Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Paper wasp nest-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial, catalytic, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic applications

Abstract: Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using nest extract of paper wasp (Polistes sp) was investigated in this work. The AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, dye degradation, blood anticoagulation, and blood clot dissolution (thrombolytic) activities. The crystalline polydispersed AgNPs with size range of 12.5–95.55 nm absorbed maximally at 428 nm and showed anisotropic structures of sphere, triangle, hexagon, rod, and rhombus. The FTIR data showed prominent peaks at 3426 and 1641 cm−1, which indicate the involvement of phenolics compounds and proteins in the synthesis of AgNPs. The prominence of Ag in the EDX spectra showed that indeed, AgNPs were formed. The AgNPs showed potent antibacterial activities (12–35 mm) against three multi-drug strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella granulomatis. While the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger was completely suppressed, the AgNPs produced growth inhibition of 75.61 % against Aspergillus fumigatus at 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the AgNPs degraded malachite green to the tune of 93.1 %. The AgNPs also prevented coagulation of blood, while it completely dissolved preformed blood clots within 5 min showing the potent anticoagulation and thrombolytic activities. This study, which is the first of its kind to use nest extract of paper wasp for the synthesis of nanoparticles, has shown that the biosynthesized AgNPs could be deployed for biomedical and catalytic applications.

A significant association between intestinal helminth infection and anaemia burden in children in rural communities of Edo state, Nigeria.

Abstract: Background : Anaemia is estimated to affect half the school-age children and adolescents in developing countries. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and evaluate the relationship of intestinal helminth infection on the anaemia status of children in the rural communities of Evbuomore, Isiohor, and Ekosodin. in the Ovia North East local government area of Edo State, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods : Faecal samples and blood samples were obtained from 316 children aged 1-15 years. Faecal samples were examined using standard parasitological techniques, and anaemia was defined as blood haemoglobin <11 g/dL. Results : Of the 316 children, 38.6% were anaemic: 75.9% of children in Evbuomore, 42.3% in Isiohor and 26.8% in Ekosodin. The overall parasite prevalence in the three communities were: Ascaris lumbricoides (75.6%), hookworm (16.19%) and Trichuris trichiura (7.3%). Malnutrition was patent; 37.0% of the children were stunted, 19.3% wasted, and 44.0% underweight. There was a statistically significant association between hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides infection and anaemia (P < .001). Serum ferritin levels were more sensitive than haemoglobin in detecting anemia and were correlated with intestinal helminth infection. Conclusion : Intestinal helminth infection in a concomitant state of malnutrition is observed in this population. Intervention programmes should be aimed at control of intestinal helminth infection and iron supplementation.

Kinetics of batch microbial degradation of phenols by indigenous Pseudomonas fluorescence

Abstract: The potential of various organisms to metabolize organic compounds has been observed to be a potentially effective means in disposing of hazardous and toxic wastes. Phenols and their compounds have long been recognized as one of the most recalcitrant and persistent organic chemicals in the environment. The bioremediation potential of an indigenous Pseudomonas fluorescence was studied in batch culture using synthetic phenol in water in the concentration range of (100–500) mg/L as a model limiting substrate. The effect of initial phenol concentration on the degradation process was investigated. Phenol was completely degraded at different cultivation times for the different initial phenol concentrations. Increasing the initial phenol concentration from 100 mg/L to 500 mg/L increased the lag phase from 0 to 66 h and correspondingly prolonged the degradation process from 84 h to 354 h. There was decrease in biodegradation rate as initial phenol concentration increased. Fitting data into Monod kinetic model showed the inhibition effect of phenol The kinetic parameters have been estimated up to initial phenol concentration of 500 mg/ L. The rsmax decreased and Ks increased with higher concentration of phenol. The rsmaxhas been found to be a strong function of initial phenol concentration. The culture followed substrate inhibition kinetics and the specific phenol consumption rates were fitted to Haldane, Yano and Koga, Aiba et al., Teissier and Webb models. Between the five inhibition models, the Haldane model was found to give the best fit. Therefore, the biokinetic constants estimated using these models showed good potential of the Pseudomonas fluorescence and the possibility of using it in bioremediation of phenol waste effluents.

Cobweb as novel biomaterial for the green and eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Abstract: In this study, spider cobweb as a novel biomaterial was used for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy of biosynthesized particles as antibacterial agents was evaluated using multi-drug resistant clinical bacterial isolates through sensitivity testing with AgNPs and combination of AgNPs with some selected antibiotics. In addition, the potential application of the particles as additives in paints was demonstrated using some bacterial and fungal isolates. The synthesized AgNPs which were dark brown in color displayed maximum absorbance at the wavelength of 436 nm. It was observed that the reaction mixture of 1:40 (extract:AgNO3 solution) at pH of 8.5 produced particles with maximum absorbance at 436 nm. The FTIR spectrum showed peaks at 3298, 2359, 2089, and 1635 cm−1, indicating that proteins were the capping and stabilization molecules in the synthesis of AgNPs. The particles were spherical in shape with size ranging about 3–50 nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed the presence of silver as the most prominent metal, while the selected area electron diffraction pattern conformed to the face-centered cubic phase and crystalline nature of AgNPs. The AgNPs inhibited the growth of several bacterial isolates including S. aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella granulomatis and P. aeruginosa in the range of 10–17 mm at concentration of 100 µg/ml. It was also demonstrated that AgNPs potentiated the activities of augmentin, ofloxacin and cefixime in the AgNP–antibiotic synergy studies. Similarly, the inclusion of AgNPs as additive in white emulsion paint led to the total inhibition of growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and A. fumigatus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of cobweb for the green synthesis of AgNPs. The immense antimicrobial activities of the particles can be explored in the creation of novel products, where it can be used as additive to protect materials against microbial attack.