Marine Actinobacteria, notably Salinispora and Streptomyces species, are emerging as promising sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative and mental health disorders. This study employs a network pharmacology approach to investigate how compounds from these marine microbes interact with key genes in the p75 Neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), nerve growth factor (NGF), and NOTCH signaling pathways, all of which are crucial in neurodegenerative processes. A comprehensive screening pipeline, involving absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) evaluation (drug-likeness, oral bioavailability, blood-brain barrier permeability) and in silico toxicity profiling across five major toxicity categories, was conducted to identify bioactive compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic properties and non-toxic profiles. Top candidates were selected based on their significant interactions with genes related to the aforementioned signaling pathways. Notably, Salinosporamide A (NPI-0052 and its fused-lactam-lactone form) from Salinispora, and Bonactin, Azamerone, and Methoxyneihumicin from Streptomyces, were identified as key compounds. These showed interactions with genes such as MAPK1, NCSTN, APH1A, AR, JAK2, and PSENEN, which are crucial in regulating p75NTR-mediated, NGF, and NOTCH signaling. The p75NTR pathway is involved in neuronal survival, apoptosis, and synaptic function; its disruption contributes to neurodegeneration. NGF signaling supports neuronal differentiation and survival, with its dysregulation linked to Alzheimer's and similar diseases. The NOTCH pathway governs neurodevelopment, cell communication, and synaptic plasticity, with perturbations associated with schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disorders.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and neuronal dysfunction, continues to pose significant therapeutic challenges. Current treatments provide limited symptomatic relief, underscoring the urgent need for novel and effective interventions. Leveraging the therapeutic potential of natural bioactive compounds, this study explores Hippophae rhamnoides (HR) as a source of multi-targeted agents against AD. A systems biology approach was employed, incorporating virtual screening, hub-bottleneck gene mapping, pathway enrichment analysis, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations. Promising candidates, including Harmine, Dihydroresveratrol, Emodin, and Quercetin, were identified based on favorable ADME properties. Hub-bottleneck analysis revealed key proteins such as ESR1, MAPK1, PIK3CA, and AKT1, with KEGG pathway analysis emphasizing the roles of the Estrogen Signaling and PI3K-Akt Signaling pathways in AD pathogenesis. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed stable interactions between these bioactives and target proteins, highlighting specific residues as potential sites for optimization. These findings advance the understanding of HRderived compounds as therapeutic leads, paving the way for multitargeted drug development for Alzheimer's disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) share overlapping molecular mechanisms, including estrogen signaling dysregulation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Standard treatments often lead to adverse effects due to unintended cross-talk with the estrogen signaling pathway. Identifying key regulatory genes and bioactive plant-derived compounds that modulate estrogen signaling without interfering with standard therapies offers a promising neuroprotective strategy. A network medicine and systems biology approach was used, beginning with the screening of 29 medicinal plants for ALS and 49 for PD, identifying 12 shared plants with neuroprotective potential. Bioactive compounds were screened for gene, protein, and pathway interactions, leading to target prediction (846 ALS-related and 690 PD-related targets) and disease association mining, which identified 93 overlapping genes (OGs). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and MCODE clustering revealed ESR1, EGFR, and SRC as key hub-bottleneck (HB) genes, further validated via differential gene expression analysis. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses revealed significant enrichment in estrogen signaling confirming the involvement of HB genes in neurodegenerative disease progression. Differential expression analysis confirmed ESR1 upregulation in ALS but downregulation in PD, suggesting a converse disease-specific regulatory pattern. Gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis identified hsa-miR-145-5p (ALS) and hsa-miR-181a-5p (PD) as key regulators, while FOXC1, GATA2, and TP53 emerged as crucial transcription factors (TFs) influencing disease progression. Molecular docking and MD simulations validated strong and stable interactions of Eupalitin (CYP19A1, -9.0 kcal/mol), Hesperetin (ESR1, -8.1 kcal/mol), and Sumatrol (PIK3CA, -8.9 kcal/mol). These phytochemicals, derived from Rosmarinus officinalis, Artemisia scoparia, Ocimum tenuiflorum, and Indigofera tinctoria, maintained stable hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions for over 30

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia characterized by cognitive decline. Women are more likely to develop (AD) than men, possibly because estrogen levels drop after menopause. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of Dioscorea bulbifera (DB) extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats and to decipher the molecular mechanism of its phytoconstituents using an integrated network pharmacology and artificial intelligence-based approach. Memory function was evaluated using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) tests. Scopolamine administration significantly increased transfer latencies in the EPM and escape latencies in the MWM compared to the control group. However, co-administration of DB extract with scopolamine reversed these effects, showing decreased transfer latencies and escape latencies, indicating improved memory. Furthermore, the DB extract restored the time spent searching the target quadrant in the MWM probe trial session, which was impaired by scopolamine. Acetylcholine (Ach) and serum estradiol levels were quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on Ovx rats induced with scopolamine to have memory deficits. With predicted DB targets and a collection of AD-related genes, 132 putative targets, 68 direct regulatory targets, and 25 potential regulatory targets of DB were identified for the treatment of AD. Pathway-enrichment analysis for the potential regulatory targets indicated that neurotransmitter clearance in the synaptic cleft was pivotal in the treatment of AD with DB, molecular docking verified interactions between the core targets (ESR1, APP, GSK3β, BACE1, AChE, and MAOB) and the active ingredients.

This chapter focuses on how advanced computational techniques can reveal common pathways and interactions seemingly between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and breast cancer (BC). It also highlights their roles in bridging the gap between neurodegenerative and oncogenic processes by analyzing gene networks and identifying essential genes such as GAPDH, HSP90AA1, and HSPA8, which show differential regulation in AD and BC. These genes are upregulated in AD and downregulated in BC, illustrating their involvement in both disease contexts. A significant aspect of the analysis is the role of hub-bottleneck proteins within critical pathways. These hub-bottleneck proteins, including those involved in estrogen signaling, Alzheimer's disease pathways, neurodegeneration, and cancer pathways, serve as central nodes in the PPI networks. Their positioning underscores their crucial role in mediating disease mechanisms and influencing the progression of both AD and BC. The chapter emphasizes integrating gene expression data with PPI networks to uncover these critical nodes and interactions contributing to both diseases. Using network-based analysis and transcriptomics integration tools, it provides a detailed understanding of how shared genetic markers and their interactions influence disease mechanisms. This approach enables the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets by revealing underlying molecular connections and critical pathways involving hub-bottleneck proteins. The insights gained from gene overlap and PPI networks can serve as valuable input data for future studies focused on structural analysis. By laying the groundwork for understanding shared pathways and protein interactions, the research sets the stage for more detailed structural investigations and the development of precision medicine strategies tailored to the specific molecular features of Alzheimer's and breast cancer, inspiring the development of more effective treatments.

In this book on the potential of microbes in effluent treatment and energy production, this chapter focuses on the synergistic approaches to enhance the remediation of toxic contaminants in effluents. Effective removal of variable toxic wastes (inorganic and organic) from industrial effluents is not possible with a preset spectrum of microbial agents. Various synergistic approaches are being tested across the globe wherein the metabolic degradation of toxic wastes by microbes is enhanced by physical support, chemical catalysis, or mechanical acceleration. The microbial remediation technology provides the advantage of removing unknown contaminants that cannot be optimally removed by conventional methods. Hence this chapter will deliberate the niche of microbes in the removal of toxic contaminants integrated with advanced technologies. The innovative technologies coupled with microbial remediation are the advanced oxidation process (AOP), microbial fuel cells (MFCs), biogenic nanoparticles, membrane systems, and plant-microbe synergism. All these integrated technologies have proved to be better than their counterparts. The chapter also discusses the pros and cons of these strategies and suggests ways to optimize the cost-effectiveness of these synergistic strategies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, cholinergic dysfunction, synaptic loss, and neuroinflammation. Existing therapies such as Donepezil and estrogen replacement offer only symptomatic relief, failing to address the complexity of the disease due to their reductionist, single-targeted approach. In this study, we employed an integrative systems biology framework to evaluate the neurotherapeutic potential of Dioscorea bulbifera (DB), a core component of the US-patented polyherbal formulation BHD (comprising Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides, and DB), which has shown promising neuroprotective properties in preclinical models. We identified active phytoconstituents of DB-including Emodin, Beta-sitosterol, Diosgenin, Stigmasterol, Diosbulbin B, Jarnol, and Myricetin-and systematically assessed their interaction with Alzheimer's-relevant hub-bottleneck (H-B) genes using molecular docking, gene expression integration, network pharmacology, and molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings delineate a dual mechanistic model of DB's action: (1) an Estrogen Signaling Module centered around ESR1 and its key signaling associates (MAPK1, MAPK8, AKT1, EGFR, PIK3CA, and MAP2K1), forming a tightly interconnected, feedback-regulated pathway modulating memory, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection, and inflammation; and (2) a Cholinergic Module involving direct inhibition of ACHE, providing rapid symptomatic relief. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations confirmed the strong and stable interactions of DB bioactives with both ESR1 and ACHE, showing comparable or superior stability to reference drugs (Estradiol and Donepezil). Regulatory network analysis revealed that ESR1 is one of the most connected genes in hippocampal-specific PPI networks and is co-regulated by numerous miRNAs and transcription factors. Co-expression analysis identified additional AD-relevant genes (e.g., PIK3R1, MAPK14, PTEN, DHODH, CAV1) involved in synaptic signaling, oxidative stress, and neurogenesis, while TF-miRNA coregulatory nodes such as miR-199a-3p, miR-181a-5p, GATA2, CREB1, and HINFP added further mechanistic layers to DB's network modulation. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses mapped DB-targeted genes to critical AD pathways, including Estrogen signaling, MAPK, PI3K-AKT, TNF, FoxO, and the Alzheimer's disease pathway itself. This multi-targeted, systems-level modulation by DB underscores its potential not only as a neuroprotective nutraceutical-especially for postmenopausal women vulnerable to estrogen loss-but also as a promising adjuvant to standard AD therapies.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) present significant global health challenges, particularly affecting aging women due to menopausal estrogen dysregulation. This study employs a systems biology approach to investigate the shared molecular pathways and key genes involved in AD, T2DM, and estrogen dysregulation. We utilized the GeneCards database to identify common genes (CGs) among AD, T2DM, menopause, and estrogen dysregulation. RNA-seq data from normal aging women and those diagnosed with AD were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The shared genes (SGs) between DEGs and CGs from GeneCards were then mapped onto protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks using the STRING database. Topological analysis, including degree centrality and hub-bottleneck criteria, was performed using Cytoscape to identify key regulatory genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate significant biological processes and pathways. We identified 140 SGs between DEGs and CGs from GeneCards. These SGs were mapped onto a PPI network, revealing hub-bottleneck genes such as MAPK1, KRAS, GAPDH, ACTB, and HSP90AA1. These genes are integral to the Estrogen Signaling, PI3K-Akt, and Alzheimer's Disease pathways, involved in mechanisms like insulin resistance, neuroinflammation, and protein accumulation. MAPK1 and KRAS, in particular, play significant roles in both neurodegeneration and oncogenesis, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Our findings emphasize the neuroprotective role of estrogen and suggest early hormonal interventions and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) as potential treatments. Recognizing AD as a metabolic disorder related to impaired insulin signaling opens new therapeutic opportunities. Moreover, plant secondary metabolites show significant potential in modulating these pathways, particularly by targeting MAPKs. Understanding the shared molecular underpinnings of AD, T2DM, and estrogen dysregulation offers innovative avenues for personalized, multi-targeted therapies. This research marks a significant advancement in the management of AD, T2DM, and related conditions in women, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach in disease treatment and prevention.

Abstract Improving the apparent solubility of poorly soluble therapeutic molecules with poor absorption into the circulatory system is a significant research question in drug discovery. This enhancement is achieved by delivering drugs through nano-carriers that provide apparent solubility with its surfactant. The effectiveness of a nano-carrier is relied majorly on its loading efficiency which is determined by the extent of interaction between the drug and the surfactants of the carriers. The loading effectiveness can be reckoned with a better understanding of the drug-surfactant conjugation mechanism. Hence this review comprehends the different nano-carriers, their appropriate surfactant systems, and the loading mechanism of drugs with surfactants through different bonds. Further, the current status and prospects of the nano-carriers are briefly summarized at last to expound on the significance of these nano-carriers in drug delivery.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses a longstanding health challenge, prompting a century-long exploration into its etiology and progression. Despite significant advancements in medical science, current AD treatments provide only symptomatic relief, urging a shift towards innovative paradigms. This study, departing from the amyloid hypothesis, integrates Systems Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulations to investigate a polyherbal phytoformulation (US 7,273,626 B2) rooted in Ayurveda for AD, consisting of Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Dioscorea bulbifera (BHD). Diosgenin emerges as a crucial compound, aligning with previous studies, yet recognizing its limitations in explaining BHD’s mechanism, this research delves into the intricate network of interactions. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis identifies hub genes (ALOX5, GSK3B, ACHE, SRC, AKT1, EGFR, PIK3R1, ESR1 and APP), suggesting a systems-level modulation of AD. Enrichment analyses unveil 370 AD-associated genes and key terms like “Cellular Response to Chemical Stimulus” and “Regulation of Biological Quality.” KEGG pathway analysis underscores BHD’s potential in Alzheimer’s disease pathway (hsa05010), Endocrine resistance (hsa01522), and PI3K-Akt signaling (hsa04151). Molecular docking, carefully selecting compounds (Kaempferol, Quercetin, Myricetin, Isorhamnetin, Beta-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Emodin and Diosgenin) and top modulated targets, validates interactions with high dock scores, providing promising therapeutic avenues. Two core targets, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1), were identified for further investigation due to their critical roles in Alzheimer’s disease. To validate the molecular docking results, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the AChE complexes with Myricetin, Beta-Sitosterol, and Stigmasterol, as well as the ESR1 complexes with Emodin, Diosgenin, and Beta-Sitosterol. These simulations were then compared to the interactions observed with the marketed drugs Donepezil and Estradiol, which are commonly used in Alzheimer’s treatment. The MD simulations provided detailed insights into the stability and behavior of these complexes over time. The findings indicated that Myricetin and Emodin not only maintained stable interactions with AChE and ESR1 but also exhibited greater stability than Donepezil and Estradiol at specific time points and protein regions, as demonstrated by lower RMSD and RMSF values. These results suggest that natural compounds hold promise as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, offering new avenues for drug development, while the formulation BHD shows potential as an adjuvant in integrative medicine alongside standard Alzheimer’s treatments, effectively targeting related pathways and genes.

This study addresses the urgent need for novel Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) treatments, focusing on the therapeutic potential of marine Actinomycetes compounds. Current AD therapies provide only symptomatic relief, necessitating a paradigm shift toward more effective interventions. Ninety-one bioactive compounds were methodically identified from Actinomycetes strains in the Indian Ocean. Rigorous ADME analysis and in silico toxicological screening narrowed the selection to 19 compounds, including Helquinoline, Bonactin, Azamerone, and Arcyriaflavin A. These compounds demonstrated favorable drug-like properties and activity against crucial AD targets. Utilizing network pharmacology, a bioactive-target-disease association network was constructed to unveil intricate relationships between compounds and target proteins in the context of AD. Topological analysis highlighted influential targets such as SRC, MAPK1, EGFR, PRKCA, PRKCD, and CDK2. Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) mapping revealed interconnected pathways influenced by these compounds. Focus narrowed to the top 10 pathways associated with key hub–bottleneck genes. The GnRH signaling, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and ErbB signaling pathways exhibited remarkable fold enrichment, emphasizing their central roles in AD pathogenesis. The GnRH signaling pathway aligned with endocrine dysregulation in AD, EGFR’s dual role in prion-like propagation and amyloid-β pathology, and ErbB signaling’s multifaceted contributions. In conclusion, this study presents marine Actinomycetes compounds as potential poly-pharmacological modulators in AD. Despite promising results, cautious optimism is warranted, requiring further experimental validation. The identified compounds and pathways offer a novel perspective, laying the groundwork for targeted interventions within the intricate landscape of AD. This research contributes to advancing AD therapeutics within a systems biology framework, introducing innovative approaches to address this complex neurodegenerative disorder.

Fresh water is one of the essential sources of life, and its requirement has increased in the past years due to population growth and industrialization. Industries use huge quantities of fresh water for their processes, and generate high quantities of wastewater rich in organic matter, nitrates, and phosphates. These effluents have contaminated the freshwater sources and there is a need to recycle this wastewater in an ecologically harmless manner. Microalgae use the nutrients in the wastewater as a medium for growth and the biomass produced are rich in nutrition that can cater growing food and energy needs. The primary and secondary metabolites of microalgae are utilized as biofuel and as active ingredients in cosmetics, animal feed, therapeutics, and pharmaceutical products. In this review, we explore food processing industries like dairy, meat, aquaculture, breweries, and their wastewater for the microalgal growth. Current treatment methods are expensive and energy demanding, which indirectly leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Microalgae acts as a potential biotreatment tool and mitigates carbon dioxide due to their high photosynthetic efficiency. This review aims to address the need to recycle wastewater generated from such industries and potentiality to use microalgae for biotreatment. This will help to build a circular bioeconomy by using wastewater as a valuable resource to produce valuable products.

Following the discovery of the peroxidase activity of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in 2007, nanozymes, which are artificial nanomaterials exhibiting enzymatic properties, have been rapidly developped to overcome the limitations of natural enzymes. Here we review nanozyme classification and applications such as immunoassay, biosensor, disease imaging and therapy. We discuss optimized protocols for production, the catalytic mechanism, standardized performance assessment, and toxicity.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous crystalline materials made-up of transition-metal cations linked with multidentate organic ligands by the coordination bonds. The strong, flexible frameworks and the porous structure of the MOFs establish them as an effective carriers of various functional compounds, such as gases, drugs, and anti-microbial agents. The MOFs render high loading capacity and sustained release, which is the desired property in anti-microbial applications. Similar porous material for the anti-microbial application is Zeolite, however, it is more complex to synthesize than MOFs. Currently, MOFs are used mainly in catalysis, gas separation and storage, and water purification applications. In the applications as antimicrobial agents, MOFs are just emerging into the field application from the laboratory scale. Hence, this chapter discusses the properties, synthetic procedures, anti-bacterial mechanisms and various forms of MOFs for anti-microbial applications. The MOFs are often doped with metal nanoparticles, polymers, and metal-polymer complexes. Each category of MOFs has a different mechanistic approach to inhibiting microbial colony growth. In this regard, this chapter will provide sufficient information on the MOFs, which will help to understand their significance in anti-microbial applications and their scope

Breast cancer and depression are two prevalent health conditions that require effective treatment. Traditional medicinal systems have identified several plants with activity against these conditions, but their mechanism of action remain unclear. This study aims to predict and verify the potential molecular targets and pathways of a polyherbal phytoformulation in the treatment of breast cancer and associated depression. We review 61 plant species with anti-breast cancer and anti-depressant properties, and narrowed down our selection to three plants for further investigation. Using criteria for oral bioavailability (OB ≥ 30%), drug likeness (DL ≥ 0.18) and “Rule of five” (RO5), we extracted 71 active ingredients and 168 associated targets. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of phytoformulations containing Moringa oleifera (M.O), Coccinia indica (C.I), and Amaranthus spinosus (A.S) as active constituents, and determined their effective chemical components. Network pharmacology analysis identified key targets and pathways of the polyherbal phytoformulation in the treatment of breast cancer and associated depression. Additionally, molecular docking verified the core components and the targets of the formulation, predicting the interaction sites. Our results indicate that polyherbal phytoformulations (MCA) targets potential molecular targets and pathways for breast cancer and associated depression treatment. We identified several key targets and pathways of the formulation and verified the core components and targets using molecular docking. In conclusion, our study provides a theoretical and scientific basis for the clinical application of MCA and may be useful in developing more effective treatments for breast cancer and depression.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia, characterized by cognitive decline, and is more prevalent in women, possibly due to estrogen loss after menopause. Dioscorea bulbifera (DB), a medicinal plant, has been proposed as a potential treatment for AD. However, the underlying mechanism of action of DB and its neuroprotective effects in AD, particularly in the context of estrogen loss, remain unclear. In this study, we employed an integrative network pharmacology approach to predict the mechanism of action of DB in AD. Using a collection of AD-related genes and predicted DB targets, we identified putative targets, direct regulatory targets, and potential regulatory targets of DB. Pathway-enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the pivotal pathways involved in DB’s treatment of AD. Molecular docking was conducted to verify the interactions between the core targets and the active ingredients of DB. In vivo experiments were conducted using ovariectomized rats induced with scopolamine to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of DB. Acetylcholine (Ach) and serum estradiol levels were quantified using ELISA. Our results identified 132 putative targets, including 68 direct regulatory targets and 25 potential regulatory targets of DB for the treatment of AD. Pathway-enrichment analysis revealed that neurotransmitter clearance in the synaptic cleft was a crucial pathway in the treatment of AD with DB. Molecular docking further supported the interactions between the core targets (ESR1, APP, GSK3β, BACE1, AChE, and MAOB) and the active ingredients of DB. In vivo experiments using ovariectomized rats induced with scopolamine demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of DB and validated the predicted mechanism of action. Our findings provide experimental support for the predicted mechanism of action of DB in AD caused by estrogen loss, and validate its neuroprotective effects using behavioral tests and ELISA in ovariectomized rats. DB may hold promise as a potential therapeutic option for AD, particularly in the context of estrogen loss, and further research is warranted to explore its full potential in AD treatment.

This chapter summarizes the intelligent devices integrated with food packages, as there is a growing interest in intelligent developments in the food sector. The indicators that synced with the food packaging materials include time-associated temperature indicators, freshness indicators, and gas indicators. The future scope of IPT would be on developing the biosensors and gas sensors. The data carrier device does not afford any data related to the status of food quality, instead it is proposed for traceability, automation, counterfeit protection, and prevention from theft. The consumers are majorly benefitted from the technology, as they are provided with the fresh and better-quality food products, with the help of TTIs, freshness indicators, gas concentration indicators. Food packaging is the major factor that determines the quality of finished food products, which have to undergo transportation, storage, and end application. The thumb rules of food packaging are protection of the content, communicate the details about the product, convenient to transport and open, and containment.

Metals such as silver, gold, and copper were used in ancient times for their medicinal properties. When these metals are converted to nanoparticles, they show unique and advanced physicochemical and biological properties due to their enhanced surface to volume ratio. Hence, these properties are utilized by researchers to develop highly specific diagnostic tools as well as a therapeutic agent against cancer. Cancer is a complex disease-causing desolation and death. Early detection and treatment is the only way to evade mortality. This chapter focuses on metal nanoparticles used as a theranostic agent against cancer. It summarizes the synthesis methodology along with their advantages, drawbacks and characterizations. Their recent application in diagnosing and treating cancer has also been highlighted.

In this paper, a pulsed high voltage discharge (PHVD) reactor composed of a new type of high-voltage (HV) needle electrode and mesh grounding electrode was utilized to degrade 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The effect of needle installation position on 4-CP degradation efficiency in solution systems with different conductivities was studied. It is verified that the recessed- and flush-tip structures could effectively overcome the main technical problem of protruded-tip HV electrode, which is that how to maintain stable discharge in the solution with high conductivity. When the conductivity of solution surpassed 116 mu S cm(-1), the recessed-tip and flush-tip electrodes possessed higher energy efficiency than that of the protruded-tip electrode. Within 40 min, the flush-tip electrode had the highest 4-CP removal rate (86.2%) in pure water, which could further increased to 95.8% via increasing immersion depth of net electrode. Comprehensively considering the experimental results of 4-CP removal rate, discharge characteristic and tail gas emission, it is indicated that the optimal installation positions were 0-F and 5-R. Meanwhile, the increase in immersion depth could reduce the generation of tail gas (e.g. O-3 and NOX) obviously. The possible mechanism of 4-CP degradation via PHVD was proposed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In recent years, the interest in the development of procedures for extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources with more liability gains increased attention globally, due to their potential applications in many sectors such as food and beverages, paper, textile, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Problems like consumption of energy and time and solvent quantity are associated with conventional extraction procedures led to demand for alternative techniques for extraction of nature-derived products. So, various novel extraction techniques have been developed and refined in last few decades because of their potential to efficiently extract a great variety of valuable bioactive compounds. This review intends to discuss different advanced extraction techniques along with new identification methods for bioactive and economic nature-derived products.