The present study describes the formulation of an ideal bacterial consortia aimed at effective solid waste biodegradation. The consortium provided a sustainable bioremediation approach by demonstrating noticeably higher degradation rates via specific enrichment and synergistic interactions. Conventional biochemical assays and morphological investigations were used to provide preliminary microbial identification. Using customized selective culture conditions, the production of particular extracellular enzymes, such as the enzyme amylase, cellulase, protease, and xylanase, was measured in order to evaluate the enzymatic activity profiles quantitatively. A thorough assessment of the bacterial isolates’ functional capacities was made possible by the subsequent characterization of enzymatic activity using spectrophotometric techniques to calculate enzyme titers. By accurately identifying and characterizing bacterial species at the molecular level using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, an exact taxonomic designation utilizing conserved and variable sections of the ribosomal RNA gene was made possible. The selection of fifty-eight bacterial strains for compatibility testing included 19 strains grown on cellulose agar medium, 19 strains on Luria Bertani medium, and 20 strains of King’s medium B bacteria. Enzymatic activities viz: amylase, cellulase, protease and xylanase, were used to describe these strains. Six bacterial consortia were systematically assembled and evaluated to assess their compatibility and interaction dynamics. The goal of this stringent selection and consortium building was to clarify functional synergism and interspecies compatibility in various microbial communities. The effectiveness of six microbial consortia in the in vitro biological degradation of waste from agriculture was assessed. Consortia BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4 showed the highest levels of degrading efficiency, according to the results. The functional roles of microorganisms in ecosystems are better understood, which also emphasizes how crucial it is to investigate microbial diversity in order to find enzymes with practical uses. According to this study, bacterial consortia can be used as a biotechnological instrument and as an environmentally friendly remediation technique to break down and remove solid organic matter from environmental matrices. Additionally, the compost produced by microbial degradation processes has the potential to be used as a soil amendment, improving crop production potential and soil fertility within the soil ecosystem.

Flavones, or 2-phenylchromones, are a group of oxygenated heterocyclic compounds belonging to the family of flavonoids. Studying these secondary metabolites has regained interest due to their diverse pharmacological potential, including antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Some secondary metabolites, such as flavopiridol and riviciclib, have progressed to clinical trials as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of natural and synthetic flavones, with particular emphasis on their mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships (SAR). Studies show that flavones have multiple functions, including regulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, microbial growth, and inflammation. Notably, the chemical modification of the flavone scaffold, particularly phenyl and chromone ring substitutions, affects the potency, selectivity, and therapeutic value and can therefore inform the rational design of drugs. The clinical advancement of flavopiridol and riviciclib demonstrates the potential for translating flavone-based compounds into targeted CDK inhibitors. In this respect, we can consider flavones as a bioactive class of compounds with considerable potential for the development of new drugs. We expect more detailed mechanistic studies with SAR correlation to enable the production of new flavone compounds to broaden the use of these compounds to treat cancer, inflammation, and infectious diseases.

Nanotechnology is one of the most innovative technologies that entered the 21st century. It showed great promise in energy production, environmental remediation, and disease diagnostics. However, the very same physicochemical properties that make nanomaterials (NMs) functional also threaten to adversely affect human health and the environment. NMs toxicity is increasingly recognized to be context dependent: carbon nanotubes induce T-cell mediated inflammation; some carbon nanoparticles (NPs) can migrate across the blood-brain barrier; ZnO NPs cause immunotoxicity; metal-based NPs induce genotoxicity in plants. Size is another relevant factor that can lead to NM toxicity, as decreased NP size (< 20 nm) has enhanced biological activity and uptake: smaller sized (20 nm) Ag NPs showed significantly higher deposition in the respiratory tract than larger particles. Modes of action for metal oxides like TiO2 and ZnO primarily cause toxicity through reactive oxygen species production while carbon-based NMs are mostly affected by surface functionalization. Predicted environmental concentrations of several widely produced NMs are relatively low across most compartments (e.g., TiO2: 0.1–5 μg/L surface waters; Ag NPs: 0.01–1 μg/L soil and wastewater; ZnO: 0.5–10 μg/L surface water/aquatic and groundwater; carbon nanotubes: 0.001–0.1 μg/kg soil/sediment). However, there are some hotspots where concentrations may be higher such as wastewater effluents and sludge-amended soils. As with all types of toxicity, NM toxicity is dictated by many factors (dose, exposure time, size and shape, surface chemistry, model organism, etc.). The present review focusses on findings from 2015–2025 that analyses the environmental fate, modulating properties, mechanistic pathways, and biological outcomes of metal, metal oxide, and carbon-based NMs, considering their unique properties. Furthermore, the review examines the mechanisms of toxicity disruption, including genotoxicity, inflammation, and the generation of reactive oxygen species. Unlike other studies that describe NM toxicity in general terms, this review focuses on specific variables. By providing more detailed insights into each component, this study aims to guide nanotechnology toward a more sustainable direction.

The continuous discharge of pharmaceutical residues into aquatic environments has become a significant environmental concern. Effluents from healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and domestic sources contain active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), antibiotics, hormones, and personal care products that pose ecological and human health risks due to their toxicity, persistence, and mutagenic properties. This review evaluates current and emerging treatment strategies, with emphasis on biological, nanomaterial-based, and integrated bionanotechnological approaches for pharmaceutical wastewater remediation. Conventional wastewater treatment plants show limited efficiency in removing pharmaceutical contaminants, leading to their continuous release into aquatic systems and contributing to ecological toxicity and antibiotic resistance. Recent studies highlight the effectiveness of biological approaches, including bacterial, plant-, and algal-based systems, as well as nanomaterial-based technologies such as adsorptive and catalytic nanomaterials. However, these approaches are often limited when applied independently. Emerging research demonstrates that integrating nanomaterials with biological systems into nano–bio hybrid platforms significantly enhances treatment performance. Examples include enzyme-functionalized nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticle-based biocatalytic systems, and multifunctional nanocomposites. This review provides a comprehensive overview of pharmaceutical wastewater sources, characteristics, and treatment technologies, including standalone biological and nanomaterial-based approaches, followed by their integration. Particular emphasis is placed on nano–bio interaction mechanisms, including adsorption-mediated pollutant concentration, nanomaterial-assisted enzymatic biodegradation, and metabolic priming effects, which improve enzyme stability and degradation efficiency. Key challenges such as scalability, environmental safety, and economic feasibility are highlighted. Future research should focus on developing sustainable and scalable hybrid technologies for effective pharmaceutical wastewater management.

Heavy metal contamination in wastewater poses a critical global environmental challenge due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative behaviour of these pollutants. Despite significant progress in wastewater treatment technologies, developing efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable methods for heavy metal removal remains a critical concern. In this context, lignocellulose-derived nanomaterials have emerged as renewable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional adsorbents, supporting the global transition toward sustainable water treatment solutions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, modification, and functionalization of lignocellulose-based nanomaterials, with particular focus on nanocellulose and nanolignin, and their application in heavy metal remediation. The adsorption behaviour of these materials is critically analyzed in terms of mechanisms, kinetics, isotherm models, and thermodynamic parameters. Due to their high surface area, abundant functional groups, and tunable chemistry, nanoscale cellulose and lignin exhibit excellent affinity and adsorption capacity toward diverse heavy metal ions. Recent developments in nanocellulose-based membranes and filtration systems for efficient separation and purification of contaminated wastewater are discussed. Various reactor configurations, including batch, continuous-flow, fixed-bed, and fluidized-bed systems, are evaluated for adsorption efficiency, scalability, and operational feasibility. Progress in process optimization and reactor integration for large-scale applications is also highlighted. Moreover, the techno-economic feasibility, commercialization potential, limitations, and future research directions of lignocellulose-derived nanomaterials are critically assessed. Collectively, these materials represent a sustainable and versatile platform for next-generation wastewater treatment, directly supporting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and contributing to SDGs 12 and 13 by promoting innovation, resource efficiency, and climate-resilient solutions.

The potential of bacterial magnetic nanoparticles and magnetotactic bacteria has increased significantly in wastewater treatment. Magnetotactic bacteria and their magnetosomes exhibit unique magnetic and structural properties that facilitate the efficient removal of pollutants, including heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, and radionuclides. Unlike chemically synthesized nanoparticles, bacterial magnetosomes are biocompatible, recyclable, and can be manipulated using external magnetic fields, making them suitable for repeated use in treatment systems. This review examines the current advancements in the cultivation, large-scale manufacture, and functionalization of magnetotactic bacteria and magnetosomes, as well as their extensive applications in environmental and industrial sectors. Advanced analytical techniques play a crucial role in confirming the physical, chemical, and magnetic stability of these materials. Together, these properties make magnetotactic bacteria and their magnetosomes promising tools for eco-friendly and cost-effective wastewater treatment.

Neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive impairments, pose a significant global health challenge. This study explores the potential of nanotherapeutics as a promising approach to enhance drug delivery across physiological barriers, particularly the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (B-CSFB). By employing nanoparticles, this research aims to address critical challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. The multifactorial nature of these disorders necessitates innovative solutions that leverage nanomedicine to improve drug solubility, circulation time, and targeted delivery while minimizing off-target effects. The findings underscore the importance of advancing nanomedicine applications to develop effective therapeutic strategies that can alleviate the burden of neurodegenerative diseases on individuals and healthcare systems.

With a prevalence of almost one in eight people, psychiatric disorders are increasing at an alarming rate due to changes in lifestyle, stress, and dietary habits. Current diagnostic and treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders remain suboptimal and ineffective. Nanomedicine offers a transformative solution by overcoming critical barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, poor drug solubility, low bioavailability, and systemic side effects. Various nanocarriers like polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and inorganic nanomaterials demonstrate enhanced brain targeting, controlled drug release, improved therapeutic efficacy, and minimize systemic side effects across a range of psychiatric conditions. Nanomedicine applications span various psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism, offering innovative solutions like intranasal drug delivery and ligand-targeted delivery systems. These systems exhibit promise in bypassing the blood-brain barrier and achieving site-specific drug delivery. This review highlights the increasing burden of psychiatric disorders, the limitations of current treatments, and the promise of nanomedicine in overcoming drug delivery challenges. It emphasizes how nanotechnology can enhance the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic drugs, enable targeted and synergistic therapies, reduce side effects, and ultimately advance more personalized and effective psychiatric care.

Curcumin is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in the turmeric root, widely used as a spice in many Asian cuisines. It has been shown to possess a range of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. Recent research has focused on curcumin’s potential as a therapeutic agent in various diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, curcumin has been investigated as an ingredient in food formulations due to its functional properties, including its ability to act as a natural food colorant, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. This chapter summarizes the therapeutic potential of curcumin and its application in food formulations, highlighting recent advances in these areas.

Microplastics, widespread environmental pollutants, have received considerable attention because of their distribution and possible effects on human health and ecosystems. This study thoroughly examines current progress in identifying, detecting, and understanding the significance of microplastics in different environmental contexts. The paper provides an analysis of the dispersion and origins of microplastics, uncovering areas of high concentration and trends of buildup with key findings indicating microplastic accumulation of up to 2 million particles/km2 in some regions. The intricate relationships between microplastics and biological systems are such that their toxicological impacts on human health and their ecological ramifications can be easily observed. The amalgamation of existing research highlights the pressing need for efficient mitigation measures and regulations to tackle the escalating menace of microplastics. Strategies like biodegradable polymer development, wastewater filtration technologies, and global policy interventions are being sought to control this pollution. This study aims to thoroughly comprehend microplastic contamination, promoting well-informed choices and initiatives to protect the environment and public health.