confirmed the removal of oxide groups. X-ray photoelectron microscopy also showed a decrease in the intensity of oxygen peak after reduction. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis suggested that rGO was less thermally stable than graphite, graphite oxide, and GO, with rGO decomposing after heating at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 600 °C.

This study correlated and quantified the expression of microRNA-155 with breast cancer to determine breast cancer progression. The target microRNA-155 sequence was identified by complementation on a capture-probe sequence-immobilized interdigitated dual electrode surface. The sensitivity was found to be 1 fM, and the limit of detection fell between 1 and 10 fM. The specific sequence selectivity with single mismatches, triple mismatches, and noncomplementary bases failed to complement the capture-probe sequence. The obtained results demonstrate the selective determination of the microRNA-155 sequence and can help to diagnose breast cancer.

In this overview, the authors have discussed the potential advantages of the association between mycorrhizae and plants, their mutual accelerated growth under favorable conditions and their role in nutrient supply. In addition, methods for isolating mycorrhizae are described and spore morphologies and their adaptation to various conditions are outlined. Further, the significant participation of controlled greenhouses and other supported physiological environments in propagating mycorrhizae is detailed. The reviewed information supports the lack of host- and niche-specificity by arbuscular mycorrhizae, indicating that these fungi are suitable for use in a wide range of ecological conditions and with propagules for direct reintroduction. Regarding their prospective uses, the extensive growth of endomycorrhizal fungi suggests it is suited for poor-quality and low-fertility soils.

Herein, a rapid and sensitive current–volt measurement was developed for identifying the IS6110 DNA sequence to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis(TB). An aminated capture probe was immobilized on a 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole-functionalized interdigitated electrode (IDE) silica substrate, and the target sequence was detected by complementation. It was found that all tested concentrations displayed a higher response in current changes than the control, and the limit of detection was 10 fM. The sensitivity ranged from 1 to 10 fM. The control sequences with single-, triple-mismatch and noncomplementary sequences showed great discrimination. This rapid and easy DNA detection method helps to identify M. tuberculosisfor early-stage diagnosis of TB.

Cortisol is a stress hormone released from the adrenal glands and is responsible for both hyperglycemia and hypertension during pregnancy. These factors make it mandatory to detect the levels of cortisol during pregnancy to identify and treat hypoglycemia and hypertension. In this study, cortisol levels were quantified with an aptamer-conjugated gold nanorod using an electrochemical interdigitated electrode sensor. The surface uniformity was analyzed by high-power microscopy and 3D-nanoprofiler imaging. The detection limit was determined to be 0.01 ng/mL, and a linear regression indicated that the sensitivity range was in the range of 0.01–0.1 ng/mL, based on a 3σcalculation. Moreover, the specificity of the aptamer was determined by a binding analysis against norepinephrine and progesterone, and it was clearly found that the aptamer specifically recognizes only cortisol. Further, the presence of cortisol was detected in the serum in a dose-dependent manner. This method is useful to detect and correlate multiple pregnancy-related diseases by quantifying the levels of cortisol.

Evanescent-field-coupled (EFC) waveguide-mode sensors recently been shown to be suitable for detecting various biomolecules. In the present studies, we demonstrated that both nucleic acids hybridization and nucleic acids-protein interactions can be analyzed using perforated evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode nanobio-sensors.