Department of Biotechnology

About: Department of Biotechnology is a government organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Silver nanoparticle. The organization has 4800 authors who have published 5033 publications receiving 82022 citations.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of Phyto-synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia angustifolia Flowers

Abstract: The present study reports an eco-friendly phyto-synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous flower extract of Cassia angustifolia. Preliminarily, the synthesis of AgNPs from flower extract was visually confirmed by color change. Further formation, shape, size, and stability of the synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, XRD, FT-IR, DLS, and zeta potential analyses. SEM images showed that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 10–80 nm. Phyto-chemical analysis and FT-IR studies confirmed the role of phyto-compounds in the flower extract for the capping, formation, reduction, and stabilization of AgNPs. The antioxidant ability of AgNPs and plant extract was evaluated by DPPH, H2O2, and FRAP assays. The percentage of antioxidant activity was increased with increasing concentration of AgNPs. In addition, cytotoxic activity of the AgNPs was evaluated in human breast cancer cells (MCF 7). Phyto-synthesized AgNPs showed dose-depended manner (IC50 − 73.82 ± 0.50 μg/mL) of cytotoxic activity against MCF 7 cancer cells.

Biofertilizers: A Nexus between soil fertility and crop productivity under abiotic stress

Abstract: High food demand for the world's teeming population necessitates the intensification of crop production in modern agriculture, which requires the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers for higher crop yield. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, despite the high nutrients contents and ability to grow crops faster, discovered to be dangerous to the health and environment besides polluting the groundwater and atmosphere in the future. The alternative to these, biofertilizers arose today due to their attributes towards eco-friendly, cost-effective, and easy to apply in the agricultural field. Biofertilizers are a batch of diverse microorganisms, which can induce plant growth-promotion activities along with soil health, even under abiotic stress conditions. Biofertilizers maybe plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and as well as the consortia of other beneficial microbes. Biofertilizers can sustain plant growth performance, even in a challenging environment. The performance of perfect-candidate-biofertilizer in the agricultural field depends on crop type, properties of inoculants, technical background, and environmental condition. Biofertilizers can, directly or indirectly, help in attaining food security compared to the harmful effect of chemical fertilizers. A direct mechanism of Biofertilizers refers to phyto-stimulation and nutrient mobility, while an indirect mechanism poses bio-control activity. Direct mechanisms involve phytohormone production and phosphate, potassium, zinc, etc. solubilization. While, indirect-mechanism is HCN production, siderophore production, antibiotic production, etc. The present review elucidates the diversity of microbial inoculants (biofertilizers), their impacts on agricultural production through rising soil fertility, and overall crop yield. In line with related literature worked out by different researchers.

Structural characterization and evaluation of mosquito-larvicidal property of silver nanoparticles synthesized from the seaweed, Turbinaria ornata (Turner) J. Agardh 1848.

Abstract: The silver nanoparticles synthesized from Turbinaria ornata (To-AgNPs) showed spherical with crystalline nature (20-32 nm) was evaluated against fourth instar larvae of three mosquitoes. The maximum activity of To-AgNPs was recorded on Aedes aegypti followed by Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus with the following lethal concentration values (μg/ml): LC50 of 0.738, 1.134, and 1.494; and LC90 of 3.342, 17.982, and 22.475, respectively. The obtained respective values (μg/ml) vis-a-vis aqueous extract (To-AE) were: 2.767 and 40.577; 4.347 and 158.399, and 7.351 and 278.994. The findings revealed that To-AgNPs could form a base for the development of an eco-friendly, low-cost pesticide.

Nature of bonding and cooperativity in linear DMSO clusters: A DFT, AIM and NCI analysis.

Abstract: This study aims to cast light on the nature of interactions and cooperativity that exists in linear dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) clusters using dispersion corrected density functional theory. In the linear DMSO, DMSO molecules in the middle of the clusters are bound strongly than at the terminal. The plot of the total binding energy of the clusters vs the cluster size and mean polarizabilities vs cluster size shows an excellent linearity demonstrating the presence of cooperativity effect. The computed incremental binding energy of the clusters remains nearly constant, implying that DMSO addition at the terminal site can happen to form an infinite chain. In the linear clusters, two σ-hole at the terminal DMSO molecules were found and the value on it was found to increase with the increase in cluster size. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules topography shows the existence of hydrogen and SO⋯S type in linear tetramer and larger clusters. In the dimer and trimer SO⋯OS type of interaction exists. In 2D non-covalent interactions plot, additional peaks in the regions which contribute to the stabilization of the clusters were observed and it splits in the trimer and intensifies in the larger clusters. In the trimer and larger clusters in addition to the blue patches due to hydrogen bonds, additional, light blue patches were seen between the hydrogen atom of the methyl groups and the sulphur atom of the nearby DMSO molecule. Thus, in addition to the strong H-bonds, strong electrostatic interactions between the sulphur atom and methyl hydrogens exists in the linear clusters.

Smart Piezoelectric Nanohybrid of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Barium Titanate for Stimulated Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract: Piezoelectric materials strive to articulate smart materials and transduce electric fields by applying mechanical pressure and vice versa. This study demarcates augmented cartilage regeneration fro...