Alvina Farooqui

Nanoparticles as a Carrier System for Drug Delivery Across Blood Brain Barrier

Brain, the centre of the nervous system and an integral part the body, is protected by two anatomical and physiological barriers- Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier (BCSFB). Blood-Brain Barrier is a very complex and highly organized multicellular structure that shields the brain from harmful substances and invading organisms from the bloodstream and thus offering protection against various brain diseases and injuries. However, it also impede the effective delivery of drug to the brain, thus, preventing treatment of numerous neurological disorders. Even though various traditional approaches such as Intra-Cerebro-Ventricular (ICV) injection, use of implants, disruption of BBB and use of prodrugs have achieved some success in overcoming these barriers, researchers are continuously working for promising alternatives for improved brain drug delivery. Recent breakthroughs in the field of nanotechnology provide an appropriate solution to problems associated with these delivery approaches and thus can be effectively used to treat a wide variety of brain diseases. Thus, nanotechnology promises to bring a great future to the individuals with various brain disorders. This review provides a brief overview of various brain drug delivery approaches along with limitations. In addition, the significance of nanoparticles as drug carrier systems for effective brain specific drug delivery has been highlighted. To show the complexity of the problems to be overcome for improved brain drug delivery, a concise intercellular classification of the BBB along with general transport routes across it is also included.

Gallstones: A Worldwide Multifaceted Disease and Its Correlations with Gallbladder Carcinoma

Background Gallstones (GS) associated diseases are among the most recurrent and frequent diseases delineated in India and United Arab Emirates. Several reports suggest that the association of GS with gallbladder cancer (GBC) is very high in Northern part of India; however, its occurrence in UAE and Southern part of India is notably low. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to perform compositional analysis of GS in three different geographical areas by Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy. Methods Natural abundance 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy is employed for the analysis of human gallstone. Results Cholesterol, bilirubin and calcium carbonate were present in variant concentrations in GS obtained from three different geographical regions. Cholesterol was present predominantly in gallstones from North India. Bilirubin was found to be a main constituent in gallstones pertaining to South India. Whereas GS from UAE showed both cholesterol and bilirubin as their major constituents. Calcium carbonate was found in varying concentrations in gallstones acquired from different regions. Conclusion Variation in environmental condition and dietary habits may contribute and affect the GS formation. Alterations in bile composition influence the GB and augment the crystallization of cholesterol. Analysis of different geographical regions GS could be an important stride to understand the etiology of GS diseases.

Chapter 5 - Novel Bioactive Peptides from Cyanobacteria: Functional, Biochemical, and Biomedical Significance

Abstract In the recent years, a number of bioactive peptides and their analogues from cyanobacteria with promising anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and molluscicidal potentials have been reported. Some of them have even made it into the clinical trials for treatment of cancer and other degenerative diseases. This chapter will focus on some of the significant bioactive peptides and their analogues, biosynthesis, and bioactivity.

Molecular modulations and influence of acclimation of Ni on acute Ni toxicity in Plectonema boryanum

Abstract Objective: In this study, metal induced accumulation of antioxidants, proline and phenol were proposed during acclimation, to provide defense, protection and resistance against oxidative stress on Ni acclimated cyanobacterium. Methods: Plectonema boryanum was used as a test organism in the present study and the experiments were performed in two sets (1) cells differentially exposed to Ni (2) cells acclimated with Ni and then further exposed to Ni in the plant tissue culture laboratory. Results: Dose-dependent formation of peroxide in Ni-treated cells increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and also enhanced accumulations of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as proline and total phenols at low concentrations of Ni. Down regulation of most of the polypeptides at 20 μM of Ni demonstrated the severe toxicity of the metal while a slight up-regulation of peptide depicted its role in metal tolerance. Ni acclimated cells also showed reduction in peroxide and an increase in proline and total phenol after exposure to 4 μM of Ni. Conclusion: Our results for the first time demonstrated that accumulation of phenol and proline during the acclimation process could provide tolerance to the cyanobacterium from deleterious effects of the metal stress if it is further exposed to the same metal.

Biodiesel production from crude oil of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata by transesterification process

The present study is aimed to produce biodiesel from non-edible oil sources such as crude oil of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata by transesterification process which can occur at different temperatures (45°C to 70°C), depending on the oil used. For the transesterification of J. curcas oil (methanol 15% of oil and 12 g NaOH/litre), the reaction was studied with different temperatures. It was found that much of the process complexity originates from contaminants in the feedstock, such as water and free fatty acids, or impurities in the final product, such as methanol, free glycerol and soap. Results shows that purified ester yields at 45°C were 76% for 1 hr and 80% for 2 hr. At 50°C, purified ester yields were 79% for 4 hr and 76.75% for 6 hr. In case of Pongamia pinnata , purified ester yields at 50°C were 79% for 4 hr and 83% for 6 hr. Further, when the fuel was tested for its authenticity to be used in diesel engine based on the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), it was found that th...

Oxidative stress and response of antioxidant system in Nostoc muscorum exposed to different forms of Zinc

Abstract Objective Present study aims to evaluate oxidative stress-mediated toxicity mechanisms of nano-ZnO (N-ZnO) compared to ZnCl2 and bulk-ZnO (M-ZnO), using cyanobacterium as a toxicity assessment tool. Methods Nostoc muscorum was used as a test organism and the experiments were performed in parallels after treated with 2–128 μM of N-ZnO, M-ZnO, and ZnCl2. Results Low concentrations of ZnCl2 (2–8 μM) and N-ZnO (16–32 μM) led to a significant increase in the carotenoids, which could be ascribed to its role as an antioxidant, whereas higher concentrations were inhibitory to the photosynthetic pigments. Enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and accelerated lipid peroxidation depicted significant accumulation of superoxide and peroxide radicals in N. muscorum exposed to N-ZnO and ZnCl2. The non-enzymatic antioxidants such as proline and total phenols also showed enhanced accumulations up to 16 and 64 μM of ZnCl2 and N-ZnO treatment, respectively. Conclusion Our results for the very first time depicted the significant accumulation of stress biomarkers in N. muscorum in response to deleterious effects of oxidative stress caused by N-ZnO, ZnCl2, and M-ZnO. Present results revealed varying levels of toxicity of various forms of zinc, which decreased in an order of ZnCl2>N-ZnO>M-ZnO.

Physicochemical characterisation and ecotoxicological assessment of nano-silver using two cyanobacteria Nostoc muscorum and Plectonema boryanum

The rapid expansion of nanotechnology has led to the use of nanomaterials in various consumer products. Among these nanomaterials, nano-silver has gained considerable attention as an excellent candidate due to its unique physical and chemical properties. However, studies related to their effects on the ecosystem are still insufficient. Thus, the present study was designed to explore in length the toxic effects of nano-silver on Nostoc muscorum and Plectonema boryanum in terms of dose-dependent cellular growth, cell viability, bioaccumulation/biodistribution and changes in protein profile. The exposure to nano-silver resulted in 8–9 times less reduction in cell viability as compared to silver nitrate, suggesting the formation of aggregates in test medium and low release of silver ions from nano-silver. Morphological changes under stress were studied by scanning electron microscopy, and corresponding elemental silver was monitored by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Significant uptake and bioaccumulation/biodistribution of both forms of silver were elucidated by atomic absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. This study demonstrated that silver nitrate was more toxic as compared to nano-silver and both exerted toxic effects in a dose- and species-specific manner. The present study suggests that observed toxicity of nano-silver might be due to the silver ions released from nano-silver. Thus, the release of silver from various consumer products in the environment should be controlled and carefully monitored at regular interval.

Salinity–induced modulations in the protective defense system and programmed cell death in Nostoc muscorum

To study the biochemical adaptive responses of the blue green algae Nostoc muscorum to the salinity- induced stress they were exposed to various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 or 200 mM) of sodium chloride (NaCl). A dose-dependent inhibition of total protein content showed an adverse effect of NaCl on the growth of N. muscorum. Four-day treatment of NaCl (5–20 mM) progressively increased the content of the total peroxide with subsequent increase of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, proline and total phenol content only up to 10 mM NaCl. Higher concentrations of NaCl caused significant decrease in both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Induction of two polypeptides of ~29.10 and 40.15 kD as well as upregulation of many polypeptides as compared to control indicates the induction of SOD and dehydrin-like proteins, which supports the theory of adaptation against the salt stress. Furthermore, adaptation of N. muscorum to lower concentrations (5–20 mM) of NaCl was also confirmed by no fragmentation of DNA while DNA fragmentation indicating programmed cell death (PCD) could only be seen at 200 mM NaCl for 12 hours. We hypothesized that proline may confer a positive role to combat salinity stress and the same was confirmed by treatment of the test blue green algae with exogenous proline (1 and 10 μM). The results exhibited 16% reduction in the level of total peroxides, which is a well known oxidative stress marker in the 10 μM proline-treated NaCl group as compared to direct exposure to NaCl.

Commercialization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Technology in Agriculture and Forestry

The ecto- and endomycorrhizal fungi are commonly occurring mycorrhizas and are very significant in relation to the growth of agricultural crops and forest trees. Mycorrhizal technology can advantageously be applied in agricultural and horticultural crops as well as forestry for better nutrient utilization offsetting ecological and environmental concerns by reduced chemical input use, disease management by reducing biotic stress by pathogenic fungi, and more effective land use management. However, even though the inoculation of plants with mycorrhiza is a familiar practice, the formulation of inocula with a dependable and steady effect under field situation is still a bottleneck for their wider use. The option of the technology for inocula production and of the carrier for the formulation is key to their booming application. In this review, we focus on the status of commercialization of mycorrhizal fungi as a gadget for enhancing plant growth and productivity.

Joint Ventures of Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Creating an Underground Revolution

Roots of most terrestrial plants form symbiotic associations with fungi which are prevalent and abundant and are omnipresent in most temperate and tropical ecosystems including agricultural systems. These ubiquitous symbiosis, called mycorrhizas which are formed by bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, function as conduits for the flow of energy and matter between plants and soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) symbiosis is receiving increased attention as a potential contributor to sustainable crop plant nutrition. Not only that, mycorrhizae aid in the absorption of micronutrients, excretespecific enzymes, restrict access to various pathogenic organisms and produce antibiotics to retard their growth, scour the surrounding earth for available water, and convert tightly bound nutrients such as phosphorous from mineral soils into forms that can be used by the plant. In return, plant allocates up to 20% of its photosynthate to the roots to support the fungus. AM is likely to prove to be the epicentre of a new revolution that the planet is in dire need for minimising the usage of chemical input on soil and helping the landscape adapt to climate change.