Biological Sciences and Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad&nbsp;(IIT Palakkad or IIT PKD) is a public autonomous&nbsp;engineering&nbsp;and&nbsp;research&nbsp;institute located in&nbsp;Palakkad,&nbsp;Kerala. It was&nbsp;one of the five new&nbsp;IITs&nbsp;proposed in the&nbsp;2014 Union budget of India. The campus was inaugurated on 3 August 2015. The institute has 94 faculty, 978 students, and 63 non-teaching staffs.

IT Palakkad currently offers four-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and two years MS programmes in 8 different engineering disciplines including&nbsp;Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil among others.

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IIT Palakkad

A disposable electrochemical sensor for the detection of the propofol (PPF), an anesthetic drug, has been developed using a composite of SnO2 nanoparticle and Nb2CTx MXene (SnO2/Nb2CTx). The SnO2/Nb2CTx is modified on a flexible carbon cloth for highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of PPF. The ratio of SnO2 in the composite was optimized to get enhanced sensor response to cover the analyte range from 1 μM to 300 μM with a limit of detection of 0.24 µM. The developed sensor possesses the requisite sensor parameters viz. selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility and storage stability. Based on the flexibility analysis, it is confirmed that the developed sensor works for the detection of PPF on a flexible platform as well. The real sample analysis done by spiking PPF in human artificial serum further proves that the developed PPF sensor can effectively detect PPF in serum samples. Over all, the developed sensor improves patient safety by ensuring that they receive the appropriate amount of medication at the right time minimizing the risk of adverse effects associated with over-sedation or under-sedation. © 2023 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

World University root node

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

Flexible and disposable electrodes based on SnO2 nanoparticle/Nb2CTx nanosheet composites for selective and ultrasensitive detection of propofol

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy of serum/plasma represents an alluring molecular diagnostic tool, especially for cancer, as it can provide a molecular fingerprint of clinical samples based on vibrational modes of chemical bonds. However, despite the superior performance, the routine adoption of this technique for clinical settings has remained elusive. This is due to the potential confounding factors that are often overlooked and pose a significant barrier to clinical translation. In this Perspective, we summarize the concerns associated with various confounding factors, such as fluid sampling, optical effects, hemolysis, abnormal cardiovascular and/or hepatic functions, infections, alcoholism, diet style, age and gender of a patient or normal control cohort and improper selection of numerical methods that ultimately would lead to improper spectral diagnosis. We also propose some precautionary measures to overcome the challenges associated with these confounding factors. © 2024 American Chemical Society

Analytical Chemistry

Infrared Spectroscopy for Rapid Triage of Cancer Using Blood Derivatives: A Reality Check

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of approaches have been adopted by the scientific communities for developing efficient vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2. Conventional approaches of developing a vaccine require a long time and a series of trials and errors which indeed limit the feasibility of such approaches for developing a dependable vaccine in an emergency situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. Hitherto, most of the available vaccines have been developed against a particular antigen of SARS-CoV, spike protein in most of the cases, and intriguingly, these vaccines are not effective against all the pathogenic coronaviruses. In this context, immunoinformatics-based reverse vaccinology approaches enable a robust design of efficacious peptide-based vaccines against all the infectious strains of coronaviruses within a short frame of time. In this chapter, we enumerate the methodological trajectory of developing a universal anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, namely, "AbhiSCoVac," through advanced computational biology-based immunoinformatics approach and its in-silico validation using molecular dynamics simulations.

Methods in Molecular Biology

Immunoinformatics Approaches in Designing Vaccines Against COVID-19

We retrospectively analyzed the immunopotentiating mechanism of an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-based vaccine adjuvant LiteVax™ Adjuvant (LVA) that contains CMS (Maltose 4’-monosulphate 1,2,3,6,2’,3’,6’-heptadecanoic acid ester), squalane, Tween 80 in phosphate buffered saline. Despite being effective in animal models, the immunological mechanisms by which LVA exerts adjuvant function are not known. As dendritic cells (DC) are key for initiating and propagating the immune response, we have investigated the effect of LVA and of its components on the DC function. We show that CMS but not LVA significantly enhances the expression of DC activation-associated markers, cytokine secretion, and CD4+ T cell responses. On the other hand, CMS ZERO [non-sulphated sucrose fatty acid esters (ZERO)], used as a control, had no such activity. Our data identified the unique nature of CMS in LVA, and propose that LVA acts as a delivery system, and CMS acts as an immunostimulatory agent.

Fulltext

Frontiers in Immunology

Retrospective analysis on the immunopotentiating mechanism of an emulsion-based vaccine adjuvant on human antigen presenting cells

Serotonin is a principal neurotransmitter that actively takes part in our behavioral as well as biological activities. Hence, its detection plays a vital role in understanding the intricate connections between this neurotransmitter and various physiological processes. Consequently, the development of sensitive and reliable electrochemical sensors for serotonin detection is of paramount importance. In this study, we present a different approach for synthesizing a highly stable composite of Nb2CTx and protonated carbon nitride (Nb2CTx/PCN) utilizing the electrostatic interaction between them. The synthesized Nb2CTx/PCN composite was utilized for the construction of an electrochemical sensor dedicated to serotonin analysis. The developed sensor exhibits remarkable performance, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity and detection limits of 63.24 nM over a concentration range of 1-100 μM for serotonin detection in human serum. A versatile thread-based sensing platform is made to validate the sensor performance. Our findings pave the way for significant advancements in the field of MXene-based composites for neurotransmitter analysis, enabling researchers and clinicians to gain deeper insights into the role of serotonin in human health and diseases. © 2023 American Chemical Society.

ACS Applied Nano Materials

Nb2CTx/Protonated Carbon Nitride Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Detection of Serotonin

Here, Nb2CTx@MoS2 composites have been synthesized and their catalytic activity towards the reduction of organic dyes was evaluated. The Nb2CTx@MoS2 composite has been synthesized in different ratios (25, 50 and 75%) and it was found that Nb2CTx@50MoS2 (50% MoS2) was the best composite, as it was able to achieve complete reduction of methylene blue and methyl orange within 3 and 4 min, with rate constant of 0.55305 min−1 and 0.371 min−1, respectively. In addition, the catalyst was able to retain 86% of activity even after the 5 consecutive cycles. © 2022

Catalysis Communications

Nb2CTx@MoS2 composite as a highly efficient catalyst for the degradation of organic dyes

Emerging and promising tools against cancer are theranostic nanoplatforms that combine imaging and therapy. A major challenge is unsatisfactory antitumor efficiency, which is accompanied by a great risk of tumor relapse. Therefore, a multimodal therapeutic functional strategy is highly desirable that can eradicate tumors, preventing tumor relapses and impeding the metastases. Therefore, a combination of photoimmunotherapy in a single therapeutic nanoplatform for efficient tumor-targeted therapy is an efficient task. Herein, we designed a theranostic conjugated polymer polyaniline (PANi)-based synergistic therapeutic model for photothermal immunotherapy (PIT)composed of the EA-PANi@ICG/CpG-FA nanocomposite (NC). This nanosystem was combined with a phototheranostic agent (ICG) with immunomodulation (CpG). On the one hand, PANi promotes photothermal immunogenic cell death (ICD) upon NIR-light irradiation; dying tumors discharge damage-associated molecular pattern signals such as HMBG1, CRT and ATP, thereby encouraging DC maturation and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Furthermore, to improve the immune response, CpG promotes the TLR-9 activation in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the combinatorial action of NC with CpG leads to complete inhibition of tumor regression by a strong antitumor immune memory effect. We explore that the synergistic effect of the NC in targeted tumor cells improves excellent antitumor effects that have been achieved by photoimmunotherapeutic tactics of cancer therapy. © 2023 American Chemical Society

ACS Applied Polymer Materials

Tumor-Targeted Conjugated Polymer Promotes Photothermal Immunogenic Cell Death and Release of the TLR-9 Immunostimulant Induced Efficient Cancer Immunotherapy

Here, a dual functional Nb2CTx@Pt nanocomposite has been synthesized by in situ reduction method. The Pt loading in the composite has been optimized to get minimum overpotential (141 mV at 10 mA/cm2) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) along with a promising Tafel slope of 46.3 mV/dec, while Pt/C shows an overpotential and Tafel slope of 104 mV and 32.4 mV/dec, respectively. The Pt mass activity for Nb2CTx@Pt3.8 composite at 100 mV overpotential was 3.44 A g−1 while the Pt mass activity for conventional Pt/C was 0.7 A g−1, which shows that the activity of Nb2CTx@Pt3.8 composite is approximately 5 times higher than Pt/C. In addition, the catalyst was found to be stable for continuous 500 cycles without any binder molecules. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) capability of the material was also evaluated and found that the catalyst exhibited a current density of −4.28 mA/cm2 in the diffusion limiting region in comparison with the current density of −5.82 mA/cm2 for Pt/C at 2600 revolutions per minute (RPM). The Pt mass activity of Nb2CTx@Pt3.8 composite for ORR is approximately 10 times higher than Pt/C. The Nb2CTx@Pt3.8 composite was able to reduce O2 completely using the 4-electron pathway with very little peroxide production. From these results, the dual functionality of the Nb2CTx@Pt3.8 composite for both HER and ORR has been established. © 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Platinum nanoparticles decorated Nb2CTx MXene as an efficient dual functional catalyst for hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reaction

A heterostructure of MXene and MoS2 (Nb2CTx@MoS2) was synthesized and used for the ultrasensitive and selective detection of dopamine (DA). The composite was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal strategy and it was used to modify the carbon cloth (CC). The best composition of the material for DA detection was optimized by varying the content of MoS2 from 6.25 to 25 % while keeping the amount of Nb2CTx constant. From the electrochemical analysis, it was found that Nb2CTx@12.5MoS2 showed the best sensing characteristics owing to the optimum interaction between MoS2 and Nb2CTx. The Nb2CTx@MoS2 modified CC was able to detect DA linearly from 1 fM to 100 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.23 fM. The LOD of 0.23 fM is the lowest for DA detection in comparison with other MXene-based composites to the best of our knowledge. The developed sensor exhibited promising selectivity for determination of DA in presence of other interferents like uric acid and ascorbic acid. In addition, the developed sensor showed good repeatability, cyclic and storage stability, which shows the potential of this composite for developing flexible electrochemical sensors for the ultrasensitive and selective determination of DA. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Microchemical Journal

Ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of dopamine from human serum samples by Nb2CTx-MoS2 hetero structures

Mutation(s) in the spike protein is the major characteristic trait of newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Delta-plus. Omicron (B.1.1.529) is the latest addition and it has been characterized by high transmissibility and the ability to escape host immunity. Recently developed vaccines and repurposed drugs exert limited action on Omicron strains and hence new therapeutics are immediately needed. Herein, we have explored the efficiency of twelve therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the RBD region of the spike glycoprotein against all the Omicron variants bearing a mutation in spike protein through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Our in silico evidence reveals that adintivimab, beludivimab, and regadanivimab are the most potent mAbs to form strong biophysical interactions and neutralize most of the Omicron variants. Considering the efficacy of mAbs, we incorporated CDRH3 of beludavimab within the framework of adintrevimab, which displayed a more intense binding affinity towards all of the Omicron variants viz. BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. Furthermore, the cDNA of chimeric mAb was cloned in silico within pET30ax for recombinant production. In conclusion, the present study represents the candidature of human mAbs (beludavimab and adintrevimab) and the therapeutic potential of designed chimeric mAb for treating Omicron-infected patients.