An Overview On Aquasomes : A Novel Approach For Delivering Macromolecules

In recent blossoming era of research in nanobiotechnology, aquasomes are viewed as an effective and efficient carrier system for drug delivery or biochemically active long chain macromolecules like protein and peptide, different hormones, antigens, enzymes and gene delivery. Aquatones are spherical in shape and having particle size within 60- 300nm. Self-assembled structure of aquasome (due to its natural property) it generates a focus on nanobiotechnology research as a carrier system. Mainly, aquasomes contain three-layers, that is core material, coating material, drug layer attached by ionic or non-covalent bond. Aquasomes include mainly the core materials like , hydroxyapatite, solid phase nanocrystalline ceramic diamond (carbon) and calcium phosphate dihydrate(brushite) . The coating of core material is done with glassy polyhydroxyl oligomeric film such as cellobiose and trehalose, on which modification of biochemically active molecules are attached. Whereas, calcium phosphate used as a core material, because of it is naturally present in the body.Whether calcium phosphate is unstable in nature, due to prolong storage it converts into hydroxyapatite which is a better core than calcium phosphate to develop the aquasomes. The solid core material renders stability of structures, while the coating material stabilizes the biochemically active molecules and protects against dehydration. In this review, we tried to an overview of aquasomes, and about its advantages over conventional drug delivery system, shielding effect of aquasomes on desired drug and how its self-assembled structures, makes them an attractive carrier to deliver biochemically active molecules.

Protection of human research participants: accreditation of programmes in the Indian context.

The recent negative media reports on the status of participants in clinical trials in India, together with the concerns expressed by the regulatory bodies, have raised questions regarding India's credibility in the conduct of clinical research. Even though the regulations require the registration of trials with the Clinical Trial Registry – India and despite the recently mandated registration of ethics committees (ECs) with the Drugs Controller General of India, the lack of governmental audit and accreditation procedures and bodies has resulted in inadequate protection of human participants in clinical research. Institutions and research sites would benefit by implementing a human research protection programme, which would safeguard the rights, safety and wellbeing of participants in clinical trials, in addition to improving the processes and procedures for the conduct of the trial.

Changing diversity of hymenopteran parasitoids from organically and conventionally managed tea-ecosystem of North Bengal, India.

Tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, is grown conventionally (application of chemical fertilizer and pesticides) as well as organically in Darjeeling hills and adjoining plains. Studies on parasitic Hymenoptera gain relevance due to their effective role as biocontrol agents for maintenance of ecological balance and as biological indicators of health of tea agro-ecosystem. Diversity of the hymenopterans was studied using Shannon-Weaver index (1963) both at morphospecies and family levels. The analysis reflected the changing diversity of this group with season, pesticide application and the condition of the tea crop. It further indicated that mainly four parasitoid groups such as braconids, ichneumonids, eulophids and scelionids, showed greater diversity in organic plantation as compared to conventional. Since species (= RTU: recognizable taxonomic unit) diversity and family diversity indices agreed with one another a surrogacy based system (family for RTU) could be adopted for diversity analysis.