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Tri-nanocomposite system of biocompatible polymers (gelatin/gum arabic) functionalized onto graphene-oxide nanosheets for controlling the release of an anticancer, doxorubicin (DOX), was fabricated via green-biosynthesis. Biocompatibility and nano-size stability of the tri-nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, and zeta-potential. Loading-efficiency, release-behavior and cytotoxic-activity of DOX-loaded-composite in WI-38 normal-lung-fibroblast and A549 lung-carcinoma cells were investigated. High DOX-loading (at pH 9.5), with pH-sensitive release from loaded-composite was achieved, with 25% and 77% DOX released, at physiological pH 7.4 and cancerous pH 5.3, respectively. Stability of tri-nanocomposite system was confirmed over 3-months storage at accelerated conditions, as presented by FTIR, XRD, TEM, zeta-potential and in-vitro release assays. High proliferative inhibitory effect of DOX loaded-composite, on A549-cells, with minimal toxicity on WI-38-cells, with IC 50 values of 51.9 ± 0.46 and 185±1.08 µg/mL, against A549 and WI-38, respectively. Proposed tri-nanocomposite offers a novel combination of gelatin/gum arabic with graphene-oxide for targeted drug-delivery and efficient anti-cancer therapy., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The study was designed to devise a high-yielding, microwave-assisted extraction of the colored material from the core tissue of runo ( Miscanthus sinensis Andersson) stem. Soxhlet extraction of M. sinensis core tissue gave yields ranging from 1.04 % with dichloromethane to 11.91 % from 1:1 ethanol-water mixture. Folin-Ciocalteau tests showed that the extracts were primarily flavonoid compounds, accounting for 66.05 ppm of the total 1:1 ethanol-water extractable material. Initial application trials of the ethanol, ethyl acetate, and ethanol-water extracts followed by color fastness tests showed poor retention on both paper and cotton fabric, suggesting the need for a mordant. Subsequent trials with aluminum acetate as mordant showed greatly improved binding of the ethanol-water extracted dye onto the cotton fabric following wash, rubbing, and light fastness tests. A two-level, full factorial model extraction procedure to determine the effects of extraction time (15 s - 90 s), solvent volume (50 mL - 150 mL), and microwave power level (90 W - 540 W) was done for all solvents used. All three factors had a significant effect on the dye extraction yield, along with the interactions between duration-power level and volume-power level. The highest yield for microwave assisted extraction was at 15 s -150 mL - 540 W setting. Results suggest that microwave extraction can potentially produce dye extracts from M . sinensis core material with a faster throughput than simple soaking and Soxhlet extraction., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock for future renewable fuels. It constitutes a substantial renewable substrate for the production of value-added chemicals. Lignocellulosic materials mostly contain a mixture of polymers such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Utilizing waste lignocellulosic materials such as agricultural residues, grasses, forestry wastes can significantly reduce the cost of raw materials. Optimization of significant process parameters is also a very important stage to develop an efficient and cost-effective bioprocess. The present paper describes the Box-Behnken design based optimization to evaluate the effects of various process parameters viz.temperature, pH, inoculum dosages, particle size, moisture percentage and incubation period on the production of cellulases by T. reesei NCIM 1186 and N. crassa NCIM 1021 under wheat bran based solid-state fermentation. It also portrays the utility of various plant polysaccharide hydrolysates such as boiled bagasse, bagasse, wheat straw, waste newspaper as well as starch hydrolysates in cellulase production., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 The Authors.)