Day 3 :
- Workshop
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Session Introduction
Shree Laxmi Prashant
Manipal Institute of Technology, India
Title: Advancements in civil engineering using nano technology
Time : 10:00 -11:00
Biography:
Shree Laxmi Prashant has her expertise in the fields of concrete technology. She has a passion in trying out new and innovative methods of designing the concrete to optimize the performance of concrete. She has been working on High Volume flyash concrete, Geopolymer concrete and use of industrial, plastic and C&D waste as filler materials for concrete. Presently guiding one Phd Student (under QIP scheme), one Mtech and 6 Btech students for their project on the theme of Sustainable development in concrete using various non biodegradable waste including ewaste. Developing geopolymer concrete in order to minimize the use of cement in concrete to reduce the carbon foot print. The paper entitled “Effect of partial replacement of coarse aggregates by E waste on strength properties of Concrete” has been awarded as Best Technical paper at International Conference on Sustainable construction and building materials at NITK Surathkal June 18-22 2018.
Abstract:
Civil engineering is an oldest engineering and is an integral part of civilization. From the air we breathe, water we drink to high rise buildings we stay to the roads we travel. Civil engineering has been working wonders for mankind with the help of developments taking place in the field of science and technology. Nano is one such which has greatly influences the developments taking place in the field of construction technology, Geotechnical engineering, Nanotechnology involves the study of material and mechanisms at nanoscale. It enables structuring and restructuring of matter at an extremely small scale i.e., the nanoscale. The new material, engineered at nanoscale is associated with extremely high specific surface area which enables in achieving high purity. It has been observed various concrete structures undergo deterioration due to ingress deteriorating fluids when subjected to harsh environments. Use of nanomaterials in the concrete makes it extremely dense thereby strengthening the microstructure. This makes the concrete durable and the structures serviceable for longer duration. With nano modification of cementing materials it is possible to develop high strength sustainable concrete with the use various mineral admixtures. Nanomaterials have also been used for soil stabilization.
- Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles | Nanobiotechnology and Nanotoxicology | Materials Science
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Chair
Chithirai Pon Selvan
Curtin University, UAE
Session Introduction
Niharika Kaushal
Punjabi University, India
Title: Bioflavonoids derived from Mandarin processing wastes as bioengineered antioxidants: A nanotechnological intervention
Time : 11:00-11:30
Biography:
Niharika Kaushal is a Research Fellow at the Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India. Main objective of her work intends to unlock the potential of agro-industrial residue to be converted into a portfolio of eco-efficient nutraceutical products using nanotechnological interventions.
Abstract:
Mandarins, upon processing generate significant agrowastes in the form of peels which are potential sources of bioflavonoids that possess significant anti-oxidative character. However, a constraint for use of these flavonoids is the low bioavailability which substantially masks their functionality. This work entails extraction and identification of key flavonoids from mandarin peels, followed by preparing flavonoid-nanoparticle conjugates in order to overcome the limitation and finally their impregnation into edible hydrogels. Total flavonoids estimated in the mandarin peel SC-CO2 extract were 48.1±0.65 mg/ml rutin equivalents. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) were the key compounds identified in the extract through mass spectral analysis. Food grade Poly-Lactide-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) was used as a carrier to encapsulate flavonoids. The extract exhibited free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 0.55 μg/ml. The PLGA-PMF nanoconjugates, on the other hand, exhibit an improved antioxidant potential with an IC50 of 0.49 μg/ml. The PLGA-PMF nanoconjugates furnished a particle size of 252.2±1.04 and PdI 0.187±0.039. Also, the bioengineered nanoconjugates had a high entrapment efficiency of nearly 80.0% and stability of more than 1 year, which is favorable for their application in the food industry. FE-SEM and confocal microscopy images revealed the smooth and spherical shape of nanoconjugates. Further, the nanoconjugates were provided an additional layer of protection to achieve sustained and controlled release for which edible hydrogels were prepared using natural polymer alginate thereby enabling the release and retention of the flavonoids from the matrix. The two significant features of the gel were its low porosity of nearly 20.0% and the high crosslinking polymer network visualized by cryo-SEM. These nanoconjugate impregnated hydrogels were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal studies which revealed sustained release. This double layered carrier for bioflavonoids lays the foundation for developing PLGA-PMF-hydrogels as functional foods affording enhanced bioefficacy which was otherwise challenged owing to pre-mature metabolism of flavonoids in the gastrointestinal tract.
Smagulova Gaukhar
Institute of Combustion Problems, Kazakhstan
Title: Synthesis of carbon nanotubes onto Al2O3- spheres with Ni-nanoparticles coating
Time : 11:30 -12:00
Biography:
Smagulova Gaukhar has completed her PhD in Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials, Head of the laboratory Functional Nanomaterials, Institute of Combustion Problems and Senior Lecturer of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Technology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan. She is author of two patents and has 18 papers in the rating journals of Kazakhstan and foreign countries. She has completed scientific Internships in the University Texas at Dallas and Waseda University.
Abstract:
The beginning of XXI century was marked by the revolutionary development of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. In a practical sense carbon nanotubes are the most discussed and promising objects of the nanoworld. For practical, using it is essential to prepare high-quality CNTs with various constructions in large scale. Since 2006, worldwide CNT production capacity has increased tenfold. The annual number of scientific publications on CNT and issued patents continues to grow. Due to their unique physicochemical properties carbon nanotubes are believed to be materials of the future what caused an exceptional splash during investigation of the carbon nanomaterials. The most common approach of synthesis of carbon nanotubes is the chemical vapor deposition method. Number of parameters, such as choice of initial carbon containing raw materials (gas or liquid), transport gas, catalyst, temperature and processing time, plays a major role in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes. As a rule, catalyst is a matrix which surface is covered with a layer of active component. In our work, the synthesis was carried out in a vertical CVD reactor using acetylene and nitrogen as initial gases with a volume ratio of 1:9 respectively. Al2O3 spheres with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm and purity of 99.5% were used as the catalyst. Nickel coating was applied on the spheres surface by solution combustion method. Firstly, initial spheres were impregnated with an aqueous solution of nickel nitrate and fuel, followed by drying and heat treatment. Citric acid and ascorbic acid were used as fuels. After heat treatment, nickel nanoparticles coating was formed on the surface of the spheres. Obtained carbon nanotubes were studied by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.
Shifa Muneer
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, India
Title: A Comparison of Nano-thiacloprid and its Commercial Formulation against Green Apple Aphid (Aphis pomi) on Apple
Time : 12:00 -12:30
Biography:
Shifa Muneer is a young, enthusiastic and an innovative researcher working in the field of agriculture and horticulture with focus on nano-pesticides; intrinsic toxicity of pesticides and different toxicological parameters. Shifa has not only been a gold medallist in Bachelors in Agriculture, but also in Masters in Agriculture and has also been declared as the University topper amongst all the faculties of the university. Shifa is an awardee of the very prestigious INSPIRE fellowship, Department of Science and Technology (DST), India and has also been selected under the Nano-mission school sponsored by DST. Shifa has researched in collaboration with Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, India for synthesis of nano-formulations of pesticides. She strives to work towards synthesizing nano-pesticides and also testing and evaluating them. Her work is very imperative to the pesticide companies, different universities and is a breakthrough in the field of plant protection.
Abstract:
Chemical insecticides are the agents of controlling insects wherein the control may result from killing the insect or preventing it from engaging in behaviours deemed destructive. Different eras of insecticides brought a revolution and have been in use for more than 50 years. They have resulted in fast, economical and effective pest control. However, after all these years of utilizing chemical pesticides to control pests, some disadvantages came to surface as well, like resistance, resurgence, low solubility and led to shifting to modern methods of combating pests like nanotechnology. In this study we developed a nano-insecticide of thiacloprid by utilizing the purest form of this insecticide i.e. its technical grade. The nano-insecticide was developed by first synthesizing amphiphilic polymer and then encapsulating the active ingredient of this insecticide in the nanospheres of the developed amphiphilic polymer. Consequently, the nano-formulation synthesized viz. Nano-thiacloprid was then evaluated along with its respective commercial formulations viz. Thiacloprid (Alanto). These two insecticides were studied for mortality response using leaf dip method under graded response bioassay, against Green Apple Aphid (Aphis pomi). The mortality was recorded after 24 hours and these mortality counts were subjected to probit-regression analysis after percentage mortalities were corrected for calculating LC50 values by Abbott’s formula.LC50 value of 1.02 ppm was recorded in case of nano-thiacloprid, while thiacloprid was found to be 6 times less efficient than its commercial formulation with LC50 value of 6.05 ppm. Nano-formulation of thiacloprid proved to be efficient in comparison to its commercial formulations as LC50 value was much lower as compared to commercial formulation. Owing to small surface area of nano-insecticides, better penetration occurs in insect body and longer persistence on leaf surface, as supported by the research findings. Nano-formulations of pesticides promise improved efficacy and can certainly replace the conventional pesticides in near future.