Nano-copper ions assembled cellulose-based composite with antibacterial activity for biodegradable personal protective mask.

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in the widespread use of personal protective equipment, particularly face masks. However, the use of commercial disposable face masks puts great pressure on the environment. In this study, nano-copper ions assembled cotton fabric used in face masks to impart antibacterial activity has been discussed. To produce the nanocomposite, the cotton fabric was modified by sodium chloroacetate after its mercerization, and assembled with bactericidal nano-copper ions (about 10.61 mg·g-1) through electrostatic adsorption. It demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli because the gaps between fibers in the cotton fabric allow the nano-copper ions to be fully released. Moreover, the antibacterial efficiency was maintained even after 50 washing cycles. Furthermore, the face mask constructed with this novel nanocomposite upper layer exhibited a high particle filtration efficiency (96.08% ± 0.91%) without compromising the air permeability (28.9 min·L-1). This green, economical, facile, and scalable process of depositing nano-copper ions onto modified cotton fibric has great potential to reduce disease transmission, resource consumption, and environmental impact of waste, while also expanding the range of protective fabrics.

MODERN BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS WITH ACCELERATED DEGRADATION FOR DAIRY AND FOOD PRODUCTS (SUBJECT REVIEW)

Products of the polymer industry, the lion's share of which is food packaging, create a significant threat to the en-vironment, which requires a search for the most effective and functional solutions to this problem. Every year, the production of polymer packaging is growing by an average of 10-12%, and last year, due to the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and its strains, the increase was more than 20%. A solution to the environmental problem is possible using the main basic approaches: disposal and recycling of waste, which will give the pos-sibility of the "second life” to already used polymers;development and creation of new biodegradable materials capable of degrading completely under the influence of external factors into relatively safer substances. However, it should be noted that the first method has a number of significant drawbacks associated with the difficulty in controlling the amount of recycling processes carried out, which can potentially lead to an increase in migration processes from polymeric materials. The second way to solve the environmental problem of packaging disposal and recycling is the direction associated with the creation of polymeric materials with the replacement of part of the traditional commercial synthetic bases with organic and inorganic fillers in various concentrations. However, the most promising way to handle packaging waste, in our opinion, is the development of technologies aimed at creating fully biodegradable materials with a regulated service life, which, after their life cycle, are disposed of in a short time without harming the environment. This review is devoted to the analysis of the market of modern biodegradable materials and methods for obtaining degradable compositions that can become a significant alternative to traditional plastics. © Myalenko D. M., 2023.

Biodegradable Microrobots for DNA Vaccine Delivery.

The delivery of nucleic acid vaccine to stimulate host immune responses against Coronavirus disease 2019 shows promise. However, nucleic acid vaccines have drawbacks, including rapid clearance and poor cellular uptake, that limit their therapeutic potential. Microrobots can be engineered to sustain vaccine release and further control the interactions with immune cells that are vital for robust vaccination. Here, the 3D fabrication of biocompatible and biodegradable microrobots via the two-photon polymerization of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and their proof-of-concept application for DNA vaccine delivery is reported. Programmed degradation and drug release by varying the local exposure dose in 3D laser lithography and further functionalized the GelMA microspheres with polyethyleneimine for DNA vaccine delivery to dendritic cell and primary cells is demonstrated. In mice, the DNA vaccine delivered by functionalized microspheres elicited fast, enhanced, and durable antigen expression, which may lead to prolonged protection. Furthermore, we demonstrated the maneuverability of microrobots by fabricating GelMA microspheres on magnetic skeletons. In conclusion, GelMA microrobots may provide an efficient vaccination strategy by controlling the expression duration of DNA vaccines.

Modification of the Aeration-Supplied Configuration in the Biodrying Process for Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Production

Biodrying is an essential part of the mechanical–biological treatment process that minimizes moisture content and simultaneously maximizes heating value for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production. Although the mechanical separation process operates effectively in Thailand's RDF production, high organic content levels and their degradation cause moisture contamination in RDF, producing wet RDF. Aeration is essential for an effective biodrying process, and can reduce RDF's moisture content as well as increase its heating value. To maximize the biodrying effect, aeration should be optimized based on the waste conditions. This study proposes a modified aeration-supplied configuration for wet RDF biodrying. The aeration rate was modified based on the period within the biodrying operation;the first period is from the beginning until day 2.5, and the second period is from day 2.5 to day 5. The optimal aeration supply configuration was 0.5 m3/kg/day in the first period and then 0.3 m3/kg/day until the end of the process;this configuration yielded the greatest moisture content decrease of 35% and increased the low heating value of the biodried product by 11%. The final moisture content and low heating value were 24.07% and 4787 kcal/kg, respectively. Therefore, this optimal aeration-supplied configuration could be applied to meet the moisture content and low heating value requirements of the RDF production standard for Thailand's local cement industry.

Biosurfactant: A Biodegradable Antimicrobial Substance

The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 increased the use of cleaning agents by residential individuals and businesses that maintained their operation even remotely. In formulating these products, one of the key ingredients is the surfactant molecule. Surfactants, in general, due to their characteristics, can act as antimicrobial agents. The presence of this active in cleaning products facilitates the process of removing dirt and reduces the occurrence of infections and health risks. However, most surfactants present in the consumer market, when used, require high consumption of water for removal and are also discharged into domestic sewage, without treatment, causing toxicity in different organisms due to their recalcitrance in the environment. Thus, the knowledge and use of biosurfactants, amphipathic molecules that can be obtained by plants and microbes, is important. Since, in addition to the same properties found in common surfactants, biosurfactants are highly biodegradable. This chapter discusses biosurfactants with a focus on their biodegradability, the different types of tests applied to assess this parameter and recent studies with importance in the applications of biosurfactants as antimicrobial agents. © 2022 Scrivener Publishing LLC.

Biodegradable Polymer Nanoparticles: Therapeutic Applications and Challenges

The greatest medication encapsulation and distribution options have received substantial research on biodegradable natural polymers. For their potential to act as an effective vehicle for site-specific medication delivery in the body, biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting more interest. They provide enhanced biocompatibility, and practical release patterns for a variety of medicines to be used in a number of applications. This article has explored the various applications of these particles, including cancer therapy, implantable device, and antioxidant delivery. However, there is still potential to investigate more biodegradable polymers for cutting-edge biological applications.

Nanofibrous Polymeric Membranes for Air Filtration Application: A Review of Progress after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Air pollution is one of the major global problems causing around 7 million dead per year. In fact, a connection between infectious disease transmission, including COVID-19, and air pollution has been proved: COVID-19 consequences on human health are found to be more severe in areas characterized by high levels of particulate matter (PM). Therefore, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the production of air filtration devices with high filtration efficiency has gained more and more attention. Herein, a review of the post-COVID-19 pandemic progress in nanofibrous polymeric membranes for air filtration is provided. First, a brief discussion on the different types of filtration mechanism and the key parameters of air filtration is proposed. The materials recently used for the production of nanofibrous filter membranes are presented, distinguishing between non-biodegradable polymeric materials and biodegradable ones. Subsequently, production technique proposed for the fabrication of nanofibrous membranes, i.e., electrospinning and solution blow spinning, are presented aiming to analyze and compare filtration efficiency, pressure drop, reusability and durability of the different polymeric system processed with different techniques. Finally, present challenges and future perspectives of nanofibrous polymeric membranes for air filtration are discussed with a particular emphasis on strategies to produce greener and more performant devices. © 2023 The Authors. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Recycling of Plastic Polymer: Reinforcement of Building Material Using Polymer Plastics of Used COVID-19 Syringes

Plastic waste causes severe environmental impacts worldwide and threatens the lives of all creatures. In the medical field, most of the equipment, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), is made from single-use plastic. During COVID-19, the usage of PPE has increased, and is disposed of in landfills after being used once. Worldwide, millions of tons of waste syringes are generated from COVID-19 vaccination. A practical alternative to utilizing this waste is recycling it to reinforce building materials. This research introduces an approach to using COVID-19 syringe plastic waste to reinforce building material as composite concrete. Reinforced fiber polymer (FRP) concrete materials were used to mold cylindrical specimens, which underwent mechanical tests for mechanical properties. This study used four compositions with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of FRP to create cylindrical samples for optimum results. Sequential mechanical tests were carried out on the created samples. These specimens were cured for a long period to obtain water absorption capability. After several investigations, the highest tensile and compressive strengths, approximately 2.0 MPa and 10.5 MPa, were found for the 5% FRP composition samples. From the curing test, the lowest water absorbability of around 5% was found for the 5% FRP composition samples.

Super effective antimicrobial silver-sputtered coatings on poly(lactic acid) against bacteria and omicron SARS-CoV-2

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer with properties potentially suitable for fabricating packaging, medical devices, and healthcare products in a more friendly environmental way because this polymer presents biodegradability, compostability, low carbon footprint, and recyclability. However, PLA does not present intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial materials are highly desirable for manufacturing smart packaging and personal protective equipment to secure food and health professionals against pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, we evaluated the antimicrobial performance of (Ag)-coated PLA against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Omicron severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). PLA was rapidly coated with metallic Ag by pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering (pDCMS) for 5, 10, and 20 s. Atomic force microscopy indicates that the Ag coating grows predominantly on the PLA surface via a bulk diffusion mechanism. According to bactericidal and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, Ag-coated PLA was capable of inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation and disrupting the genetic material of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2. X-ray high-resolution photoelectron and nuclear magnetic resonance results suggest no polymer chain scission in the PLA bulk due to plasma thermal stress effects during Ag sputtering. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Development of Polymeric Binder from Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Waste as Construction Materials

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam wastes become a huge environmental issue as most of them are non-biodegradable materials and are disposed of inappropriately. It was reported that the amount of plastic and foam wastes for food containers and other packagings was evidently increased during the past 5 years, especially since the COVID19 pandemic. This work studied the development of the polymeric foam binder from the EPS foam waste for the production of green construction blocks or pavement tiles. The types of solvent (acetone and toluene) and the amount of additional EPS foam binder were investigated. The results show that the appropriate mixtures contained EPS foam binder from 15% to 30% to achieve maximum compressive strength at approximately 10 to 12 MPa with the optimal unit weight of 1,600 to 1,900 kg/m3. Those outcomes have equally passed the strength class of Thai Industrial Standard (TIS 57 and 77) for construction brick and block. This eco-friendly technique could facilitate value-added production and reduce the environmental impact of EPS wastes disposal. Moreover, it is one of the alternative approaches to promote greener and cleaner production for environmentally friendly construction materials.

Biodegradable waste collection systems

The collection and management of biodegradable waste, as one of the basic streams of municipal waste, is a global problem. The topic of this chapter concerns the principles of used bio-waste collection systems. This is a group of waste with specific properties and the resulting very large potential for an enclosed economy. Basic collection systems have been discussed together with their logistics and types and construction of the bio-pad containers used, while also considering the characteristics of biodegradable packaging. Special attention was paid to the need for waste segregation and selective collection and the resulting economic and environmental benefits. Performances used practice ways to manage bio-waste, with particular emphasis on biological methods, including composting and anaerobic fermentation. Examples of applied systems in the world collection of waste were presented in relation to the methods of their management. Also raised was a very current issue of the impact of the current global pandemic Covid-19 on the principle of collection and management of waste during the health crisis. It emphasized the importance of a comprehensive public education through information campaigns and training and the need for a clear legal mechanism in the field of selective collection of waste, including biodegradable waste. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Design and fabrication of a biodegradable face shield by using cleaner technologies for the protection of direct splash and airborne pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to global supply chain disruptions and high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), the rapidly expanding COVID-19 crisis left millions of front-line fighters unprotected. The disposal of PPE in the environment caused significant environmental pollution. Hence, indigenous initiatives have been taken to fabricate antiviral and biodegradable face shields with the help of neoteric and cleaner technologies. This paper describes a novel endeavor to design, manufacture, and performance analysis of a face shield made by plastic injection molding and LASER Cutting. Because of the requirement of permanent wear, the face shield's ergonomic design is considered low weight and easy head fixation, alongside high production ability. Here, face shield frames are made with lightweight, biodegradable plastic called Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), whereas an optical grade PLA sheet is used as the visor for better clarity. Visors PLA Sheet is coated with Nano-Silver disinfectant spray to incorporate antiviral properties to the Faceshield. Partially circumferential adjustable elastic straps are used for comfortable head fixation. To evaluate the product, clinical fit tests along with statistical survey were conducted, and the feedback from the end-users on comfort (41% Excellent, 30% Good, 26% Average and 3% Poor), clear view (33% Excellent, 38% Good, 24% Average, and 5% Poor), design features (43% Excellent, 35% Good, and 22% Average), simplicity of installation and disassembly (29% Excellent, 33% Good, and 38% Average), and ease of wearing/removing (45% Excellent, 40% Good, and 15%Average) are encouraging.

Environmental impact of COVID-19 Vaccine waste: A perspective on potential role of natural and biodegradable materials.

The mass immunization is the prioritised post-pandemic phase offering preventive countermeasure for COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is crucial to tackle the environmental impact of COVID-19 vaccine waste for sustainable vaccination management because a prolonged immunisation campaign is expected. As the pace of vaccine production, distribution and mass vaccination has been expedited, there is a simultaneous rise in plastic derived vaccine waste including syringes, needles, used/unused vaccine vials, vaccine packaging, and protective gear (surgical facemasks, gloves, face shields, etc). Henceforth, in view of the repercussions of heaping plastic waste in the environment, this article provides a perspective on the usage of synthetic and natural materials as potential substituents for vaccination tools. The biodegradable polymeric gums such as cellulose, gellan, pectin, etc. have been successfully applied for the fabrication of surgical facemasks. The highly suggestive practice is replacement of conventional polypropylene based plastics with bioplastics or paper for vaccine packaging. The usage of biodegradable bio-plastics as packaging material along with environmentally friendly face masks can help to achieve the zero waste approach. The discussion in the article significantly highlights the necessity of opting sustainable solutions of disinfecting and substituting vaccination tools for an environment friendly ongoing vaccination campaign.

Biopolymer Coating Imparts Sustainable Self-Disinfecting and Antimicrobial Properties to Fabric: Translated to Protective Gears for the Pandemic and Beyond.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 and emerging antimicrobial drug resistance highlights the need for sustainable technology that enables more preparedness and active control measures. It is thus important to have a reliable solution to avert the present situations as well as preserve nature for habitable life in the future. One time use of PPE kits is promoting the accumulation of nondegradable waste, which may pose an unforeseen challenge in the future. We have developed a biocompatible, biodegradable, and nonirritating nanoemulsion coating for textiles. The study focused on coating cotton fabric to functionalize it with broad spectrum antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. The nanoemulsion comprises spherical particles of chitosan, oleic acid, and eugenol that are cross-linked to fibers. The nanoemulsion caused complete destruction of pathogens even for the most rigid biofilms formed by drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans on the surface of the coated fabric. The secondary coat with beeswax imparts super hydrophobicity and 20 wash cycle resistance and leads to enhanced barrier properties with superior particulate filtration, bacterial filtration, and viral penetration efficiency as compared to an N95 respirator. The coated fabric qualifies as per standard parameters like breathability, flammability, splash resistance, and filtration efficiency for submicrometer particles, bacteria, and viruses. The scaleup and bulk manufacturing of the coating technology on fabric masks complied with standards. The consumer feedback rated the coated mask with high scores in breathability and comfortability as compared to an N95. The strategy promises to provide a long-term sustainable model compared to single use masks and PPE that will remain a nondegradable burden on the ecosystem for years to come.

Biopolymers as green-based food packaging materials: A focus on modified and unmodified starch-based films.

The ideal food packaging materials are recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Starch from plant sources, such as tubers, legumes, cereals, and agro-industrial plant residues, is considered one of the most suitable biopolymers for producing biodegradable films due to its natural abundance and low cost. The chemical modification of starch makes it possible to produce films with better technological properties by changing the functional groups into starch. Using biopolymers extracted from agro-industrial waste can add value to a raw material that would otherwise be discarded. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has driven a rise in demand for single-use plastics, intensifying pressure on this already out-of-control issue. This review provides an overview of biopolymers, with a particular focus on starch, to develop sustainable materials for food packaging. This study summarizes the methods and provides a potential approach to starch modification for improving the mechanical and barrier properties of starch-based films. This review also updates some trends pointed out by the food packaging sector in the last years, considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Perspectives to achieve more sustainable food packaging toward a more circular economy are drawn.

Microplastics: A Real Global Threat for Environment and Food Safety: A State of the Art Review.

Microplastics are small plastic particles that come from the degradation of plastics, ubiquitous in nature and therefore affect both wildlife and humans. They have been detected in many marine species, but also in drinking water and in numerous foods, such as salt, honey and marine organisms. Exposure to microplastics can also occur through inhaled air. Data from animal studies have shown that once absorbed, plastic micro- and nanoparticles can distribute to the liver, spleen, heart, lungs, thymus, reproductive organs, kidneys and even the brain (crosses the blood-brain barrier). In addition, microplastics are transport operators of persistent organic pollutants or heavy metals from invertebrate organisms to other higher trophic levels. After ingestion, the additives and monomers in their composition can interfere with important biological processes in the human body and can cause disruption of the endocrine, immune system; can have a negative impact on mobility, reproduction and development; and can cause carcinogenesis. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has affected not only human health and national economies but also the environment, due to the large volume of waste in the form of discarded personal protective equipment. The remarkable increase in global use of face masks, which mainly contain polypropylene, and poor waste management have led to worsening microplastic pollution, and the long-term consequences can be extremely devastating if urgent action is not taken.

Fabrication of Fe(III)-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles as biocompatible and biodegradable theranostic system for Remdesivir delivery and MRI contrast agent.

Coronavirus causes the majority of common colds and is spread in the same way that all viruses attack the respiratory system. Despite the trials and efforts to produce a suitable vaccine, there are solutions for the quick, effective and efficient use of existing drugs to prevent infections and improve the condition of patients. In this study, we synthesized mSiO2 NPs doped with Fe(III) (Fe(III)-mSiO2) and loaded with Rd, and then the NPs coated with PDA as gatekeeper. The several surface methods successfully approved fabrication of the nanosystem. Finally, the application of nanosystem as theranostic system was studied. The DLS measurements showed the average sizes of 115 ± 2 and 124 ± 3.6 nm for Fe-SiO2 and Fe-SiO2@PDA NPs, respectively, suitable for theranostic intentions. The drug release experiments, the in-vitro MRI measurements and MTT test were accomplished, respectively, to show applicability of the nanosystem as a biodegradable Rd delivery system, MRI contrast agent, and the biocompatibility nanocarrier. The results achieved through in-vitro tests exhibited that the Fe-SiO2 system has potential application as a contrast agent in MRI with relaxivity (r1) of 14 ± 1 mM-1 s-1. The Rd drug was released from the Fe-SiO2(Rd)load@PDA system more efficient and faster than SiO2(Rd)load@PDA at 7.4, supporting the doping of Fe in SiO2 induces a biodegradability feature in that. The in-vitro biocompatibility studies showed that the Fe-SiO2 NPs (without drug) is not toxic.

Biodegradable biliopancreatic stents could help conserve health care resources during the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Considering limited resources for follow-up due to COVID-19, we used biodegradable stents (BPBS) for a range of biliopancreatic diseases. AIMS: This observational multicenter study aimed to evaluate technical safety and give first insights into clinical utility. METHODS: Technical success, clinical success, and necessity of follow-up visits for BPBS placed at three Austrian tertiary care hospitals between April 2020 and January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 63 stents were deployed in 60 patients. Main indications were prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP; n = 30/63; 48%) and bridging of prolonged waiting times to cholecystectomy (n = 21/63; 33%). Median time to surgery was 47 days (range: 136 days). The technical success rate was 94% (n = 59/63; 95% CI [0.84, 0.98]). Technical difficulties primarily arose with dislocations. Clinical success was achieved in 90% (n = 57/63; 95% CI [0.80, 0.96]). Clinical failure despite successful deployment was caused by papillary bleeding (1 patient) and cholestasis (1 patient). Both required reinterventions. No follow-up visits were needed in 97% of cases (n = 57/59; 95% CI [0.88, 1.00]). CONCLUSION: Biodegradable stents could help conserve health care resources without compromising treatment standards for PEP prophylaxis, which is particularly valuable in times of restricted resources. First insights into feasibility as bridging to cholecystectomy indicate a favorable safety profile.

Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Biodegradable Blends Using Monobutyl Maleate as a Plasticizer and Compatibilizer

The Covid-19 pandemic situation has contributed to sparking discussions about an increase in packaging combined with the nonrecommendation of reuse. For this reason, many countries have encouraged the use of biodegradable polymers. In this study, blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) were prepared at 80/20 (w/w) in the presence of specific amounts of monobutyl maleate (MBM) as a compatibilizer. All of these components are proven biodegradable. PLA/ PVAL/MBM blend films were obtained by thermopressing, and the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile tests, stress relaxation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DSC results suggest that MBM can act as a plasticizer, at least for the PLA matrix, reducing the Tg from 60.2 degrees C (without MBM) to 23.5 degrees C in the case of the highest quantity of plasticizer (20%). Due to increase in macromolecular mobility, MBM also affects PLA crystallization. As a consequence of brittleness of the other samples, only those containing 15 and 20% of MBM (in PLA basis) did not fail the tensile and relaxation tests, showing more than 25% of elongation at break. Both the elastic and viscous parameters and the equilibrium modulus (Eeq) of the Maxwell-Wiechert mechanical system show lower values for the sample with higher MBM content. The SEM images show that the presence of the compatibilizer improves the adhesion between the PLA-rich phase and PVAL-rich phase.

The COVID-19 pandemic redefining the mundane food packaging material industry?

COVID-19 pandemic has been the talk of the globe, as it swept across the world population, changing enumerable aspects. The pandemic affected all sectors directly or indirectly. The food sector took a direct hit. The food packaging sector rose to the occasion to serve and feed the pandemic affected, but there were interactions, reactions, and consequences that evolved through the course of the journey through the pandemic. The aim of this perspective is to address the importance of the food packaging industry (from the COVID-19 point of view) and to highlight the unpreparedness of the food packaging materials, for times as these. As the world has been asked to learn to live with Corona, improvisations are definitely necessary, the lapses in the system need to be rectified, and the entire packaging industry has to go through fortification to co-exist with Corona or confront something worse than Corona. This discussion is set out to understand the gravity of the actual situation, assimilating information available from the scattered shreds of reports. Food packaging materials were used, and plastic wastes were generated in bulks, single-use plastics for fear of contamination gained prominence, leading to an enormous turnover of wastes. Fear of Corona, sprayed overloads of sanitizers and disinfectants on food package material surfaces for surface sterilization. The food packages were tailored for food containment needs, never were they planned for sanitizer sprays. The consequences of these sanitization procedures are unprecedented, neglected and in the post-COVID-19 phase no action appears to have been taken. Corona took us by surprise this time, but next time atleast the food packaging industry needs to be fully equipped. Speculated consequences have been reviewed and plausible suggestions have been proposed. The need for extensive research focus in this direction in exploring the ground-reality has been highlighted.