Nontoxic Agent Research Articles

Valorization of Industrial Waste Graphite Fines into Graphene Oxide-based Nanohybrids.

The rapid growth of graphite market is highly coupled with the increasing demand for Li-ion grade graphite, the production of which results in significant losses of the graphitic material in the form of graphite fines. Herein, for the first time, we report an effective strategy to utilize industrial waste graphite fines through the development of graphene oxide-based nanohybrids as non-toxic and efficient antibacterial agents. To achieve this, graphene oxide (GO) was initially synthesized using industrial waste graphite fines as a graphitic precursor. Subsequently, hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI), or either of its guanidinylated (GPEI) and N-sulfopropylated (SPEI) derivatives were successfully and homogenously attached onto GO, as confirmed by various characterization techniques, yielding GO-PEI, and novel GO-GPEI and GO-SPEI nanohybrids. The antibacterial activity of these nanohybrids was assessed against Gram (-) Escherichia coli and Gram (+) Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. Both GO-GPEI and GO-SPEI were found to exhibit higher antibacterial activity, specifically against E. coli bacteria, compared to the pristine GO and the GO-PEI nanohybrid, with GO-SPEI being more active than GO-GPEI. Finally, GO-GPEI and GO-SPEI were found to exhibit low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, signifying that they can be used as potential antibacterial agents in various applications, including those in the disinfection industry.

A cationic main-chain poly(carbonate-imidazolium) potent against Mycobacterium abscessus and other resistant bacteria in mice.

The incidence of serious lung infections due to Mycobacterium abscessus, a worrying non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) species, is rising and has in some countries surpassed tuberculosis. NTM are ubiquitous in the environment and can cause serious lung infections in people who are immunocompromised or have pre-existing lung conditions. M. abscessus is intrinsically resistant to most antibiotics. Current treatments involve combination of three or more repurposed antibiotics with the treatment regimen lasting at least 12 months but producing unsatisfactory success rates of less than 50%. Herein, we report an alternative strategy using a degradable polymer, specifically main-chain cationic carbonate-imidazolium-derived polymer (MCOP-1). MCOP-1 is a non-toxic agent active in a murine lung infection model. MCOP-1 also exhibits excellent efficacy against multi-drug resistant (MDR) ESKAPE bacteria. MCOP-1 damages bacterial membrane and DNA, and serial passaging does not rapidly elicit resistance. Its carbonate linkage is stable enough to allow MCOP-1 to remain intact for long enough to exert its bactericidal effect but is labile over longer time periods to degrade into non-toxic small molecules. These findings underscore the potential of degradable MCOP-1 as a promising therapeutic antimicrobial agent to address the growing incidence of recalcitrant infections due to M. abscessus and MDR ESKAPE bacteria.

Influence of Capping Agents for Controlling Structural and Optical Properties of Copper Chalcogenide (CuS) Nanoparticles

Abstract Copper based chalcogenides have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their exclusive properties that are tunable by the structure, stoichiometry and composition. Among the categories of chalcogenides, copper sulfide (CuS) has been the subject of extensive research as it exists in various stable phases. The present work emphasizes on the impact of capping agents: aloe vera and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on structural and optical properties of CuS (covellite) nanoparticles. Structural characterization of the as-synthesized CuS/PVA and CuS/Aloe vera nanoparticles is done using X-ray diffraction (XRD) while their morphology is examined with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The chemical stoichiometry of synthesized CuS nanoparticles is performed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy are employed to study the optical properties. The XRD shows the presence of diffraction peaks for CuS. The average crystallite size calculated for the prepared CuS/PVA and CuS/Aloe vera nanoparticles using Debye Scherrer’s equation are 4.59 nm and 3.58 nm respectively. Band gap calculation from Tauc’s plot showed the corresponding direct optical band gap of the synthesized CuS/PVA and CuS/Aloe vera nanoparticles to be 2.87 eV and 3.75 eV, indicating blue-shift due to quantum confinement. Photoluminescence spectra of as-synthesized samples indicated strong emission at 467 nm for both the samples: CuS/PVA and CuS/Aloe vera. Optical properties of the as-synthesized nanoparticles showed that they are promising materials for optoelectronic devices. Aloe vera, the environment friendly and non-toxic agent is found to be a suitable “green” passivator in stabilizing CuS nanoparticles.

Development of polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethylcellulose-based bio-packaging film with citric acid crosslinking and clove essential oil encapsulated chitosan nanoparticle pickering emulsion

This study developed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-based films, using citric acid (CA) as a non-toxic crosslinking agent, to enhance the shelf life of water-soluble packaging films. Clove essential oil (CEO)-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were prepared via Pickering emulsion and incorporated into PVA/CMC/CA composite films. The encapsulation of CEO was confirmed by FTIR and optical microscopy. Thermal properties were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealing improved thermal stability and a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg) upon crosslinking. The formation of ester bonds was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and 13CNMR. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements showed a decrease in hydrophilicity, enhancing the barrier properties of the films. SEM images demonstrated good dispersion of CSNP/CEO within the matrix, improving mechanical and barrier properties. The films exhibited a 30 % reduction in water vapor permeability and water solubility. Controlled release studies indicated that the composite films sustained CEO release, extending the shelf life of cherry tomatoes. Thus, these PVA/CMC/CA-CSNP/CEO composite films offer strong potential for food preservation applications.

Antibacterial efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green and chemical methods

Background: Zinc oxide (ZnO) as an antimicrobial and non-toxic agent has been widely explored in comparison with other materials. The green manufacturing of mineral nanoparticles using plant extracts has outperformed other manufacturing methods due to many advantages. Methods: ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using two distinct methods: chemical synthesis and a green method involving lemon leaf extract. The synthesized ZnO was characterized using UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) , and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. The antibacterial activity of the resulting ZnO NPs was evaluated against two gram-negative bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one gram-positive strain, Staphylococcus aureus, using the etching diffusion method. Results: In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized using a green method from an inexpensive and readily available source, lemon leaf extract, and compared with those synthesized by a chemical method. The results showed that ZnO NPs obtained via the green synthesis method had a semi-spherical shape with an average size of 14.25 nm, which is smaller than the average size of chemically synthesized ZnO NPs at 34 nm. The effectiveness of the ZnO NPs varied depending on the bacterial strain tested. Grampositive bacteria were more sensitive than gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: ZnO NPs produced from lemon leaf extract were most effective against S. aureus. Chemically synthesized ZnO NPs were more effective against gram-negative bacteria.

Unveiling the antibacterial potential of anthocyanins - a comprehensive review on this natural plant extract.

With the gradual prohibition of antibiotic fungicides, it is of great significance to develop high-efficient, nontoxic and environmental-friendly antimicrobial agents. Anthocyanin is a natural plant polyphenol pigment which shows antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell wall, interfering bacterial respiratory metabolism, and inducing bacterial autolysis. As a typical antibacterial agent, anthocyanins have been widely used in various fields, including biological pesticides or feed additives in agricultural production, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial wound dressings in medicine, etc. However, the structure of anthocyanins is unstable, which limits its practical application. In this article, the biological activity, antibacterial mechanism and stabilization strategy of anthocyanins as antibacterial agents were reviewed. The safety, application scope and methods of anthocyanins were discussed. In addition, the challenges and development prospects of anthocyanin extract antibacterial technology were also prospected. This will be the direction for researchers to further explore and better apply anthocyanins to practical production and application.

MBORS: Mosquito vector Biocontrol Ontology and Recommendation System.

Mosquito vectors are disease-causing insects, responsible for various life-threatening vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, malaria, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis. In practice, synthetic insecticides are used to control the mosquito vector, but, the continuous usage of synthetic insecticides is toxic to human health resulting in communicable diseases. Non-toxic biocontrol agents such as bacteria, fungus, plants, and mosquito densoviruses play a vital role in controlling mosquitoes. Community awareness of mosquito biocontrol agents is required to control vector-borne diseases. Mosquito vector-based ontology facilitates mosquito biocontrol by providing information such as species names, pathogen-associated diseases, and biological controlling agents. It helps to explore the associations among the mosquitoes and their biocontrol agents in the form of rules. The Mosquito vector-based Biocontrol Ontology Recommendation System (MBORS) provides the knowledge on mosquito-associated biocontrol agents to control the vector at the early stage of the mosquitoes such as eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. This paper proposes MBORS for the prevention and effective control of vector-borne diseases. The Mosquito Vector Association ontology (MVAont) suggests the appropriate mosquito vector biocontrol agents (MosqVecRS) for related diseases. Natural Language Processing and Data mining are employed to develop the MBORS. While Tokenization, Part-of-speech Tagging (POS), Named Entity Recognition (NER), and rule-based text mining techniques are used to identify the mosquito ontology concepts, the data mining apriori algorithm is used to predict the associations among them. The outcome of the MBORS results in MVAont as Web Ontology Language (OWL) representation and MosqVecRS as an Android application. The developed ontology and recommendation system are freely available on the web portal. The MVAont predicts harmless biocontrol agents which help to diminish the rate of vector-borne diseases. On the other hand, the MosqVecRS system raises awareness of vectors and vector-borne diseases by recommending suitable biocontrol agents to the vector control community and researchers.

Revisiting Luteolin Against the Mediators of Human Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma: A Biomolecular Approach.

Metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) is one of the prevalent subtypes of human cancers and is caused by the alterations of various lifestyle and diet-associated factors. β-catenin, GSK-3β, PI3K-α, AKT1, and NF-κB p50 are known to be the critical regulators of tumorigenesis and immunopathogenesis of mCRC. Unfortunately, current drugs have limited efficacy, side effects and can lead to chemoresistance. Therefore, searching for a nontoxic, efficacious anti-mCRC agent is crucial and of utmost interest. The present study demonstrates the identification of a productive and nontoxic anti-mCRC agent through a five-targets (β-catenin, GSK-3β, PI3K-α, AKT1, and p50)-based and three-tier (binding affinity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacophore) screening strategy involving a series of 30 phytocompounds having a background of anti-inflammatory/anti-mCRC efficacy alongside 5-fluorouracil (FU), a reference drug. Luteolin (a phyto-flavonoid) was eventually rendered as the most potent and safe phytocompound. This inference was verified through three rounds of validation. Firstly, luteolin was found to be effective against the different mCRC cell lines (HCT-15, HCT-116, DLD-1, and HT-29) without hampering the viability of non-tumorigenic ones (RWPE-1). Secondly, luteolin was found to curtail the clonogenicity of CRC cells, and finally, it also disrupted the formation of colospheroids, a characteristic of metastasis. While studying the mechanistic insights, luteolin was found to inhibit β-catenin activity (a key regulator of mCRC) through direct physical interactions, promoting its degradation by activating GSK3-β and ceasing its activation by inactivating AKT1 and PI3K-α. Luteolin also inhibited p50 activity, which could be useful in mitigating mCRC-associated proinflammatory milieu. In conclusion, our study provides evidence on the efficacy of luteolin against the critical key regulators of immunopathogenesis of mCRC and recommends further studies in animal models to determine the effectiveness efficacy of this natural compound for treating mCRC in the future.

Acute toxicity assessment of bioactive constituents from Salvia algeriensis (Desf.) extracts: a promising natural agent against clinical bacterial isolates and pathogenic fungi

Salvia species are emerging as promising therapeutic agents due to their diverse bioactivity against various pathologies. This study was conducted to investigate the phytochemical profile, antimicrobial activity, and acute Toxicity of hydromethanolic extracts from Salvia algeriensis (Desf.) leaves, flowers, and roots. Chemical reaction tests and chromatographic analysis were employed to determine the chemical composition, while microdilution was used to determine the tested microorganisms' minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The acute Toxicity of the leaf extract was carried out following the rules and guidelines of OECD 425. Toxicity parameters in Swiss albino mice were evaluated after a single dose of 500 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg. According to the preliminary phytochemical screening results, terpenoids and polyphenols (flavonoids and tannins) were found in all plant parts, but coumarins were only found in the root extract. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of 16 phenolic compounds in varying amounts across the three extracts, of which rosmarinic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid were the most abundant. Selective antimicrobial activity was noticed, with the root extract demonstrating the most substantial effect against the two fungal strains tested. MIC values ranged from 0.3 to 10 mg/mL, and Gram-positive bacteria generally showedgreater susceptibility compared to Gram-negative bacteria. The LD50 was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg. There were no overt clinical symptoms of Toxicity. Body weights, organ weights, and temperatures were not significantly altered, and hematological analysis showed no significant differences. Salvia algeriensis (Desf.) extracts emerge as potential candidates for natural, non-toxic antimicrobial agents. Keywords: Acute Toxicity; antimicrobial; HPLC-DAD; polyphenols; Salvia

An environmentally friendly coating: Excellent self-cleaning, efficient antimicrobial, and durability properties

The development of non-polluting and non-toxic polymer antimicrobial agents is a prominent focus in contemporary research and development. Polymer quaternary ammonium salts are particularly promising for their antimicrobial efficacy. In this study, we synthesized quaternary imidazole derivatives using butylimidazole and 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane. We then prepared PDMS/BIS/PPS hydrophobic antimicrobial composite coatings by incorporating quaternary ammonium salt chemically grafted silica (BIS), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The resulting composite coating displayed a high contact angle of 136.4°±1° and a low sliding angle of less than 5°±1°, indicating its hydrophobic nature. Electrochemical assessments demonstrated exceptional corrosion resistance, with a corrosion inhibition rate of 99.967 %. Bacterial assays confirmed the coating's effectiveness in inhibiting bacterial proliferation, especially against E. coli. The quaternary ammonium-modified silica particles in the coating facilitate bacterial adsorption through electrostatic interactions, which compromise cell membrane permeability, obstruct nutrient uptake, and induce apoptosis. With its anti-fouling, self-cleaning, and anti-corrosion properties, this coating has substantial potential for applications in various fields, including medical devices, and food packaging.

α-Lipoic acid: a potential regulator of copper metabolism in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by classic hallmarks such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, however, intensive research has broadened its scope to explore additional underlying mechanisms. Notably, disruptions in metal homeostasis, particularly involving copper, have gained significant attention. In AD pathology, an imbalance is evident: there is an excess of extracellular copper alongside a deficiency in intracellular copper in brain tissue. Our previous work demonstrated that α-lipoic acid (LA) can effectively shift copper from the extracellular space to the intracellular environment in a neuronal cell model. However, the precise mechanism of action and role of LA in copper metabolism remained elusive. In this study, we compared the cellular effects of LA with those of different synthetic copper-binding ligands: diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC), clioquinol (CQ), D-penicillamine (D-PA) and elesclomol (ES). Using differentiated SH-SY5Y cell culture as a neuronal model, we found that, unlike other synthetic compounds, natural ligand LA is not toxic in the presence of extracellular copper, even at high doses. LA gradually increased intracellular copper levels over 24 h. In contrast, DETC, CQ, and ES acted as fast copper ionophores, potentially explaining their higher toxicity compared to LA. D-PA did not facilitate copper uptake into cells. We demonstrated that a slow increase of LA inside the cells is enhanced in the presence of copper. Furthermore, the ability of LA to modulate the equilibrium of extra- and intracellular copper was evident when we added copper isotope 65Cu. The ratio of copper isotopes changed rapidly, reflecting the impact of LA on the equilibrium of copper distribution without affecting the copper transport network. Our results provide compelling evidence that α-lipoic acid holds promise as a non-toxic agent capable of normalizing copper metabolism in Alzheimer's disease.

Mounting agents with low toxicity and with fast curing time for digital pathology in the intraoperative frozen section laboratory

AimsIn intraoperative frozen tissue section laboratories (FS laboratories) conventional practice for mounting coverslips on tissue slides involves the use of xylene-based mounting agents, such as Pertex. However, toxic vapours pose...

Development of Biocompatible and Water-Soluble Reduced Graphene Oxide Using Non-Toxic Reducing Agents for Biomedical Applications

Graphene's appeal in various applications stems from its unique properties like remarkable electrical conductivity, impressive mechanical strength, expansive surface area, minimal thermal expansion, and a high aspect ratio. However, its insolubility in water poses challenges for its use in the biomedical sector. This research focuses on developing a method to produce water-soluble and biocompatible graphene suitable for biomedical uses. The study successfully created a stable solution of graphene oxide (GO) in water using a non-ionic Pluronic copolymer. This GO-tripolymer solution maintained its solubility in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and displayed similar UV absorption characteristics to standard GO. Given the toxicity concerns with traditional reducing agents like hydrazine, this study opted for safer alternatives. Non-toxic substances such as ascorbic acid, galactose, and bovine serum albumin were employed to reduce GO, resulting in a reduced GO (RGO) -tripolymer solution that also showed excellent solubility in PBS. The final phase of the study involved assessing the cytotoxicity of these RGO-tripolymers. The results indicated that these novel RGO-tripolymers exhibit low levels of cytotoxicity, making them potentially suitable for biomedical applications.Keywords: Graphene Oxide (GO), Biocompatibility, Non-Toxic Reducing Agents, Water Solubility and Biomedical Applications

Immobilization of l-asparaginase on genipin cross-linked chitosan beads shows better acrylamide diminution in cassava chips: Process optimization and characterization.

Glutaraldehyde is the conventionally used cross-linker for the activation and cross-linking of support matrices used in enzyme immobilization. However, the toxic nature of glutaraldehyde makes it unsafe for food applications, propelling the need for nontoxic cross-linkers. Genipin reacts with the primary and secondary amines generating a dark-blue colored pigment and is an attractive alternative to glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker for enzyme immobilization. Apart from its excellent cross-linking properties, genipin possesses added advantages over glutaraldehyde such as proven health benefits, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The present study explores the application of chitosan beads cross-linked with the natural and nontoxic agent, genipin, for immobilizing l-asparaginase, aimed at its subsequent use in mitigating acrylamide formation in food products. The immobilized l-asparaginase exhibited improved functionalities such as stability, reusability, and reduction in acrylamide formation in deep-fried cassava chips. One of the limitations observed during application in the food process was the mechanical fragility of the chitosan beads during speedy stirring. This can be overcome by increasing the concentration and time of contact of the coagulant bath during the formation of chitosan beads. The drying of the enzyme-bound chitosan beads will also lead to shrinkage and prevent breakage during stirring. This study conclusively demonstrated the applicability of immobilizing l-asparaginase on genipin cross-linked chitosan beads in food-related processes.

Морфофункциональное состояние криоконсервированных форменных элементов крови при умеренно низких температурах

Cryoprotectants enable the long-term storage of biomaterials. Despite progress in cryopreservation, there are a number of problems associated with damage to the cell membranes that result from insufficient efficacy and toxicity of some components. In this regard, it is important to develop non-toxic cryopreservation agents performing well at low temperature. The study was aimed to assess morphofunctional features of blood cells in the lactulose-based cryopreservation agent considering the effects of moderate low temperature (–40 °С). Blood cells (leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets) collected from 30 conditionally healthy female voluntary donors aged 18–23 years were assessed. The complete blood count test was performed using the Gemalight 1270 automated hematology analyzer. Computerized cytomorphometric assessement was performed using the MECOS-C2 hardware and software complex. The study results showed morphological and functional integrity of blood cells after the 24 h storage at the temperature of–40 °С when added the lactulose-based cryopreservation agent developed: erythrocytes — 85.3 ± 0.30 % (p < 0.05), platelets – 75 ± 0.71 % (p < 0.05), leukocytes – 90.1 ± 0.91% (p < 0.05) of the values reported before freezing. The findings demonstrate the potential of using lactulose as a non-toxic component of cryopreservation systems, which will expand the range of cryopreservation agents used and make it possible to analyze morphofunctional parameters of frozen whole blood samples when conducting large-scale studies.

Polyphenolic profile of Asphodelus fistulosus L. roots and evaluation of their antioxidant, anti-haemolytic activities and toxicity

The polyphenolic profile of the hydroethanol extract of Asphodelus fistulosis L. roots (HEAFR) was determined using LC-HRMS/MS technique while its antioxidant activity was evaluated using five different methods (DPPH, reducing power, reduction via Fe+2 phenanthroline complex formation, ABTS•+, silver ion reduction capacity). In addition, preliminary toxicity and cytotoxicity of the HEAFR were assessed on larvae. The results revealed the presence of 40 polyphenols, with luteolin (23.89%), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (15.32%), emodin (13.49%) and feruloyltyramine (10.57%) as major compounds. The highest antioxidant activity was shown in the ABTS•+ assay (IC50: 89.34 ± 5.65 μg/mL) whereas preliminary toxicity and cytotoxicity tests showed that this extract is non-toxic. Moreover, the HEAFR exhibited a good protective effect of erythrocyte membranes at a high concentration of 800 μg/mL and showed comparable stabilisation efficiency to gallic acid at a concentration of 200 μg/mL. These findings highlight the HEAFR potential as a non-toxic antioxidant agent with protective effects on cell membranes.

Anticoagulation activity of sulfated carboxymethyl cellulose/Azadirachta indica leaf powder-based bio-composite.

Polymeric bio-composites synthesized via a green approach using natural herbs have fascinating anticoagulant activity due to their eco-friendly and non-toxic behavior towards various physical and chemical actions. Herein, we introduce a simple and eco-friendly approach for the fabrication of a new hybrid type of bio-composite based on sulfated carboxymethyl cellulose (S-CMC) and Azadirachta indica leaf powder (S-CMC/NLP). First, a non-toxic sulfating agent called N(SO3Na)3 was used to modify carboxymethyl cellulose into S-CMC. With an ion exchange capacity of 0.25 meq. g-1, the level of sulfation (%) of S-CMC (modified polysaccharide) was measured to be 12.01%. Three types of S-CMC/NLP bio-composites were developed by varying the concentration of NLP. FE-SEM, EDX, and XRD were used to characterize the structural features of S-CMC/NLP bio-composites. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the S-CMC/NLP bio-composite possesses COO-, -OH and SO3- groups, suggesting the structural similarity to heparin. In addition, the anticoagulant effect of the S-CMC/NLP bio-composite was investigated using PT and APTT assays. The APTT investigation confirmed that following the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation system, 2-NLP/S-CMC bio-composite dose-dependently (0.045-0.28 mg mL-1) prolonged the time of blood coagulation compared to control (pure plasma). The S-CMC/NLP bio-composite showed its potential as a new, safe, and effective candidate for anticoagulant activity.

STRATEGIES OF TOXIC CHROMIUM (VI) MITIGATION FROM TANNERY EFFLUENTS: A REVIEW

Hexavalent chromium i.e., Cr (VI) is highly toxic and carcinogenic it enters the environment through several anthropogenic activities. It is spuriously used in various industrial operations (leather tanning, electroplating, paint and pigment production etc.) because of its hardness and stability. It is found in industrial effluents in concentrations much above the prescribed limit of the World Health Organization (50 µg/L). Detection and remediation of chromium has been the subject of research of many scientists but many previous review works have been insufficient in comprehensive information. This review conveys the basic knowledge of chromate toxicity leading to physical discomfort and sometimes life-threatening illness including irreversible damage to the vital body system in humans. Conventional methods for removing toxic chromium ions (by chemical reduction followed by precipitation, ion- exchange and adsorption on activated coal, alum, kaolinite and ash) are costly for large-scale treatment. Microbial uptake followed by reduction of toxic Cr (VI) has become very successful due to its cost-effectiveness and use as a non-toxic agent. This is referred to as bioremediation. This review emphasises various strategies for hexavalent chromium bioremediation from contaminated water. This review article, therefore, tries to highlight this aspect of bioremediation of Cr (VI) from industrial effluents by native, indigenously resident chromate-resistant bacteria.

Nano-Chitosan and Aschorbic Acid Synergistically Combat Resistant Staph in Atopic Dermatitis

Chitosan, derived from natural sources like fish scales and fungal cell walls, forms nanoparticles (NPs) with notable antimicrobial properties. This study examines the antibacterial effects of ascorbic acid combined with nano-chitosan on Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 100 atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Using the Vitek 2 Compact device for bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing, we found that nano-chitosan/ascorbic acid composites significantly inhibited the growth of multidrug-resistant S. aureus. The antimicrobial activity increased with higher concentrations, highlighting the potential of this natural polymer blend as an effective treatment for AD-related bacterial infections. Highlights: Effective Inhibition: Nano-chitosan/ascorbic acid inhibits multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. AD Focus: Targets S. aureus in atopic dermatitis patients. Green Alternative: Uses natural, non-toxic antibacterial agents. Keywords: Chitosan nanoparticles, Ascorbic acid, Staphylococcus aureus, Atopic dermatitis, Antibacterial treatment

Lyophilized cell-free supernatants of Limosilactobacillus fermentum T0701 exhibited antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a prominent gastrointestinal pathogen associated with various gastrointestinal illnesses. It presents substantial health risks due to its antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to identify alternative treatments for H. pylori infections. Limosilactobacillus spp exhibit probiotic properties with beneficial effects in humans; however, the mechanisms by which it counteracts H. pylori infection are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Limosilactobacillus fermentum T0701 lyophilized cell-free supernatants (LCFS) against H. pylori. The LCFS has varying antimicrobial activities, with inhibition zones of up to 10.67 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacterial concentration of LCFS are 6.25–25.00 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL to > 50.00 mg/mL, respectively, indicating its capability to inhibit H. pylori. There is morphological damage observed in H. pylori treated with LCFS. Additionally, H. pylori adhesion to AGS cells (human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cells) reduces by 74.23%, highlighting the LCFS role in preventing bacterial colonization. Moreover, LCFS exhibits no cytotoxicity or morphological changes in AGS cells, and with no detected virulence or antimicrobial resistance genes, further supporting its safety profile. L. fermentum T0701 LCFS shows promise as a safe and effective non-toxic agent against H. pylori, with the potential to prevent gastric colonization.