Sustainable approaches for removing toxic heavy metal from contaminated water: A comprehensive review of bioremediation and biosorption techniques

In this comprehensive study, highlights emerging environmentally friendly methods to eliminating hazardous heavy metals from contaminated water, with an emphasis on bioremediation and biosorption. Breakthroughs, such as the combination of biological remediation and nanotechnology to improve the elimination of metals effectiveness and the use of genetically modified microbes for targeted pollutant breakdown. Developing biosorption materials made from agricultural waste and biochar, this indicates interesting areas for future research and emphasizes the necessity of sustainable practices in tackling heavy metal contamination in water systems. There seems to be a surge in enthusiasm for the utilization of biological remediation and biosorption methods as sustainable and viable options for eliminating heavy metals from contaminated water in the past couple of decades. The present review intends to offer an in-depth review of the latest understanding and advances in the discipline of biological remediation methods like bioaccumulation, biofiltration, bio-slurping, and bio-venting. Biosorption is specifically explained and includes waste biomass as biosorbent with the removal mechanisms and the hindrances caused in the process are detailed. Advances in biosorption like microbes as biosorbents and the mechanism involved in it. Additionally, novel enhancement techniques like immobilization, genetic modification, and ultrasound-assisted treatment in microbial sorbent are clarified. However, the review extended with analyzing the future advances in the overall biological methods and consequences of heavy metal pollution.

Fungal bioremediation approaches for the removal of toxic pollutants: Mechanistic understanding for biorefinery applications

Pollution is a global menace that poses harmful effects on all the living ecosystems and to the Earth. As years pass by, the available and the looming rate of pollutants increases at a faster rate. Although many treatments and processing strategies are waged for treating such pollutants, the by-products and the wastes or drain off generated by these treatments further engages in the emission of hazardous waste. Innovative and long-lasting solutions are required to address the urgent global issue of hazardous pollutant remediation from contaminated environments. Myco-remediation is a top-down green and eco-friendly tool for pollution management. It is a cost-effective and safer practice of converting pernicious substances into non-toxic forms by the use of fungi. But these pollutants can be transformed into useable products along with multiple benefits for the environment such as sequestration of carbon emissions and also to generate high valuable bioactive materials that fits as a sustainable economic model. The current study has examined the possible applications of fungi in biorefineries and their critical role in the transformation and detoxification of pollutants. The paper offers important insights into using fungal bioremediation for both economically and environmentally sound solutions in the domain of biorefinery applications by combining recent research findings.

Role of nanomaterials in deactivating multiple drug resistance efflux pumps - A review

The changes in lifestyle and living conditions have affected not only humans but also microorganisms. As man invents new drugs and therapies, pathogens alter themselves to survive and thrive. Multiple drug resistance (MDR) is the talk of the town for decades now. Many generations of medications have been termed useless as MDR rises among the infectious population. The surge in nanotechnology has brought a new hope in reducing this aspect of resistance in pathogens. It has been observed in several laboratory-based studies that the use of nanoparticles had a synergistic effect on the antibiotic being administered to the pathogen; several resistant strains scummed to the stress created by the nanoparticles and became susceptible to the drug. The major cause of resistance to date is the efflux system, which makes the latest generation of antibiotics ineffective without reaching the target site. If species-specific nanomaterials are used to control the activity of efflux pumps, it could revolutionize the field of medicine and make the previous generation resistant medications active once again. Therefore, the current study was devised to assess and review nanoparticles' role on efflux systems and discuss how specialized particles can be designed towards an infectious host's particular drug ejection systems.

Efficacy of encapsulated biogenic silver nanoparticles and its disease resistance against Vibrio harveyi through oral administration in Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Cheatomorpha antennia and its in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity against Vibrio harveyi in Macrobrachium rosenbergii was demonstrated in the study. In vitro growth curve analysis, cell viability and bacterial inhibitory assays were performed to test the efficacy of synthesised AgNPs against bacteria. Sodium caseinate was used as an encapsulating agent to deliver the antibacterial drugs and the commercial process of microencapsulation comprises the antibacterial bioelements for oral administration to improve the disease resistance of AgNPs against V. harveyi due to the eco-friendly for non-toxic behaviour of nanoparticle and their treatment. Characterisation of antibacterial silver was performed by UV spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The peak at 420 nm showed the presence of nanoparticles in the solution and the crystal nature of the particle was identified by the XRD. FTIR characterised the functional harveyi biomolecules and further SEM confirmed the size of the nanoparticles around 24 ± 2.4 nm. Experimental pathogenicity of V. harveyi showed 100% mortality at the 120th hour. Treatment of encapsulated AgNPs was administered orally for the relative percentage of survival which acquired almost 90% of survival till 30 days of exposure. In conclusion, the microencapsulation of AgNPs in the biopolymer matrices promotes the health, growth responses, immunity and disease resistance of encapsulated AgNPs with an improved relative percentage of survival.

Effects of the Gut microbiota on Amygdalin and its use as an anti-cancer therapy: Substantial review on the key components involved in altering dose efficacy and toxicity

Conventional and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is popularly used due to side-effects and failure of approved methods, for diseases like Epilepsy and Cancer. Amygdalin, a cyanogenic diglycoside is commonly administered for cancer with other CAM therapies like vitamins and seeds of fruits like apricots and bitter almonds, due to its ability to hydrolyse to hydrogen cyanide (HCN), benzaldehyde and glucose. Over the years, several cases of cyanide toxicity on ingestion have been documented. In-vitro and in-vivo studies using various doses and modes of administration, like IV administration studies that showed no HCN formation, point to the role played by the gut microbiota for the commonly seen poisoning on consumption. The anaerobic Bacteriodetes phylum found in the gut has a high β-glucosidase activity needed for amygdalin hydrolysis to HCN. However, there are certain conditions under which these HCN levels rise to cause toxicity. Case studies have shown toxicity on ingestion of variable doses of amygdalin and no HCN side-effects on consumption of high doses. This review shows how factors like probiotic and prebiotic consumption, other CAM therapies, obesity, diet, age and the like, that alter gut consortium, are responsible for the varying conditions under which toxicity occurs and can be further studied to set-up conditions for safe oral doses. It also indicates ways to delay or quickly treat cyanide toxicity due to oral administration and, reviews conflicts on amygdalin's anti-cancer abilities, dose levels, mode of administration and pharmacokinetics that have hindered its official acceptance at a therapeutic level.