Current Trends in Nanoporous Anodized Alumina Platforms for Biosensing Applications

Pristine aluminum (Al) has received great deal of attention on fabrication of nanoporous anodized alumina (NAA) with arrays of nanosized uniform pores with controllable pore sizes and lengths by the anodization process. There are many applications of NAA in the field of biosensors due to its numerous key factors such as ease of fabrication, high surface area, chemical stability and detection of biomolecules through bioconjugation of active molecules, its rapidness, and real-time monitoring. Herein, we reviewed the recent trends on the fabrication of NAA for high sensitive biosensor platforms like bare sensors, gold coated sensors, multilayer sensors, and microfluidic device supported sensors for the detection of various biomolecules. In addition, we have discussed the future prospectus about the improvement of NAA based biosensors for the detection of biomolecules

Isolation of circulating tumour cells by physical means in a microfluidic device: a review

Isolation and enumeration of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from human blood has a huge significance in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Utilization of the unique microscale flow phenomena called microfluidics offers ability to efficiently isolate CTCs from other haematological cells. The improvement in microfluidic technology allows time and cost efficient isolation of CTCs in a continuous manner utilising only up to nano- or micro-litres samples. This technology could potentially lead to the fabrication of cheap, disposable and transparent devices for sorting and molecular examination of even single cell. Additionally, the potential to physically entrap and capture rare CTCs in microfluidic devices can eliminate the need of expensive antibodies normally used for immune capturing of these rare cells which would further reduce the cost of operation. During the last few years, several innovative and intricate microfluidic designs to isolate and capture these extremely rare cells from the whole blood samples without using specific antibodies have been published. Herein, we review the recent literature on exploiting physical characteristics of tumour cells to efficiently isolate them from billion other cells and discuss the intricate design perspective of microfluidic devices for efficient in vitro cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Development of Scheduled Caste Farmers through Integrated Farming System in Bangalore Rural District, India

The study was conducted in Bengaluru Rural district of Karnataka State, a total sample of 275 respondents was selected for the study and the data was collected by using pretested structured interview schedule and analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. It was observed that, the livelihood security of the respondents under ‘highly satisfied’ category was improved from 23.64 per cent from the bench mark data to 38.18 per cent. In ‘less satisfied’ category it was decreased to 32.73 per cent from 41.82 per cent after implementation of the project. Out of seven dimensions of livelihood security, maximum increase was noticed in employment security (69.84%) followed by ecological security (60.96%), living amenities (52.39%), economic efficiency (51.76 %), coping strategies against stress (45.35%), assets (37.13 %) and social equitability (28.03%) and overall livelihood security increased by 48.17 per cent after implementation of the project. The personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the beneficiaries; land holding, cropping pattern, livestock possession, innovativeness, mass media exposure, management orientation, level of aspiration, training undergone, participation in development programme, access to extension personnel and access to resources exhibited positive and significant relationship with livelihood security.The R2 value of 0.324 indicated that all 18 variables had contributed to the tune of 32.40 per cent of variation in Livelihood Security of respondents. Hence, the concerned development departments should promote and strengthen the IFS activities to enhance the livelihood security of resource poor framers. The positive and significantly related characteristics needs to be considered while selecting the farmers for IFS programs to enhance their livelihood security

Anion sensors as logic gates: a close encounter?

Computers have become smarter, smaller, and more efficient due to the downscaling of silicon-based components. Top-down miniaturisation of silicon-based computer components is fast reaching its limitations because of physical constraints and economical non-feasibility. Therefore, the possibility of a bottom-up approach that uses molecules to build nano-sized devices has been initiated. As a result, molecular logic gates based on chemical inputs and measurable optical outputs have captured significant attention very recently. In addition, it would be interesting if such molecular logic gates could be developed by making use of ion sensors, which can give significantly sensitive output information. This review provides a brief introduction to anion receptors, molecular logic gates, a comprehensive review on describing recent advances and progress on development of ion receptors for molecular logic gates, and a brief idea about the application of molecular logic gates.Madhuprasad, Mahesh P. Bhat, Ho‐Young Jung, Dusan Losic, Mahaveer D. Kurkur

Recent advances in microfluidic platform for physical and immunological detection and capture of circulating tumor cells

CTCs (circulating tumor cells) are well-known for their use in clinical trials for tumor diagnosis. Capturing and isolating these CTCs from whole blood samples has enormous benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In general, various approaches are being used to separate malignant cells, including immunomagnets, macroscale filters, centrifuges, dielectrophoresis, and immunological approaches. These procedures, on the other hand, are time-consuming and necessitate multiple high-level operational protocols. In addition, considering their low efficiency and throughput, the processes of capturing and isolating CTCs face tremendous challenges. Meanwhile, recent advances in microfluidic devices promise unprecedented advantages for capturing and isolating CTCs with greater efficiency, sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy. In this regard, this review article focuses primarily on the various fabrication methodologies involved in microfluidic devices and techniques specifically used to capture and isolate CTCs using various physical and biological methods as well as their conceptual ideas, advantages and disadvantages.Department of Science & Technology | Ref. TDP/BDTD/32/2019Department of Science and Technology | Ref. DST/TDT/DDP-31/2021Taif University | Ref. TURSP-2020/04European Commission | Ref. H2020, n. 89422

Mg–Al-Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) Modified Diatoms for Highly Efficient Removal of Congo Red from Aqueous Solution

In this work, diatomaceous earth (DE) or diatoms are modified with Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide (DE-LDH) using the facile co-precipitation method to demonstrate their application for the removal of toxic dyes such as Congo Red (CR), which was used as a model. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) characterization confirms the successful modification of diatom microcapsules structures, showing their surface decorated with LDH nano patches with sheet-like morphologies. The surface area of the DE was enhanced from 28 to 51 m2/g after modification with LDH. The adsorption studies showed that the maximum CR removal efficiency of DE and DE-LDH was ~15% and ~98%, respectively at pH 7, which is a significant improvement compared with unmodified DE. The maximum adsorption capacities of DE-LDH were improved ten times (305.8 mg/g) compared with the bare DE (23.2 mg/g), showing very high adsorption performances. The recyclability study of DE-LDH up to five cycles, after desorbing CR either by methanol or by NaOH, showed the efficient removal of the CR by up to three cycles via adsorption. The presented study suggests the promising application of DE-LDH as an effective material for application in the removal of CR from aqueous solutions for industrial wastewater treatment

Insights into the mechanically resilient, well-balanced polymeric membranes by incorporating Rhizophora mucronata derived activated carbon for sustainable wastewater decontamination

International audienceIn this study, hydrophilic activated carbon has been prepared and used to synthesize innovative activated carbon/polysulfone mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). These membranes were investigated in terms of membrane morphology, hydrophilicity, antifouling ability, and metal ions rejection. The activated carbon (AC) was prepared from a simple chemical activation method using Rhizophora mucronata propagules, which are rich in aerenchyma cells and possess a high surface area. The hydrophilicity of the MMMs is enhanced by the incorporation of activated carbon, which is confirmed by the measurement of equilibrium water contact angle, water uptake and pure water flux. The optimized concentration of 0.625 wt% activated carbon (A2) incorporated mixed matrix membrane exhibits better rejection efficiencies of 98 ± 0.5%, 99 ± 0.5%, 92 ± 2%, and 44 ± 1% for Pb+2, Cd+2, Hg+2, and F− with the permeate flux of 28.27, 31.88, 33.21, 43.82 L/m2/h, respectively. The fabricated mixed matrix membranes demonstrated an excellent flux recovery ratio and reversible fouling, when filtrating a mixed feed solution containing 200 ppm BSA, 10 ppm Pb+2 and 10 ppm Cd+2. The optimized A2 membrane showed excellent long-term stability up to 120 h without compromising in permeate flux and rejection efficiency. Finally, a numerical investigation using a usual transport model has shown that dielectric exclusion was the most probable mechanism that can physically explain experimental trends

Chemodosimeter functionalized diatomaceous earth particles for visual detection and removal of trace mercury ions from water

The rhodamine based receptor, P2 has been developed for the detection of environmentally hazardous Hg²⁺ ions with a limit of detection, 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ M. The P2 showed a significant colour change from colourless to pink upon binding with Hg²⁺ ions. As a result, a new peak at 533 nm was observed in UV–vis spectroscopy which was attributed to spirolactum ring opening followed by through bond energy transfer (TBET). In addition, the presence of other competing cations did not interfere the detection of Hg²⁺ ions. Further, P2 has been successfully immobilized onto the naturally available and highly porous diatomaceous earth particles (P2D) for removal of Hg²⁺ ions from water. The covalently attached organic molecule in P2D forms complex with Hg²⁺ ion present in the water and thus traps the Hg²⁺ ions. Based on this, a proof-of-concept cartridge has been developed for water purification. The cartridge having 450 mg of P2D was able to purify 30 mL of water containing 1 ppm Hg²⁺ ions. The efficiency of cartridge could be visualized with a colour change from colourless to pink.Pravin Patil, Madhuprasad, Mahesh P. Bhat, Manasa G. Gatti, Shervin Kabiri, Tariq Altalhi, Ho-Young Jung, Dusan Losic, Mahaveer Kurkur

Turmeric, naturally available colorimetric receptor for quantitative detection of fluoride and iron

Abstract not availableMahesh P. Bhat, Madhuprasad, Pravin Patil, S.K. Nataraj, Tariq Altalhi, Ho-Young Jung, Dusan Losic, Mahaveer D. Kurkur