Biotechnology Notes最新文献

{"title":"Green-mediated gold nanoparticles from Allium cepa: Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial properties","authors":"Aanuoluwapo Eunice Adegbola ,&nbsp;Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa ,&nbsp;Omolola Esther Fayemi","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has gained significant interest in biomedicine due to its cost‐effectiveness and environmental compatibility. In this study, aqueous extracts of <em>Allium cepa</em> bulb and peel were employed as biogenic reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The synthesized nanoparticles were tested against pathogenic bacteria. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation with distinct surface plasmon resonance peaks at 551 nm for bulb-derived AuNPs (OBNPs) and 539 nm for peel-derived AuNPs (OPNPs). FT-IR analysis indicated potential involvement of flavonoids, phenolic constituents, and sulphur-containing compounds in the reduction and stabilization processes, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed characteristic face-centered cubic crystalline structures. SEM and TEM micrographs further showed extract-dependent morphological variations: OBNPs appeared irregular, polydisperse, and agglomerated, whereas OPNPs exhibited well-defined anisotropic features such as nanoplates and truncated plate-like structures. The broad particle size distribution (5–200 nm) reflects the influence of phytochemical composition on nucleation and growth. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the elemental presence of gold (&gt;94%) in the nanoparticles. Both OBNPs and OPNPs exhibited strong antibacterial effects, with MIC and MBC values ranged from 0.625 to 1.25 and 5–10 mg/mL, respectively. Completed bacteria elimination was archived within 12–24 h. Overall, this work establishes <em>Allium cepa</em>, particularly onion peel waste, as a valuable, low-cost, and sustainable resource for stable AuNPs synthesis with potential for biomedical and antimicrobial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 44-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface plasmon resonance biosensors: Advancements, applications, and future directions in molecular detection","authors":"Nidal El Biyari","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors have emerged as one of the most potent and adaptable methods for detecting molecular interactions in real-time and without labeling. SPR enables the accurate monitoring of biomolecular interactions in various contexts by detecting changes in refractive index near the sensor's surface. Over the last few decades, SPR technology has advanced dramatically, with improvements in sensor sensitivity, resolution, and throughput.</div><div>This study provides a comprehensive overview of SPR biosensors, highlighting recent advances in sensor technology, materials, and detection methodologies. We cover the fundamentals of SPR sensing and the factors that influence sensor performance, including metal selection, surface functionalization, and immobilization techniques. The report also looks at the wide range of applications for SPR biosensors, including drug development and illness diagnostics, as well as environmental monitoring and food safety.</div><div>The promise of SPR technology is further investigated by studying new advancements such as the incorporation of nanomaterials, microfluidics, and multi-analyte detection systems. We also explore the SPR biosensor's future directions, including existing limits and potential applications in customized medicine, point-of-care diagnostics, and quick environmental monitoring.</div><div>This review seeks to give a comprehensive overview of SPR biosensors, highlighting their potential to revolutionize molecular detection in a variety of disciplines, as well as outlining the obstacles and possibilities that lie ahead for their future development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 22-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Between FAMEs-Qualitative and Biomass-Quantitative: A review study on oleaginous fungi","authors":"Kadhim Fadhil Kadhim ,&nbsp;Inaam Mahmood Najem Alrubayae ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hussein Minati","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy scarcity remains a major global challenge, particularly in the transition toward sustainable and secure energy systems. Fossil energy plays a pivotal role in exacerbating environmental pollution. Consequently, modern bio-refineries and bioenergy have been crucial in utilizing biomass to produce a range of high-value bio-chemicals and biofuels, all in the effort to achieve a climate-neutral future. Fungal microbial lipids could represent essential alternative raw materials for biodiesel production, which may perhaps contribute to partially addressing the problem of declining global oil production. Oleaginous fungi accumulate lipids exceeding 20% of their dry biomass, predominantly as triacylglycerols comprising saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which closely resemble fatty acids found in vegetable oils that are currently utilized in biodiesel production. Despite the significant advantages of these fungi, large-scale industrial production of fungal lipids has not yet been commercialized. One of the most important challenges that oleaginous fungi must overcome is their ability to produce very large quantities of biomass by using very cheap raw materials, in addition to the fact that these masses contain large quantities of oils of high quality to achieve economic feasibility. This review highlights the investment possibility of oleaginous fungi in biomass-based biodiesel production, their characterization as well as <em>in vitro</em> screening advantages, and indicates the need for further research to improve their industrial applications and increase their efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 58-74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147313958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and production of a Bacillus mycoides Bioflocculant for sustainable effluent treatment","authors":"Karthikeyan Harinisri,&nbsp;Balasubramanian Thamarai Selvi","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial effluent treatment relies on chemical coagulants, which incur higher costs and generate toxic sludge. This study isolated and identified bioflocculant-producing <em>Bacillus mycoides</em> (S39) strain and enhanced yield using one-factor-at-a-time optimization. Characterization studies of purified bioflocculant reveal a crystalline polysaccharide bearing amine, hydroxyl, and carboxylate groups that drive adsorption and polymer bridging. The bioflocculant exhibited flocculation activities of 95.56 % for textile effluent and 92.84 % for steel wastewater with Ca²⁺ activation. Bioflocculant remained stable across pH and temperature. Kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, yielding rate constants, an optimized dosage, and assistance with sizing. Hemolysis (&lt;5 %) and viability (&gt;80 %) assays indicated non-cytotoxicity. The bioflocculant maintained performance ranged from 0.01 to 10 L, supporting S39 as a sustainable alternative to chemical coagulants. This study investigated the potential of <em>B</em>. <em>mycoides</em> bioflocculant, which showed promise as a sustainable and high-efficiency alternative to conventional coagulants and, to the best of our knowledge, the first kinetic and scale-relevant evaluation of this strain for wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized with the assistance of Bacillus tequilensis supernatant","authors":"Elayappan Sindhu,&nbsp;Arumugam Karthikeyan","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biogenic synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles offers a novel and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional synthesis methods. The current study utilized the cell-free supernatant of <em>Bacillus tequilensis</em> to assist the biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles by employing zinc sulphate monohydrate as precursor. The conditions of the synthesis procedure, such as precursor concentration, pH, and temperature of the reaction mixture, were optimized to improve the nanoparticle yield, stability, and reproducibility. The formation of ZnO nanoparticles was assessed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis demonstrated the presence of functional groups responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The crystalline wurtzite structure of ZnO was established using X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy established the shape of the particles and elemental composition corresponding to Zn and O. Zeta potential analysis indicated the moderate colloidal stability of the synthesized nanoparticles. The findings of the present study demonstrate the feasibility of using <em>Bacillus tequilensis</em> as a novel biological system for the controlled synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the cell-free supernatant method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 92-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147656893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiological perspectives on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: Seroprevalence and viral pathogenesis in Iraq","authors":"Abdulqader Wael Rasheid ,&nbsp;Shahad Tariq Hamad ,&nbsp;Asmaa Ghafer","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a serious tick-borne zoonotic disease that is caused by CCHFV and has up to 40 % case fatality rates. <em>Hyalomma</em> ticks and livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep serve as amplifying hosts between which the virus circulates. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies also highlight the importance of integrated epidemiological and clinical studies in Iraq. This paper evaluated CCHFV seroprevalence in human beings, domestic animals and ticks in Iraq and clinical and hematological and biochemical abnormalities in human cases.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2022 across ten Iraqi governorates, including 4339 livestock and 150 laboratory-confirmed human cases. Adult ticks were collected from 188 farms and morphologically identified. Human and livestock sera were tested for CCHFV-specific IgG using ELISA, and tick homogenates were screened for viral antigen. Hematological and biochemical parameters in human cases were analyzed with automated methods. Prevalence estimates, chi-square tests, and logistic regression identified predictors of laboratory abnormalities and mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A survey of 4339 livestock in ten Iraqi governorates showed 6.4 % seroprevalence, highest in cattle and in hybrid, female, grazing animals, peaking in spring and autumn. <em>Hyalomma anatolicum</em> was the predominant tick species (78.4 %) and had a CCHFV antigen positivity rate of 6.1 %. Among 150 human cases, 12 % mortality was linked to severe hepatic injury, coagulopathy, metabolic abnormalities, and age over 60, with early care improving outcomes and recovery rates improved significantly.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The maintenance of CCHF in Iraq occurs by a cattle–<em>H. anatolicum</em> cycle and causes severe multi-organ involvement in humans. The effective mitigation requires a One Health approach integrating livestock surveillance, controlling vectors, and early clinical management guided with prognostic markers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 16-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147278160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functionalized carbon metal nanocomposites for efficient and sustainable removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water - A comprehensive review","authors":"Deepshikaa Kannan,&nbsp;Bellarmin Michael,&nbsp;Elizabethrani Edwin,&nbsp;Jayashree Srinivasan,&nbsp;Sakthi Sanjana,&nbsp;Nandhini Jayaprakash","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon–metal nanocomposites have emerged as promising materials for the sustainable remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic environments by integrating the high surface area, chemical tunability, and structural stability of carbon nanomaterials with the catalytic and redox functionalities of metallic nanoparticles. This review critically evaluates the synthesis strategies, physicochemical characterization, and pollutant removal mechanisms of functionalized carbon–metal nanocomposites, with particular emphasis on adsorption, catalytic degradation, and photocatalytic processes. Carbon-based nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and carbon dots, when combined with metal nanoparticles including silver, copper, zinc oxide, and iron oxide, exhibit pronounced synergistic effects that enable the efficient and selective removal of a wide range of pharmaceutical contaminants. Environmental and ecotoxicological considerations associated with the application of these nanocomposites are also discussed, highlighting the importance of comprehensive risk assessment and sustainable material design. Despite their significant potential, challenges related to scalability, cost, and regulatory acceptance remain major barriers to practical implementation. Future research directions focus on green synthesis approaches, the development of advanced hybrid nanocomposites, and their integration with complementary water treatment technologies, underscoring the promise of carbon–metal nanocomposites as sustainable solutions for pharmaceutical pollution control and the protection of aquatic ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 75-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147600066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial electrosynthesis meets synthetic biology: Bioproduction from waste feedstocks","authors":"Dijin Zhang ,&nbsp;Jee Loon Foo ,&nbsp;Matthew Wook Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Integrating electrochemistry and biology, microbial electrosynthesis (MES) enhances feedstock-to-product conversion by utilizing electroactive microorganisms to harness electrical energy for driving metabolic pathways. Advances in synthetic biology have improved microbial extracellular electron transfer and increased metabolic pathway efficiency, enabling optimized redox balance, expanded substrate versatility and enhanced bioproduction. Given the growing interest in sustainable chemical production and decarbonization, this mini-review highlights recent progress in MES enabled by synthetic biology, with a focus on engineering efficient microbial cell factories for electricity-mediated bioproduction through waste-derived feedstock utilization and carbon capture. We also highlight key challenges limiting MES scalability and propose future directions to enable industrial-scale deployment, unlocking its potential for sustainable, carbon-neutral production and driving transformative advances in biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 157-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CFD study and experimental verification of droplet formation characteristics in a flow-focusing microfluidic device","authors":"Hajar Mohamadzade Sani,&nbsp;Seyed Mostafa Hosseinalipour","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study numerically investigates droplet formation in a three-dimensional flow-focusing microchannel and validates the results with a lithographically fabricated device (error <span><math><mrow><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>). The effects of injection angle, continuous phase viscosity, flow velocities, and interfacial tension on two-phase flow regimes, instantaneous flow fields, droplet size, formation frequency, and breakup time were examined. At acute angles, increasing the injection angle delays droplet detachment, producing larger droplets with greater interdroplet distance. At obtuse angles, larger injection angles slow down droplet formation and produce smaller droplets with shorter spacing. The injection angle of <span><math><mrow><mi>θ</mi><mo>=</mo><mrow><mn>90</mn><mo>°</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span> yields the maximum droplet diameter. As the flow rate ratio increases, the influence of the injection angle decreases, whereas higher capillary numbers amplify its effect. Higher continuous phase viscosity and velocity accelerate droplet formation, producing smaller droplets, while higher dispersed phase velocity and interfacial tension delay detachment, yielding larger droplets. Repeatability tests (coefficient of variation <span><math><mrow><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>) confirm high stability and reliability. These findings provide practical guidelines for designing controlled droplet generation in microfluidic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 230-244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current biosensing strategies based on in vitro T7 RNA polymerase reaction","authors":"David Septian Sumanto Marpaung ,&nbsp;Ayu Oshin Yap Sinaga ,&nbsp;Damayanti Damayanti ,&nbsp;Taharuddin Taharuddin ,&nbsp;Setyadi Gumaran","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, a unique behavior of T7 RNA polymerase has expanded its functionality as a biosensing platform. Various biosensors utilizing T7 RNA polymerase, combined with fluorescent aptamers, electrochemical probes, or CRISPR/Cas systems, have been developed to detect analytes, including nucleic acids and non-nucleic acid target, with high specificity and low detection limits. Each approach demonstrates unique strengths, such as real-time monitoring and minimal interference, but also presents challenges in stability, cost, and reaction optimization. This review provides an overview of T7 RNA polymerase's role in biosensing technology, highlighting its potential to advance diagnostics and molecular detection in diverse fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 59-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11788683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}