Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment

The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed

Treatment of ocular allergies:nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic and immunotherapy

Ocular allergy is a significant and growing issue worldwide but for many patients, it is often not differentiated from systemic conditions, such as hay fever. Management of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis is often poor. Management is principally through avoidance measures (blocking or hygiene), nonpharmaceutical (such as artificial tears and cold compresses) and pharmaceutical (such as topical antihistamines and prophylactic mast cell stabilizers). Vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis are more severe and generally need treatment with NSAIDs, steroids and immunomodulators. Giant papillary conjunctivitis can be related to allergy but also is often contact lens related and in such cases can be managed by a period of abstinence and replacement of the lens or a change in lens material and/or design. Immunotherapy can be efficacious in severe, persistent cases of contact lens or allergic conjunctivitis

The role of flavor and fragrance chemicals in TRPA1 (transient receptor potential cation channel, member A1) activity associated with allergies

TRPA1 has been proposed to be associated with diverse sensory allergic reactions, including thermal (cold) nociception, hearing and allergic inflammatory conditions. Some naturally occurring compounds are known to activate TRPA1 by forming a Michael addition product with a cysteine residue of TRPA1 through covalent protein modification and, in consequence, to cause allergic reactions. The anti-allergic property of TRPA1 agonists may be due to the activation and subsequent desensitization of TRPA1 expressed in sensory neurons. In this review, naturally occurring TRPA1 antagonists, such as camphor, 1,8-cineole, menthol, borneol, fenchyl alcohol and 2-methylisoborneol, and TRPA1 agonists, including thymol, carvacrol, 1’S-1’- acetoxychavicol acetate, cinnamaldehyde, α-n-hexyl cinnamic aldehyde and thymoquinone as well as isothiocyanates and sulfides are discussed

Studies on radioprotective and antiviral activities of some bischalcone derivatives

This work reports the cyclic voltammetric,modulatory effect on oxidative stress markers againstradiation induced oxidative stress in E. coli bacteriaand antiviral activities of two bischalcone derivatives(2E,5E)-2,5-bis(3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzylidene)-cyclo-pentanone (B1) and (2E,5E)-2,5-bis(4-fluorobenzylidene)-cyclopentanone (B2). The reducing ability of B1 and B2was determined by cyclic voltammetry. The anodic peakcurrent ipa and anodic peak potential Epa of B1 and B2were -154.7, -99 lA, and -0.15 V, 0.0125 V, respec-tively. The low anodic current and low anodic peakpotential imply the good reducing ability of the molecules.The radioprotective effect of bischalcones was studied bygamma radiation induced oxidative stress in E. coli K12 at0.2 and 0.4 Gy. The bacteria samples treated with B1 andirradiated showed diminished level of TBARS, an oxida-tive stress marker. The levels of SOD and CAT antioxidantenzymes were brought to near basal level for B1 treatedand irradiated bacteria with respect to the control. Theprotective effect of the bischalcone derivatives againstradiation was further supported by determining colonyforming units (CFU) of bacteria in pre- and post-irradiatedsamples. Further, B2 showed 73.69% of inhibition ofbuffalopox virus and camelpox viru

Acceleration of anthraquinone-type dye removal by white-rot fungus under optimized environmental conditions

The decolorization of the recalcitrant dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) by the culture filtrate of Polyporus sp. S133 and the effect of various environmental factors were investigated. Both biodegradation and biosorption were playing an important role in bioremoval mechanisms. The highest biosorption of RBBR in Polyporussp. S133 was shown by all carbon sources such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, and starch. No biosorption was shown by the addition of aromatic compounds and metal ions; 97.1 % RBBR decolorization was achieved in 120-rpm culture for 96 h, as compared to 49.5 % decolorization in stationary culture. Increasing the shaking rotation of the culture to more than 120 rpm was proven to give a negative effect on decolorization. The highest production of laccase was shown at pH 4 and constantly decreases when the pH level increases. The addition of glucose, ammonium tartrate, Cu2+, and protocatechuic acid was the suitable environmental condition for RBBR decolorization. There was a positive relationship between all environmental conditions and laccase production in the decolorization of RBBR