Nastaran Nafissi-Varcheh

[ 1 ] - Rapamycin-Loaded, CapryolTM 90 and Oleic Acid Mediated Nanoemulsions: Formulation Development, Characterization and Toxicity Assessment

This study was planned to explore the capability of nanoemulsions (NEs) consisting of CapryolTM 90 and oleic acid for the delivery of rapamycin (RAP). Permeability and cytotoxicity of RAP-loaded NEs were also inspected. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were created with oleic acid and CapryolTM 90 (as oil phase) and four surfactants and co-surfactants at various weight ratios (Rsm). Selected NEs f...

[ 2 ] - Laccase Activity in CTAB-Based Water-in-Oil Microemulsions

The aim of this study was to develop a microemulsion system as a medium for laccase-catalyzed reactions. Phase behavior studies were conducted by constructing partial pseudo-ternary phase diagrams for systems comprising of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), various organic solvents as the oil phase (i.e., hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, octane, isooctane, toluene, isopropyl myristate), two co...

[ 3 ] - Synthesis and Biological Investigation of some Novel Sulfonamide and Amide Derivatives Containing Coumarin Moieties

New sulfonamide and amide derivatives containing coumarin moieties; oxo-2H-chromen-sulfamoylphenylacetamides and oxo-2H-chromen-arylacetamides were synthesized starting from diverse 2-chloroacetamide derivatives and a wide range of coumarins. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by IR and NMR spectra and also analytical elemental analysis. In the next step, the above mention...

[ 4 ] - Halotolerant Ability and α-Amylase Activity of Some Saltwater Fungal Isolates

Four halotolerant fungal isolates originating from the saltwater Lake Urmia in Iran were selected during a screening program for salt resistance and α-amylase activity. The isolates were identified based on sequencing the ITS region and a part of the β-tubulin gene, as Penicillium chrysogenum (isolate U1; CBS 132820), Fusarium incarnatum (isolate U2; CBS 132821), and Penicillium polonicum (isol...

[ 5 ] - Optimization of Chitinase Production by Bacillus pumilus Using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology

A soil bacterium capable of degrading chitin on chitin agar plates was isolated and identified as Bacillus pumilus isolate U5 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis. In order to optimize culture conditions for chitinase production by this bacterium, a two step approach was employed. First, the effects of several medium components were studied using the Plackett-Burman design. Among various ...

[ 6 ] - Rapamycin-Loaded, CapryolTM 90 and Oleic Acid Mediated Nanoemulsions: Formulation Development, Characterization and Toxicity Assessment

This study was planned to explore the capability of nanoemulsions (NEs) consisting of CapryolTM 90 and oleic acid for the delivery of rapamycin (RAP). Permeability and cytotoxicity of RAP-loaded NEs were also inspected. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were created with oleic acid and CapryolTM 90 (as oil phase) and four surfactants and co-surfactants at various weight ratios (Rsm). Selected NEs f...

[ 7 ] - Laccase Activity in CTAB-Based Water-in-Oil Microemulsions

The aim of this study was to develop a microemulsion system as a medium for laccase-catalyzed reactions. Phase behavior studies were conducted by constructing partial pseudo-ternary phase diagrams for systems comprising of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), various organic solvents as the oil phase (i.e., hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, octane, isooctane, toluene, isopropyl myristate), two co...

[ 8 ] - Synthesis and Biological Investigation of some Novel Sulfonamide and Amide Derivatives Containing Coumarin Moieties

New sulfonamide and amide derivatives containing coumarin moieties; oxo-2H-chromen-sulfamoylphenylacetamides and oxo-2H-chromen-arylacetamides were synthesized starting from diverse 2-chloroacetamide derivatives and a wide range of coumarins. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by IR and NMR spectra and also analytical elemental analysis. In the next step, the above mention...

[ 9 ] - Halotolerant Ability and α-Amylase Activity of Some Saltwater Fungal Isolates

Four halotolerant fungal isolates originating from the saltwater Lake Urmia in Iran were selected during a screening program for salt resistance and α-amylase activity. The isolates were identified based on sequencing the ITS region and a part of the β-tubulin gene, as Penicillium chrysogenum (isolate U1; CBS 132820), Fusarium incarnatum (isolate U2; CBS 132821), and Penicillium polonicum (isol...

[ 10 ] - Optimization of Chitinase Production by Bacillus pumilus Using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology

A soil bacterium capable of degrading chitin on chitin agar plates was isolated and identified as Bacillus pumilus isolate U5 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis. In order to optimize culture conditions for chitinase production by this bacterium, a two step approach was employed. First, the effects of several medium components were studied using the Plackett-Burman design. Among various ...

[ 11 ] - Enhanced Production and Characterization of a Highly Stable Extracellular Protease from an Extreme Halophilic Isolate Salicola marasensis

Owing to their superior catalytic activity in the extreme conditions, extremozymes have found the potential biotechnological applications for industrial purposes. A robust extracellular protease activity was detected in the culture broth of Salicola marasensis, an extreme halophilic bacterium, after a 48 h-incubation. The effect of different media ingredients in a liquid state fermentation was ...

[ 12 ] - Effect of salinity on some physiological and biochemical responses in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus

In this study, some physiological and biochemical responses of Synechococcus elongatus to salt stress were investigated. The cyanobactrium was grown in BG-11 medium under different concentrations of NaCl (0, 0.5, 1 M). The results indicated that the growth of S. elongatus was significantly inhibited under salt stress on days 5, 9 and 12. Protein content increased in S. elongatus on day 12 in pr...

[ 13 ] - Enhanced Production and Characterization of a Highly Stable Extracellular Protease from an Extreme Halophilic Isolate Salicola marasensis

Owing to their superior catalytic activity in the extreme conditions, extremozymes have found the potential biotechnological applications for industrial purposes. A robust extracellular protease activity was detected in the culture broth of Salicola marasensis, an extreme halophilic bacterium, after a 48 h-incubation. The effect of different media ingredients in a liquid state fermentation was ...

[ 14 ] - Cholinesterase Inhibitory, Anti-oxidant and Anti-tyrosinase Activities of Three Iranian Species of Dracocephalum

Background and objectives: Dracocephalum species are mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine for enhancement of cognitive performance. In the present study, the acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory activities as well as the anti-oxidant and anti-tyrosinase effects of three Iranian Dracocephalum species (D. kotschyi,...

[ 15 ] - Potential Anti-obesity Effects of some Medicinal Herb: In vitro α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase and Lipase Inhibitory Activity

In this study, in vitro inhibitory activity of methanolic and chloroform extracts of some medicinal plants including C. wightii, T. ammi, N. sativa, C. arabica, L. usitatissimum, C. cyminum, and R. Graveolens was evaluated toward α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase comparing with acarbose and orlistat as the standard inhibitors. Our results revealed that both methanolic and chloroform extracts...

[ 16 ] - Efficient Keratinolysis of Poultry Feather Waste by The Halotolerant Keratinase from Salicola Marasensis

Sustainable development in the bio-treatment of large-scale biomass bulks requires high performance enzymes adapted to extreme conditions. An extracellular keratinolytic extract was obtained from the culture broth of a halotolerant strain of Salicola marasensis. Keratin hydrolyzing activity of the concentrated enzyme extract was observed on a 100 mg of pretreated feather waste...

[ 17 ] - Efficient Keratinolysis of Poultry Feather Waste by The Halotolerant Keratinase from Salicola Marasensis

Sustainable development in the bio-treatment of large-scale biomass bulks requires high performance enzymes adapted to extreme conditions. An extracellular keratinolytic extract was obtained from the culture broth of a halotolerant strain of Salicola marasensis. Keratin hydrolyzing activity of the concentrated enzyme extract was observed on a 100 mg of pretreated feather waste...

[ 18 ] - Osmolyte-Induced Folding and Stability of Proteins: Concepts and Characterization

It is well-known that the typical protein’s three-dimensional structure is relatively unstable in harsh conditions. A practical approach to maintain the folded state and thus improve the stability and activity of proteins in unusual circumstances is to directly apply stabilizing substances such as osmolytes to the protein-containing solutions. Osmolytes as natural occurring organic molecules ty...

[ 19 ] - Osmolyte-Induced Folding and Stability of Proteins: Concepts and Characterization

It is well-known that the typical protein’s three-dimensional structure is relatively unstable in harsh conditions. A practical approach to maintain the folded state and thus improve the stability and activity of proteins in unusual circumstances is to directly apply stabilizing substances such as osmolytes to the protein-containing solutions. Osmolytes as natural occurring organic molecules ty...

[ 20 ] - Introduction, synthesis procedures, and applications of organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers in biosciences

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers with flower-like morphology are new nanostructures comprising organic and inorganic components. In general, the organic component of hybrid nanoflowers mostly consists of proteins, DNA, RNA, plant extracts, metabolites, and natural polymers; and the inorganic component composes of various metal phosphates, including copper, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc, co...