Tanmoy Kumar Dey

Treatment of cosmetic effluent in different configurations of ceramic UF membrane based bioreactor: Toxicity evaluation of the untreated and treated wastewater using catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis).

Extensive usage of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and their discharge through domestic sewage have been recently recognized as a new generation environmental concern which deserves more scientific attention over the classical environmental pollutants. The major issues of this type of effluent addressed in this study were its colour, triclosan and anionic surfactant (SDS) content. Samples of cosmetic effluent were collected from different beauty treatment salons and spas in and around Kolkata, India and treated in bioreactors containing a bacterial consortium isolated from activated sludge samples collected from a common effluent treatment plant. Members of the consortium were isolated and identified as Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp. and Comamonas sp. The biotreated effluent was subjected to ultrafiltration (UF) involving indigenously prepared ceramic membranes in both side-stream and submerged mode. Analysis of the MBR treated effluent revealed 99.22%, 98.56% and 99.74% removal of colour, triclosan and surfactant respectively. Investigation of probable acute and chronic cyto-genotoxic potential of the untreated and treated effluents along with their possible participation in triggering oxidative stress was carried out with Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Comet formation recorded in both liver and gill cells and micronucleus count in peripheral erythrocytes of individuals exposed to untreated effluent increased with duration of exposure and was significantly higher than those treated with UF permeates which in turn neared control levels. Results of this study revealed successful application of the isolated bacterial consortium in MBR process for efficient detoxification of cosmetic effluent thereby conferring the same suitable for discharge and/or reuse.

Exploring the Nutritive Values of the Fresh Water Mussel Lamellidens marginalis as Potential Functional Food

Prevention of under-nutrition has emerged as a critical challenge to Indias development planners in recent times. Insufficient protein consumption results in Protein Energy Malnutrition among the children in our Country. Due to increasing cost, limited amount of animal protein and the limited potential for improving the situation through increased animal production, the need of the hour is to search for an efficient utilization of cheap and available unconventional animal protein resources. Molluscs are regarded as under-exploited source of health-benefit molecules. Present investigation attempts to evaluate the nutritive values of the fresh water bivalve Lamellidens marginalis, widely accepted as food all over India. Proximate analyses revealed that mussel meat contains moderate amount of protein (8.30±0.67%), carbohydrate (8.01± 0.38%) and reducing sugar (4.75± 0.07%), but less amount of fat (1.02± 0.20%) and crude fibre (0.01± .001%). Lipid constitutes substantial amount of omega-3-fatty acids like, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which have proven prophylactic values. Protein analysis shows the presence of several essential amino acids required for proper body growth and maintenance. Moreover, antioxidant activity of the haemolymph further established that this benthic mussel can serve as an excellent alternate food source and can thus be commercialized as low cost functional food.

Effects of nano-sizing on lipid bioaccessibility and ex vivo bioavailability from EPA-DHA rich oil in water nanoemulsion

The physiological efficacy of nutraceuticals is dependent on their physicochemical nature and bioavailability across biological barriers. In the present work, effects of nano-sizing of emulsion-based delivery vehicle on the bioavailability of polyunsaturated fatty acids rich fish oil have been investigated via three-step experimental design; ex vivo rat everted intestinal sac model, cellular lipid uptake and the bioactivity in rat PBMCs. Nanoemulsion in comparison to the conventional emulsion has shown significant higher rate of uptake of polyunsaturated fatty acids in three segments of small intestine. The time-kinetics of such uptake was correlated with appearance of short-chain fatty acids in basal side of the everted sac. The bioavailability of the formulated fish oil and its inhibitory response against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in rat PBMCs were positively correlated. This formulation with nano-sized droplets can be utilized as smart delivery vehicles for designing oral therapies in future.

Promising Functional Lipids for Therapeutic Applications

Abstract Until a decade ago, dietary lipids were the most misunderstood and ill-perceived dietary component in the human diet in terms of its relation with health. However, modern day research has provided empirical evidence to show the potential of certain classes of specialty lipids and their coproducts as fast-acting nutraceuticals. Lipid-based dietary components have been shown to provide health benefits in addition to basic nutrition and, hence, are designated as functional lipids. Functional lipids, which also include structured lipids (manipulated from natural sources by bioprocess technology), impede the manifestations of chronic diseases. These functional lipid molecules, often stated as nutraceuticals, have specific mechanisms of action against major lifestyle diseases and which have now been identified. Clinical evidences are also available, which corroborate these findings. The present focus of researchers in the field of functional food technology is to develop such formulations, including bioactive lipids to improve compromised health parameters at the genomic level. This chapter essentially highlights the multidomain progress in lipid research to counter major health challenges, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, impaired cognition, and neurological diseases. In particular, the therapeutic role of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, conjugated linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, pinoleinic acid, phytosterols, and marine phospholipids are being discussed.

Nanoformulation and administration of PUFA-rich systems for applications in modern healthcare

Abstract Initiation of nanotechnology for the targeted delivery of bioactive cargo into biological systems for enhanced prophylactic and therapeutic applications has revolutionized the concept of designed functional food in modern healthcare. Lipids, especially dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), have a unique and superseding advantage of remodeling tissue acyl composition in its own image, and are considered for potent-nutraceutical/food supplements against disease and disease manifestations. Out of various experimental and survey-based studies, it has been established that ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs play a significant role in improving health by acting as antithrombotic, antitumorigenic, antiadipogenic, anticarcinogenic, and antiinflammatory agents against oxidative stress, cognitive dysfunction, arthritis, and other disease etiologies. However, desirable and targeted results are not achieved by conventional modes of delivery and applications. This shortcoming in targeted delivery can be overcome by the nanoscaling of such PUFAs, in the form of nanoemulsions, nanoliposomes, and nanoparticles, emerging as the most efficient mode of delivery within biological models for optimum and intended/expected bioactivity. This emphasizes the need of more accessible and economic technologies for the delivery of PUFA-rich nutraceutical products. This chapter intends to explore the realms of nanotechnology that deal with the fabrication methods of PUFA-rich nanoformulations, the holistic changes in stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity as a consequence of different administration routes (oral, topical, and parenteral) of such nanosystems.