Biotechnology
Current Scenario and Global Perspective of Sustainable Algal Biofuel Production
Industrialization and globalization have increased the demand for petroleum products that has increased a load on natural energy resources. The escalating fossil fuel utilization has resulted in surpassing the Earth's capacity to absorb greenhouse gases necessitating the exploration of sustainable bioenergy alternatives to mitigate emissions. Biofuels derived from algae offer promising solutions to alleviate fossil fuel dependency. Algae often regarded as third-generation biofuels present numerous advantages owing to their high biomass production rates. While algae have been utilized for their bioactive compounds their capability as biomass for the production of biofuel has gained traction among researchers. Various biofuels such as bio-hydrogen bio-methane bio-ethanol bio-oil and bio-butanol can be derived from algae through diverse processes like fermentation photolysis pyrolysis and transesterification. Despite the enormous commercial potential of algae-derived biofuels challenges such as high cultivation costs persist. However leveraging the utilization of algae byproducts could improve economic viability of biofuel production. Moreover algae derived biofuels offer environmental sustainability cost-effectiveness and waste reduction benefits promising novel opportunities for a more sustainable energy future. Moreover advancements in the field could lead to patents that drive innovation and commercialization in algae-based biofuel technologies.
A Patent Landscape on Methane Oxidizing Bacteria (MOB) or Methanotrophs
Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) or methanotrophs are a category of bacteria that rely on methane as their primary carbon and energy source. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and is comparatively far more potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere. MOBs are important microorganisms in the global carbon cycle where they play a crucial role in the oxidation of methane. The present review provides a comprehensive patent landscape on technology development using MOB. The first patent in this technology domain was recorded in 1971 with a notable surge in activity observed in 2020. A detailed patent analysis revealed that the early inventions were mainly focused on the production of various metabolites and bioremediation using MOB. In the later years patents were filed in the area of identification of various species of MOB and their large-scale production. From 2010 onwards consistent patent filing was observed in the genetic engineering of MOB to enhance their methane oxidizing capacity. The United States and China have emerged as the global leaders in terms of patent filing in this technology space. Precigen Inc. and Exxon Research Engineering Co. US were the top patent assignees followed by the University of Tsinghua and Calysta Inc. The Highest number of patent applications have claimed metabolite production by using MOB followed by their use in bioremediation. Methylosinus has emerged as the predominant microorganism of choice for methane oxidation applications.
Relevance of Microorganisms in Causing Rain and Snow
Various natural phenomena (such as solar fluctuations oceanic patterns volcanic eruptions and tectonic movements) alongside human activities (including deforestation CO and CO2 emissions and desertification) contribute to ongoing climate change and subsequent global warming. However human actions significantly exacerbate global warming amplifying its adverse impacts worldwide. With rising temperatures water evaporation from water bodies and soils intensifies leading to heightened water scarcity particularly in drought-prone regions. This scarcity compounds rainfall deficits posing significant challenges. Precipitation essential for the biosphere's hydrological cycle replenishes much of the world's freshwater. It occurs when condensed water vapor in the atmosphere falls back to Earth as rain drizzle sleet graupel hail or snow due to gravity. Literature highlights the indispensable role of microbial populations in this process termed bio-precipitation. This phenomenon begins with microbial colonization on plant surfaces with colonies subsequently dispersed into the atmosphere by winds triggering ice crystal formation. Through their ice nucleating property these microbes facilitate the growth of larger ice crystals which eventually melt and precipitate as rain or snow. This mechanism aids in nutrient transfer from clouds to soil or vegetation. Pseudomonas syringae stands out as the most notable microorganism exhibiting this ice-nucleation property serving as the primary source of ice nucleators driving bio-precipitation. Despite limited literature on “rain and snow-causing microorganisms” this review comprehensively explores the conceptual background of bio-precipitation the involved bio-processes and the critical role of bacteria like P. syringae offering insights into future research directions and patent innovations.
Curcumin-assisted Preparation of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 Nanocomposites for Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Activity
Harmful microorganisms like pathogens significantly impact human health. Meanwhile industrial growth causes pollution and water contamination by releasing untreated hazardous waste. Effective treatment of these microorganisms and contaminants is essential and nanocomposites may be a promising solution. The present attempt demonstrates the green synthesis of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites (FTNCs) for the effective treatment of pathogens and organic contaminants.
The FTNCs have been synthesized through a green approach utilizing curcumin extract. Curcumin (Turmeric) extract (TEx) was prepared by washing drying and crushing 5 g of turmeric then boiling it in 100 mL distilled water at 70°C for 1 hour. Metal salts (Fe3+/Ti4+ 2:1) were added to 100 mL of TEx under continuous stirring at 70°C for 24 h. The solution was rinsed and dried at 80°C overnight and heated at 300°C for 3 h to remove impurities.
Synthesized FTNCs have been tested for the potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus Bacillus subtilis Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli Salmonella Abony Pseudomonas sp.). Observations discovered noteworthy inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by FTNCs. Furthermore the FTNCs system shows the energy band gap of ~2.6 eV which may suppress electron recombination thereby enhancing photo-catalysis. The photo-degradation is examined against Evans blue (EB) and Congo red (CR) dyes under UV and visible light (125 W) irradiation. The remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency (DE) for CR reached ~67.4% in 60 min.
A simple green approach has been demonstrated for the synthesis of the FTNCs using curcumin-mediated reduction. As prepared FTNCs have been evaluated for potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus Bacillus subtilis Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli Salmonella Abony Pseudomonas sp.). The results show that the highest zone of inhibition diameter values have been obtained for 5 mg/mL concertation of FTNCs of ~14 22 18 21 and 20 and 29 mm for E. coli S. abony S. aureus B. subtilis E. faecalis and Pseudomonas sp. respectively. Additionally FTNCs demonstrate remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency against EB and CR dyes under UV (125 W) irradiation achieving 56 67% degradation within 60 min respectively. The findings indicate that FTNCs show long-term antimicrobial effectiveness and potential for water treatment through photocatalysis. This examination highlights recent advancements in intellectual property rights (IPR) and patent strategies shedding light on how patents influence eco-friendly synthesis and the development of multifunctional high-performance nanocomposites.
Application of Achras sapota Linn in Traditional Medicine
This patent article offers a thorough analysis of the contemporary application of Achras sapota Linn or sapodilla in conventional medicine. Tropical fruit-bearing Achras sapota Linn has long been used in many traditional medical systems. The study examines Achras sapota Linn's phytochemical makeup and pharmacological characteristics with an emphasis on the plant's possible medical uses in the treatment of a range of illnesses. Moreover it highlights the safety and efficacy characteristics of Achras sapota Linn and talks about new research and clinical trials that back up its traditional applications. This study also discusses obstacles and potential avenues for further research and application of Achras sapota Linn in contemporary medicine. All things considered it emphasizes how important Achras sapota Linn is to traditional medicine as a therapeutic resource.
Unveiling Anthraquinones: Diverse Health Benefits of an Essential Secondary Metabolite
Since ancient times plants have been used as a remedy for numerous diseases. The pharmacological properties of plants are due to the presence of secondary metabolites like terpenoids flavonoids alkaloids etc. Anthraquinones represent a group of naturally occurring quinones found generously across various plant species. Anthraquinones attract a significant amount of attention due to their reported efficacy in treating a wide range of diseases. Their complex chemical structures combined with inherent medicinal properties underscore their potential as agents for therapy. They demonstrate several therapeutic properties such as laxative antitumor antimalarial antibacterial antifungal antioxidant etc. Anthraquinones are found in different forms (derivatives) in plants and they exhibit various medicinal properties due to their structure and chemical nature. The precursors for the biosynthesis of anthraquinones in higher plants are provided by different pathways such as plastidic hemiterpenoid 2-C-methyl-D-erthriol4-phosphate (MEP) mevalonate (MVA) isochorismate synthase and polyketide. Anthraquinones possess several medicinal properties and a complex biosynthetic pathway making them good candidates for patenting new products synthesis methods and biotechnological production advancements. By conducting a thorough analysis of scientific literature this review provides insights into the intricate interplay between anthraquinone biosynthesis and its broad-ranging contributions to human health.
Emerging Methods in the Identification of Bacterial Respiratory Tract Pathogens
Here we will review different bacterial causes of respiratory tract infections and discuss the available diagnostic methods. Moreover we will provide some recently published patents and newer techniques such as respiratory panels and omics approaches and express the challenges in this path.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) include those infections that can lead to the involvement of different respiratory parts including the sinuses throat airways and lungs. Acute respiratory tract infection is the leading cause of death from infectious illnesses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization 1.6 to 2.2 million deaths have occurred due to acute respiratory infections in children under five years of age. About 4 million people die annually from respiratory infections 98% of which are caused by lower respiratory infections.
Depending on the type of pathogen the severity of the infection can vary from mild to severe and even cause death. The most important pathogens involved in respiratory tract infections include Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The symptoms are often similar but the treatment can vary greatly. Therefore correct diagnosis is so important. There are several methods for diagnosing respiratory infections. Traditional tests include the culture of respiratory samples considered the primary tool for diagnosing respiratory infections in laboratories and less common standard tests include rapid and antigenic tests. It is essential to think that the culture method is reliable. In the original method of diagnosing respiratory infections some bacteria were challenging to grow successfully and many clinical laboratories needed to be equipped for viral cultures. Another issue is the time to get the results which may take up to 7 days. Rapid and antigenic tests are faster but need to be more accurate.
The clinical laboratories are trying to be equipped with molecular methods for detecting respiratory pathogens and identifying the genetic material of the infectious agent in these new methods as the primary method in their agenda.
The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Orchids
In nature orchid plants are obligate myco-heterotrophs and rely on mycorrhizal nutrient resources to grow and sustain in the wild until they become physiologically active photosynthetic plants. Their seeds lack nutrient reserves and receive the necessary carbon from symbiotic fungi during germination. A mycorrhizal fungus provides nutrients especially sugars as well as water to the corresponding host plant. The range and distribution of orchid mycorrhizal fungi influence the survivability of orchid populations in their natural habitats. Mycorrhizae form symbiotic connections with the parenchymatous tissues of the roots of orchid plants. That the symbiotic orchid mycorrhiza can invade through roots of orchid seedling raised in vitro has been patented.
The objective of this study was to examine the presence of mycorrhiza in the roots of Aerides multiflora during the vegetative phase.
Fresh roots were hand-sectioned and thin sections were observed under the microscope to locate the presence of mycorrhiza. Simultaneously to observe the expansion of mycorrhiza in the cortical region.
During the vegetative phase of plant growth a peloton-like structure forms within the cortical region of the orchid roots. Mycorrhizae was observed to be distributed throughout the cortical layer of the root.
This communication reviews the role of mycorrhiza in orchid plants.
Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Potential of Parthenium hysterophorous and Lantana camara
Parthenium hysterophorous and Lantana camara are notable for their significant phytochemical and antimicrobial properties. Advancements in phytochemical research have led to the development of novel formulations and products derived from P. hysterophorus and L. camara. For instance patent extracts from these plants have been utilized in the formulation of pharmaceutical drugs herbal supplements cosmeceuticals and agricultural products. P. hysterophorous commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew or Congress grass contains various bioactive compounds like terpenoids flavonoids phenolics and alkaloids.These compounds are the key to its medicinal properties particularly its antimicrobial activity. On the other hand L. camara often referred to as wild sage is rich in phytochemicals such as terpenoids flavonoids and alkaloid glycosides.
P. hysterophorous and L. camara plants selected and checking their antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion method.
In our study we found that the leaf extract of P. hysterophorous exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity against E. coli. P. hysterophorous exhibited the most potent antifungal activity against A. niger and T. viride with a diameter of inhibition zone measuring 12 mm followed by A. flavus and A. parasiticus. In case of L. camara the inhibitory zone ranging from 14 to 18 mm was detected against S. abony P. aeruginosa E. coli and K. pneumonia. The leaf extract of the maximum zone of inhibition in case of L. camara was shown by A. flavus (12 mm).
The present study suggests that these two weeds could be useful in the development of bactericides and fungicides
Exploration of Developmental Variants of Predatory Ladybird, Coccinella septumpunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on an Artificial Diet
This study aimed to focus on the identification rearing and exploration of developmental variants of the predatory ladybird Coccinella septempunctata L. renowned for its efficacy as a biological control agent and its predation on agricultural pests. However comprehensive knowledge concerning the occurrence and characteristics of developmental variants in this species remains limited.
In this study through meticulous monitoring and exploration we identified developmental variants exhibiting distinct sexual attributes as well as survival rates.
The research outcomes enhance our understanding of the developmental variations within an egg batch of C. septempunctata.
Moreover the findings hold practical implications for the implementation of biological control strategies in agriculture as specific variants may possess unique characteristics that enhance their effectiveness as natural enemies against pests. Furthermore the increasing competitiveness in the artificial diet space for scientific models raises questions about intellectual property rights (IPR) patents and strategies. This overview looks at recent developments and advanced protection strategies in this field to help understand the present state of IPR and patents in an artificial food for insects.
The Landscape of Products for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Scientific and Patent Systematic Review
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a complication of diabetes that occurs in 40 - 60 million individuals worldwide and is associated with other chronic diseases. However there are no review studies that present the state-of- the- art and technologies developed to circumvent this important health problem.
This review was conducted based on scientific papers and patents. The papers were retrieved from Lilacs PubMed and Web of Science databases and the patents from INPI ESPACENET WIPO and GOOGLE PATENTS. Thus a sample consisting of 14 scientific articles and 667 patents was analyzed.
From the analysis of the data we drew an overview of the development of biomedical technologies for DPN and detected the pioneering spirit of China the USA and Japan in the area with a focus on the treatment of DPN. Based on this we carried out a SWOT analysis to help direct future efforts in the area which should focus primarily on developing technologies for prevention early diagnosis and above all cure of the disease to reduce the important impact of this disease in various sectors of society.
This study finds a concentration of diabetic peripheral neuropathy products especially therapeutic drugs in high-income countries. It highlights the need for global collaboration and strategic focus on therapeutic adherence and preventive strategies to effectively manage DPN.
Efficient Low Voltage Low Power 1-Bit Full Adder Design with Hybrid Multiplexer Approach Using 32-nm CNTFET Technology
Emerging technologies aim to enhance processor speed reduce chip sizes and minimize power consumption in various electronic devices including Smartphone’s.
The demand for improved battery life and low power consumption is indeed a significant challenge in the industry. Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) are one of the potential solutions being explored to address these challenges. The implementation of a full adder using CNTFETs can potentially leverage the benefits of these nanoscale devices. This paper introduces a novel approach to designing a 1-bit full adder cell with a focus on low voltage and low power requirements.
The proposed design combines pass transistor and transmission gate logic in a hybrid multiplexer-based configuration. The proposed full adder circuit utilizes a total of 14 transistors resulting in a compact and efficient design.
For +0.9 V supply voltage at 32-nm CNTFET technology the power consumption is 0.0537 μW was found to be extremely low with lower propagation delay 8.7543 Ps and power-delay product (PDP) of 0.4701 aJ by the deliberate use of CMOS inverter and strong transmission gates. The performance analysis of different existing 1-bit full adder designs was compared concerning the newly proposed design in terms of power delay and power-delay product (PDP).
The implementation of an N-bit ripple carry adder utilizing the proposed full adder is finally presented. The results obtained from this analysis provide valuable insights into the power efficiency speed and overall performance of the proposed design. The performance of the proposed 1-bit full adder circuit was examined with 32-nm CNTFET technology at +0.9 V single-ended supply voltage using the Mentor Graphics Schematic Design Composer CAD tool.
Nanovesicular Carriers in Medicine: The Rise of Spanlastics for Targeted Drug Delivery in Dermatological Therapy
Spanlastics belong to a newly established class of nanovesicular carriers critical in contemporary systems used to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients alleviating most of the drawbacks of conventional delivery techniques. The principal components include non-ionic surfactants and edge activators. Owing to their high deformability spanlastics will be able to encapsulate various therapeutic molecules from hydrophilic to lipophilic ones which will enable them to deliver to all kinds of biological membranes. This unique property makes them an ideal candidate for several routes of administration such as topical transdermal and ocular applications. As an example formulation techniques include the optimization of thin film hydration and ethanol injection to improve the encapsulation of drugs and the stability of vesicles. The basis of their efficacy lies in critical physicochemical parameters such as vesicle size zeta potential and drug entrapment efficiency. Informatics in spanlastics research has emerged as a promising way to improving the bioavailability of peptides proteins and vaccines thereby improving the critical challenges in drug delivery systems. This review provides an overview of their formulation processes diverse applications and contributions to advancing pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. This review also emphasizes the role of spanlastics in dermatological therapy.
Early Detection of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Image Analysis using Artificial Intelligence and Nano-diagnostics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with nanotechnology could detect oral cancer development in an earlier stage by using various advanced techniques such as biosensors Raman scattering bio-imaging smartphones and AI applications.
This study aimed to review the latest developments in sophisticated early oral cancer diagnosis using AI techniques combined with nanotechnologies such as Raman scattering and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) imaging models.
Machine learning includes Gabor filters Resnet 50 for feature extraction and nanotechnologies such as Raman scattering. An AI smartphone-based image module helped to detect oral cancers such as high-risk OSCC.
AI systems enhance oral cancer identification. Nano-biosensors and Raman scattering aid in precise detection. AI models like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) accurately classify oral lesions. Integrating AI IoT and smartphones enables remote screening in marginalized communities.
Artificial intelligence enhances machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) accuracy for oral cancer diagnosis. The hybrid Gabor filter Resnet 50 and nano-based methods impact treatment.
Artificial intelligence and nano-based oral cancer detection using ML and DL offer precise diagnosis. These technological advancements enable early detection and improve treatment outcomes.
Design, Optimization, and In vitro Evaluation of Gentamicin Sulfate-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Ocular Administration
The current study set out to formulate Design and assess Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with Gentamicin sulfate.
Glyceryl monostearate (GMS) was used as the lipid matrix in the formulation of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded Gentamicin sulfate through solvent evaporation and ultrasonication. To maximize the SLNs a 32-level full factorial design was applied. The two independent variables selected were lipid concentration and sonication time. The dependent variables were PDI and particle size. The two dependent variables were particle size and % entrapment efficiency. The optimized formulation was subjected to various evaluation parameters like particle size % entrapment efficiency PDI zeta potential TEM analysis pH drug content in vitro drug release release kinetics ex-vivo drug permeation sterility test isotonicity test in vitro ocular irritation study and ex vivo corneal histopathology studies.
The optimized formulation showed a particle size of 178.2 nm entrapment efficiency of 93.095% and PDI of 0.246 where all these results were within ± 5% limits of predicted results suggested by software and statistically significant at 95% of the confidence interval. The optimized formulation showed sustained drug release with a maximum of 82.11 ± 0.34 till 8 hrs following the Higuchi drug release kinetics mechanism. The sterility test and isotonicity test confirmed that the formulation was sterile and isotonic with human blood. HET-CAM test proved that the optimized formulation exhibited neither irritability nor toxicity for ocular administration. A histopathology study confirmed that the formulation didn’t affect the structure of the cornea and hence the formulation was found to be safe for ocular administration.
Based on the obtained results the study concluded that Gentamicin sulfate-loaded SLNs could be a promising novel formulation approach to address the limitations of commercial eye drops for treating ophthalmic bacterial conjunctivitis.
Nonlinear Quasi-static Investigation of Microbeam Embedded with Micro SMA Wires Considering Size Effects and Phase Transformation
The size effect on the quasi-static analysis of microbeams embedded with micro shape memory alloys (SMAs) has not been studied as per today. Therefore in the present research the nonlinear bending performance of the microbeam comprising SMA micro SMA wires is implemented considering the size effects regarding the coupled geometric and material nonlinearities for the first time. The SMA has different properties depending on the amount of strain at each point of the microbeam. Moreover the amount of strain depends on the SMA properties. This mutual dependence between SMA properties and strain leads to increased complexity in the analysis.
In this research the formulation presented by Lagoudas and Hernandez is used for modeling the phase transformation and capturing the size effects for the SMA microwires. Via the modified couple stress theory the size effect of the matrix material is captured.
The nonlinear equations of motions are obtained by the principle of virtual work using the von Karman strains and Timoshenko beam theory for different boundary conditions. Then the return mapping scheme and also iterative nonlinear finite element methods were used for solving the governing equations. The results are presented according to the distribution of martensitic volume fraction (MVF) transverse deflection distribution of strain stress-strain graph and variations of the elasticity modulus of the embedded micro SMA wires. A comparison of some obtained results with available references indicates the present work’s validity.
One of the most important findings of this work is that increasing the value of the length-scale factor as well as increasing the diameter of the micro SMA wires will reduce the maximum transverse deflection of the microbeam.
Investigation of the Antibacterial Activity and Antiproliferative Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Lavandula angustifolia Sevtopolis Extract against Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
In this study silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Lavandula angustifolia Sevtopolis (LA Sevtapolis) plant extract without using any reducing or stabilizing agent.
The morphologies optical properties and crystallinities of the prepared AgNPs were determined using scanning electron microscopy UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
The antibacterial activities of the synthesized AgNPs against some gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species were investigated. The lowest effect was observed against the Gram-positive B. cereus ATCC 11778 with a concentration of 0.0375 µg/mL. Additionally the toxic effect on the human normal cell line HEK-293T and the antiproliferative activity against the prostate (PC3) cancer cell line were examined. The IC50 values of AgNPs against PC3 and HEK-293T cells were found to be 4.72 µL/mL and 6.838 µL/mL respectively.
In conclusion due to their antiproliferative and antibacterial activities AgNPs synthesized using LA Sevtopolis extract were found to have potential applications in various biomedical fields.