Qudsia Tabassam

Bio: Qudsia Tabassam is an academic researcher from University of Sargodha. The author has contributed to research in topics: Immobilized enzyme & Colloidal gold. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 8 publications receiving 42 citations.

Pectinase Production from Schizophyllum commune Through Central Composite Design Using Citrus Waste and Its Immobilization for Industrial Exploitation

Abstract: Pectinase is an important group of industrial enzymes. Pectinase manufacturing occupies about 10% of the overall enzyme production world over. The aim of this study is to produce pectin lyase from Schizophyllum commune using the mosambi (sweet lime) fruit peels as substrate in solid state fermentation. The cultural parameters optimized through response surface methodology showed maximum pectin lyase production of 480.45 U/mL at initial medium pH of 6, incubation temperature of 35 °C, time period of 1 day, substrate concentration of 15 g and 3 mL of inoculum size. A purification fold of 3.08 with 355 U/mg specific activity and 4.16% yield was obtained after purification. Enzyme immobilization was done by entrapment with sodium alginate and adsorption with chitosan. Chitosan immobilized enzyme exhibited best thermal stability in the range of 45–55 °C and pH 8.0–9.0. Enzyme activity was stimulated in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ while EDTA inhibited the enzyme activity. Chitosan immobilized pectin lyase was stable up to six cycles of reuse. The pH and thermal stability of S. commune pectin lyase makes it an important enzyme for industrial use. The results showed that pectin lyase produced from S. commune has significant potential for applications in the detergent and fruit juice industry. The enzyme produced from citrus agro waste via the proposed optimized biotechnological process can be explored for multiple industrial applications.

Synthesis, Characterization and Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Potential of Withanolide-A with 20nm sAuNPs Conjugates Against SKBR3 Breast Cancer Cell Line.

Abstract: Background Nanotechnology is gaining emerging interest in advanced drug discovery therapeutics due to their tremendous properties including enhanced delivery of therapeutic payload, extensive surface to volume ratio, high permeability, retention behaviors, etc. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are favored due to their advanced features, such as biogenic, tunable physiochemical response, ease in synthesis, and wide range of biomedical applications. The phytochemicals have been focused to design Au nano-carrier-based conjugation for active-targeting drug delivery due to their nano conjugation ability. Aim The present study describes the facile synthesis of 20nm spherical AuNPs and their conjugation with reported anti-cancer phytocompound Withanolide-A (1). Methods The 20nm sAuNPs were synthesized chemically and characterized their phytochemical gold nanoconjugates through UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging techniques. The anti-cancer therapeutic potentials were tested with both nanoconjugates and pure WithanolideA (1) by using SKBR3 breast cancer cells line. Results The synthesized sAuNPs showed significant conjugation with Withanolide-A and showed stability. Furthermore, these Au nanoconjugates with Withanolide-A (1) significantly induce blockage of SKBR3 cell growth at half maximal active concentration that compared to pure Withanolide-A (1). Conclusion Our findings provide a foundation to further progress how they can overcome cancer drug resistance by conjugating active drugs in combination with AuNPs through optimizing the effective drug concentration and removing the surface barrier.

Utilization of Waste and Under-utilized Pongamia pinnata Seed Oil for Acquiring Maximal Process to Get Ameliorate Yield of Biodiesel Through Response Surface Methodology

Abstract: The aim of this study was to use the under-utilized vegetable seed oil and produce high and better yield of biodiesel. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used, based on central composite rotatable design (CCRD), to optimize four trans-esterification reaction variables for getting high yield: catalyst concentration (CC; 0.25–1.0 %), reaction temperature (RT; 45–65 °C), CH3OH-to-oil molar ratio (6:1–12:1) and reaction time (30–90 min). The 24 full factorial CCRD design was applied, using four different parameters at five levels, each lead to 30 experiments to produce Pongamia pinnata oil-methyl esters (POMEs). The molar ratio of CH3OH to oil and RT were the most significant (p < 0.01) factors affecting the yield of POMEs. A linear relationship was recorded between the observed and predicted values (R 2 = 0.9744). Using multiple regression analysis a quadratic polynomial equation was recognized for methyl ester yield (MEY). The quadratic term of CC showed a significant (p < 0.0001) impact on esters yield. The interaction terms of CH3OH to oil molar ratio and CC with reaction time exhibited a +ve effect on the MEY (p < 0.05). The optimum reaction conditions for trans-esterification of oils were 6.1 CH3OH to oil ratio, 1.0 % CC, 65 °C RT and 1:30 h reaction time, resulting in Pongamia oil MEY of 94.88 %. The RSM was found to be a suitable technique for optimizing trans-esterification process and produced fuel was within the ranges of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards.

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Supports and Protocols for Enzyme Immobilization

Abstract: The market for industrial enzymes has witnessed constant growth, which is currently around 7% a year, projected to reach $10.5 billion in 2024. Lipases are hydrolase enzymes naturally responsible for triglyceride hydrolysis. They are the most expansively used industrial biocatalysts, with wide application in a broad range of industries. However, these biocatalytic processes are usually limited by the low stability of the enzyme, the half-life time, and the processes required to solve these problems are complex and lack application feasibility at the industrial scale. Emerging technologies create new materials for enzyme carriers and sophisticate the well-known immobilization principles to produce more robust, eco-friendlier, and cheaper biocatalysts. Therefore, this review discusses the trending studies and industrial applications of the materials and protocols for lipase immobilization, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, it summarizes the current challenges and potential alternatives for lipases at the industrial level.

Biochemical Prospects of Various Microbial Pectinase and Pectin: An Approachable Concept in Pharmaceutical Bioprocessing.

Abstract: Both pectin and pectinase are vitally imperative biomolecules in the biotechnological sector. These molecules are a feasible non-toxic contrivance of nature with extensive applicative perception. Understanding pectic substances and their structure, unique depolymerization, and biochemical properties such as a catalytic mechanism and the strong interrelationship among these molecules could immensely enhance their applicability in industries. For instance, gaining knowledge with respect to the versatile molecular heterogeneity of the compounds could be considered as the center of concern to resolve the industrial issues from multiple aspects. In the present review, an effort has been made to orchestrate the fundamental information related to structure, depolymerization characteristics, and classification of pectin as well as the types and biochemical properties of pectinase. Furthermore, various production methods related to the optimization of the product and its significant contribution to the pharmaceutical industry (either pectinase or derived pectic substances) are described in this article.