Nanomedicine, a scientific branch of nanotechnology that operates on the same scale as biology, offers the possibility of influencing the healing process from inside of the body by manipulating the matter at cellular or molecular levels. Throughout this book, current healing approaches based on this revolutionary new technology are summarized from a scientific assessment. The aim of the authors is to give, through select examples, a deep insight to nanotechnology status and the great progress that its rigorous application will bring to human health. The authors' commitment is to broaden the vision of health professionals who will eventually be the future users of this knowledge.

First Published in 1981, this book offers a full insight into the development of cell cultures. Carefully compiled and filled with a vast repertoire of notes, diagrams, and references this book serves as a useful reference for students of microbiology and other practitioners in their respective fields.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Phytoconstituents discusses general principles of drug targeting, construction material and technological concerns of different phytoconstituent in delivery systems. It focuses on the development of novel herbal formulations and summarizes their method of preparation, type of active ingredients, route of administration, biological activity and their applications. It dicusses therapeutic activities of plant derived chemicals, their limitations in clinical applications and novel drug delivery solutions to overcome them to provide better therapeutic effects with controlled and targeted drug delivery. Focus on drug delivery of phytomolecules Act as bridge between natural product scientist and clinical doctors Discusses mechanism of poor bioavailability of herbal molecules Increases awareness towards phytochemical efficacy Summarizes efficient novel delivery systems-based formulations. It extensively covers the applications of novel drug delivery systems including polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid capsules, liposomes, phytosomes, microsphere, transferosomes, and ethosomes. Some chapters are especially focused on anticancer phytodrugs, silymarin, andrographolide, berberine, and curcumin delivery with special emphasis on their application.

The book on Trends in Quorum Sensing and Quorum Quenching: New Perspectives and Applications focuses on the recent advances in the field of quorum sensing in bacteria and the novel strategies developed for quorum sensing inhibition. The topics covered are multidisciplinary and wide-ranging,and includes quorum sensing phenomenon in pathogenic bacteria, food spoilers, and agriculturally relevant bacteria. The applications of quorum sensing inhibitors such as small molecules, bioactives, natural compounds, and quorum quenching enzymes in controlling bacterial infections in clinical settings, agriculture and aquaculture are discussed. The potential use of quorum quenching enzymes for mitigating biofouling is also covered. Special focus is given to exploring quorum sensing inhibitors from microbes and flora inhabiting biodiversity rich regions including tropical rain forests and marine environments. Key features: Covers the fundamental aspects, the progress and challenges in the field of quorum sensing and quorum quenching Reviews quorum sensing in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria of clinical, agricultural, and industrial relevance Discusses the application and future trends of quorum sensing inhibitors from lab to clinical and environmental settings Provides comprehensive coverage on molecular mechanisms in bacterial signaling

First published in 2004. Religious Perspectives in Bioethics surveys recent bioethics discussion in thirteen religious traditions. Christian contributions include chapters on Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, the Episcopal, German Protestant, and Baptist traditions, Reformed Christianity, and the Latter Day Saints. The volume also includes chapters on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Daoism.

Experimental protein engineering and computational protein design are broad but complementary strategies for developing proteins with altered or novel structural properties and biological functions. By describing cutting-edge advances in both of these fields, Protein Engineering and Design aims to cultivate a synergistic approach to protein science. Experimental Protein Engineering The first half of the book discusses experimental approaches to protein engineering and starts by describing several high-throughput screening platforms for protein engineering. Key techniques used for diversity generation are also discussed. The next few chapters present examples of therapeutics, enzymes, biomaterials, and other proteins that have been engineered by rational or combinatorial approaches. The section finishes with a chapter on the use of non-natural amino acids in protein engineering. Computational Protein Design The second half of the book introduces computational protein design, beginning with a chapter on computational and informatics algorithms used in protein engineering. Core components of computational protein design are then discussed in detail, and examples of heuristic protein design are provided. Subsequent chapters present examples of how computational design has played a critical role in advancing the field of protein engineering. Concluding with a chapter outlining current challenges in the field, this book makes computational protein design and diversity-oriented protein engineering widely accessible to a broad audience in academia and industry alike.

First published in 1996, liposomes have become an important model in fundamental biomembrane research, including biophysical, biochemical, and cell biological studies of membranes and cell function. They are thoroughly studied in several applications, such as drug delivery systems in medical applications and as controlled release systems, microencapsulating media, signal carriers, support matrices, and solubilizers in other applications. While medical applications have been extensively reviewed in recent literature, there is a need for easily accessible information on applications for liposomes beyond pharmacology and medicine. The Handbook of Nonmedical Applications of Liposomes fills this void.This unique new handbook series presents recent developments in the use of liposomes in many scientific disciplines, from studies on the origin of life, protein function, and vesicle shapes, to applications in cosmetics, diagnostics, ecology, bioreclamation, and the food industry. In these volumes many of the top experts contribute extensive reviews of their work.

Healing Plants of Nigeria: Ethnomedicine and Therapeutic Applications offers comprehensive information on the use of herbal medicines in West Africa. Combining an evidence-based, ethnobotanical perspective with a pharmacological and pharmaceutical approach to phytomedicine, the book bridges the gap between the study of herbal plants' pharmacological properties and active compounds for the development of clinical drugs and community-oriented approaches, emphasising local use. It demonstrates how the framework of African traditional medicine can be preserved in a contemporary clinical context. The book outlines the history and beliefs surrounding the traditional use of herbs by the local population alongside their application in contemporary phytotherapy in Nigeria and West Africa. It features a critical assessment of the scientific rationale behind the use of these plants in ethnomedicine and offers a composite catalogue of phytotherapeutic and wellness agents, detailing the safety profile, efficacy, and scientific integrity of plants used to treat diseases and optimise health. Features: An ethnobotanical survey containing over 200 full-colour photographs of Nigerian and West African plants. A unique combination of ethnobotany and pharmacognosy, bridging the divide between pharmaceutical and community-oriented approaches to herbal medicine research. Contextual discussion of the therapeutic potential of Nigerian herbal medicine. Offers a template which can be used to separate the superstitious aspects of ethnomedicine from culturally inherited deposits of knowledge. A handbook for herbal and natural medicine practitioners, the book is aimed at African thinkers, scientists, healthcare providers and students of pharmacology and ethnomedicine.

Bioreactors: Animal Cell Culture Control for Bioprocess Engineering presents the design, fabrication, and control of a new type of bioreactor meant especially for animal cell line culture. The new bioreactor, called the "see-saw bioreactor," is ideal for the growth of cells with a sensitive membrane. The see-saw bioreactor derives its name from its principle of operation in which liquid columns in either limb of the reactor alternately go up and down. The working volume of the reactor is small, to within 15 L. However, it can easily be scaled up for large production in volume of cell mass in the drug and pharmaceutical industries. The authors describe the principle of operation of the see-saw bioreactor and how to automatically control the bioprocess. They discuss different control strategies as well as the thorough experimental research they conducted on this prototype bioreactor in which they applied a time delay control for yield maximization. To give you a complete understanding of the design and development of the see-saw bioreactor, the authors cover the mathematical model they use to describe the kinetics of fermentation, the genetic algorithms used for deriving the optimal time trajectories of the bioprocess variables, and the corresponding control inputs for maximizing the product yield. One chapter is devoted to the application of time delay control. Following a description of the bioreactor's working setup in the laboratory, the authors sum up their investigation and define the future scope of work in terms of design, control, and software sensors.

This book addresses the continuing controversy over the potential impact of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing countries. Supporters of the technology claim it offers one of the best hopes for increasing agricultural production and reducing rural poverty, while opponents see it as an untested intervention that will bring corporate control of peasant farming. The book examines the issues by reviewing the experience of GM, insect-resistant cotton, the most widely grown GM crop in developing countries.

The book begins with an introduction to agricultural biotechnology, a brief examination of the history of cotton production technology (and the institutions required to support that technology), and a thorough review of the literature on the agronomic performance of GM cotton. It then provides a review of the economic and institutional outcomes of GM cotton during the first decade of its use. The core of the book is four country case studies based on original fieldwork in the principal developing countries growing GM cotton (China, India, South Africa and Colombia). The book concludes with a summary of the experience to date and implications for the future of GM crops in developing countries.

This review challenges those who have predicted technological failure by describing instances in which GM cotton has proven useful and has been enthusiastically taken up by smallholders. But it also challenges those who claim that biotechnology can take the lead in agricultural development by examining the precarious institutional basis on which these hopes rest in most countries. The analysis shows how biotechnology's potential contribution to agricultural development must be seen as a part of (and often secondary to) more fundamental policy change. The book should be of interest to a wide audience concerned with agricultural development. This would include academics in the social and agricultural sciences, donor agencies and NGOs.

This book details several important medicinal plants, their occurrence, plant compounds and their chemical structures, and pharmacological properties against various human diseases. It also gives information on isolation and structural elucidation of phytocompounds, bio-assays, metabolomic studies, and therapeutical applications of plant compounds.

Sensors and Probes for Bioimaging A fulsome exploration of the history, design, and application of bioimaging probes and sensors In Sensors and Probes for Bioimaging, distinguished researcher Professor Young-Tae Chang and Professor Nam-Young Kang deliver a comprehensive discussion of bioimaging achieved with sensors and probes. In the book, readers will find a complete discussion of the history of colorful sensors and probes, probe design and the mechanisms of staining, as well as cell and tissue application and whole-body imaging. You’ll learn how probes can be used, how to choose and use a variety of probes, and new directions in research and application in the area of sensors and probes for bioimaging. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to bioimaging, as well as discussions of chemical sensors and probes used in bioimaging Comprehensive explorations of organelle and cell selective probes, as well as discussions of a model for organelle selectivity Practical discussions of tissue selective probes and whole-body imaging Fulsome treatments of imaging for biological function and for the diagnosis of disease, including cancer and Alzheimer’s imaging Perfect for chemical biologists, analytical chemists, biochemists, and materials scientists, Sensors and Probes for Bioimaging will also earn a place in the libraries of clinical chemists and advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals working in the bioimaging and sensor industry.

One of the first studies of an exciting new development in global biotechnology, this cutting edge text examines the extent of the transnational movements of tissues, stem cells, and expertise, in the developing governance framework of India.

Documenting the impact of local and global governance frames on the everyday conduct of research, this groundbreaking book traces the journey of 'spare' human embryos in IVF clinics to public and private laboratories engaged in isolating stem cells for potential therapeutic application. The discussion also examines the gender dimension as a potential site for exploitation in the sourcing of embryonic and other biogenic materials, and suggests that a moral economy has developed in which the ethical values of the global North support and encourage the donation of abundant and ethically 'neutral' embryos by the South.

This unique exploration is grounded in an empirical, multi-sited ethnographic study that takes a thoroughly comparative analysis of the ethical, religious and social issues in Europe, the United States, and organ donations already prevalent in India. In this theoretically-sensitive analysis, the authors use the resources of social anthropology and the social sciences in an innovative text which will appeal to postgraduates and professionals in the areas of STS studies, genetics, bioethics, and anthropology.

As research into nanotechnology proves to be ever more fruitful, it is important for the modern biomedical engineer to have a deeply rooted understanding of bionanotechnologies. Featuring chapters drawn from the third edition of the best-selling Handbook of Biomedical Engineering as well as new contributions not found in the Handbook, Bionanotechnology takes a broad survey of the current research and activities that are shaping this burgeoning field. Covering both technical and non-technical areas, the book discusses the role of nanotechnology in novel medical devices, bioanalytical technologies, and nano-biomaterials as well as intellectual property issues that are unique to nanotechnologies.

Today, the agriculture industry is confronted with simultaneous issues of how to fully embrace mass production of safer food in terms of both quality and quantity. Most industries are concerned with avoiding significant levels of soil pollution and environmental threats as a result of the excessive and harmful use of synthetic products on crops. Therefore, there is a need to adopt sustainable technological innovations that can ensure the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Microbial Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Bioremediation discusses the benefits, challenges, and practical applications of eco-friendly biotechnological techniques using biostimulants derived from beneficial microorganisms. The chapters cover the use of these organisms to increase crop production, enhance soil fertility and maintain soil health, create crop and plant tolerance to different abiotic stressors, release required nutrients to the soil, increase resistance to plant pathogens/pests, improve nutrient use efficiency of crops, and rejuvenate polluted environments. FEATURES Explores the physiological, morpho-anatomical, and biochemical molecular plant rejoinders involved in stimulating crop productivity Provides information on the physiological, cellular, and molecular modes of action underlying microbial biostimulant interfaces Summarizes methods and approaches for executing microbial stimulant technology Outlines numerous environmental management and remediation strategies This book is an ideal resource for researchers, engineers, and academics working in soil science, crop science, water remediation, microbiology, and biotechnology.

The production of chemicals from microalgae is becoming a significant area of biological research. Chemicals from Microalgae seeks to cover the various aspects that relate to the use of microalgae as a source of chemicals. The chapters discuss the occurrence and physiological role of these chemicals and concentrates on the methods aimed at enhancing their content, as well as large-scale algal biomass production and down-stream processing. This work, written by one of the true pioneers in the field describes the major algal chemicals of interest, namely pigments and lipids.

There is a new trend in anti-cancer therapeutics development: a targeted therapy and precision medicine that targets a subgroup of patients with specific biomarkers. An in vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay is required to identify a subgroup of cancer patients who would benefit from the targeted therapy, or not likely benefit, or have a high risk of side effects from the specific drug treatment. This IVD or medical device is called a companion diagnostic (CDx) assay. It is key to have a robust CDx assay or device for the success of targeted therapy and precision medicine. This book covers the technical, historical, clinical, and regulatory aspects of CDx in precision medicine. Clearly, more and more newly developed oncology drugs will require accompanying CDx assays, and this book, with chapters contributed by renowned oncologists, provides a comprehensive foundation for the knowledge and application of CDx for precision medicine.

The Synthetic Biology Handbook explains the major goals of the field of synthetic biology and presents the technical details of the latest advances made in achieving those goals. Offering a comprehensive overview of the current areas of focus in synthetic biology, this handbook: Explores the standardisation of classic molecular bioscience approaches Addresses the societal context and potential impacts of synthetic biology Discusses the use of legacy systems as tools for new product development Examines the design and construction of de novo cells and genetic codes Describes computational methods for designing genes and gene networks Thus, the Synthetic Biology Handbook provides an accurate sense of the scope of synthetic biology today. The handbook also affords readers with an opportunity to scrutinize the underlying science and decide for themselves what aspects of synthetic biology are most valuable to their research and practice.

With the advancement of computers, the use of modeling to reduce time and expense, and improve process optimization, predictive capability, process automation, and control possibilities, is now an integral part of food science and engineering. New technology and ease of use expands the range of techniques that scientists and researchers have at their disposal making it increasingly important for the user to be aware of and have a good working knowledge of the alternatives. Unique in its scope, the Handbook of Food and Bioprocess Modeling Techniques provides a comprehensive overview of the modeling options available to today's researcher. The book covers a wide range of topics including transport processes, reaction kinetics, probabilistic modeling, data mining, neural network and genetic algorithms. Both mesoscale and macroscale modeling are covered. Each chapter is complete with a clear, succinct description of a specific modeling technique, followed by detailed examples of the utilization, application, benefits, and limitations of the technique described. By having both physics-based and observation-based models explained in one place, the researcher can find not only the most appropriate tool or combination of tools for the application, but also those that best suit the technical expertise of the personnel involved. The book emphasizes problem formulation and explains the choice and structure of the modeling technique from an application point of view, making it exceedingly practical and easy-to-use. The international panel of authors and contributors ensures the quality of the individual chapters and the usefulness of the information across wide-ranging food products and processes. An indispensable resource for the full range of contemporary modeling techniques, the Handbook of Food and Bioprocess Modeling Techniques provides food and bioprocess researchers in industry and academia with an invaluable comprehensive working reference.

Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems describes the fundamental driving forces for mass transport, electric current, and fluid flow as they apply to the biology and biophysics of molecules, cells, tissues, and organs. Basic mathematical and engineering tools are presented in the context of biology and physiology. The chapters are structured in a framework that moves across length scales from molecules to membranes to tissues. Examples throughout the text deal with applications involving specific biological tissues, cells, and macromolecules. In addition, a variety of applications focus on sensors, actuators, diagnostics, and microphysical measurement devices (e.g., bioMEMs/NEMs microfluidic devices) in which transport and electrokinetic interactions are critical. This textbook is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in biological and biomedical engineering and will be a valuable resource for interdisciplinary researchers including biophysicists, physical chemists, materials scientists, and chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineers seeking a common language on the subject.

From first principles to current computer applications, Monte Carlo Calculations in Nuclear Medicine, Second Edition: Applications in Diagnostic Imaging covers the applications of Monte Carlo calculations in nuclear medicine and critically reviews them from a diagnostic perspective. Like the first edition, this book explains the Monte Carlo method and the principles behind SPECT and PET imaging, introduces the reader to some Monte Carlo software currently in use, and gives the reader a detailed idea of some possible applications of Monte Carlo in current research in SPECT and PET. New chapters in this edition cover codes and applications in pre-clinical PET and SPECT. The book explains how Monte Carlo methods and software packages can be applied to evaluate scatter in SPECT and PET imaging, collimation, and image deterioration. A guide for researchers and students developing methods to improve image resolution, it also demonstrates how Monte Carlo techniques can be used to simulate complex imaging systems.

Hemicelluloses and Lignin in Biorefineries provides an understanding of lignocellulosic biomass, which is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. It promotes the valorization of these molecules in the context of the bioeconomy and presents hemicelluloses and lignin, which are generated in lignocellulosic biorefineries, as the molecules of the future. The viability of these molecules lies in their renewability and potential. This book covers all aspects of hemicelluloses and lignin including structure, biosynthesis, extraction, biodegradation, and conversion. The book also looks ahead to the socioeconomic and environmental value of biobased industry and emphasizes an understanding of the potential of lignocellulosic biomass.

This two-volume set will be useful to the established continuous culture operator, as well as the researcher, teacher, and student who is interested in learning how the technique of continuous culture could be useful in answering both basic and applied questions in microbiology and cell biology.

Genomics, the mapping of the entire genetic complement of an organism, is the new frontier in biology. This handbook on the statistical issues of genomics covers current methods and the tried-and-true classical approaches.

This book is an accessible resource offering practical information not found in more database-oriented resources. The first chapter lists acronyms with definitions, and a glossary of terms and subjects used in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, proteomics, genomics, and systems biology. There follows chapters on chemicals employed in biochemistry and molecular biology, complete with properties and structure drawings. Researchers will find this book to be a valuable tool that will save them time, as well as provide essential links to the roots of their science. Key selling features: Contains an extensive list of commonly used acronyms with definitions Offers a highly readable glossary for systems and techniques Provides comprehensive information for the validation of biotechnology assays and manufacturing processes Includes a list of Log P values, water solubility, and molecular weight for selected chemicals Gives a detailed listing of protease inhibitors and cocktails, as well as a list of buffers