Utilization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) impregnated activated carbon for removal of hexavalent chromium

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal present in industrial effluent which could cause degenerative diseases on ingestion. Therefore, elimination of Cr from contaminated water becomes essential to preserve and sustain the quality of life. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were impregnated on activated carbon and checked for enhanced removal of Cr(VI). Thus, granular activated carbon (N-GAC) of mesh size 8 ∗ 20 was impregnated with SPIONs to produce SPIONs impregnated activated carbon (Sp-GAC) and characterized using UV-VIS spectrophotometer, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and VSM. Sp-GAC was found to be possessing superparamagnetic behavior, and it was used in batch adsorption study where the adsorption parameters like pH, concentration of adsorbent, and adsorbent-adsorbate were optimized. It was found that Cr(VI) adsorption was predominant at acidic pH (pH 3) for both cases; moreover, N-GAC showed better adsorption comparatively. Both the N-GAC and Sp-GAC adsorption were found to be obeying to Langmuir

Bioactivity Studies of Datura metel, Aegle marmelos, Annona reticulata and Saraca indica and their Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle

In this study, various plants like Datura metel, Aegle marmelos, Annona reticulata and Saraca indica were collected and subjected for extraction using various solvents, namely Water, Chloroform and Ethanol. The extracts were done with TLC bioautography for Antioxidant activity and Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP) and Phytochemical analysis. Plants used in this study showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity. These extracts were further utilized for Silver nanoparticle production and were characterized. Silver nanoparticles were utilized for In vitro antibacterial activity, where they did not show any antibacterial activity

Extraction, purification, and characterization of polysaccharide of Araucaria heterophylla L and Prosopsis chilensis L and utilization of polysaccharides in nanocarrier synthesis

Background: Plant gums consist of polysaccharides which can be used in the preparation of nanocarriers and provide a wide application in pharmaceutical applications including as drug delivery agents and the matrices for drug release. The objectives of the study were to collect plant gums from Araucaria heterophylla L and Prosopis chilensis L and to extract and characterize their polysaccharides. Then to utilize these plant gum-derived polysaccharides for the formulation of nanocarriers to use for drug loading and to examine their purpose in drug delivery in vitro. Methods: Plant gum was collected, polysaccharide was extracted, purified, characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TGA and GCMS and subjected to various bioactive studies. The purified polysaccharide was used for making curcumin-loaded nanocarriers using STMP (sodium trimetaphosphate). Bioactivities were performed on the crude, purified and drugloaded nanocarriers. These polysaccharide-based nanocarriers were characterized using UVVis spectrophotometer, FTIR, SEM, and AFM. Drug release kinetics were performed for the drug-loaded nanocarriers. Results: The presence of glucose, xylose and sucrose was studied from the UV-Vis and GCMS analysis. Purified polysaccharides of both the plants showed antioxidant activity and also antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp. Purified polysaccharides were used for nanocarrier synthesis, where the size and shape of the nanocarriers were studied using SEM analysis and AFM analysis. The size of the drug-loaded nanocarriers was found to be around 200 nm. The curcumin-loaded nanocarriers were releasing curcumin slow and steady. Conclusion: The extracted pure polysaccharide of A. heterophylla and P. chilensis acted as good antioxidants and showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp. These polysaccharides were fabricated into curcumin-loaded nanocarriers whose size was below 200 nm. Both the drug-loaded nanocarriers synthesized using A. heterophylla and P. chilensis showed antibacterial activity with a steady drug release profile. Hence, these natural exudates can serve as biodegradable nanocarriers in drug delivery

Antioxidant and Quorum Quenching Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa SU-18 of some Edible Fruit Juices

Besides being an essential source of nutrients, the bioactive components of some fruits also help in enhancing the physiological functions by expressing its therapeutic action, acting as radical scavenger, improving digestion and healing. Here, seven edible fruits juices of Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Anana scomosus, Ficus carica, Vitis vinifera, Vitis amurensis and Carica papaya were utilized against biofilm forming Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evaluate its effect on Quorum sensing. On proving its antibacterial activity and anti-swarming motility in our earlier report, this work is extended to determine the biofilm inhibitory action of these fruit juices due to the impact on AHL (Acyl Homoserine lactone), the signaling molecule responsible for developing cell-cell communication and also on AHL mediated metabolites production. The fruit juices were evaluated for their Antioxidant activity on subjecting to TLC bioautography, DPPH and FRAP assay. AHL, Pyocyanin and Rhamnolipid were extracted from fruit juices treated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the influence of fruit juice was identified by FT-IR and LC-MS analysis. However, AHL production was not stopped by fruit juice molecules but showed least production level in Punica granatum treated P.aeruginosa. Whereas the production of pyocyanin pigment was disturbed in Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis and Vitis vinifera treated culture. The production of a biosurfactant called Rhamnolipid (Rha 10) was a failure in Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis, Vitis vinifera and Ficus carica treated P.aeruginosa. Thus the organism was restrained by the fruit juice molecules from expressing its virulence factors in spite of having no impact on AHL synthesis

Electricity Generation using Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Kitchen Waste as Substrate by Exiguobacterium sp SU-5 in Mediatorless Microbial Fuel Cell

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) has become a great attraction amongst most researchers, where degradation of waste takes place simultaneously produces electricity. Using an efficient organism and a better proton exchange membrane gives out good electricity. In this study, Exiguobacterium sp SU-5 was isolated from soil and used for producing electricity against carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in Nafion membrane and Salt bridge fitted MFC, where both act as proton exchange membrane. The organism was found to produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC. Later the organism was subjected to produce electricity against kitchen waste and the kitchen waste was also checked for BOD, COD and other water analysis before and after the treatment. The organism could produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC and found to reduce chloride, fluoride and hardness of water

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Plants Collected from Malaysia

Five plant species namely, Phyllanthus acidus, Piper aduncum, Pandanus amaryllifolius, Macaranga peltata and Acacia mangium were analysed for their effective in-vitro bioactivity. The chloroform and aqueous extracted of the selected plants were subjected to TLC bioautography for antioxidant activity later all the extracted were subjected for DPPH assay where the chloroform extracts were found to express maximum antioxidant property. Amongst all the plants, Macaranga peltata accounted to 95% DPPH scavenging activity. The antimicrobial studies of the plant extracts were performed via agar well diffusion method, MIC determination, Biofilm inhibition assay in microtitre plate against clinical isolates like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that Piper aduncum (chloroform and aqueous extract) and Macaranga peltata (only aqueous) expressed antibacterial activity, of which only chloroform extract of Piper aduncum could show negative influence against the biofilm development of P.aeruginosa

Effect of Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid and Multivitamins on Sensitivity of Norfloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Several studies have suggested that irrespective of the mode of action of antibiotics, induction of oxidative stress also contributes to their bactericidal actions. When antioxidants are supplemented with antibiotics, the bactericidal effect of the antibiotic are reduced. Thus, in this study, sensitivity of norfloxacin was analysed in the presence of antioxidants like glutathione and ascorbic acids, then the influence of multivitamins in the sensitivity was also analysed. The effect was studied though disc diffusion, MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and DNA damage assays against the model organisms - Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study suggested that the antioxidant and vitamin solution were having influence over sensitivity towards the antibiotics whose MIC was determined at highest concentration with reduced zone of inhibition and DNA damage. Hence, these results lead to a hypothetical claim for the involvement of multivitamins / antioxidants to have antibacterial resistance development

Production and Utilization of SPIONs for In-vitro Drug Release and X-ray Imaging

In this study, SPIONs were produced in the presence of cobalt as catalyst. SPIONs formed by this chemical co-precipitation were size around 20 nm. After producing the SPIONs, it was subjected for functionalization with oleic acid and loaded with drug - itraconazole (a drug possess antifungal and antibacterial activity) and encapsulated with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The produced core-shell SPIONS was used for antimicrobial study against two bacteria namely - Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brevibacillus brevis and a fungi - Candida albicans. It was found to be effectively releasing drug for more than 3 hours. The SPIONs alone was acting good as contrasting agent and used for enhancing X-ray imaging

A study on influence of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on green gram (Vigna radiata L.) and earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae L.)

Nanoparticles usage are now emerging as hazardous nanopollutants due to inappropriate usage and improper disposal. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles(SPIONs)is a widely used nanoparticle with various applications. In this study, SPIONs was evaluated for its impact against Vigna radiata and Eudrilus eugeniae. SPIONs were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method in presence of cobalt chloride. The produced SPIONs was characterized using UV-Visible Spectroscopy, SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (Transmission electron microscopy), AFM (Atomic force microscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and Zeta potential. The synthesized SPIONs were crystalline and monodispersed with size ranging between 15 nm and 20 nm. The seedlings of SPIONs treated Vigna radiatawere found to have reduced root and shoot growth. The bioaccumulation of iron oxide in the treated plants was confirmed by ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry) analysis and Prussian blue staining. Cellular destruction and reduced reproduction rate were found in SPIONs exposed Eudrilus eugeniae and ICP-OES analysis of earthworm samples affirmed the bioaccumulation of SPIONs