Current advancements and prospects of enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors

This review discusses the most current developments and future perspectives in enzymatic and non-enzymatic glucose sensors, which have notably evolved over the preceding quadrennial period. Furthermore, a thorough exploration encompassed the sensor's intricate fabrication processes, the diverse range of materials employed, the underlying principles of detection, and an in-depth assessment of the sensors' efficacy in detecting glucose levels within essential bodily fluids such as human blood serums, urine, saliva, and interstitial fluids. It is worth noting that the accurate quantification of glucose concentrations within human blood has been effectively achieved by utilizing classical enzymatic sensors harmoniously integrated with optical and electrochemical transduction mechanisms. Monitoring glucose levels in various mediums has attracted exceptional attention from industrial to academic researchers for diabetes management, food quality control, clinical medicine, and bioprocess inspection. There has been an enormous demand for the creation of novel glucose sensors over the past ten years. Research has primarily concentrated on succeeding biocompatible and enhanced sensing abilities related to the present technologies, offering innovative avenues for more effective glucose sensors. Recent developments in wearable optical and electrochemical sensors with low cost, high stability, point-of-care testing, and online tracking of glucose concentration levels in biological fluids can aid in managing and controlling diabetes globally. New nanomaterials and biomolecules that can be used in electrochemical sensor systems to identify glucose concentration levels are developed thanks to advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Both enzymatic and non-enzymatic glucose electrochemical sensors have garnered much interest recently and have made significant strides in detecting glucose levels. In this review, we summarise several categories of non-enzymatic glucose sensor materials, including composites, non-precious transition metals and their metal oxides, hydroxides, precious metals and their alloys, carbon-based materials, conducting polymers, metal-organic framework (MOF)-based electrocatalysts, and wearable device-based glucose sensors deeply.

Crystal plane-integrated strontium oxide/hexagonal boron nitride nanohybrids for rapid electrochemical sensing of anticancer drugs in human blood serum samples

In this work, the crystal plane of strontium oxide (SrO) nanorods was integrated into hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets to form 1D-2D (SrO/h-BN) composite were utilized for the electrochemical detection of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). 5-Fu is a clinically proven and the third most frequently applied chemotherapeutic drug for treating solid tumours, such as colorectal, stomach, cutaneous and breast malignancies. Its overdoses lead to toxic metabolite accumulation that has serious adverse consequences on humans, including neurotoxicity, death and the induction of morbidity. Therefore, to improve the chemotherapy and predict the potential adverse effects of 5-Fu residues in the human body, susceptible and quick analytical methods for detecting 5-Fu in human body fluids (blood serum/plasma and urine) are needed. The effective interaction of the synthesized SrO/h-BN composite shows increased efficiency for the electrochemical detection of 5-Fu with good selectivity. Notably, a simple sonochemical method achieved a synergistic interaction between the (100) plane of SrO and the (002) plane of h-BN. Various analytical and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the SrO/h-BN nanocomposite, which provided useful insights into the composition and properties of the composite material. The crystalline, structural and chemical characteristics of the as-synthesized material were characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HR-TEM, XPS and HR-SEM. Furthermore, the proposed electrode's electrochemical sensing capability was analysed using CV, EIS, DPV and i-t curve methods. Numerous active sites created on a modified electrode enhanced the mass transport and electron transfer rate, thereby increasing the electrochemical activity towards the 5-Fu detection. Consequently, under optimized conditions, the SrO/h-BN/GCE exhibited remarkable selectivity, durability, low detection limit (0.003 μM) and wide linear range (0.02-56 μM) for 5-Fu. Finally, the successful application of this sensor for 5-Fu detection in biological samples was successfully tested with high recovery percentages.

In situ synthesis of polythiophene encapsulated 2D hexagonal boron nitride nanocomposite based electrochemical transducer for detection of 5-fluorouracil with high selectivity

It is difficult for the scientific community to develop a nonenzymatic sensing platform for extremely sensitive and selective detection of specific biomolecules, antibiotics, food adulterants, heavy metals, etc. One of the most significant chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), which is used to treat solid malignancies, has a fluorine atom in the fifth position of the uracil molecule. Recognizing the secure and effective dosing of drugs for chemotherapy continues to be a critical concern in cancer disease management. The maintenance of the optimal 5-Fu concentration is dependent on the presence of 5-Fu in biofluids. Herein we reported a conducting polymer encapsulated 2D material, PTh/h-BN for the efficient electrochemical detection of anticancer drug 5-Fu. Furthermore, the synthesized PTh/h-BN nanocomposite was confirmed by the High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM), High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (HR-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The electrical resistance of PTh/h-BN modified GCE and its sensing performance towards 5-Fu were tested using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) studies respectively. The analytical performance of our proposed catalyst was tested using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV), and the amperometry (i-t curve) method. From the results, our proposed PTh/h-BN nanocomposite-modified GCE shows enhanced sensing performance due to higher redox peak currents, large active surface area, and high electrical conductivity. Moreover, the nanohybrid shows enhanced sensing performances with quick response time, wide linear range, the lowest limit of detection, high sensitivity, and high selectivity in the presence of various interferents. Finally, the practical applicability of the proposed sensor was tested with real-world samples with very good recovery percentages.

Implementation of Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum in Paediatrics for Phase 2 MBBS UndergraduatesA Descriptive Study

Introduction: Adoption of Competency Based Medical Education-Undergraduate (CBME-UG) curriculum is made mandatory in medical colleges by National Medical Commission (NMC). CBME-UG curriculum enumerates the expected knowledge and skills in detail and it focuses more on observable outcomes that are important in day-to day medical practice. This curriculum holds the teacher as well as learner equally responsible in running the educational programme. Aim: To put forth the approach adopted in implementation of CBME-UG curriculum for phase 2 MBBS students in paediatric subject. Materials and Methods: This article describes the steps applied in transforming the traditional structured teaching method to the CBME method for undergraduate phase 2 MBBS students in the Department of Paediatrics at Dr. B R Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, during January 2021 to December 2021. The duration of one year was divided into preimplementation phase (three months) and implementation phase (nine months). The faculty of the department, a coordinator to overview the programmeme, the postgraduate residents, and the students of phase 2 MBBS were the stakeholders identified in order to run the CBME-UG educational programmeme. Results: Preimplementation phase consisted of designing the department module and sensitisation of involved stakeholders. The contents of the module were curriculum planner for three years, time-table plan for phase II MBBS students, structuring of teaching sessions, designing the assessment method, and designing the feedback method. Implementation phase during clinical postings for the phase II MBBS students incorporated the strategies designed in preimplementation phase. The teaching sessions, assessment, the feedback sessions, and student-doctor programmeme were implemented with realistic and feasible planning. Conclusion: The CBME curriculum was successfully implemented among undergraduate second year medical students in term of student feedback and performance. It was noted that appropriate planning and sensitisation of students as well as the teachers, helped in running the programme smoothly.

Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Textile Industry Wastewater by RuO2/IrO2/TaO2 Coated Titanium Electrodes

Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation (PECO) system prominently increases the migration of photoexcited charges, hinders the fast recombination of electron-hole, and increases the period of photogenerated holes. In this article, we constructed a novel PECO system to degrade textile industry wastewater by RuO2/IrO2/TaO2 coated titanium electrodes. The result shows that PECO treatment can effectively reduce the color and true color of the secondary pollutants present in the wastewater. It is confirmed that a synergistic effect exists between photocatalysis (PC) and electrocatalysis (EC). Moreover, we discussed the influence of pH, current density, electrolyte concentration, and stirring speed. The maximum decolorization efficiency of textile industry wastewater with a pH of 8.2 was found to be 96% under the optimum condition stirrer speed of 200 rpm, an electrolyte concentration of 0.05M, a current density of 15 mA.cm-2, and at a treatment time of 30 mins. The UV-Visible spectra confirm the degradation of textile industry wastewater.

Importance of genetic diversity assessment in crop plants and its recent advances: an overview of its analytical perspectives

The importance of plant genetic diversity (PGD) is now being recognized as a specific area since exploding population with urbanization and decreasing cultivable lands are the critical factors contributing to food insecurity in developing world. Agricultural scientists realized that PGD can be captured and stored in the form of plant genetic resources (PGR) such as gene bank, DNA library, and so forth, in the biorepository which preserve genetic material for long period. However, conserved PGR must be utilized for crop improvement in order to meet future global challenges in relation to food and nutritional security. This paper comprehensively reviews four important areas; (i) the significance of plant genetic diversity (PGD) and PGR especially on agriculturally important crops (mostly field crops); (ii) risk associated with narrowing the genetic base of current commercial cultivars and climate change; (iii) analysis of existing PGD analytical methods in pregenomic and genomic era; and (iv) modern tools available for PGD analysis in postgenomic era. This discussion benefits the plant scientist community in order to use the new methods and technology for better and rapid assessment, for utilization of germplasm from gene banks to their applied breeding programs. With the advent of new biotechnological techniques, this process of genetic manipulation is now being accelerated and carried out with more precision (neglecting environmental effects) and fast-track manner than the classical breeding techniques. It is also to note that gene banks look into several issues in order to improve levels of germplasm distribution and its utilization, duplication of plant identity, and access to database, for prebreeding activities. Since plant breeding research and cultivar development are integral components of improving food production, therefore, availability of and access to diverse genetic sources will ensure that the global food production network becomes more sustainable. The pros and cons of the basic and advanced statistical tools available for measuring genetic diversity are briefly discussed and their source links (mostly) were provided to get easy access; thus, it improves the understanding of tools and its practical applicability to the researchers.

Nevirapine-related adverse events among children switched from efavirenz to nevirapine as compared to children who were started on nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy directly

In this retrospective study, incidence of nevirapine (NVP) toxicity in children who were switched from efavirenz (EFV) to NVP (treatment experienced [TE] group) was compared with that of children who had started NVP-based antiretroviral therapy directly (treatment naïve [TN] group). This study also identified risk factors associated with development of NVP toxicity in children. The incidence and risk of developing NVP toxicities were significantly higher in TE when compared to TN group. Median duration of onset of NVP toxicity from the initiation was 2.14 and 3.84 weeks in TE and TN children, respectively. Mean CD4 count was found to be significantly higher in children who developed toxicity (577 ± 81 cells/µL) as compared to the children who did not develop toxicity (403 ± 29 cells/µL). Similarly, children in TE group who developed NVP toxicity had higher mean CD4 cell count than children in TN with NVP toxicity. The risk factors for the development of NVP toxicity include female gender with CD4 count >250 cells/μL and TE children especially girls with CD4% >15% and boys with CD4 count >400 cells/μL. To conclude, the higher incidence of NVP toxicity among TE group warrants a cautious approach while switching the NVP- from EFV-based therapy.

Electrochemical oxidation of bisphenol-A from aqueous solution using graphite electrodes

Electrochemical oxidation of bisphenol-A (BPA) from aqueous solution using graphite electrodes has been investigated. The effect of the types and concentration of supporting electrolytes, initial pH and applied current density on the performance of the process were examined. During electrolysis, concentration of BPA has been monitored and determined using UV-vis spectra, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and energy consumption. NaCl has been considered as the best supporting electrolyte among the electrolytes used in the present study. Initial pH 5.0, higher concentration (0.01 to 0.1 M) of supporting electrolyte and higher applied current density (4 to 20 mA cm(-2)) facilitate the treatment process. The maximum COD removal of 78.3% has been achieved under the optimal experimental conditions such as NaCl concentration of 0.05 M, applied current density of 12 mA cm(-2), initial pH 5.0 and electrolysis time of 120 min. When the energy consumption has been found to be decreasing with increasing NaCl concentration, it has increased with increasing applied current density. SEM-EDAX analysis has confirmed that the gases such as oxygen and chlorine are produced during the anodic oxidation in graphite anode. The result of UV-vis spectrum analysis confirms the degradation of BPA from aqueous solution at the end of the treatment.

Textile-templated electrospun anisotropic scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Cardiovascular diseases, specifically myocardial infarction and end-stage heart failure represent some of the major pathologies that threaten human life. Here we present a novel approach for a bioactive cardiac patch based on a combination of biomedical and textile manufacturing techniques in concert with nano-biotechnology based tissue-engineering stratagems. The technological goal is to create BioNanoTextiles™ (BNT) by using "conventional" fabrics as templates for creating three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds. Electrospinning nanofibrous scaffolds templated after "ordinary" textiles is a novel way to create complex-patterned, 3-D scaffolds intrinsically mimicking some of the anisotropic structural features of the ventricular wall's extracellular matrix. In preliminary studies, we established that this approach will yield anisotropic 3-D scaffolds with mechanical properties dependent upon the yarn type of the textile-templates. These scaffolds are biocompatible, as inferred from their support of H9C2 cardiac myoblast adhesion which promotes their proliferation as well as cardiac-like anisotropic organization. The use of textile manufacturing strategies will enhance the complexity of the 3-D scaffold structures and enable their commercialization, while providing an opportunity for the textile industry to advance established "low-tech" manufacturing technologies into the realm of "high-tech" BioNanoTextiles.

Electrochemical oxidation of tannic acid contaminated wastewater by RuO2/IrO2/TaO2-coated titanium and graphite anodes

The electrochemical oxidation of tannic acid contaminated wastewater by RuO2/IrO2/TaO2-coated titanium and graphite anodes has been investigated. The effect of the process variables, such as initial pH, current density, processing time, concentration of the electrolyte and anode materials, on the degradation of tannic acid was studied. During the various stages of electrolysis, parameters such as COD, chloride ion concentration and UV-Vis spectra were examined and discussed. The maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94% was achieved at pH 5, operated at the current density of 8.10 mA/cm2, electrolyte (NaCl) concentration of 0.1 M and at 60 min of electrolysis using graphite anodes. The experimental results showed that the electrochemical oxidation process could effectively reduce the COD from the tannic acid contaminated wastewater. An acidic pH showed the maximum reduction of COD compared with neutral and alkaline pH. Increase in current density, process time and electrolyte (NaCl) concentration with the increase in COD removal. Graphite anodes showed maximum removal of COD and better tannic acid degradation when compared with RuO2/IrO2/TaO2-coated titanium anodes.

What is the cause of dyspnea in asthma and emphysema?

A group of 50 asthmatics and another of 27 subjects with emphysema were interviewed with regard to the nature of dyspnea. They were in particular asked whether their difficulty was during inspiration or in expiration. Asthmatics chiefly described dyspnea as inspiratory while the majority of the emphysema group were unable to relate their distress to either phase of respiration. It is not clear why these two types who share common physiologic abnormalities and form the two well defined polar groups in the spectrum of airways obstruction experience clearly different sensations of dyspnea.

Asthma and chronic bronchitis: contrasting changes in body weight and hematocrit values during recovery from acute episodes

Two groups of hospital inpatients, one with asthma and the other with chronic bronchitis were studied during the course of an acute episode. All had comparable airways obstruction and were free of cardiac involvement. They were treated on roughly similar lines and without the use of adrenal corticosteroids or any other agent that may influence body water balance. Body weight and hematocrit values done on admission and following recovery from dyspnoes, show that the asthmatics gained in weight and showed significant decrease in hematocrit on recovery, while there was no appreciable changes in the bronchitic group.

Effect of alpha-receptor blocking drugs and disodium cromoglyate on histamine hypersensitivity in bronchial asthma

Twenty patients with extrinsic type bronchial asthma are shown to have a significant fall in vital capacity (V.C.) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (F.E.V.(1)) after an intravenous infusion of 50mug. of histamine dihydrochloride. In 10 of these subjects the fall in V.C. and F.E.V.(1) produced by intravenous histamine is inhibited by the alpha-receptor blocking drugs phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine injected before the histamine test. The inhalation of disodium cromoglycate in 10 subjects is also shown to inhibit the fall in V.C. and F.E.V.(1) produced by the intravenous infusion of histamine. It is suggested that bronchial smooth muscle in asthmatic subjects has alpha-adrenergic receptor sites, and that a possible mechanism for the action of disodium cromoglycate is that it stabilizes the cell membrane, thereby altering calcium ion transport.

Scleroderma heart disease

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