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Zebrafish provides rich toxicity data and similar high throughput in comparison to in vitro toxicity models, features that make it an attractive model for nanomaterial toxicity screening, especially when frameworks prefer to minimize animal testing.

To produce xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) from the agriculture waste, which included, green coconut and vegetable cocktail. The two pretreatment - hydrogen peroxide-acetic acid (HP-AC) and sodium hypochlorite-sodium hydroxide (SH-SH) - were used for this study. The optimal conditions for the pretreatment were 80°C, 4.0% NaClO, and 2 hours, followed by 0.08% NaOH, 55°C, and 1 hour. Further enzymatic hydrolysis of green coconut (GC) and vegetable cocktail (VC) were performed and found in case of GC, the best outcomes were observed. Different types of XOS were obtained from the treated biomass whereas a single type of XOS xylo-pentose was obtained in high quantity (96.44% and 93.09% from CG and VC respectively) with the production of other XOS2%. This study presents a reasonably secure and economical method for turning secondary crop residue into XOS and fermentable sugars.

Recent developments in nanotechnology and engineering have produced a plethora of nanomaterials with amazing physical/chemical properties and enhanced sensing potential for various heavy metals in the environment. Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), particularly those made from gold and silver, have attracted a great deal of attention mainly due to ease of synthesis, a high degree of surface functionalization, biocompatibility, and tunable physico-chemical properties. The use of noble metal nanoparticles has enabled fast and multiplexed detection of metal ions with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The optical characteristics of Au–Ag NPs and noble metal-based nanozymes enable the detection of metals based on colorimetry. Color changes of these metal nanoparticles upon interaction with lead ions are based on inter-particle interactions (aggregation/dis-aggregation) and changes in surface modification. This review presents up-to-date information on the applications of noble metal NPs in the colorimetric sensing of lead (Pb2+) ions with special attention on selectivity, sensitivity, and practicality. The extensive potential of noble metal nanomaterials as the next-generation and on-site sensing tools has been explored for the rapid detection of lead ions in environmental matrices.

Immobilization of enzymes is an effective and potential technique for improving the enzyme characteristics and plays an important role in reducing the final cost of enzymatic reactions. However, the method of enzyme immobilization should be easy, cost-effective and environment friendly when applicable at industrial scale. In present study, the successful biochemical characterization of free and immobilized keratinase was evaluated. The enzyme was effectively immobilized on chitosan and chitosan grafted-β-cyclodextrin beads. Enzyme yield of immobilized biocatalyst on chitosan alone and chitosan-β-CD-E was determined to be 90 and 93% respectively. Keratinase was able to act in highly alkaline conditions (optimum pH 11) both in free and immobilized form and showed maximum enzyme activity at 70 and 75 °C respectively. The free and immobilized enzyme exhibited remarkable thermo stability at 70 °C implying that it is capable for its usage in textile industry. The storage stability and reusability of the immobilized keratinase (chitosan-E and chitosan-β-CD-E) was significantly enhanced, with 25 and 53.5% activity, respectively, retained at 4 °C after 30 days of storage. In the preliminary experiments it was found that free keratinase have the potential to improve the quality of woollen fabrics and suitable for application in textile industries.

This study uses a cost effective and efficient method for production of higher DP (degree of polymerization) Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from xylan extracted from the waste walnut shells. Copper based metal organic framework (Cu-BTC MOF) was prepared for immobilization of free xylanase (Xy) enzyme by green synthesis method. Both free and immobilized xylanase (Xy-Cu-BTC) were able to cause the bioconversion of xylan (87.4% yield) into XOS. Predominant production of xylotetrose (X4) and xylopentose (X5) was observed for both the methods. Percentage XOS conversion for free enzyme (Xy) was found to be 4.1% X4 and 60.57% X5 whereas these values increased in case of immobilized system where 11.8% X4 and 64.2% X5 were produced. Xylose production was minute in case of immobilized xylanase 0.88% which makes it a better method for XOS production free from xylose interference. Xy-Cu-BTC MOF can hence be used as an attractive alternative for pure XOS production.

Agricultural development over the past decade has majorly contributed to the world's bioeconomy, but is the rise in agricultural activities just resulting in the best? Farming, food processing, livestock handling and other agro-based actions show an incremental rise in environmental deterioration by generating millions of tonnes of organic and inorganic solid waste across the globe. Incautious waste handling practices (incineration and landfilling) is resulting in greenhouse gas emissions, land pollution, groundwater contamination, soil erosion and chronic health hazards. Lately the concept of bioconversion has gained importance in valorising agro-waste (lignocellulosic biomasses) into value added products like biofuels, biogas, single cell proteins and biochar to effectively control waste and reduce the dependency on non-renewable feedstocks (fossil fuels). Biomass hydrolysis via enzymes is improved in terms of cost, efficiency, catalysis, stability and specificity by enrolling the use of enzyme cocktails to synergistically degrade lignocellulose into monomeric sugars and further into valued products. Enzyme blends like that of Xylanase + Pectinase + Cellulase shows 76.5% fermentation within 30 h by using banana peel as substrate for biofuel production. Other sectors like paper industries have also explored the use of enzyme blends of Xylanase + Pectinase + α-amylase + Protease+ lipase for bio-bleaching showing reduction in 50% chemical usage and 19.5% kappa number with adjacent increase in tensile strength by 23.55%. The scope of the present review is to highlight the technicalities of the concepts mentioned above, include qualitative data from different relatable studies and prove how the use of enzyme cocktails is an eco-friendly approach towards agro-waste management.

Phytotoxins are poisonous substances synthesized by plants or plant pathogens through naturally occurring biochemical reactions. Plants use them as defensive agents against predators (pests, insect...

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as the promising class of fluorescent nanomaterials with size ranging from 2 to 10 nm. The CQDs possess amazing properties such as good solubility, photoluminescence, high quantum yield, functional groups on surface, photostability, biocompatibility and low toxicity. CQDs are a trending topic of intense research as they are being used for a wide range of applications such as biological imaging, sensing, drug delivery and catalysis. Nowadays, the focus of researchers has shifted towards the green synthesis of CQDs from natural and environment friendly sources. The present work reports the synthesis of fluorescent CQDs from cabbage as the natural carbon source by hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized CQDs were characterized using various analytical techniques to obtain information regarding their absorption/emission spectra, chemical functionality and morphology. Further, the synthesized CQDs were explored for optical sensing of various heavy metal ions in aqueous medium. The study provides a simple and economical method of utilizing CQDs for environmental sensing applications.

Marine oil spills and petrochemical discharges occurring either naturally or deliberately can have destructive impacts on environment and economy of a nation. Water bodies contaminated by oil pose challenge to the survival of aquatic biodiversity. Nanotechnology is offering new potential routes to remediate the oil pollution. In the present study, a superparamagnetic nanocomposite of Fe3O4/chitosan was synthesised using co-precipitation method. The prepared material was characterized to determine chemical structure, morphology, shape and size, thermal and magnetic properties. The magnetic adsorbent was employed for the adsorptive removal of petroleum based diesel oil from oil-in-water emulsions. The efficiency of the synthesized nanocomposite was examined by batch adsorption experiments to determine the effect of pH, adsorption time and adsorbent dose on the oil removal process. From the experimental data, it was found that the adsorption process followed the pseudo second order kinetics (R2 = 0.9962) and Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9998) indicating towards a monolayer chemisorption process. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption was spontaneously endothermic (ΔH = + 38.779 kJ/mol) and the nanocomposite was found to be recyclable up to least five cycles of oil–water separation. The optimization of oil removal process was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) as function of four factors consisting of pH, adsorbent dose, stirring speed and adsorption time. The study provides the basis for development of an eco-friendly and promising material for treatment of oil and hydrocarbon pollution from water bodies in environmental clean-up.

Nano-based products have shown their daunting presence in several sectors. Among them, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles wangled the reputation of providing "next-generation solutions" and are being utilized in plethora of products. Their widespread application has led to increased exposure of these particles, raising concerns regarding toxicological repercussions to the human health and environment. The diversity, complexity, and heterogeneity in the available literature, along with correlation of befitting attributes, makes it challenging to develop one systematic framework to predict this toxicity. The present study aims at developing predictive modelling framework to tap the prospective features responsible for causing cytotoxicity in-vitro on exposure to ZnO nanoparticles. Rigorous approach was used to mine the information from complete body of evidence published to date. The attributes, features and experimental conditions were systematically extracted to unmask the effect of varied features. 1240 data points from 76 publications were obtained, containing 14 qualitative and quantitative attributes, including physiochemical properties of nanoparticles, cell culture and experimental parameters to perform meta-analysis. For the first time, the efforts were made to investigate the degree of significance of attributes accountable for causing cytotoxicity on exposure to ZnO nanoparticles. We show that in-vitro cytotoxicity is closely related with dose concentration of nanoparticles, followed by exposure time, disease state of the cell line and size of these nanoparticles among other attributes.

Xylanase enzyme has been classified as an enzyme belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family. The catalytic action of xylanase is focused on the degradation of xylan, a substrate for this enzyme comprising of a complex arrangement of monosaccharides interlinked with the help of ester and glycosidic bonds. Xylan represents the second most profuse renewable polysaccharide present on earth. Breakage of the β- 1, 4-glycoside linkage in the xylan polymer is what makes xylanase enzyme an important biocatalyst favoring various applications including treatment of pulp for improving paper quality, improvement of bread quality, treatment of lignocelluloses waste, production of xylose sugar and production of biological fuels. Most recently, xylanase has been exploited in the food industry for the purpose of fruit juice clarification. Turbidity caused by the colloidal polysaccharides present in the freshly squeezed fruit juice poses a setback to the fruit juice industry since the commercial product must be clear and free of excess polysaccharides to improve juice quality and storage life. This review gives an overview of the recent advancements made in regards to xylanase enzyme being used commercially with main focus on its role in fruit juice clarification.

Despite continued destruction of human lives by snakebites, appreciable improvements in immunotherapies have not been made. We selected and characterized venom-specific single domain antibodies (sdAbs) from a constructed phage display library of camelid variable region of heavy chain of the heavy chain antibodies (VHHs). Secretory phospholipase A2-specific sdAbs neutralized venom-induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Such monoclonal sdAbs could serve as an alternative to help manage snakebites to save lives.

Engineered nanomaterials consisting of multiple nanoparticles (NPs) are finding their use in fields as wide and diverse as medicine, environment, cosmetics, energy and electronics. However, health and environmental impacts of these NPs need to be discerned individually to understand their true toxicity. Due to the promising application of upcoming material like GO-ZnO nanocomposite, the toxicity of ZnO and GO NPs was evaluated and compared individually in our study. This study compares the toxicity of Graphene Oxide (GO) NPs and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) NPs synthesized by Green method and Chemical method on Drosophila melanogaster. The GO, Chemical ZnO and Green ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized using SEM, HR-TEM, FT-IR, UV–vis, EDX, XRD and DLS studies. NPs were comparatively analyzed for their cytotoxic and neurotoxic behaviors using different assays like MTT assay, mortality rate, larval crawling and climbing assay, total protein content analysis for evaluating the toxic potential of each of these NPs at different concentrations of use. Green ZnO were found to be least cytotoxic while Chemical ZnO caused the most cell damage. GO were found to have intermediary cytotoxicity. However, a different trend was observed with neurotoxicity wherein Green ZnO reportedly affected the neuromuscular coordination the most, while GO was found to have the least affect. This study provided insights into the different toxic effects caused by GO and ZnO NPs on Drosophila as well as comparative toxic effects of Chemical vs Green ZnO NPs. Keywords: Drosophila, Graphene oxide, Zinc oxide, Nanotoxicity, Nanoparticles

Modern agricultural practices have triggered the process of agricultural pollution. This process can cause the degradation of eco-systems, land, and environment owing to the modern-day by-products of agriculture. The substantial use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and, contaminated water for irrigation cause further damage to agriculture. The current scenario of the agriculture and food sector has therefore become unsustainable. Nanotechnology has provided innovative and resourceful frontiers to the agriculture sector by contributing practical applications in conventional agricultural ways and practices. There is a large possibility that agri-nanotechnology can have a significant impact on the sustainable agriculture and crop growth. Recent research has shown the potential of nanotechnology in improving the agriculture sector by enhancing the efficiency of agricultural inputs and providing solutions to agricultural problems for improving food productivity and security. The prospective use of nanoscale agrochemicals such as nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors, and nanoformulations in agriculture has transformed traditional agro-practices, making them more sustainable and efficient. However, the application of these nano-products in real field situations raises concern about nanomaterial safety, exposure levels, and toxicological repercussions to the environment and human health. The present review gives an insight into recent advancements in nanotechnology-based agrochemicals that have revolutionized the agriculture sector. Further, the implementation barriers related to the nanomaterial use in agriculture, their commercialization potential, and the need for policy regulations to assess possible nano-agricultural risks are also discussed.

Pesticides have been used in the field of agriculture ever since their role in protection of crops from pests which include four different categories namely insects, mites, rodents and animals has been identified. Organophosphate pesticides are one of the most extensively applied insecticides in the field of agriculture such that around 40% of all the pesticides that are produced and used commercially belong to this category. The main toxicological effect of these pesticides when exposed to a living being encompasses the irremediable inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme which is involved in the neurotransmission of signals and hence its inhibition causes impairment of the respiratory tract and neuromuscular transmission. Apart from being used as a pesticide, organophosphates have also been applied as herbicides to some extent. The residues of these highly toxic chemicals have found route into the underground water system by seeping into the ground, in rivers where the agricultural run off water is disposed, and in the air when sprayed on the crops hence posing a threat to all the living strata exposed to these chemicals in various ways which are discussed further. Many significant studies have been carried out in order to evaluate the health risks associated with these pesticides which commonly include acute neurological disorders. This review emphasizes on the toxicological effects of organophosphate pesticides and the recent methods of detection that are used to identify trace amounts of organophosphate pesticides along with strategies which are used for their degradation.

Over the last decade MXenes have become a hotspot of materials science as one of the newest 2-dimensional (2D) materials. Upon the recognition of their distinctive features (e.g., superior optical characteristics, large surface area, excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, ease of surface functionalization, and high conductivity), their potential in biosensing applications has also gained considerable attention. With versatility in MXene synthesis methods and suitable etching, MXenes can be easily transformed into quantum dots, nanosheets, and MXenes composites. As such, during the last decade optical biosensing platforms-based on MXenes have emerged along with electrochemical sensors and wearable sensors built from MXenes. Herein, we present a broad perspective on the optical properties of MXenes alongside recent findings on their biosensing applications, which are based on different optical transduction principles (e.g., photoluminescence, colorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and electro chemiluminescence). Furthermore, the future perspective and challenges concerning MXenes-based optical sensing techniques are discussed.

The advent of the twenty-first century marked a paradigm shift in the healthcare sector with coming of automated, sensitive, targeted medicines and technologies having diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic effects. Nanomedicines also attained wide acclamation in their initial years, but the transformation from being the proof of concept to successfully marketed products seems very daunting. Although the reason for this may be attributed to slow but incremental character of many present-day technologies, the review asserts that there are other significant facets that may purvey a thorough explanation of this scenario. The article elaborately discusses the hurdles hindering clinical translation of nanomedicines including scale-up challenges, in vitro in vivo cascade of toxicology assays, along with unrefined manufacturing guidelines, inadequate regulatory approvals, competitive conventional market, etc., leading to hesitant investments by pharmaceutical giants. The paper also explores the economic viability of nanobiotechnology sector through an empirical investigation of the revenue data of various pharmaceutical industries manufacturing nano-based drugs, which indicates minor commercial importance of these medicines. We also laid down a comprehensive set of recommendations to smoothen the translational pathway of nanomedicines from an idea to reality, efface the consumer distrust and push boundaries for development and launching of safe, efficient and commercially successful products. Graphical abstract.

Nanoparticles are continuously being used in various industries on a daily basis, exposing both humans and environment. As previous studies indicate, these nanomaterials tend to cause serious health effects in humans and other biological species. This leads to a dire need to set up specific regulations and guidelines for usage and disposal of these nanoparticles. In order to set up these guidelines, certain factors need important considerations such as physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, their release into environment, portal of their entry into the human body, and their relative toxicities. Therefore, it is mandatory to mend the challenges faced during setting up of these regulations. This chapter focuses on explaining various factors that need to be considered for setting up regulations for proper usage of these nanomaterials and also highlights currently existing regulation around the world.

The application of ultraviolet (UV) light in the food industry has held great promise for a long time. UVC light (200–280 nm) possesses excellent germicidal properties to inactivate a wide range of microbial pathogens (e.g., bacteria, fungi, yeasts, molds, and viruses). UVC technology can be used to effectively prevent foodborne illnesses while increasing the shelf life of food without compromising its quality by reducing the microbial load. UVC radiation processing of food depends on a variety of factors such as the operational parameters of the UVC equipment, microbial characteristics, and the composition of the food. Thus, the application of UVC irradiation is an emerging non-thermal technique for the decontamination of food products. This review describes the fundamentals of using UVC radiation to inactivate pathogenic microbes for the decontamination of foods (e.g., fruit and vegetable juices, milk and dairy products, meat products, beef, and seafood). At last, the current status of international regulations is discussed along with the future challenges in this research field.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made us re-realize the importance of environmental disinfection and sanitation in indoor areas, hospitals, and clinical rooms. UVC irradiation of high energy and short wavelengths, especially in the 200–290-nm range possesses the great potential for germicidal disinfection. These properties of UVC allow to damage or destruct the nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) in diverse microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and viruses). UVC light can hence be used as a promising tool for prevention and control of their infection or transmission. The present review offers insights into the historical perspective, mode of action, and recent advancements in the application of UVC-based antiviral therapy against coronaviruses (including SARS CoV-2). Moreover, the application of UVC lights in the sanitization of healthcare units, public places, medical instruments, respirators, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is also discussed. This article, therefore, is expected to deliver a new path for the developments of UVC-based viricidal approach., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image

Background Several recent studies have linked emissions from printing equipment with upper airway inflammation and systemic oxidative stress in healthy humans, lung inflammation in mice, and cytotoxicity, induction of inflammatory markers and epigenetic changes in human cell lines. Acute exposures have lead to upper airway inflammation and systemic oxidative stress, which for certain markers took longer than 24–36 h post-exposure to clear. Objective In this follow-up work, we determined: i) whether chronic exposures to nanoparticles from copiers lead to chronic upper airway inflammation and systemic oxidative stress; and ii) whether expression patterns of biomarkers for such stresses change during transition from acute to chronic exposures. Methods Six permanent employees from three copy centers and eleven controls participated in the study. Nasal lavage and urine samples were collected on Monday morning (pre-shift, Mo-AM) and evening (post-shift, Mo-PM), as well as at the end of the workweek (Fr-PM), over three random weeks. The matched controls were sampled over one week. Nasal lavage samples were analyzed for a panel of 14 pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, inflammatory cells, and total protein. Urine samples were analyzed for 8-OH-dG , a biomarker of systemic oxidative stress. Detailed quantitative exposure assessment to airborne nanoparticles was conducted for a whole week, and included size distribution, size-fractionated aerosol collection, extensive chemical analysis, and lung burden estimates. Results The daily geometric mean total particle number concentration varied between 14,600–21,860 particles/cm 3 , 1.7–12.1 times greater than background, with maxima up to 143,000 particles/cm 3 . Mass concentration of the nanoscale fraction was in the 1–10 μg/m 3 range. Chemical composition of the nanoparticle fraction was comprised mostly of organic compounds, mixed with several engineered nanoparticles, which contributed a metal content ranging from 2 to 8% of the total particulate mass. Five out of the 14 inflammatory cytokines, namely IL-6, IL-8, TNFα, IL-1β and Eotaxin, were significantly elevated in the nasal lavage samples of the chronically exposed copier operators (p 8-OH-dG in (4.3 fold) in urine samples. Conclusion Chronic upper airway inflammation and systemic oxidative stress were documented in photocopier operators chronically exposed to nanoparticles. These findings agree with the recent toxicological literature on printer-emitted particles and medical case reports, and call for an industry-wide study of the health effects resulting from exposure to printer-emitted particles in chronically exposed workers. Inflammatory markers point to possible involvement of toll-like receptors, particularly TLR-4, oxidative stress, and the Nf-kB pathway in mediating airway tissue inflammation.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hold tremendous potential due to their unique and modifiable properties. Their robust biological applications necessitate minimizing their cytotoxicity and increasing the solubilization. In the present manuscript, we have functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using defect functionalization methodology to covalently bind carboxy and amino groups on their walls. This functionalization was reassured through fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), elemental and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. The observations demonstrated that addition of carboxy as well as amino groups on MWCNTs, besides enabling MWCNTs solubilization also significantly ameliorated the cytotoxicity and the oxidative stress in comparison to pristine MWCNTs. It is envisaged that changes in agglomeration of the functionalized MWCNTs and the acquired surface charge is the reason for the reduction of cytotoxicity. Zebra fish embryo model test system employed for in vivo analysis of the MWCNTs showed no significant toxicity on account of any nanoparticle tested pointing towards intrinsic mechanisms in place for deterring the damage in complex organisms. Overall, the observations besides pointing towards functionalized MWCNTs effectiveness towards weakening the toxicity of pristine MWCNTs also caution for extrapolating in vitro data to in vivo observations. The observations further lend credibility for exploiting the zebra fish as a model system for analyzing the effects of MWCNTs functionalization., Materials science; Chemistry; Environmental science; Biological sciences; Carbon nanotubes (CNTs); Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs); Functionalized MWCNTs; MWCNT cytotoxicity

Partially purified β-mannanase was immobilized on the modified matrix of sodium alginate-grafted-β-cyclodextrin. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction characterization proved that β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was successfully grafted with sodium alginate. After successful immobilization, yield of enzyme was found 91.5%, pH and temperature optima were increased, 6.0 to 7.0 and 50 °C to 55 °C respectively. Immobilized mannanase was able to reuse 15 times and retained its 70% activity, meanwhile the immobilized enzyme showed 60% activity after 30 days of storage at 4 °C. Immobilization also increased the thermostability and half-life of the enzyme when compared to the free mannanase. During the comparison of adsorption isotherm and kinetic models, Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first order kinetics were observed to be the best fit model for the confirmation of immobilization.

The present work aims to characterize thermo and alkali stable β-mannanase (ManSS11) from newly isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae SS11 and its food stain (mannan based) removal efficiency. The enzyme, ManSS11 was stable over a wide range of pH and temperature. The highest activity of ManSS11 was observed at pH 9.0 and temperature, 70 °C, with t1/2 of 135.91 min at the same temperature while, >70% of its initial activity was retained at pH 7.0–10.6. It was purified to 5.50-fold homogeneity with a final recovery of 9.6% and a specificity of 7573.57 U/mg protein. Purified ManSS11 was visible as a single protein band with a molecular weight of ~45 kDa. The kinetic parameters of Km, Vmax and kcat were 1.66 mg/mL, 833.33 μmolmL−1 min−1 and 1190.47 s−1 respectively. The compatibility of β-mannanase with different detergents together with wash performance test confirmed its potential usability in laundry sector. Wash performance analysis confirmed that the enzyme displayed great efficiency in the removal of stains caused by mannan containing foods.

In order to achieve a sustainable growth and development of the society, it is imperative to safeguard both human and ecosystem health. The timely detection of potentially toxic environmental pollutants in air, soil, and water could help implement appropriate mitigating measures for the improvement of health. The biosensors used to detect pollutants invariably require the selection, synthesis, and production of well-characterized biomolecules for an efficient recognition. In this chapter, we discuss different biorecognition molecules, methods of their isolation and production, and the drawbacks associated with the procedures used. We also highlight the utility of biorecognition molecules in monitoring environmental health.

Lead (Pb) poisoning has been a scourge to the human to pose sighnificant health risks (e.g., organ disorders, carcinogenicity, and genotoxicity) as observed from many different parts of the world, especially in developing countries. The demand for accurate sensors for its detection, especially in environmental media (soil, water, food, etc.) has hence been growing steadily over the years. The potential utility of fluorescent nanosensors as an important analytical tool is recognized due to their astonishing characteristics (e.g., high sensitivity/selectivity, enhanced detection performance, low cost, portability, and rapid on-site detection ability). This review is organized to offer insight into the recent developments in fluorescent nanosensing technology for the detection of lead ions (Pb2+). To this end, different types of nanomaterials explored for such applications have been classified and evaluated with respect to performance, especially in terms of sensitivity. This review will help researchers gain a better knowledge on the status and importance of optical nanosensors so as to remediate the contamination of lead and associated problems. The technical challenges and prospects in the development of nanosensing systems for Pb2+ are also discussed.

Marine oil spills are one of the major sources of water pollution causing huge environmental damage and economic destruction. They disturbs the ecological framework of the oceans and other water bodies causing major losses to the aquatic biodiversity. The risk associated with oil spills raise a lot of policy issues on the safe transport of oil volumes. Efficient removal of these spills is an absolute necessity for the protection of the oceanic environment and life. Onshore and offshore oil response strategies with continuous monitoring systems must be applied at the spill site to minimize the harmful impacts on the environment and human health. Currently used remediation technologies are still not effective to completely restore the polluted marine environment to its normal ecology. Nanotechnology is proving to be a valuable tool in cleaning up of these oil spills or leaks in the water by utilizing magnetic nanomaterials such as functionalized super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), magnetic nanocomposites and magnetic carbon nano tubes (CNTs). Functionalization of nanoparticles using different functional moieties such as organic non-polymeric and inorganic molecules, polymers and polysaccharides renders them with novel features like enhanced adsorption capacity and high oil removal efficiency. Innumerable researches have emerged in developing novel counter measures to mitigate the dangerous impacts of oil spills. The present review emphasizes the environmental impacts of major oil spills in maritime world. This work also compiles the research conducted by various researchers and scientists in the removal of the spilled oil from water using magnetic nano-adsorbents.

Rhizosphere supports the growth and activity of an enormous and diversified microbial network. Certain rhizobacteria referred to as ‘plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria’ (PGPR) can contribute towards improved plant growth and stress tolerance and are currently of great interest for sustainable agriculture. A successful PGPR is capable of establishing itself in the rhizosphere of inoculated plants. Root colonization is an essential step in the interaction amongst plant-associated bacteria and host plant and is a multifaceted phenomenon governed by various biotic and abiotic factors. In the present investigation, an isolate MT7 obtained from maize rhizosphere and identified as Bacillus sp. was tested for its ability to perform in the tomato rhizosphere. It was screened for its survival under various abiotic stresses like salt, drought, heavy metals, and temperature and found to tolerate 10% salt stress, drought stress up to -0.73 MPa (25% PEG), heavy metals like Cr, Cu, and Ni above the permissible limits and grew well from 25 to 45 °C. The bacterial culture was verified for various other plant growth-promoting traits. It expressed chemotactic behavior and good biofilm-forming potential in the presence of tomato root exudates. Profuse colonization was observed on the tomato roots. Efficacy of the bacterial culture in the tomato rhizosphere was evaluated under net house conditions. The tomato crop was positively influenced by inoculation of MT7 over the un-inoculated plants. Therefore, it is concluded that competent colonization by MT7 lies in its ability to respond to tomato root exudates, form biofilms, establish and proliferate in the tomato rhizosphere and express various PGP traits that cause an increase in plant growth. The results indicate the potential of MT7 as a bio-inoculant for tomato.

Mobile communication devices (MCDs), including cell phones and smart phones, have become an essential part of everyday life. Despite their frequent usage, most people, even healthcare personnel, often ignore the possibility that these devices might accumulate to carry a variety of microbial flora during and after the inspection of patients. The handling of MCDs with unwashed hands and/or their seldom cleaning can aggravate potential health risks. Many of the harbored bacteria species can be harmful to immune-suppressed patients for whom the disinfection precautions should be taken more seriously. In this review, we discuss the significance of maintaining the cleanliness of mobile devices, especially in healthcare settings, to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections in patients. Furthermore, we discuss strategies to address microbial contamination of MCDs to maintain good hand hygiene for the users of smartphones or other mobile communication devices. These techniques are capable of providing instant disinfection of the devices along with residual effects over prolonged periods.

Sustainable biorefinery systems procured from lignocellulosic biomass depicts the future of bio-energy, with low cost, availability and wide spread dispersal of biomass resources it aids towards goal of “Waste to Use”. Evidentially research has focused mainly on use of bio-fuel and merits of varied potent pretreatment approaches that have been implemented. The use of chemical and physicochemical pretreatments procured maximum yield for fermentable sugars. This review compiles several lignin derived thermoset and thermoplastic polymers and copolymers like polyesters, epoxy resins that act as great substitute for petroleum attained polymer. Evidential research has favored use of vanillin to produce aldehyde or phenol derived commercialized products. Epoxy resins have been successfully proven to produce thermally stable, mechanically strong and flexible thermosets with strong binding ability. Lignin based polyesters and polyanhydrides have proven to depict good antioxidant property. Biochar production assisted its usage to remove harmful chemicals from waste water shed systems and its usage as fertilizer. Depolymerization of woody biomass show pressure sensitive adhesive characteristic when applied on fine stainless steel. The review presents latest findings discussing the production of various applicative products from lignocellulosic biomass that can act as key platform for small scale industries development. In the era of nanotechnology, cellulosic nanofibrils tended to have flexibility and shear holding activity. Genetically engineered methods like over expression of enzymes triggered the production of xylitol and its usage as artificial sweetner. Thus, ruins of lignocellulosic scrap can serve as profitable small scale industrial set ups to provide above mentioned industrial products.