Laccase Activity and Azo Dye Decolorization Potential of Podoscypha elegans

Azo dyes containing effluents from different industries pose threats to the environment. Though there are physico-chemical methods to treat such effluents, bioremediation is considered to be the best eco-compatible technique. In this communication, we discuss the decolorization potentiality of five azo dyes by Podoscypha elegans (G. Mey.) Pat., a macro-fungus, found growing on the leaf-litter layer of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal, India. The fungus exhibited high laccase and very low manganese peroxidase activities under different culture conditions. Decolorization of five high-molecular weight azo dyes, viz., Orange G, Congo Red, Direct Blue 15, Rose Bengal and Direct Yellow 27 by the fungus was found to be positive in all cases. Maximum and minimum mean decolorization percentages were recorded in Rose Bengal (70.41%) and Direct Blue 15 (24.8%), respectively. This is the first record of lignolytic study and dye decolorization by P. elegans

Castor Oil Based Hyperbranched Poly(ester amide)/Polyaniline Nanofiber Nanocomposites as Antistatic Materials

Biobased hyperbranched poly­(ester amide) (HBPEA)/polyaniline (PAni) nanofiber nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating the as-synthesized PAni nanofiber at varied weight percentages by an ex situ polymerization technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated the interactions of the benzenoid–quinoid moieties of PAni with HBPEA. The transition from liquidlike to solidlike behavior of the nanocomposites with a percolation threshold at 10 wt % nanofiber content was studied using dynamic rheology. The formation of nanofibrous network within the HBPEA matrix as vouched for by TEM study and initial degradation temperature (from 277 to 307 °C) was found to be increased with the increment of nanofiber content. The evaluation of mechanical properties such as tensile strength (7.2–12.25 MPa), elongation at break (88–70%), impact resistance (>100 cm), and scratch hardness (8.5–10 kg) together with the decrease in the sheet resistance (from 10⁷ to 10⁵ Ω/sq) forwarded the epoxy–poly­(amido amine) cured nanocomposites as prospective antistatic materials

Second-Generation Bio-Fuels: Strategies for Employing Degraded Land for Climate Change Mitigation Meeting United Nation-Sustainable Development Goals

Increased Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from both natural and man-made systems contribute to climate change. In addition to reducing the use of crude petroleum’s derived fuels, and increasing tree-planting efforts and sustainable practices, air pollution can be minimized through phytoremediation. Bio-fuel from crops grown on marginal land can sustainably address climate change, global warming, and geopolitical issues. There are numerous methods for producing renewable energy from both organic and inorganic environmental resources (sunlight, air, water, tides, waves, and convective energy), and numerous technologies for doing the same with biomass with different properties and derived from different sources (food industry, agriculture, forestry). However, the production of bio-fuels is challenging and contentious in many parts of the world since it competes for soil with the growth of crops and may be harmful to the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to use wildlife management techniques to provide sustainable bio-energy while maintaining or even improving essential ecosystem processes. The second generation of bio-fuels is viewed as a solution to the serious issue. Agricultural lignocellulosic waste is the primary source of second-generation bio-fuel, possibly the bio-fuel of the future. Sustainable practices to grow biomass, followed by their holistic conversion into ethanol with desired yield and productivity, are the key concerns for employing renewable energy mix successfully. In this paper, we analyze the various types of bio-fuels, their sources, and their production and impact on sustainability

Biofunctionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube: A Reactive Component for the in Situ Polymerization of Hyperbranched Poly(ester amide) and its Biophysico Interfacial Properties

A facile method of ultrasound-assisted noncovalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with fatty amide of castor oil and use of the same as a reactive component in the in situ polymerization of hyperbranched poly­(ester amide) (HBPEA) via an A₂ + B₂ + A′A₂ approach is reported. The reaction entails anchoring of the amide groups to MWCNT to maximize the reaction with the diacids, resulting in formation of the nanocomposite. Fourier transform infrared analyses validated the anchorage of ester-amide groups to the nanotubes. Intercalation and formation of dense polymer layers on the isotropically dispersed nanotubes (with mean coherency coefficient of 0.229) were evident from transmission electron microscopy. The changes in biophysico attributes were reflected in their selective efficacy against the Gram-positive bacteria with an enhanced cytotoxicity (death rate increase of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> by 137.5% and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> by 107.6%) and significant decrease in the sheet resistance by 3 orders of magnitude (from 10⁷ to 10⁴ Ω sq^–1) as compared to the pristine HBPEA at low loading of 1 wt % MWCNT. The multifunctional nanocomposites maintained the acceptable mechanical performance, and kinetics evaluation of activation energy revealed enhanced thermal stability over pristine HBPEA; the nanocomposites can be envisaged for MWCNT-based bionano applications, particularly in the field of advanced textiles

Reactive Oxygen Species Driven Angiogenesis by Inorganic Nanorods

The exact mechanism of angiogenesis by europium hydroxide nanorods was unclear. In this study we have showed that formation of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2·−) is involved in redox signaling pathways during angiogenesis, important for cardiovascular and ischemic diseases. Here we used single-walled carbon nanotube sensor array to measure the single-molecule efflux of H2O2 and a HPLC method for the determination of O2·– from endothelial cells in response to proangiogenic factors. Additionally, reactive oxygen species-mediated angiogenesis using inorganic nanorods was observed in transgenic (fli1a:EGFP) zebrafish embryos.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (CA150190)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant HL70567)India. Dept. of Science and Technology (Ramanujan Fellowship grant (SR/S2/RJN-04/2010, GAP 0305\DST\CP))National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (HL090712)Children's Research Institute (Washington, D.C.