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Faculty of Applied Sciences

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    The potential of fungi in the bioremediation of pharmaceutically active compounds : a comprehensive review
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2023-07-12) Amobonye, Ayodeji; Aruwa, Christiana E.; Aransiola, Sesan; Omame, John; Alabi, Toyin D.; Lalung, Japareng
    The ability of fungal species to produce a wide range of enzymes and metabolites, which act synergistically, makes them valuable tools in bioremediation, especially in the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from contaminated environments. PhACs are compounds that have been specifically designed to treat or alter animal physiological conditions and they include antibiotics, analgesics, hormones, and steroids. Their detrimental effects on all life forms have become a source of public outcry due their persistent nature and their uncontrolled discharge into various wastewater effluents, hospital effluents, and surface waters. Studies have however shown that fungi have the necessary metabolic machinery to degrade PhACs in complex environments, such as soil and water, in addition they can be utilized in bioreactor systems to remove PhACs. In this regard, this review highlights fungal species with immense potential in the biodegradation of PhACs, their enzymatic arsenal as well as the probable mechanism of biodegradation. The challenges encumbering the real-time application of this promising bioremediative approach are also highlighted, as well as the areas of improvement and future perspective. In all, this paper points researchers to the fact that fungal bioremediation is a promising strategy for addressing the growing issue of pharmaceutical contamination in the environment and can help to mitigate the negative impacts on ecosystems and human health.
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    The future of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials and their potential environmental applications: a contemporary view
    (Springer International Publishing, 2023) Chakroborty, Subhendu; Panda, Pravati; Krishna, Suresh Babu Naidu; Prakash, Jai; Junghuyn, Cho; Janegitz, Bruno Campos; Shuhui, Sun
    Environmental safety is vital to life on Earth. Environment and life are interconnected like two sides of a coin. Pollution is a serious challenge in both developing and developed nations. Rapid rise in human civilization, together with metrological works and industrialization, affects the environment. Due to the excessive release of heavy metal ions, air, water, and soil-borne diseases as corona, cholera, cardiovascular issues, chronic conditions, and cancer increase. Different research organizations use several ways to combat environmental problems. Nanotechnology-based solutions are cost-effective and efficient. Nanomaterials’ multifaceted applications revolutionize science. Its particle-to-size ratio gives a wide surface area with several reactive sites. Carbon-based nanomaterials like graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, carbon-based quantum dots, etc., have received a lot of attention due to their application to combat environmental issues. Through this chapter, we want to draw researchers’ and academics’ attention to recent trends and applications of graphene oxide based photocatalysts in degradation of organic dye pollutants, biomedical significance, challenges, and future perspectives which will improve the development and application of more multidimensional nanomaterials to human health and for the development of biodiagnostics.