Bentham Science Publishers

Bioencapsulation (or microencapsulation) of cells and their implantation into a body of immunoprotected cells allows researchers to revive a missing or defective function in the cells. Microencapsulated cells have reached the clinic where they have been shown to be safe and efficacious in numerous clinical trials. Cell types that have been encapsulated for therapeutic purposes include hybridomas, islet cells, "platform" cell lines e.g. HEK293 and CHO cells as well as an increasing focus on the encapsulation of stem cells. This e-book explains the different methods used for achieving cell bioencapsulation based on different polymers e.g. alginate, cellulose sulphate and agarose. Other chapters in this book subsequently describe the use of cell encapsulation in cancer therapy to improve on existing chemotherapies by reducing doses and thus side effects while increasing efficacy for long term in vivo production of (i) tumoricidal or virus neutralising antibodies, (ii) insulin to achieve a self regulating treatment for diabetes and (iii) neuron nurturing factors to treat CNS diseases such as epilepsy, disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and pathologies caused by trauma and/or ischemic processes. The book also includes a chapter reviewing the genetic engineering of cells to allow controlled production of biotherapeutics from encapsulated cells.

This is a unique and timely book which brings together contributions from some of the leading researchers in the field of cell encapsulation. Interested readers are provided an overview of the exciting developments and clinical experiences of researchers with cell bioencapsulation.

The exponential increase in computing power in the late twentieth century has allowed researchers to gather, process and analyze large volumes of information and construct rational paradigms of systems. Life sciences are no exception and computing advances have led to the birth of fields such as functional genomics and bioinformatics and facilitated an expansion of our understanding of biological systems. Biological Systems: Complexity and Artificial Life is an essential primer on systems biology for biologists and researchers having a multidisciplinary background. The volume covers a variety of theoretical models explaining biological processes. The book starts with an introductory chapter on the classical molecular biology paradigm and progresses towards concepts related to enzyme kinetics, non equilibrium dynamics, cellular thermodynamics, molecular motion in cells and more. The book concludes with a philosophical note on the concept of the biological system.

Both Asia and Africa are home to many plants that can be used for the treatment of many diseases and their medicinal properties are gaining interest in western societies. Medicinal plants from Asia and Africa are used for their healing abilities and also have a symbolic meaning in communities.

The importance of traditional autochthonous plant remedies plays a crucial role in the health of millions of people of these two continents. Even today, traditional medicine represents the dominant medical system for millions of people showing a significant impact on health care practices. Therefore, traditional operators still represent a vital part of regional healthcare systems. For this reason, pharmaceutical industries consider traditional medicine as a source for the identification of bioactive compounds that can be used in the preparation of synthetic drugs.

Biologically Active Natural Products from Asia and Africa: A Selection of Topics guides the reader to information about new natural products from these regions and the different ways to use them to treat or alleviate many of the most common diseases. The volume presents nine topics covering a number of facets of natural product medicine including:

- pharmaceutical analysis of anti-diabetic herbal medicines from Bangladesh and local retailers

- caffeine intake and the risk of female infertility

- pharmaceutical analysis of Urena sinuata (bur mallow)

- anti-CHIKV activities of diterpenes and their derivatives

- anti-inflammatory nanogel for the treatment of psoriasis

- antlithiatic properties of Moroccan medicinal plants

- ethnobotanic, phytochemical and biological activities of Aristolochia longa L. (pipevine)

- wound healing potential of combined extracts of stem bark and leaves of sphenocentrum jollyanum (an African shrub)

This is a handy reference for specialists and R&D experts in pharmaceutical chemistry who wish to be informed about current knowledge on developing natural remedies in Asia and Africa

Bioluminescence, the cold living light or the cold fire of the sea is extremely common in all oceans at all depths. However, this phenomenon is nearly absent in freshwater, with the exception of a freshwater limpet. More than 75% of deep-sea creatures have been reported to produce their own light. The luminescent marine plankton such as dinoflagellate, radiolarians, jellyfish, comb jellies, annelids, copepods, ostracods, mysids, amphipods, euphausiids, and tunicates form an important component in the marine food chain. Research on luminescent marine plankton is gaining momentum owing to its importance in life science research and medicine. The glowing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) extracted from the North Pacific jellyfish, Aqueorea victoria (for which the Japanese biologist, Osamu Shimonmura won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008) has helped shed light on key processes such as the spread of cancer, the development of brain cells, the growth of bacteria, damage to cells by Alzheimer's disease, and the development of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Therefore, it is difficult to underscore the importance of bioluminescence and the organisms associated with this phenomenon.

Bioluminescent Marine Plankton is a unique reference that attempts to provide answers to questions about bioluminescence. The first of its kind, this book attempts to answer questions on the subject with a focus on planktonic organisms. 12 chapters provide information about the chemistry of bioluminescence, types of bioluminescent displays, distribution of bioluminescence among marine plankton, ecological functions and utility of planktonic bioluminescence. Chapters are dedicated to the biology and ecology of specific groups of plankton that span about 200 luminescent marine species.

The detailed book is an essential compendium on marine plankton for a broad range of readers who want to learn about bioluminescent plankton. A list of detailed references is also provided for the benefit of teachers, students, researchers and enthusiasts interested in marine biology, aquaculture, and environmental sciences.

This reference is a guide to biomaterial fabrication techniques. The book comprises ten chapters introducing the reader to a range of biomaterial synthesis while highlighting biomedical applications. Each chapter presents a review of the topic followed by updated information about relevant core and applied concepts in an easy to understand format. The first two chapters present vital information about biomaterial components, such as polymer nanocomposites and scaffolds, and the strategies used for their fabrication. The proceeding chapters explain the principles of the most widely used fabrication techniques, and their application in detail. These include freeze drying, electrospinning, 3D printing, multiphoton lithography, particulate leaching, supramolecular self assembly, solvent casting and melt molding. The book is an essential primer on biomaterial synthesis for students and early career researchers in the field of biomedical engineering, applied chemistry and tissue engineering.

Biomedical Applications of Perovskites: The Era of Bio-Piezoelectric Systems focuses on recent developments in the area of piezoelectric systems and their biomedical applications. A compilation of 19 edited chapters covers different piezoelectric materials, device designs, and their use cases. Readers will be familiarized with the many perovskite materials being used in research and development as well as the role they play in designing novel medical devices and biomaterials.

Key Features

- systematically explains the piezoelectric perovskite materials starting from their introduction, their structure and synthesis techniques

- explains the key materials used in devices such as pacemakers and nanogenerators

- highlights a range of applications including bone regeneration and growth, bone replacement, tissue engineering, dental science, neurotrauma and neurodegenerative disease treatment and bionic prosthesis

- discusses future challenges and the roadmap for piezoelectric perovskite materials

- Presents scientific references for advanced reading

The biophysics of diving and decompression in the human body are complex. The average individual experiences atmospheric pressure swings of 3% at sea level and over 20% at altitudes greater than a mile. Divers and their equipment can experience compressions and decompressions in orders of greater magnitude than pressures outside water, all within considerably shorter time spans. The understanding of the mechanics behind diving is based on absolute pressure and pressure changes. While these mechanics are readily quantified in physics, chemistry, and engineering applications, the physiological and medical aspects of pressure changes in living systems need to be understood clearly to assess the safety of routine divers.

This monograph is a compilation of a body of knowledge on biophysics, gas transport, bubble studies and physiological models used for diving and hyperbaric applications. Information in the monograph is divided into three parts that cover biophysics and models, data correlation and validation approaches and practical applications, respectively. The book is a useful resource for researchers and maritime professionals who wish to understand the biophysics behind underwater diving and decompression for the purpose of maritime operations as well as diving simulation applications.

Bio-based polymers are materials that are produced from renewable resources. Their biodegradable properties are the driver of worldwide interest among researchers and manufacturers in recent years due to the demand and need for alternatives to fossil fuel based polymers. The use of biodegradable polymers creates a sustainable industry. In contrast, the raw materials for synthetic polymers derived from petrochemicals will eventually deplete and most of them are non-biodegradable. Despite these advantages, bio-based polymers account for only a tiny fraction of the total global plastic market.

Non-biodegradability issues of synthetic pharmaceutical inactive ingredients strongly emphasized innovators towards the development of biopolymers. Recently natural biodegradable excipients gained significant attention due to their sustainability and engineered applications. Innovative technologies to transform these materials into value-added chemicals via novel graft-polymerization or co-processing techniques for the production of high-performance multifunctional and low-cost polymers with tunable structures are key parts of its sustainable development.

Biopolymers Towards Green and Sustainable Development elaborates on important issues that surround bio-based polymers. It gives the reader an overview of biopolymers, the impact of non-biodegradable polymers on the environment and health, emerging sources of biodegradable polymers, structural and morphological characterization techniques, thermomechanical properties, biodegradable plastics from biopolymers, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and textile applications, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. with a brief on bibliometric. Moreover, a brief bibliometric meta-analysis on bio-based pharmaceutical excipients provides an update about teams involved in the development of polymeric research that may be of interest to anyone who wants to work on sustainable biopolymer projects.

Key Features

- provides an updated summary on recently discovered natural polymeric materials

- gives a thorough breakdown of the vast range of biopolymer applications including fabrication of conventional and novel drug delivery, polymeric scaffolds, composites, microneedles, and green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles,

-summarizes pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the inactive pharmaceutical ingredient and excipients

- presents a bibliometric meta-analysis indicating potential collaboration between country, organization, institution, and authors with a view on recent ongoing trends with biopolymers.

Increased industrial and agricultural activity has led to the contamination of the earth's soil and groundwater resources with hazardous chemicals. The presence of heavy metals, dyes, fluorides, dissolved solids, and many other pollutants used in industry and agriculture are responsible for hazardous levels of water pollution. The removal of these pollutants in water resources is challenging. Bioremediation is a new technique that employs living organisms, usually bacteria and fungi, to remove pollutants from soil and water, preferably in situ. This approach is more cost-effective than traditional techniques, such as incineration of soils and carbon filtration of water. It requires understanding how organisms consume and transform polluting chemicals, survive in polluted environments, and how they should be employed in the field.

Bioremediation for Environmental Pollutants discusses the latest research in green chemistry and practices and principles involved in quality improvement of water by remediation. It covers different aspects of environmental problems and their remedies with up-to-date developments in the field of bioremediation of industrial/environmental pollutants. Volume 1 focuses on the bioremediation of heavy metals, pesticides, textile dyes removal, petroleum hydrocarbon, microplastics and plastics.

Waste management is one of the major challenges for environmental and public health organizations for maintaining safety standards in any area. Population growth and urbanization increase the difficulty in maintaining a sustainable waste management system. Bioremediation refers to the use of living organisms in processes designed to remove toxic chemicals present in waste material. Bioremediation represents a sustainable way to remove a range of environmental pollutants.

Bioremediation: Challenges and Advancements covers the subject of bioremediation in eight chapters that focus on a broad range of waste sources, their adverse impacts on the ecosystem, and the advanced strategies for their remediation. Each chapter also highlights the problems encountered in bioremediation processes.

Key features:

- Comprehensive coverage of bioremediation in 8 reader-friendly chapters

- Highlights methods and challenges of bioremediation in one volume.

- Introduces the reader to bioremediation

- Explains recent biotechnological methods for removing heavy metals and xenobiotic compounds

- Describes strategies including physical, chemical, and biological methods to mitigate radioactive waste from contaminated sites and water bodies

- Details the use of microbial-aided remediation techniques for the management of biomedical and electronic wastes, and its impact on the ecosystem

- Describes bioremediation technologies for decontamination of solid waste pollutants

- Showcases the application of Omics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to improve bioremediation processes.

- Covers bioremediation of agro-wastes

- Includes detailed references

This book is an informative reference for scholars (researchers, undergraduate and graduate students of environmental sciences, microbiology and biotechnology) professionals (environmental engineers) and researchers, giving each a good understanding of the significance of bioremediation in solid waste management and the restoration of contaminated sites.