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Recently, many studies have been carried out on developing green composites that are eco-friendly and more sustainable compared to fuel-derived composites. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is one of the potential biopolymer materials that can be used as food packaging materials, pharmaceuticals and many other applications. Sago (Metroxylon sagu) is unlike other starch-based composite such as cassava and corn, which are highly utilized and popular option sources for variety applications in industries. This renewable starch can be a competitive starch source like other starches if rigorous scientific research study is conducted to explore other findings, which might be important for its production and usage in various industries. Research studies related to sago TPS are still lacked, and it is difficult to compare its performance with TPS made from other starches as its preparation differs based on the starch source. The TPS composite generally exhibits low mechanical strength and poor barrier properties. Reinforcing sago TPS nanocomposites with nanocellulose (NC) is expected to enhance its mechanical and barrier properties. This book chapter covers the overview of characteristics and extraction of sago from its pith as well as its usage to make thermoplastic starch composite. The characteristics of sago TPS nanocomposite reinforced with nanocellulose (NC) is also discussed based on a few research studies due to its published research findings are still limited.

Mono-dispersed mesoporous hollow carbon (MHC) nanospheres with comparable structures have been designed as nanocarriers for the delivery of vancomycin (Van) to inhibit bacterial growth. It is demonstrated that MHC materials possess a Van loading capacity of 861 mg g−1, much higher than that of any Van nanocarrier in previous reports. By comparing the drug loading, release and antibacterial performance of MHC nanospheres with controllable structures, it is shown that MHC with a pore size of 5.8 nm and a wall thickness of 25 nm exhibits compromising storage–release behaviour and achieves extended bactericidal activity of Van towards E. coli and S. epidermidis compared to free Van and other MHC nanocarriers. This study provides new knowledge about the rational design of carbon based nanocarriers to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics.

Antimicrobials receive a great response in agriculture industries. Rapid growth of agriculture products has encouraged huge development of antimicrobial agent to improve growth and health of animals and plants. This paper focuses on the applications of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics which have been widely used in plants and crops, poultry, aquamarine, and livestock production to inhibit microbial infection by various types of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Research related to disease treatment and prevention in agriculture product through proper use of antimicrobial agents is very crucial due to the emergence of bacterial resistance towards antimicrobial drugs. Global concern on the spread of bacterial resistance has gained interest on the research for high potential of antimicrobial agent such as essential oil as it is claimed to have strong antimicrobial activity and safe for humans, animals and plants.

Oil palm (Elaeis Guineensis) is considered to be one of the most valuable crops in Malaysia, helping to revolutionize its economic and agricultural scenario. Unfortunately, the developing oil palm industries in Malaysia have led to significant waste disposal concerns because of the accumulation of large quantities of oil palm waste. During the process of converting fresh fruit bunches (FFB) into crude palm oils (CPO), various types of oil palm waste are generated including oil palm trunks (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF), empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm pressed fibers (PPF), palm kernel shells (PKS), and palm oil mill effluents (POME). Waste produced by the oil palm industry is still economically viable because it can be used in various ways since it is a promising material for the generation of renewable energy, as well as a source of chemical compounds, fertilizers, and biomaterials. The study concentrates on Boustead Plantation Berhad, one of Malaysia's most experienced and developed upstream oil palm plantation businesses. The production of oil palm waste is abundant since oil palm plantations and oil palm mills are scattered throughout Malaysia, with the company controlling 48 oil palm plantations and 10 palm oil mills. The goal of this study was to recognize the potential for oil palm waste to provide information on its potential for further use. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out innovative studies to increase the added value of oil palm, reduce waste, and make the oil palm industry more competitive.

Significant growing on environmental awareness has led researchers to study the surface functionalisation of cellulose nanofiber using natural renewable resources. This study aims to improve the percentage swelling of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) of cocoa pod husks, crops-by product with Ƴ- methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). Investigation on the effect of cocoa pod husk (CPH) microfibrillated cellulose (MFC-CPH) amount, MPS amount, MPS concentration and the reaction time to the percentage of swelling property of MFC-CPH treated with MPS was carried out. Composition amount of CPH -MFC, MPS, MPS concentration and the reaction time were varied from range of 0.5-6 gram, 1-9 mL, 5-15 w/w % and 2-24 hours respectively. Based on evaluation of percentage swelling obtained, it showed that the surface hydrophobicity of MFC-CPH treated with MPS could be increased due to the chemical bonds interaction that formed during silane treatment. The lowest percentage swelling of treated MFC-CPH-MPS is 14.96 % and the highest is 94.87 %. The untreated and treated MFC-CPH were then observed using fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for any change of structural and morphology. FT-IR results shows that there is reduction of OH groups in cellulose and addition of Si groups after silane treatment. There is also a change on the surface of MFC-CPH fibers after silane treatment as MFC-CPH fibers surface become rough due to deposited of MPS on MFC-CPH fibers.

The delivery of bactericidal proteins into biofilms is challenging. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with large cone-shaped pores were synthesized to deliver antimicrobial proteins into biofilms and showed enhanced antimicrobial activities.

Solar energy is one of the renewable energy that gets more attention from many countries. Solar photo voltaic (PV) takes the right position to get the maximum energy yield. The study was conducted by comparison of performance with two methods of tracking the sun with one axis and two axes by using ANFIS control (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System). The solar tracking system is a system that operates on the sun by using a light sensor and controls the photovoltaic to always perpendicular to the sun by changing the pitch and yaw axis of the sun tracing properties. LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) is one of the light sensors whose resistance changes depending on the intensity of incoming light. Direct current (DC )motor is used as a PV drive panel in a solar tracking system. A two-axis solar tracking system has a greater power output than a tracking system with a single photovoltaic panel that does not use a tracking system (fixed).

Engineered magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with surprisingly high antimicrobial activity and excellent safety profiles to mammalian cell lines have been developed. Hematite hollow nanospheres (HNSs) are prepared by a facile hard templating method; reduction of hematite HNSs by H-2 leads to magnetite HNSs. The antimicrobial activity of magnetite HNSs towards Gram negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) bacteria is evaluated against hematite HNSs and conventional magnetite (C-magnetite; diameter

Nature's creations with spiky topological features typically exhibit intriguing surface adhesive properties. From micrometer-sized pollen grains that can easily stick to hairy insects for pollination to nanoscale virus particles that are highly infectious toward host cells, multivalent interactions are formed taking advantage of rough surfaces. Herein, this nature-inspired concept is employed to develop novel drug delivery nanocarriers for antimicrobial applications. A facile new approach is developed to fabricate silica nanopollens (mesoporous silica nanospheres with rough surfaces), which show enhanced adhesion toward bacteria surfaces compared to their counterparts with smooth surfaces. Lysozyme, a natural antimicrobial enzyme, is loaded into silica nanopollens and shows sustained release behavior, potent antimicrobial activity, and long-term total bacterial inhibition up to 3 days toward Escherichia coli. The potent antibacterial activity of lysozyme-loaded silica nanopollens is further demonstrated ex vivo by using a small-intestine infection model. Our strategy provides a novel pathway in the rational design of nanocarriers for efficient drug delivery.

The abuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and high threats to human health. The search for safe and effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics is growing worldwide. In this article, we report the synthesis of large pore dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) with controllable particle sizes and investigate the relationship between the particle size of DMSNs and their antibacterial enzyme delivery performance. The choice of dual-functional perfluorocarbon anions with both low surface tension and interaction with cationic surfactants enables the synthesis of DMSNs with tunable particle size and pore size. After loading with lysozyme, a naturally occurring antimicrobial enzyme, DMSNs with a large pore size of 22.4 nm and a small particle size of 79 nm show significantly better antibacterial activity compared to either DMSNs with a larger particle size (160 nm) or MSNs with a smaller pore size (2.4 nm) while the other parameter is similar. The optimized DMSNs loaded with lysozyme exhibit total inhibition towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) throughout five days. Our study provides new insights into the controllable synthesis of nano-carriers for antimicrobial protein delivery applications.

High concentration of heavy metals and microbes present in water can reduce the quality of water and bring serious side effects to human beings. Their removal from water is of great importance. In this study, MgO microspheres with hierarchical morphology have been synthesized by a facile and low-cost precipitation-aging-calcination method and their dual functionality for effective arsenic removal and microbial inhibition has been investigated for the first time. By systematical investigation on the synthesis, structure and performance relationship, optimized MgO microspheres are prepared with both high arsenic removal capacity and prominent antibacterial activity. Hierarchical MgO microspheres calcined at 500 °C exhibit the best trade-off between As(III) adsorption (502 mg g(-1)) and antibacterial performance (complete elimination at 700 μg mL(-1)). It is also demonstrated that our materials can be used for the simultaneous removal of arsenic and microbes in a model water system. This study offers a convenient and low cost dual-function agent with efficient performance for water treatment.

The changes in the intensity of solar radiation cause the electrical power produced by solar panels to be not optimal. The solar panel position control system to the position of the solar is an effort to overcome this problem. There are four Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) sensors placed on the sides of the four cardinal directions. The difference in the intensity of solar radiation received by each sensor causes the position of the solar panel to turn perpendicular to the position of the solar. The control method used is fuzzy logic control with three membership functions. The controlled variables are pitch angle and yaw angle in an active two-axis solar tracking system. Input fuzzy logic control is an error, and output is PWM. The results of the performance of the pitch angle control system produce settling time for 10 s and error steady-state obtained by 0.080 %, while for the yaw angle control system produces settling time for 13 s and steady-state error is obtained at 0.038 %. The existence of a control system resulted in an increase in the percentage of power above 30 % with a power difference of 7.49 W to a fixed panel.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-41) with different surface chemistry were used as carrier system to study its influence on drug delivery and anticancer activity of curcumin (CUR). CUR was encapsulated in pristine MCM-41 (hydrophilic and negatively charged), amino functionalized MCM-41 (MCM-41-NH2 which is hydrophilic and positively charged), and methyl functionalized MCM-41 (MCM-41-CH3 which is hydrophobic and negatively charged) and evaluated for in vitro release and cell cytotoxicity in human squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCC25). Various techniques were employed to evaluate the performance of these materials on cellular uptake and anticancer activity in the SCC25 cell line. Both positively and negatively charged surfaces demonstrated enhanced drug release and anticancer activity compared to pure CUR. Positively charged nanoparticles showed higher cell uptake compared to negatively charged nanoparticles owing to its electrostatic interaction with cells. However, hydrophobic surface modified nanoparticles (MCM-41-CH3) showed no improvement in drug release and anticancer activity due to its poor wetting effect. Cell cycle analysis and cell apoptosis studies revealed different pathway mechanisms followed by the positively and negatively charged nanoparticles but exhibiting similar anticancer activity in SCC25 cells.

This research aimed to explore antibacterial activity of Fibraurea tinctora Lour. extracted by ethanol and hot water. The treatments of study consisted of six levels of F. tinctora plant extract (0 %, 0.625 %, 1.25 %, 2.50 %, 5.00 % and 10.0 %, respectively) either using ethanol or hot water, resulting in 12 experimental treatments according to 6 × 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Each of the treatment was replicated three times. Results of this research showed that either ethanol or hot water F. tinctora extract have potency to control farm pathogenic bacteria. In the lowest concentration (0.625 %) both extract significantly inhibited bacteria growth (Minimum Inhibition Concentration). The highest antibacterial activity was in group that had the highest concentration (10 %) of extract in both of the bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus were more susceptible to the F. tinctora extract than Escherichia coli. Result from spectrophotometry UV-vis assessments showed that the total composition of tannin, alkaloid, and saponin from ethanol extract of F. tinctoria is higher than its water based extract. Meanwhile, phenol composition of water-based extract from F. tinctoria is higher than from ethanol extract.

This research was conducted to examine the growth profile, growth kinetics, and insulin-secretory responsiveness of BRIN-BD11 cells grown in optimized medium on different types of microcarriers (MCs). Comparisons were made on modified polystyrene (Hillex(®) II) and crosslinked polystyrene Plastic Plus (PP) from Solohill Engineering. The cell line producing insulin was cultured in a 25 cm(2) T-flask as control while MCs based culture was implemented in a stirred tank bioreactor with 1 L working volume. For each culture type, the viable cell number, glucose, lactate, glutamate, and insulin concentrations were measured and compared. Maximum viable cell number was obtained at 1.47 × 10(5) cell/mL for PP microcarrier (PPMCs) culture, 1.35 × 10(5) cell/mL Hillex(®) II (HIIMCs) culture and 0.95 × 10(5) cell/mL for T-flask culture, respectively. The highest insulin concentration has been produced in PPMCs culture (5.31 mg/L) compared to HIIMCs culture (2.01 mg/L) and T-flask culture (1.99 mg/L). Therefore overall observation suggested that PPMCs was likely preferred to be used for BRIN-BD11 cell culture as compared with Hillex(®) II MCs.

The fact of microcarrier (MC) culture introduces new possibilities and makes possible the practical high-yield culture of anchorage-dependent cells has generated a considerable focus in this study. The objective of this research was to study the comparison of Vero cell growth on different types of commercial microcarriers; Cytodex-1, Cytodex-3, Hil-lex® II and Plastic Plus in spinner vessel and two liters bioreactor cultured for 96 hours. Biological performance of the microcarrier in RPMI media showed the preference of Vero cell grew on Cytodex 3 microcarriers with highest maximum viable cell number (2.4 × 105 cells/ml) followed by Cytodex 1, Hillex and Plustic Plus. Vero cell on Cyto-dex-3 data in spinner flask was compared in bioreactor and result showed higher viable cell number in biorector. Thus, this dextran-crosslink gelatin microcarrier (Cytodex 3) provided the best surface for cell attachment and fast proliferation. At the end of this cell growth improvement will be used for virus transfection producing a vaccine in bioreactor.

This study aims to investigate the effect of tin (Sn) and magnesium (Mg) on the sintering response of sintered Al. Although this topic has been extensively reported, details on the combined effect of Sn and Mg that function as sintering additives are still limited. The current study discusses the effect of the combined use of Sn and Mg to assist aluminium (Al) in liquid phase sintering via the powder metallurgy technique. The results demonstrated that the densities of sintered Al increased from 2.5397 to 2.575 g/cm3 as the Sn content increased from 1.5 to 2.5 wt. % respectively. Accordingly, the physical characteristics of sintered Al were transformed from black to silver, which confirmed the reduction in the oxygen content (oxide layer reduction) from 0.58 to 0.44 wt. % respectively. Additionally, the microstructure of the resultant sintered Al demonstrated that effective wetting by Sn addition was obtained at its maximum content of 2.5 wt. % with a greater micro pores reduction and better metallurgical bonding between Al particles. Therefore, the introduction of different Sn content, along with Mg element, was found to further improve the sintering response of the resultant sintered Al that consequently improved its densities and physical characteristics.