Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is a premier institute of science and technology established in 2008. IITH has been consistently ranked in the&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/reports/" rel="noopener noreferrer">top 10 institutes</a>&nbsp;in India for Engineering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nirfindia.org/2021/EngineeringRanking.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to NIRF</a>&nbsp;making it one of the most coveted schools for science and technology in the country.

IITH offers&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/academics/under-graduate/">undergraduate programs</a>&nbsp;in all the classical engineering disciplines, applied sciences, design, as well as several modern interdisciplinary areas. Students are given a flexibility to explore a broad set of areas, and potentially pursue a minor or double major in a discipline that is not their own. Students who wish to seek a deeper understanding of their own discipline are strongly encouraged to get involved in cutting-edge research with the help of a faculty to mentor them, and earn an Honors in their own field.

The very foundation of IIT Hyderabad is based on&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/research/">research and innovation</a>. The vibrant research culture is evident from the number of patents and publications that IITH produces consistently every year. IITH offers&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/academics/programmes-offered/">graduate programs</a>&nbsp;at both a masters, and a doctoral level, in several diverse areas. There are separate programs for technology, design, science, and liberal arts. The&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/academics/post-graduate/">MTech program</a>&nbsp;is offered in various modes and durations to cater to the ever-growing need of postgraduate level professionals in the country.

IITH encourages and supports&nbsp;<a href="https://iic-iith.netlify.app/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">innovation and entrepreneurship</a>&nbsp;at every stage. The minor program in entrepreneurship is open to all students of IITH, and many of the courses are offered by industrialists who are entrepreneurs themselves. There are various&nbsp;<a href="https://iith.ac.in/research/centres-incubators/">innovation centers and incubators</a>&nbsp;that promote entrepreneurship and help mentor young innovators. IITH has been very successful in building tie-ups with leading academic institutions around the globe.

IITH enjoys a very special relationship with Japanese universities and industries that goes beyond academic and research collaborations. In fact, some of the iconic buildings in IITH campus will carry the signature of Japanese architecture.

IITH creates a unique holistic ecosystem for education that offers interactive learning, a very flexible academic structure, cutting-edge research, strong industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship. This is an environment which enables students and faculty to translate their dreams into realities.

IIT Hyderabad

The present study deals with the development of a chemical sensor for the detection of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at a low operating temperature using Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4)/Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) hybrid nanostructures. The nanostructure ZnFe2O4 and B. subtilis powder, taken in equal proportion was made into films using the spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to study morphology, structure and crystallite size. The sensing properties of the hybrid structure were studied and excellent response was observed in the temperature range of 50–55°C for 400 ppm LPG, when compared to the individual components of the hybrid. The signal output of the proposed sensor were extremely stable for more than 30 days. This method proposes the usage of the biomolecule/metal oxide composites in electronics and helps to reduce the metal oxide usage. © 2017, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

World University root node

Department of Chemical Engineering

Journal of Electronic Materials

Nanostructure ZnFe2O4 with Bacillus subtilis for Detection of LPG at Low Temperature

Immobilization is a technique used to prevent the contamination of active enzymes, increase substrate mobility and to prevent cell washout. Solid state fermentation (SSF) has been always observed as an alternative to Submerged fermentation (SmF). Optimization of the parameters will help in further improvement. Hie primary enzyme being produced is L-asparaginase that is used as an anti-neoplastic and anti-carcinogenic material. Different solid substrate extracts were tested and the best out of it was selected as wheat bran extract, the activity of crude enzyme is expected to be around 11.05 U/ml in case of the extract media as opposed to 4-5 U/gds in the solid media. In a first of its kind study, an extract of the solid substrate was obtained using buffer solution and this extract is treated as liquid media, SmF process is run using calcium alginate beads as the immobilized material. Copyright © (2017) by AIChE. All rights reserved.

Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Division 2017 - Core Programming Area at the 2017 AIChE Annual Meeting

A technique for the usage of agricultural solid substrate extract for the production of L-asparaginase by immobilized Ca-alginate beads

Lipases, belonging to the class of enzymes called hydrolases, can catalyze triglycerides to fatty acids and glycerol. They are produced by microbes of plant and animal origin, and also by marine organisms. As marine microorganisms thrive in extreme conditions, lipases isolated from their origin possess characteristics of extremozymes, retain its activity in extreme conditions and can catalyze few chemical reactions which are impossible otherwise relative to the lipase produced from terrestrial microorganisms. Lipases are useful in many industries like detergent, food, leather, pharmaceutical, diary, etc. Few commercial enzymes have been developed and the use of them in certain industries like dairy, soaps are proved to be beneficial. There are few research papers reporting the production of lipase from marine bacteria and fungi. Lipase production involves two types of fermentation processes—solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF). Although SmF process is used conventionally, SSF process produces lipase in higher amounts. The production is also influenced by the composition of the medium, physiochemical parameters like temperature, pH, carbon, and nitrogen sources. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

Advances in Food and Nutrition Research

Marine Fungal and Bacterial Isolates for Lipase Production: A Comparative Study

l-Asparaginase is a chemotherapeutic drug used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a malignant disorder in children. l-Asparaginase helps in removing acrylamide found in fried and baked foods that is carcinogenic in nature. l-Asparaginase is present in plants, animals and microbes. Various microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi are generally used for the production of l-asparaginase as it is difficult to obtain the same from plants and animals. l-Asparaginase from bacteria causes anaphylaxis and other abnormal sensitive reactions due to low specificity to asparagine. Toxicity and repression caused by bacterial l-asparaginase shifted focus to eukaryotic microorganisms such as fungi to improve the efficacy of l-asparaginase. Clinically available l-asparaginase has glutaminase and urease that may lead to side effects during treatment of ALL. Current work tested 45 fungal strains isolated from soil and agricultural residues. Isolated fungi were tested using conventional plate assay method with two indicator dyes, phenol red and bromothymol blue (BTB), and results were compared. l-Asparaginase activity was measured by cultivating in modified Czapek–Dox medium. Four strains have shown positive result for l-asparaginase production with no urease or glutaminase activity, among these C7 has high enzyme index of 1.57 and l-asparaginase activity of 33.59 U/mL. l-Asparaginase production by C7 was higher with glucose as carbon source and asparagine as nitrogen source. This is the first report focussing on fungi that can synthesize l-asparaginase of the desired specificity. Since the clinical toxicity of l-asparaginase is attributed to glutaminase and urease activity, available evidence indicates variants negative for glutaminase and urease would provide higher therapeutic index than variants positive for glutaminase and urease. © 2016, The Author(s).

Fulltext

3 Biotech

Isolation and screening of l-asparaginase free of glutaminase and urease from fungal sp.

L-Asparaginase, an enzyme that catalyzes L-asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia, has relevant applications in the pharmaceutical and food industry. So, this enzyme is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a malignant disorder in children. This enzyme is also able to reduce the amount of acrylamide found in carbohydrate-rich fried and baked foods which is carcinogenic to humans. The concentration of acrylamide in food can be reduced by deamination of asparagine using L-Asparaginase. L-Asparaginase is present in plants, animals, and microbes. Various microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi are generally used for the production of L-Asparaginase as it is difficult to obtain the same from plants and animals. L-Asparaginase from bacteria causes anaphylaxis and other abnormal sensitive reactions. To overcome this, eukaryotic organisms such as fungi can be used for the production of L-Asparaginase. L-Asparaginase can be produced either by solid-state fermentation (SSF) or by submerged fermentation (SmF). SSF is preferred over SmF as it is cost effective, eco-friendly and it delivers high yield of enzyme. SSF process utilizes agricultural and industrial wastes as solid substrate. The contamination level is substantially reduced in SSF through low moisture content. Current chapter will discuss in detail the chemistry and applications of L-Asparaginase enzyme and various methods available for the production of the enzyme, especially focusing on the advantages and limitations of SSF and SmF processes. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

Solid-State Fermentation vs Submerged Fermentation for the Production of L-Asparaginase

Moringa oleifera, native to India, grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is commonly known as ‘drumstick tree’ or ‘horseradish tree’. Moringa can withstand both severe drought and mild frost conditions and hence widely cultivated across the world. With its high nutritive values, every part of the tree is suitable for either nutritional or commercial purposes. The leaves are rich in minerals, vitamins and other essential phytochemicals. Extracts from the leaves are used to treat malnutrition, augment breast milk in lactating mothers. It is used as potential antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial agent. M. oleifera seed, a natural coagulant is extensively used in water treatment. The scientific effort of this research provides insights on the use of moringa as a cure for diabetes and cancer and fortification of moringa in commercial products. This review explores the use of moringa across disciplines for its medicinal value and deals with cultivation, nutrition, commercial and prominent pharmacological properties of this “Miracle Tree”. © 2016 Beijing Academy of Food Sciences

Food Science and Human Wellness

Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application

Collagens are the proteins found in the extracellular matrix of multicellular organisms, from primitive sponges (parazoans) to highly advanced mammals (metazoans). These proteins, classified as the “collagen superfamily," comprise about 28 members each with at least one triple-helical domain. Collagens deposited in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and connective tissues form supramolecular assemblies and function as structural proteins contributing to mechanical properties, organization, and shape of tissues. They regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation by binding to cognate receptors on the cell surface and triggering signal transduction cascades. Collagens with restricted tissue distribution perform specific biological functions. This chapter envisages the structural and functional characteristics of both invertebrate and vertebrate collagens with a special account of sponge collagens and their significance in tissue engineering. © Springer India 2016.

Marine Sponges: Chemicobiological and Biomedical Applications

Chemistry and biology of marine sponge collagens

Tissue engineering is the promising therapeutic approach that combines cells, biomaterials, and microenvironmental factors to induce differentiation signals into surgically transplantable formats and promote tissue repair and/or functional restoration. Although several advances have been made in the field of tissue engineering, there are still significant challenges to be addressed in repairing or replacing tissues that serve predominantly biomechanical functions such as articular cartilage. One important obstacle that could be identified is with the scaffolds that play an important role in the extracellular matrix (ECM) but often fail to create the exact/conducive microenvironment during the engineered tissue development to promote the accurate in vitro tissue development. Therefore, the emerging challenge of engineered tissues is to rely on producing scaffolds with an informational function. In other words, informational polymers—the ones containing growth factors facilitating cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation—are better than noninformational polymers. Growth factors help to manipulate the host healing response at the site of injury facilitating tissue repair and also improve the in vitro tissue growth in order to produce more biofunctional engineered tissues. The strategy is to mimic matrix and provide the necessary information or signaling for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation to meet the requirements of dynamic reciprocity for tissue engineering. Thus, proper drug delivery is a prerequisite in tissue-engineering applications. Biopolymers perform a diverse set of functions in their natural environment. To cite an example, proteins function as structural materials and catalysts; carbohydrates function in storage, maintain the functional integrity of membranes, and aid in intracellular communication (Yu et al. 2006). The properties displayed by biological materials and systems are exclusively determined by the physicochemical properties of the monomers and their sequence. In general, a well-defined macromolecular structure can lead to a rich complexity of function, and by virtue of their length and flexibility, they enable a unique control of hierarchical organization and long-range interactions. In many cases, the matrices and scaffolds would ideally be made of biodegradable polymers whose properties closely resemble those of the ECM which is a soft, tough, and elastomeric proteinaceous network that provides mechanical stability and structural integrity to tissues and organs (Guo et al. 2002). Biomaterials should possess mechanical properties capable of withstanding the forces and motions experienced by the normal tissues and have sufficient fatigue strength to ensure a long life of the implant in vivo. © 2013 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Marine Biomaterials: Characterization, Isolation and Applications

Marine biomaterials: Role in drug delivery and tissue engineering toward biomedical applications

The effect of various initial caffeine concentrations on growth and caffeine demethylase production by Pseudomonas sp. was studied in bioreactor. At initial concentration of 6.5 g l-1 caffeine, Pseudomonas sp. showed a maximum specific growth rate of 0.2 h-1, maximum degradation rate of 1.1 g h-1, and caffeine demethylase activity of 18,762 U g CDW-1 (CDW: cell dry weight). Caffeine degradation rate was 25 times higher in bioreactor than in shake flask. For the first time, we show highest degradation of 75 g caffeine (initial concentration 20 g l-1) in 120 h, suggesting that the tested strain has potential for successful bioprocess for caffeine degradation. Growth kinetics showed substrate inhibition phenomenon. Various substrate inhibition models were fitted to the kinetic data, amongst which the double-exponential (R 2 = 0.94), Luong (R 2 = 0.92), and Yano and Koga 2 (R 2 = 0.94) models were found to be the best. The Luedeking-Piret model showed that caffeine demethylase production kinetics was growth related. This is the first report on production of high levels of caffeine demethylase in batch bioreactor with faster degradation rate and high tolerance to caffeine, hence clearly suggesting that Pseudomonas sp. used in this study is a potential biocatalyst for industrial decaffeination. © 2010 Society for Industrial Microbiology.

Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

Kinetics of growth and caffeine demethylase production of Pseudomonas sp. in bioreactor

Previously, we isolated caffeine degrading Pseudomonas strain from soil of coffee plantation area, which could utilize caffeine as sole carbon and nitrogen source and could tolerate caffeine up to 20 g/L. In this study, caffeine degradation by immobilized cells of this strain was investigated. Various matrices were considered and agar-agar was chosen based on degradation rate (0.08 g/(L h)), bead stability and reusability. Further, immobilization parameters, viz., bead size (mm), agar-agar concentration % (w/v) and cell concentration (g/L) were optimized using central composite design. The optimal conditions of cell concentration, agar-agar concentration and bead size were 7.8 g/L, 5% (w/v) and 6.2 mm. Under optimal conditions, caffeine degradation rate was found to 0.15 g/(L h), which closely agrees with the model predicted values. This is the first report on caffeine degradation at high concentrations (10 g/L) by immobilized cells of Pseudomonas sp. Immobilization efficiency was 80%. Damköhler number is very much higher than 1, suggesting that mass transfer is the rate limiting process. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biochemical Engineering Journal

Enhanced degradation of caffeine by immobilized cells of Pseudomonas sp. in agar-agar matrix using statistical approach

The effect of pH, aeration rate, and agitation rate on specific productivity of caffeine demethylase from Pseudomonas sp. was studied in a bioreactor. Maximum specific productivity of caffeine demethylase of 2,214 U g cell dry weight-1 h-1 was obtained at 0.27 vvm, 700 rpm, and pH 7.0. Under these conditions, volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient was 74.2 h-1, indicating that caffeine demethylase production by Pseudomonas sp. was highly oxygen-dependent. Different metabolite formation at different agitation and aeration rates can be used as a strategy for recovery of pharmaceutically important metabolites from caffeine by manipulation of conditions in a bacterial culture. This is the first report on production of high levels of caffeine demethylase in bioreactors. © 2009 Society for Industrial Microbiology.

Optimization of production of caffeine demethylase by Pseudomonas sp. in a bioreactor

Decaffeination is an important process for the removal of caffeine from wastes generated by coffee and tea industries. Microbial degradation of caffeine is more useful than conventional chemical treatment because of its low cost and because it does not involve the use of toxic solvents. However, biodegradation of caffeine remains a problem because of the difficulty of finding a strain that can resist high concentration of caffeine in addition to be able to degrade caffeine at higher rates. In this study, we used the induced cells of Pseudomonas sp. for the degradation of caffeine. The induced cells (8 mg/ml) showed complete degradation of a initial concentration of caffeine of 1.2 g/l in 6 hours. The optimum pH was 7.0, the agitation rate was 180 rpm and the optimum temperature for degradation was 35 °C. Under these conditions and in the presence of magnesium, complete degradation of 1.2 g/l of caffeine was accomplished in 4 hours. Additional trials determined that induced cells completely degraded an initial concentration of caffeine of 10 g/l in 26 hours. This is the first report on a strain that can degrade high concentrations of caffeine (e.g., 10 g/l) at the maximum rate of 0.385 g/l per hour. These results suggest that the strain can be used to successfully in developing a biological process for the degradation of caffeine. © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights reserved.