Bentham Science Publishers

Medicinal and Environmental Chemistry: Experimental Advances and Simulations is a collection of topics that highlight the use of pharmaceutical chemistry to assess the environment or make drug design and chemical testing more environment friendly.

The eleven chapters included in the second part of this book set cover diverse topics, blending the fields of environmental chemistry and medicinal chemistry and have been authored by experts, scientists and academicians from renowned institutions. This part is more specialized in nature, focusing primarily on the effects of air pollution and water contamination on human health. Chapters covering pharmaceutical interventions and pollution control measures, respectively follow these initial topics.

Part II also features specialized topics that aim to address some unique challenges of the above mentioned problems including antibiotic pollution, pharmaceutical analysis of pollutants, chemosensors, biosteric modifications and new drug development strategies against SARS-CoV2.

Key Features:

1. 11 topics which blend environmental chemistry and medicinal chemistry

2. Contributions from more than 40 experts

3. Includes topics covering effects of air pollution on human health and disease

4. Includes specialized topics on pharmaceutical analysis in the environment, and modifications of compounds for pharmaceutical purposes

5. Bibliographic references

This reference is an essential source of information for readers and scholars involved in environmental chemistry, pollution management and pharmaceutical chemistry courses at graduate and undergraduate levels. Professionals and students involved in occupational medicine will also benefit from the wide range of topics covered.

Melanin is a biological molecule associated with pigmentation in humans and animals. However, melanin has been observed to have other functions such as neuroprotection and energy production. In Melanin, the Master Molecule, researchers summarize several decades worth of knowledge on melanin and its physicochemical properties. Nine chapters explain the intrinsic biochemistry of melanin, comparisons with conventional energy producing and respiratory biomolecules, the property of melanin to transform light energy into chemical energy through the dissociation of the water molecule, and the theories of melanin based energy production in the nervous system, the cell nucleus, muscles and the eye, and the role the role of melanin in the context of ageing. The authors also delve into the possibility of melanin being the key molecule needed to spark life since its water dissociating property through the absorption of light energy emulates the role of chlorophyll, but unlike the latter, it is not limited to the plant cell environment. Hence, melanin is referred to as the master molecule which can provide a missing link to the biochemical processes behind the origin of life.

Melanin, the Master Molecule is an exciting reference for biochemists and laymen interested in the science of melanin and a new perspective on the origin of life as we know it.

The electrical response of cells to mechanical stimulus is known as mechanotransduction. This monograph is a summary of the mechanotransduction in musculoskeletal cells responsible for body tissue maintenance, support, cover and movement. While mechanotransduction is similar among these cells, there are also several important differences in mechanical parameters and cellular pathways characteristic to each cell type. Therefore, readers will have the opportunity to update their knowledge about the increasing volume of information on mechanotransduction in these cells gained from current research.

The book features a primer on general aspects of cellular biomechanics and the experimental methods and equipment commonly used for investigating cellular mechanotransduction in vitro in two dimensional cultures in which cells are adherent to plastic surfaces. Characteristic mechanotransduction pathways in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), chondrocytes, osteoblasts and fibroblasts are described in the accompanying chapters. Finally, a description of clinical implementation of mechanical stimulation is presented with emphasis on distraction osteogenesis, involving osteoblast stimulation, and skin stretching techniques based on fibroblast stimulation.

This monograph is a useful reference for readers involved in graduate courses or basic research in cell biology and musculoskeletal physiology.

For decades, scientific efforts have been made to understand obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration, and their link with meta-inflammation. Adipose tissue is, at present, viewed as an endocrine organ with important biological effects on metabolism and inflammation, with a possible role in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Chronic systemic low-grade inflammation has gained significant attention as the key player in the pathophysiology of obesity- and aging-associated diseases. Keeping view of this trend, Meta-Inflammation and Obesity offers readers state-of-the-art knowledge on this subject. Chapters cover special topics such as gender differences in obesity-related type 2 diabetes as the consequence of inflammatory response, insights into metabolic changes caused by excessive adipose tissue (which lead to abnormal brain metabolism, neuroinflammation, cognitive decline, development of type 3 diabetes), and the importance of inflammaging in the aging process. Graduate, postgraduate and Ph. D. candidates in medicine, pharmacy, and students of applied medicine, health care professionals as well as scientists involved in adipose tissue research, meta-inflammation analysis, obesity-related medical specialties will find this book a useful reference on the link between inflammation and obesity.

Metabolites of Medicinal Plants: Insightful Approaches provides a comprehensive exploration of the bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants and their pharmacological significance. The book covers key topics such as the economics of medicinal and anticancer plants, phytochemistry, therapeutic potential, and advanced applications like nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems and CRISPR-Cas techniques. It also examines the role of these plants in combating diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome and their role in traditional medicine systems. This resource is essential for students, researchers, and professionals in phytochemistry, pharmacology, drug discovery, and healthcare practices.

Key Features:

1. Wide range of topics from medicinal plant economics to pharmacological applications.

2. Latest discoveries in plant bioactive compounds and their therapeutic uses.

3. Novel drug delivery methods to enhance efficacy.

4. Linking genes to metabolites through advanced omics approaches.

Metal Complexes: Environmental and Biomedical Applications offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of metal complexes in diverse fields, including biomedicine, energy, and environmental protection. This book provides insights into the synthesis, properties, and applications of metal complexes, covering topics such as their use in therapeutics, diagnostics, energy materials, and catalysis. It also examines their antibacterial, antifungal, and sensor applications. With a systematic approach, the book is ideal for students, researchers, and professionals interested in the growing relevance of metal complexes in scientific and industrial applications.

Key Features:

- Overview of metal complexes and oxidation states.

- Synthesis of metal complexes from N-heterocyclic carbene and Schiff base ligands.

- Biomedical applications, including therapeutics and diagnostics.

- Use of metal complexes in energy storage and catalysis.

- Applications in antibacterial and antifungal treatments.

- Metal complexes as sensors and in analytical chemistry.

Oxynitride thin film technology is rapidly impacting a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from decorative functions (through optoelectronics) to corrosion resistance. Developing a better understanding of the relationships between deposition processes, structure and composition of the deposited films is critical to the continued evolution of these applications. This e-book provides valuable information about the process modeling, fabrication and characterization of metallic oxynitride-based thin films produced by reactive sputtering and some related deposition processes. Its contents are spread in twelve main and concise chapters through which the book thoroughly reviews the bases of oxynitride thin film technology and deposition processes, sputtering processes and the resulting behaviors of these oxynitride thin films. More importantly, the solutions for the growth of oxynitride technology are given in detail with an emphasis on some particular compounds. This is a valuable resource for academic learners studying materials science and industrial coaters, who are concerned not only about fundamental aspects of oxynitride synthesis, but also by their innate material characteristics.

Natural products have dominated our lives since ancient times. Today, they are an inexhaustible source of new medications for disease treatment. The practice of evaluating bioactive compounds extracted from natural sources has also advanced significantly, prompting a need to understand current methods to identify and evaluate them. This book covers basic scientific aspects of preclinical research on natural products for specific conditions and diseases. These include aging, gynecological disorders, inflammatory disorders, renal disorders and cardiovascular disorders. Each of the 10 book chapters give a structured overview on preclinical methods on the etiology of diseases, natural products as the materials for the bioassays, extract types, concentration of the extracts/compounds for in vitro and in vivo assays, preparation of the test materials, application of the test materials, step-by-step methods and related calculations. The book is intended as a quick reference for natural product researchers, pharmacists and postgraduate students in pharmacognosy. Medical doctors working in preclinical research on natural products will also benefit from the information provided.

Methods to Determine Enzymatic Activity is a textbook about industrial enzymes. The book features definitions, classifications and applications of selected enzymes important in industry and in biotechnological processes. Analytical methods for these enzymes are also included in the text. The main objective of this textbook is to provide readers information focused on the current analysis methods of enzymatic activity at qualitative and quantitative levels. Each chapter is about one specific enzyme and contains information about its substrate and some biochemical properties. The methodologies are presented as an experimental protocol allowing interested readers to reproduce the experimental methods detailed within the textbook. These protocols contain the principle of the technique, materials, methods, and all steps necessary for the determination of enzyme activity and interpretation of results. Each methodology is illustrated with photos and schemes for a better and clear understanding. This book, therefore, uniquely brings modern analysis techniques of industrial enzymes in a single easy to understand volume. This textbook is suitable for undergraduate enzymology courses and advanced industrial biotechnology and microbiology courses.