Nanotechnology and enzyme immobilization: a review.

The synergy between enzymes and nanotechnology (nano-biocatalysts) has created some of the most promising biomaterials fabricated by synergistically incorporating advanced nano-biotechnology. The incorporation of enzymes into nanotechnology is of great significance for making nanomaterials that are rarely harmful to the environment. However, the unique/specific physicochemical characteristics and supramolecular nature ascribed to functional nanostructures (nanomaterials), have made them novel, interesting, and exceptional matrices for the creation of nano-biocatalysts. These have a lot of potential for improving the enzyme stability, function, efficiency, kinetic characteristics, vulnerability to diffusional constraints, and engineering performance in bioprocessing. Hence, the nano-biocatalysts developed contain exceptional properties with many potential applications in diverse fields. This review covers a wide range of the nanotechnology and enzyme technology involved in producing nano-biocatalysts, including different mechanisms, strategies in nanomaterial enzyme immobilization, and various nanocarriers, as well as recent developments in controlling enzyme activity. The vast range of potential applications of nano-biocatalysts in various fields, including food, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and bioremediation, has been discussed.

Substrate composition effect on the nutritional quality of Pleurotus ostreatus (MK751847) fruiting body.

Underutilized palm oil waste (shaft and bunch) and sawdust supplemented with wheat and rice bran were used to cultivate mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Substrates were compounded following the designed protocol, bagged, and sterilized. Bags were inoculated with actively growing spawn, incubated at 28 ± 2 °C, ramified, and growth parameters were observed and recorded. The highest values were obtained in protein content of (19.14%) in the shaft supplemented with wheat bran, fat contents (1.70%) in the bunch alone, ash content of 10.10% and 9.59% in the fermented bunch, and bunch supplemented with wheat bran respectively. Bunch combined with sawdust gave the highest carbohydrate of 6.19%. Fermented bunch gave the highest value of vitamin A (2.21 UI/100g), E (5.71 UI/100g), and D (5.90 UI/100g). In the current study, it was shown that Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated on the palm waste substrate supplemented with rice bran and wheat bran produced better dietic quality mushrooms.

Ganoderma lucidum: Unutilized natural medicine and promising future solution to emerging diseases in Africa.

Ganoderma lucidum is a well-known medicinal mushroom that has been used for the prevention and treatment of different ailments to enhance longevity and health specifically in China, Japan, and Korea. It was known as "God's herb" in ancient China as it was believed to prolong life, enhance the youthful spirit and sustain/preserve vitality. G. lucidum is seldom collected from nature and is substantially cultivated on wood logs and sawdust in plastic bags or bottles to meet the international market demand. Both in vitro and in vivo studies on the copious metabolic activities of G. lucidum have been carried out. Varied groups of chemical compounds including triterpenoids, polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, nucleosides, alkaloids, steroids, lactones, lectins, fatty acids, and enzymes with potent pharmacological activities have been isolated from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of G. lucidum. Several researchers have reported the abundance and diversification of its biological actions triggered by these chemical compounds. Triterpenoids and polysaccharides of G. lucidum have been reported to possess cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, antihistaminic effects, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic antiallergic, neuroprotective, antitumor, immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic activities. Various formulations have been developed, patented, and utilized as nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals from G. lucidum extracts and active compounds. Thus, this review presents current updates on emerging infectious diseases and highlights the scope, dynamics, and advances in infectious disease management with a particular focus on Ganoderma lucidum, an unutilized natural medicine as a promising future solution to emerging diseases in Africa. However, details such as the chemical compound and mode of action of each bioactive against different emerging diseases were not discussed in this study.