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.

A review of recent progress in polymeric electrospun nanofiber membranes in addressing safe water global issues

Abstract: With rapid advancement in water filtration materials, several efforts have been made to fabricate electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs). ENMs play a crucial role in different areas of water treatment due to their several advantageous properties such as high specific surface area, high interconnected porosity, controllable thickness, mechanical robustness, and wettability. In the broad field of water purification, ENMs have shown tremendous potential in terms of permeability, rejection, energy efficiency, resistance to fouling, reusability and mechanical robustness as compared to the traditional phase inversion membranes. Upon various chemical and physical modifications of ENMs, they have exhibited great potential for emerging applications in environment, energy and health sectors. This review firstly presents an overview of the limiting factors influencing the morphology of electrospun nanofibers. Secondly, it presents recent advancements in electrospinning processes, which helps to not only overcome drawbacks associated with the conventional electrospinning but also to produce nanofibers of different morphology and orientation with an increased rate of production. Thirdly, it presents a brief discussion about the recent progress of the ENMs for removal of various pollutants from aqueous system through major areas of membrane separation. Finally, this review concludes with the challenges and future directions in this vast and fast growing area.

Silver Nanomaterials for Wound Dressing Applications

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently become very attractive for the scientific community due to their broad spectrum of applications in the biomedical field. The main advantages of AgNPs include a simple method of synthesis, a simple way to change their morphology and high surface area to volume ratio. Much research has been carried out over the years to evaluate their possible effectivity against microbial organisms. The most important factors which influence the effectivity of AgNPs against microorganisms are the method of their preparation and the type of application. When incorporated into fabric wound dressings and other textiles, AgNPs have shown significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and inhibited biofilm formation. In this review, the different routes of synthesizing AgNPs with controlled size and geometry including chemical, green, irradiation and thermal synthesis, as well as the different types of application of AgNPs for wound dressings such as membrane immobilization, topical application, preparation of nanofibers and hydrogels, and the mechanism behind their antimicrobial activity, have been discussed elaborately.

Statistical optimization of process parameters for Cr (VI) biosorption onto mixed cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of different operating conditions on the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) onto mixed cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis (MCOPAABS) using biosorption processes. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used for optimization of the biosorption process and to evaluate the effects and interactions of the process variables, i. e., biomass concentration, pH, temperature and contact time on the removal of Cr (VI). A synthetic aqueous solution with a Cr (VI) concentration of 10 mg/L was used in the experimental study as a fixed input variable. The optimum conditions for maximum uptake (1.44 mg/g) of Cr (VI) onto the biosorbent were established as 0.5 g/L biosorbent dosage, pH 2 for the aqueous solution, 32°C temperature and 23 min contact time.