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Microplastics (MPs) with an average size of less than 5 mm, along with nanoplastics (NPs) of an average size of fewer than 0.1 μm are the result of huge plastic waste fragmentation or straight environmental emissions. Pollution from micro- and nanoplastics is a worldwide paradigm that raises environmental and human health concerns. They may also comprise very harmful chemicals that are implemented in plants and animals when MPs/NPs are used that may lead to higher accumulation of these compounds in food chains. In addition, higher surface area-to-volume ratio, characteristic of MPs/NPs can contribute to their potentially harmful impact as other pollutants, like continuous organic contaminants, can also be bio-accumulated and adsorbed. A complex issue correlated with MPs/NPs is their ability to absorb and interact with other common pollutants in the environment, such as metals, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants. Thus, MPs/NPs can directly influence on destiny and toxicity of these substances to the environment and organisms. In this review, first, we introduce possible sources and formation, their destinies, and environmental impact of MPs/NPs and then explain feasible paths of all these particles entering the human body. Then, the review highlights the effect of MPs/NPs on human health. Finally, it provides a brief summary of the potential as well as the neurological toxicity of MPs/NPs.

Nanotechnology and nanoscience are considered to be the “hot” research areas of the decade and have attracted the attention of many researchers. The discovery of sophisticated nanomaterial characterization techniques has accelerated their research. The application of numerous morphological and physicochemical characterization tools for effectively resolving their shape, charge, size, surface coatings, and functional groups has improved the human understanding of the nanoworld. Furthermore, these techniques are vital to resolve the tolerable variation in surface chemistry without altering the material characteristics. This chapter sheds light on the most commonly used physicochemical characterization tools, to study nanoscale materials for biofuel production. The most commonly used techniques are reported in this chapter.

Present study reported a simple and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized via rapid bio-reduction method. An aqueous extract of Givotia moluccana (G. moluccana) plant was serving as reducing and stabilizing agent. An aqueous extract was found to comprise significantly high amounts of secondary metabolites like phenolics, flavonoids, proteins and reducing sugars etc., which are responsible for reducing and capping agents. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and HRTEM with SAED pattern. Particle size distribution was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Further, thermal analysis of nanoparticles were studied using TGA. Synthesized AgNPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

The aim of the present undertaken work is to formulate and evaluate vaginal gel containing Hyptis suaveolens leaf petroleum leaf extract. The prepared extract was subjected to phytochemical screening to determine the presence of various phytoconstituents. The extract was subjected to formulation of gels incorporating gelling agents (Carbopol 934P, HPMC K100, Pemulen TR-1, Pemulen TR2, Xanthan gum, Lutrol) in various concentrations by standard gelling techniques. All the HS Gel formulations were subjected to characterization of various physical parameters like Appearance, Spreadability, Viscosity, pH and Extrudability as per the standard methods. pH values of various HS Gel formulations were found to be unsuitable, as the desired vaginal pH is between 4.5 and 5.5. Owing to the inferior results of physical parameters, which were not considered for further characterization. CF3, HF3, P1F3, P2F3, LF3 XF3 Gel formulations of Hyptis suaveolens consisting high concentrations of respective gelling agents have shown encouraging results with respect to physical parameters. These Gel formulations of Hyptis suaveolens consisting high concentrations of respective gelling agents were subjected to in vitro diffusion studies. By comparing the results of in vitro diffusion studies, Hyptis suaveolens Gel formulations consisting Carbopol 934P (CF3) was optimized due to its retarding ability and consistency. In vivo studies of the optimized vaginal gel formulations were carried out using rats as the animal model to evaluate the antifertilty activity. Results of Antifertility studies indicated that the petroleum ether extract from the leaves of Hyptis suaveolens was found to be efficient to arrest sperm motility and conceiving. KEYWORDS: Hyptis suaveolens, Carbopol 934P, vaginal gel, Xanthan gum, Antifertility.