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.

Bioremediation of heavy metals using an endophytic bacterium Paenibacillus sp. RM isolated from the roots of Tridax procumbens.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the bioremediation potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from roots of Tridax procumbens plant. Five bacterial endophytes were isolated and subsequently tested for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against different heavy metals. Amongst the five isolates, strain RM exhibited the highest resistance to copper (750 mg/l), followed by zinc (500 mg/l), lead (450 mg/l), and arsenic (400 mg/l). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence suggested that strain RM was a member of genus Paneibacillus. Strain RM also had the capacity to produce secondary metabolites, indole acetic acid, siderophores, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, and biosurfactant and solubilize phosphate. The growth kinetics of strain RM was altered slightly in the presence of metal stress. Temperature and pH influenced the metal removal rate. The results suggest that strain RM can survive under the high concentration of heavy metals and has been identified as a potential candidate for application in bioremediation of heavy metals in contaminated environments.

In vitro meat: A future animal-free harvest

Abstract: In vitro meat production is a novel idea of producing meat without involving animals with the help of tissue engineering techniques. This biofabrication of complex living products by using various bioengineering techniques is a potential solution to reduce the ill effects of current meat production systems and can dramatically transform traditional animal-based agriculture by inventing “animal-free” meat and meat products. Nutrition-related diseases, food-borne illnesses, resource use and pollution, and use of farm animals are some serious consequences associated with conventional meat production methods. This new way of animal-free meat production may offer health and environmental advantages by reducing environmental pollution and resource use associated with current meat production systems and will also ensure sustainable production of designer, chemically safe, and disease-free meat as the conditions in an in vitro meat production system are controllable and manipulatable. Theoretically, this ...

Statistical modeling and mechanistic pathway for methylene blue dye removal by high surface area and mesoporous grass-based activated carbon using K2CO3 activator

Abstract: In this study, biomass of grass waste (GW) was utilized as sustainable precursor to produce highly porous activated carbon (GWAC) with mesoporosity using a K2CO3-assisted pyrolysis approach and tested for its methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption properties. The prepared GWAC was characterized using the various techniques of specific surface area (SSA), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer. The characterization results indicate the successful conversion of GW into mesoporous GWAC with high and desirable surface area of 1245.6 m2/g. The adsorptive performance of GWAC towards MB uptake was evaluated. To attain higher performance of the activated carbon for MB adsorption, the adsorption key parameters such as GWAC dosage (A: 0.04–0.06 g/L), pH (B: 4–10), temperature (C: 30–60 °C), and time (D: 5–15 min) were optimized using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) method. The adsorption equilibrium data were accurately described by the Langmuir model, where the adsorption capacity (qm; 364.2 mg/g) was recorded at the optimized process temperature of 45 °C. The present research also examined the mechanisms associated with the removal of MB using GWAC and observed the contribution of various MB-GWAC surface interactions (e.g., electrostatic, π-π, and H-bonding interactions). The present investigation shows the utility and effectiveness of GW biomass based activated carbon due to its favorable mesoporosity and cationic dye uptake in aqueous media.

Sunroot mediated synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of its antibacterial and rat splenocyte cytotoxic effects.

Abstract: A rapid, green phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous extract of Helianthus tuberosus (sunroot tuber) was reported in this study. The morphology of the AgNPs was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of AgNPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that biomolecules in the tuber extract were involved in the reduction and capping of AgNPs. The energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the AgNPs, using an energy range of 2-4 keV, confirmed the presence of elemental silver without any contamination. Further, the synthesized AgNPs were evaluated against phytopathogens such as Ralstonia solanacearum and Xanthomonas axonopodis. The AgNPs (1-4 mM) extensively reduced the growth rate of the phytopathogens. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of the synthesized AgNPs was analyzed using rat splenocytes. The cell viability was decreased according to the increasing concentration of AgNPs and 67% of cell death was observed at 100 μg/mL.