Chitosan functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes as a receptive surface for laccase and copper to perform degradation of chlorpyrifos in aqueous environment.

Chitosan (CTS) functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) have been used as receptive nano-supports for the grafting of copper (Cu) and laccase (Lac) for the degradation of chlorpyrifos. The developed nanocomposite Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT showed 83.4% Lac immobilization which was further characterized by TEM, SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, DSC and TGA. The chlorpyrifos degradation studies were performed under constant stirring for 24 h with both free enzyme and Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT and were analysed through HPLC. Percentage degradation of chlorpyrifos with the nanocomposite went as high as 97% for 50 µg/mL chlorpyrifos at neutral pH and room temperature. Variable pesticide and nanocomposite concentration, pH, and temperature studies for pesticide degradation were also performed, followed by reusability studies. The nanocomposite maintained its degradation ability at ~97% even at variable temperature and pH conditions. Reusability study was performed 5 times wherein the degradation percentage remained the same after 5 cycles (~<95%). Degradation kinetics were also performed for the nanocomposite in the presence and absence of the immobilized enzyme. Through this study, it is suggested that Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT can be a potential nano-catalyst for the degradation of chlorpyrifos in aqueous environment.

Emerging Advanced Technologies Developed by IPR for Bio Medical Applications ­.A Review.

Over the last decade, research has intensified worldwide on the use of low-temperature plasmas in medicine and healthcare. Researchers have discovered many methods of applying plasmas to living tissues to deactivate pathogens; to end the flow of blood without damaging healthy tissue; to sanitize wounds and accelerate its healing; and to selectively kill malignant cancer cells. This review paper presents the latest development of advanced and plasma-based technologies used for applications in neurology in particular. Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), an aided institute of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has also developed various technologies in some of these areas. One of these is an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ). This device is being studied to treat skin diseases, for coagulation of blood at faster rates and its interaction with oral, lung, and brain cancer cells. In certain cases, in-vitro studies have yielded encouraging results and limited in-vivo studies have been initiated. Plasma activated water has been produced in the laboratory for microbial disinfection, with potential applications in the health sector. Recently, plasmonic nanoparticle arrays which allow detection of very low concentrations of chemicals is studied in detail to allow early-stage detection of diseases. IPR has also been developing AI-based software called DeepCXR and AIBacilli for automated, high-speed screening and detection of footprints of tuberculosis (TB) in Chest X-ray images and for recognizing single/multiple TB bacilli in sputum smear test images, respectively. Deep Learning systems are increasingly being used around the world for analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals for emotion recognition, mental workload, and seizure detection.