The current industrial revolution signifies the high-value of protein engineering. The development of multipurpose biocatalysts is significantly expanding as a result of increased access and enzyme ...tailoring ability to satisfy the ever-increasing industrial demands. Enzyme-catalyzed processes offers multi-benefits at a time, e.g., low catalyst loading, high specificity, selectivity, mild processing for a complex and chemically unstable compounds, capability to reduce or eliminate reaction by-products, overall reusability and cost-effective ratio via immobilization, and potential to carry out conventional multi-stage processes via one-pot reaction. In this review, we critically elaborated recent achievements in applying new and/or state-of-the-art sophisticated protein engineering approaches to tailor the catalytic properties of enzymes or design enzymes with new and improved activities to catalyze desired biochemical transformations by orders of magnitude. We focused on different protein engineering approaches such as substrate engineering, medium engineering, and post-translational enzyme modification, structure-assisted protein tailoring, advanced computational modeling, and the exploration of inimitable synthetic scaffolds to develop multipurpose biocatalyst and improve the performance of multi-enzyme systems. In short, this study demonstrates an array of molecular biology insights and computational designs speeding up the tailored design of new and industrial biocatalysts. Continuous key developments in this direction together with protein engineering in unique ways might offer the ever-increasing opportunities for impending biocatalysis research for industrial bioprocesses.
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•Green biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from leaf extract of Artemisia vulgaris.•Characterization of silver nanoparticles using various advanced techniques.•Potential biomedical ...applications of the synthesized silver nanoparticles.•Potent antiproliferative activity of silver nanoparticles against human cancer cell lines.
Biosynthesis of nanoparticles from plant extracts is receiving enormous interest due to their abundant availability and a broad spectrum of bioactive reducing metabolites. In this study, the reducing potential of Artemisia vulgaris leaves extract (AVLE) was investigated for synthesizing silver nanoparticles without the addition of any external reducing or capping agent. The appearance of blackish brown color evidenced the complete synthesis of nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. UV–vis absorption profile of the bio-reduced sample elucidated the main peak around 420nm, which correspond to the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. SEM and AFM analyses confirmed the morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles. Similarly, particles with a distinctive peak of silver were examined with EDX. The average diameter of silver nanoparticles was about 25nm from Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectroscopy scrutinized the involvement of various functional groups during nanoparticle synthesis. The green synthesized nanoparticles presented effective antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria than AVLE alone. In-vitro antioxidant assays revealed that silver nanoparticles (AV-AgNPs) exhibited promising antioxidant properties. The nanoparticles also displayed a potent cytotoxic effect against HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines. In conclusion, the results supported the advantages of employing a bio-green approach for developing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities in a simple and cost- competitive manner.
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•Herein, we reviewed the potential of bio-based food packaging materials as an alternative to petro- materials.•Effective deployment of suitable packaging material is a growing ...concern.•The broader applied spectrum of polymeric materials is discussed with suitable examples.
In food industry, a growing concern is the use of suitable packaging material (i.e., biodegradable coatings and films) with enhanced thermal, mechanical and barrier characteristics to prevent from contamination and loss of foodstuff. Biobased polymer resources can be used for the development of biodegradable bioplastics. To achieve this goal, biopolymers should be economic, renewable and abundantly available. Bioplastic packaging materials based on renewable biomass could be used as sustainable alternative to petrochemically-originated plastic materials. This review summarizes the recent advancements in biopolymer-based coatings and films for active food packaging applications. Microbial polymers (PHA and PLA), wood-based polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, starch & lignin), and protein-based polymers (gelatin, keratin, wheat gluten, soy protein and whey protein isolates) were among the materials most widely exploited for the development of smart packaging films. These biopolymers are able to synthesize coatings and films with good barrier properties against food borne pathogens and the transport of gases. Biobased reinforcements e.g., plant essential oils and natural additives to bioplastic films improve oxygen barrier, antibacterial and antifungal properties. To induce the desired functionality the simultaneous utilization of different synthetic and biobased polymers in the form of composites/blends is also an emerging area of research. Nanoscale reinforcements into bioplastic packaging have also been reported to improve packaging characteristics ultimately increasing food shelf life. The development of bioplastic/biocomposite and nanobiocomposites exhibits high potential to replace nonbiodegradable materials with characteristics comparable to fossil-based plastics, additionally, giving biodegradable and compostable characteristics. The idea of utilization of renewable biomass and the implications of biotechnology can firstly reduce the burden from fossil-resources, while secondly promoting biobased economy.
Naturally-derived biopolymers such as alginate, chitosan, cellulose, agarose, guar gum/guaran, agar, carrageenan, gelatin, dextran, xanthan, and pectins, etc. have appealed significant attention over ...the past several years owing to their natural abundance and availability all over the years, around the globe. In addition, their versatile properties such as non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, renewability, and the availability of numerous reactive sites offer significant functionalities with multipurpose applications. At present, intensive research efforts have been focused on engineering enzymes using natural biopolymers as novel support/composite materials for diverse applications in biomedical, environmental, pharmaceutical, food and biofuel/energy sectors. Immobilization appears as a straightforward and promising approach to developing biocatalysts with improved catalytic properties as compared to their free counterparts. Biopolymers-assisted enzymes are more stable, robust, and recoverable than that of free forms, and can be employed for continuous biocatalytic reactions. The present review highlights the recent developments and use of biopolymers and their advanced composites as support carriers for the immobilization of a variety of different enzymes to develop biocatalysts with desired catalytic activity and stability characteristics for emerging applications.
•Herein, naturally-derived biopolymers as potential platforms for enzyme immobilization are reviewed.•Physiochemical and immobilization aspects are discussed.•Intensive research efforts are being focused on engineering enzymes using natural biopolymers.•Immobilized enzymes are stable, robust, and recoverable than that of free forms.
In recent years, emerging contaminants (ECs) of high concern are broadly distributed throughout the environmental matrices because of various industrial practices and anthropogenic inputs, i.e., ...human-made activities. With ever increasing scientific knowledge, technological advancement, socio-economic awareness, people are now more concern about the widespread distribution of environmentally related ECs of high concern. As, ECs possess serious ecological threats and potential risks to human health and aquatic life, even at minor concentrations. The controlled or uncontrolled discharge and long-term persistence of ECs that includes micro-pollutants, endocrine disruptors (EDs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, toxins, and industrially-related synthetic dyes and dyes-containing hazardous pollutants, etc. pose a significant challenge to policy regulators, engineers, and scientific community. The conventional treatment technologies are proved ineffective for the complete elimination and removal of an array of contaminants of emerging environmental concern in various biological and environmental samples. In order to overcome the aforementioned ecological threats, tremendous research efforts have been made to boost the efficiency of remediation techniques or develop new modalities to detect, quantify and treat the samples efficiently. The boom in biotechnology and environmental engineering offers potential opportunities to develop advanced and innovative remediation techniques in the field of water treatment. This review discusses the environmental and health hazards associated with a widespread distribution of micro-pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and industrially-related synthetic dyes and dyes-containing hazardous pollutants, etc. in the water bodies, i.e., surface water, groundwater, and industrial wastewater streams. Life-cycle distribution of emerging (micro)-pollutants with suitable examples from various industrial sources viewpoints is also discussed. The later part of the review focuses on innovative and cost-effective remediation (removal) approaches from phase-changing treatment technologies for these ECs of high concern.
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•Herein, we reviewed environmentally-related emerging contaminants (ECs) of high concern.•Potential ECs sources and analytical modalities for detection, quantification, and treatment are discussed.•Significant actions are urgently required to tackle/control the ECs in the environment.
With ever increasing environmental and socio-economic awareness, government and legislative authorities, around the globe, are concerned and considering the pollution-related challenges and ...parameters that influence the energy paradigm. Therefore, renewable energy resources, for instance, wind, solar, and hydro- are used to generate electricity to reduce fossil-fuel-related environmental concerns. The world needs swift, equitable, significant, and effective climate action on this stage. The scientific evidence has been mounting for decades to employ renewable energy resources. One of these shared resources is wind energy, which currently appears as an emerging source of energy around the world. Electricity production using wind power schemes could be an essential replacement for conventional fossil-based fuel resources by using different modalities. Although the initial cost of installing a photovoltaic system is relatively high, however, the running cost is very low. Herein, we reviewed the environmental impact and considerable challenges of the technological paradigm for the development of wind energy technology with particular reference to Pakistan's future perspective. It is anticipated that the discussion provided can stimulate a negotiation between decision makers and raise attentiveness of environmental characteristics and a set of challenges related to the wind power industry development of Pakistan.
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•Pollution-related challenges of renewable wind energy paradigm are reviewed.•Electricity production using wind power is an important fossil alternative.•The development of wind energy technology with reference to Pakistan is discussed.
In the twenty-first century, chemical and associated industries quest a transition prototype from traditional chemical-based concepts to a greener, sustainable and environmentally-friendlier ...catalytic alternative, both at the laboratory and industrial scale. In this context, bio-based catalysis offers numerous benefits along with potential biotechnological and environmental applications. The bio-based catalytic processes are energy efficient than conventional methodologies under moderate processing, generating no and negligible secondary waste pollution. Thanks to key scientific advances, now, solid-phase biocatalysts can be economically tailored on a large scale. Nevertheless, it is mandatory to recover and reprocess the enzyme for their commercial feasibility, and immobilization engineering can efficiently accomplish this challenge. The first part of the present review work briefly outlines the immobilization of lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs) including lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase of white-rot fungi (WRF). Whereas, in the second part, a particular emphasis has been given on the recent achievements of carrier-immobilized LMEs for the degradation, decolorization, or detoxification of industrial dyes and dye-based industrial wastewater effluents.
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•Immobilization strategies and trends in enzyme engineering are reviewed.•The recent achievements of immobilized LMEs for the degradation of dye-based pollutants are summarized.•The present review illustrates valorization of LMEs by biotechnology.•Economic and environmental net benefits of the immobilized enzymes are positive.
The widespread occurrence and adverse environmental and health-related impacts of various types of emerging contaminants (ECs) have become an issue of high concern. With ever increasing scientific ...knowledge, socio-economic awareness, health-related problems and ecological apprehensions, people are more concerned about the widespread ECs, around the globe. Among ECs, biologically active compounds from pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, biomedical, personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and flame-retardants are of paramount concern. The presence and persistence of ECs in water bodies are of continued and burning interest, worldwide. Various types of ECs are being discharged knowingly/unknowingly with/without partial treatments into the aquatic environments that pose serious health issues and affects the entire living ecosystem. So far, various approaches have been developed for ECs degradation and removal to diminish their adverse impact. Many previous and/or ongoing studies have focused on contaminants degradation and efficient removal via numerous treatment strategies, i.e. (1) physical, (2) chemical and (3) biological. However, the experimental evidence is lacking to enable specific predictions about ECs mechanistic degradation and removal fate across various in-practice systems. In this context, the deployment oxidoreductases such as peroxidases (lignin peroxidases, manganese-dependent peroxidases, and horseradish peroxidase), aromatic dioxygenases, various oxygenases, laccases, and tyrosinases have received considerable research attention. Immobilization is highlighted as a promising approach to improve enzyme catalytic performance and stabilization, as well as, to protect the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme against the undesirable consequences of harsh reaction environment. This work overviews the current and state-of-the-art critical aspect related to hazardous pollutants at large and ECs in particular by the immobilized oxidoreductase enzymes. The first part of the review focuses on the occurrence, physiochemical behavior, potent sources and significant routes of ECs. Following that, environmentally-related adverse impacts and health-related issues of ECs are discussed in the second part. In the third part, biodegradation and removal strategies with a comparative overview of several conventional vs. non-conventional methods are presented briefly. The fourth part majorly focuses on operational modes of different oxidoreductase enzyme-based biocatalytic processes for the biodegradation and biotransformation of a wide array of harmful environmental contaminants. Finally, the left behind research gaps, concluding remarks as well as future trends and recommendations in the use of carrier-immobilized oxidoreductases for environmental perspective are also discussed.
•This review deals with the removal of emerging contaminants (ECs) by immobilized oxidoreductases.•Occurrence, physicochemical behavior, potent sources and significant routes of ECs are discussed.•Environmentally-related adverse impacts and health-related issues of ECs are discussed.
Industries are the paramount driving force for the economic and technological development of society. However, the flourishing industrialization and unimpeded growth of current production unit's ...result in widespread environmental pollution due to increased discharge of wastes loaded with baleful, hazardous, and carcinogenic contaminants. Physicochemical-based remediation means are costly, create a secondary disposal problem and remain inadequate for pollution mitigating because of the continuous emergence of new recalcitrant pollutants. Due to eco-friendly, social acceptance, and lesser health hazards, microbial bioremediation has received considerable global attention for pollution abatement. Moreover, with the recent advancement in biotechnology and microbiology, genetically engineered bacteria with high ability to remove environmental pollutants are widely used in the fields of environmental restoration, resulting in the bioremediation in a more viable and eco-friendly way. This review summarized the advantages of genetically engineered bacteria and their application in the treatment of a wide variety of environmental contaminants such as synthetic dyestuff, heavy metal, petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phenazines and agricultural chemicals which will include herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Considering the risk of genetic material exchange by using genetically engineered bacteria, the challenges and limitations associated with the application of recombinant bacteria on contaminated sites are also discussed. An integrated microbiological, biological and ecological acquaintance accompanied by field engineering designs are the desired features for effective in situ bioremediation of hazardous waste polluted sites by recombinant bacteria.
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•This review highlights the mitigation of pollutants by genetically engineered bacteria.•Advantages of engineered bacteria and their applications are discussed.•The challenges and limitations associated with the recombinant bacteria are also discussed.
In this study, manganese peroxidase (MnP) from an indigenous white-rot fungus
Ganoderma lucidum
IBL-05 was insolubilized in the form of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) using various ...aggregating agents, i.e., acetone, ammonium sulfate, ethanol, 2-propanol, and
tert
-butanol, followed by glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking. The precipitant type, MnP, and GA concentrations affected the CLEAs activity recovery and aggregation yield. Among precipitants used, acetone appeared to be the most efficient aggregation agent, providing the highest activity recovery and aggregation yield of 31.26 and 73.46%, respectively. Optimal cross-linking was noticed using 2.0% (
v
/
v
) GA and 8:1 (
v
/
v
) MnP to GA ratio at 3.0 h cross-linking time under continuous agitation at 4 °C. The highest recovered activity and aggregation yield were determined to be 47.57 and 81.26%, respectively. The MnP-CLEAs, thus synthesized, were tested to investigate their bio-catalytic capacity for removing two known endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), e.g., nonylphenol and triclosan in a packed bed reactor system. The insolubilized MnP efficiently catalyzed the biodegradation of both EDCs, transforming over 80% in the presence of MnP-based system. A maximal of 100% decolorization was recorded for Sitara textile (SIT-based) effluent, followed by 95.5% for Crescent textile (CRT-based) effluent, 88.0% for K&N textile (KIT-based) effluent, and 84.2% for Nishat textile (NIT-based) effluent.
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