Abstracts:Bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria are safer alternatives to the more popularly used chemical preservatives which exhibit several adverse effects. The bacteriocins have an advantage of being efficient in controlling food pathogens without possessing any side-effects. However, the bacteriocins have a limitation of exhibiting a narrow antimicrobial spectrum and having a high-dosage requirement. With an aim to combat these limitations, the present study involved the biosynthesis of bacteriocin-capped nanoparticles, using two bacteriocins (Bac4463 and Bac22) extracted and purified from <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains. Nanoconjugates synthesised at optimum conditions were characterized using various physico-chemical techniques. The interaction of bacteriocin-capped silver nanoparticles with the pathogenic bacteria was observed using scanning electron microscopy, wherein the deformed and elongated cells were clearly visible. <i>In vitro</i> antimicrobial efficacy of both Bac4463-capped silver nanoparticles and Bac22-capped silver nanoparticles against different food pathogens was observed to be enhanced in comparison to the antimicrobial activity of bacteriocins alone. Minimum inhibitory concentration was observed to be as low as 8 &#x03BC;g/ml for Bac4463-capped silver nanoparticles against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and 2 &#x03BC;g/ml for Bac22-capped silver nanoparticles against <i>Shigella flexneri</i>. This study, therefore, recommends the use of bacteriocin-capped nanoparticles as food preservatives to control the growth of food spoiling bacteria.

Abstracts:In order to expand the application in the medical field and enhance pharmacological effects, casein-myricetin nanomicelles were prepared by the self-assembly method and characterised by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The parameters in self-assembly were optimised according to the factors of particle size, encapsulation yield, and drug loading. The result showed a pH of 5.5, a casein concentration of 2 mg/ml, a mass ratio of casein to myricetin of 8:1, ultrasonic power of 300 W, ultrasonic time of 5 min and ethanol volume of 7 ml were the optimal conditions. The situ cycle intestinal perfusion methods indicated that casein-myricetin nanomicelles can be more easily absorbed by small intestine than myricetin standard sample. Therefore, casein micelles are effective for improving the water solubility of myricetin.

Abstracts:Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract is a cheap, easily accessible and natural process in which the phyto-constituents of the plants act as capping, stabilising and reducing agent. The present study explored the biosynthesis of AgNPs using aqueous leaf extract of <i>Tinospora cordifolia</i> and characterised via various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction. Here, TEM confirmed the spherical morphology with 25-50 nm size of synthesised AgNPs. Further, anticancer efficiency of AgNPs synthesised using <i>T. cordifolia</i> leaves were evaluated against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 by MTT, trypan blue assay, apoptotic morphological changes using Annexin V-FITC and Propidium iodide (PI), nuclear morphological changes by DAPI (4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride) staining, reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential determination. Results confirmed the AgNPs synthesised using <i>T. cordifolia</i> leaves are found to be highly toxic against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Abstracts:Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess colourful light-scattering properties due to different composition, size and shape. Their unique physical, optical and chemical properties coupled with advantages, have increased the scope of anisotropic AuNPs in various fields. This study reports a green methodology developed for the synthesis of anisotropic AuNPs. The aqueous extracts of <i>Alternanthera sessilis</i> (PGK), <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> (PAK) and <i>Sterculia foetida</i> (SF) with gold ions produced violet, purple and pink coloured AuNPs, respectively, under sonication and room temperature methods revealing the formation of different shapes of AuNPs. The results of TEM analysis of AuNPs confirmed the formation of triangular plate AuNPs of the size 35 nm for PAK extract. Spherical-shaped AuNPs (10-20 nm) were obtained using an extract of PGK. SF extract produced rod, hexagon, pentagon-shaped AuNPs and nanorice gold particles. The cell viability studies of the PGK, PAK and SF-mediated AuNPs on MCF-7 cell lines by MTT assay revealed the cytotoxic activity of AuNPs to depend on the size, shape and the nature of capping agents. The synthesised AuNPs significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells (MCF-7) in a concentration-dependent manner. The size and shape of these anisotropic AuNPs also reveal its potency to be used as sensors, catalysis, photothermal and therapeutic agents.

Abstracts:This study is planned to synthesise new biocompatible, nano antimicrobial formulation against biofilm producing strains. Aqueous root extract of <i>Arctium lappa l.</i> was used to synthesise ceria nanoparticles (CeO₂-NPs). The synthesised nanoparticles were encapsulated with nano-chitosan by sol-gel method and characterised using standard techniques. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer of <i>Arctium lappa l.</i> revealed the presence of ethanol, acetone, 1- propanol, 2-methylethane, 1,1-di-ethoxy, 1-Butanol, and oleic acid acted as reducing and surface stabilising agents for tailoring morphology of CeO₂-NPs. Erythrocyte integrity after treatment with synthesised nanomaterials was evaluated by spectrophotometer measurement of haemoglobin release having biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of mono dispersed beads shaped particles with mean particle size of 26.2 nm. X-ray diffractometry revealed cubic crystalline structure having size of 28.0 nm. After encapsulation by nano-chitosan, the size of CeO₂-NPs enhances to 48.8 nm making average coverage of about 22.6 nm. The synthesised nanomaterials were found effective to disrupt biofilm of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Interestingly, encapsulated CeO₂-NPs revealed powerful antibacterial and biofilm disruption activity examined by fluorescent live/dead staining using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The superior antibacterial activities exposed by encapsulated CeO₂-NPs lead to the conclusion that they could be useful for controlling biofilm producing multidrug resistance pathogens.

Abstracts:The present study is an attempt to evaluate the <i>in vitro</i> anti-inflammatory and <i>in silico</i> anticancer potentials of the plant <i>Cassia auriculata</i> (CA). The aerial parts of CA were subjected to solvent extraction, and the extracts were fractionised by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis for its phytochemical content. The antiinflammatory activity of the extracts were confirmed by the IC₅₀ value of 125.02 &#x03BC;g/ml for red blood cell membrane stabilisation and 195.7 &#x03BC;g/ml for inhibition of protein denaturation activity. The interaction of bioactive compounds of CA ethanol extract with target protein was predicted through molecular docking studies, serine/threonine-protein kinase B (AKT1), responsible for development and progression of lung cancer using AutoDock tools. Extensive studies have been carried out on a range of kinase inhibitors targeting Akt, but obtaining promising results is a challenge yet due to its toxicity and resistance issues. Yohimbine, undecanoic acid 10-methyl-ethyl ester and chrysin significantly bind to the target protein with least binding energy. Hence, the present paper establishes the anti-inflammatory and anticancer capacities of CA ethanol extract as an alternative to the existing therapeutic approach to inflammation and cancer through a systematic <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in silico</i> approaches supplementing the findings.

Abstracts:There is a great need for the progress of composite biomaterials, which are effective for tissue engineering applications. In this work, the development of composite electrospun nanofibres based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and collagen hydrolysate (CH) loaded with ferulic acid (FA) for the treatment of chronic wounds. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been applied to nanofibres factor manufacturing assisted by electrospinning. For wound healing applications, the authors have created the efficacy of CH, and PCL membranes can act as a stable, protective cover for wound, enabling continuous FA release. The findings of the RSM showed a reasonably good fit with a polynomial equation of the second order which was statistically acceptable at <i>P</i> &lt;; 0.05. The optimised parameters include the quantity of hydrolysate collagen, the voltage applied and the distance from tip-to-collector. Based on the Box-Behnken design, the RSM was used to create a mathematical model and optimise nanofibres with minimum diameter production conditions. Using FTIR, TGA and SEM, optimised nanofibres were defined. In vitro, cytocompatibility trials showed that there was an important cytocompatibility of the optimised nanofibres, which was proved by cell proliferation and cell morphology. In this research, the mixed nanofibres of PCL and CH with ferulic could be a potential biomaterial for wound healing.

Abstracts:Multilayer thin-film structures in the wings of a butterfly; <i>Papilio crino</i> produce a colourful iridescence from reflected light. In this investigation, scanning electron microscope images show both the concave cover scales and pigmented air-chamber ground scales. The microstructures with the concavities retroreflect incident light, thus causing the double reflection. This gives rise to both the colour mixing and polarisation conversion clearly depicted in the optical images. The result of the numerical and theoretical analysis via the CIELAB, and optical reflection and transmission of light through the multilayer stacks with the use of transfer method show that the emerging colouration on the <i>Papilio crino</i> is structural and is due to the combination of colours caused by multiple bounces within the concavities. The butterfly wing structure can be used as the template for designing the photonic device.

Abstracts:In the present work, the preparation, characterisation, and efficiency of two different silica nanostructures as release vehicles of Cisplatin are reported. The 1-hexadeciltrimethyl-ammonium bromide templating agent was used to obtain mesoporous silica nanoparticles which were later loaded with Cisplatin. While sol-gel silica was very fast prepared using an excess of acetic acid during the hydrolysis-condensation reactions of tetraethylorthosilicate and at the same time the Cisplatin was added. Several physicochemical techniques including spectroscopies, electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption were used to characterise the silica nanostructures. An in vitro Cisplatin release test was carried out using artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, the toxicity of all silica nanostructures was tested using the C6 cancer cell line. The spectroscopic results showed the suitable stabilisation of Cisplatin into the two different silica nanostructures. A large surface area was obtained for the mesoporous silica nanoparticles, while low areas were obtained in the silica nanoparticles. Cisplatin was released faster from mesoporous silica channels than from inside of aggregates nanoparticles silica. Cisplatin alone, as well as, cisplatin released from both silica nanostructures exerted a toxic effect on cancer cells. In contrast, both silica structures without the drug did not exert any toxic effect.

Abstracts:Deregulation of microRNAs expression is symptomatic of cancer disease and occurs before the awareness of cancer signs. Early detection of cancer disease can improve or drop the disease entirely. DNA computing is an emerging field of detecting microRNAs based on toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions, which is a more efficient method than the commonly used method like real-time PCR. Accuracy and cost of diagnostic applications are essential criteria that are achieved by using the DNA logic gates based on the DNA computing method. In this study, the authors proposed the multi-input liver cancer biosensor with the RNA secondary structure motifs as the computational module and two approaches are suggested.