This authoritative reference provides update information on the fundamental aspects and applications of biomaterials and biomedical sciences. It includes nickel-titanium alloys with superelasticity and shape memory effect, bioactive bone cement for orthopedic applications, and new research trends in polymer nanocomposites. This Ebook also describes the response of cells to ionizing radiation such as DNA damage responses in zebrafish. With chapters contributed by eminent scientists in the field of biophysics, biomaterials and biomedical engineering, this is a useful reference for graduate students, researchers and professionals in biomedical sciences and technologies.

The first volume of this Ebook series brings together the most recent advances from leading experts in the burgeoning field of biotechnology. This comprehensive text adopts a multidisciplinary approach and covers agricultural biotechnology, industrial and environmental biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and drug developments from plant sources, biochemical and molecular studies on gene expression, forestry, genetic engineering, gene delivery approaches, plant tissue culture and biochemical techniques/methods/protocols involved in different areas of plant biotechnology. This Ebook should prove to be a valuable resource for plant biotechnologists, plant biologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, pharmacologists, and pharmacists; agronomists, plant breeders, and geneticists; ethnobotanists, ecologists, and conservationists; medical practitioners and nutritionists; research investigators in industry, federal laboratories, and universities; and students and teachers in the biological and biomedical sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Modern techniques have been developed to overcome problems associated with the extraction of natural products from plants. These techniques include production of secondary metabolites by biotechnological methods such as plant tissue culture and microbial biotransformation of natural substances. Such methods have led to an increased yield of secondary metabolite amount, the discovery of new biochemical derivatives and agricultural development. For instance, use of these techniques in agricultural area have led to some beneficial traits such as formation of new varieties of known plant species, better crop quality, higher yield, better nutritive properties, more resistant species to insects and pests. Microbial biotransformation is beneficial in plant secondary metabolite production and derivatization (chemical modification of any compound made by a microorganism) and is chiefly applicable to several varieties of terpenes and steroids. This E-book demonstrates recent developments in this field. It will be of particular interest to the professionals in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, as well as natural product chemists, medicinal chemists, plant biochemists, and molecular biologists.

Bioencapsulation (or microencapsulation) of cells and their implantation into a body of immunoprotected cells allows researchers to revive a missing or defective function in the cells. Microencapsulated cells have reached the clinic where they have been shown to be safe and efficacious in numerous clinical trials. Cell types that have been encapsulated for therapeutic purposes include hybridomas, islet cells, "platform" cell lines e.g. HEK293 and CHO cells as well as an increasing focus on the encapsulation of stem cells. This e-book explains the different methods used for achieving cell bioencapsulation based on different polymers e.g. alginate, cellulose sulphate and agarose. Other chapters in this book subsequently describe the use of cell encapsulation in cancer therapy to improve on existing chemotherapies by reducing doses and thus side effects while increasing efficacy for long term in vivo production of (i) tumoricidal or virus neutralising antibodies, (ii) insulin to achieve a self regulating treatment for diabetes and (iii) neuron nurturing factors to treat CNS diseases such as epilepsy, disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and pathologies caused by trauma and/or ischemic processes. The book also includes a chapter reviewing the genetic engineering of cells to allow controlled production of biotherapeutics from encapsulated cells. This is a unique and timely book which brings together contributions from some of the leading researchers in the field of cell encapsulation. Interested readers are provided an overview of the exciting developments and clinical experiences of researchers with cell bioencapsulation.

Heavy metal pollution represents a global challenge to both public health and environmental sustainability. Any means to reduce heavy metal pollution in the environment is of considerable economic significance. The use of green plants to clean up heavy metal pollution is an environmentally friendly as well as a low-cost approach to the problem. This plant-based biotechnology is commonly known as ‘phytoremediation’. Presently, there is limited application of this technology because useful plants with enhanced heavy metal resistance/tolerance are still needed to assist remediation of environments polluted with heavy metals. A key to improved phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution lies in research seeking for a better understanding of the mechanism(s) of heavy metal resistance/tolerance in plants. This E-book presents a unique treatment of the topics that have never been comprehensively brought together before in a single advanced reference. The volume explores aspects of plant biology that are critical for employing phytoremedation techniques to combat heavy metal contamination such as the specific plant biology, seed biology, plant tissue culture and enzymology. This E-book will be a useful reference to plant biologists, biotechnologists and environmental engineers seeking information about phytoremediation of heavy metals from the environment.

Carbohydrates (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides) exist naturally in free from and as components of other macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins and lipids). Glycotherapy refers to this use of carbohydrates or glycoengineered macromolecules in fighting life-threatening diseases. Although glycotherapy is a relatively new and limited field of pharmacology, significant progress has been made in recent years in academia and the pharmaceutical industry facilitated by advances in enzymology and recombinant DNA technologies. Consequently, carbohydrate containing biologics are now used in therapeutic regimens. This volume provides a summary of the progress made in developing therapeutic solutions using glycoengineering techniques. Topics covered in this volume include the development of vaccines and antibodies against tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens for cancer treatment, the use of glycan for viral inhibition, glycoPEGylation, hyaluronic acid conjugation, and protein modification and conjugation for increasing therapeutic index using recombinant and chemoenzymatic approaches. The volume is essential reading for biochemists, pharmacologists and R&D professionals interested in glycotherapy.

This eBook presents a comprehensive review on the chemical composition of natural products derived from honeybee farming. These products include honey, pollen and propolis. Each chapter details specific products and the contents are complemented with an explanation of distinct analytical techniques for studying these products. Readers will also find a summary of current information about biological properties and applications of honey, pollen and propolis, which contribute to added value to these bee and plant-derived products. The eBook is a handy reference for students, researchers and laymen studying the biochemical aspects of apiculture.

Increasing public health concern about healthy lifestyles has sparked a greater demand among consumers for healthy foods. Natural ingredients and environmental friendly food production and processing chains are more aligned to meeting the demand for healthy food. There is a wide array of food additives and chemicals that have nutritional value. The biotechnological food production processes, therefore, vary for different types of food chemicals and ingredients accordingly. Biotechnological Production of Natural Ingredients for Food Industry explains the main aspects of the production of food ingredients from biotechnological sources. The book features 12 chapters which cover the processes for producing and adding a broad variety of food additives and natural products, such as sweeteners, amino acids, nucleotides, organic acids, vitamins, nutraceuticals, aromatic (pleasant smelling) compounds, colorants, edible oils, hydrocolloids, antimicrobial compounds, biosurfactants and food enzymes. Biotechnological Production of Natural Ingredients for Food Industry is a definitive reference for students, scientists, researchers and professionals seeking to understand the biotechnology of food additives and functional food products, particularly those involved in courses or activities in the fields of food science and technology, food chemistry, food biotechnology, food engineering, bioprocess engineering, biotechnology, applied microbiology and nutrition.

Global plastic production is estimated to be over 300Mt annually. Most conventional plastics are predominantly produced from fossil fuels and are highly resistant to biodegradation, and only a small share of about 20% of spent plastics is believed to be recycled, which is a cause for environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics would solve this concern as they are a sustainable alternative, yet these do not even cover 5% of the global plastic market. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a versatile group of polyesters produced by nature as prokaryotic storage materials. PHAs can be produced through sustainable bioprocess engineering and have displayed remarkable flexibility in their physical and chemical properties. PHAs are the subject of several scientific papers and numerous PHA patents have also been filed, generating significant interest in the plastic production industry. To develop overall sustainable and efficient production processes, all bioprocess steps need to be thoroughly understood and accounted for. These processes start with the selection of suitable inexpensive raw materials (microbes and enzymes), optimizing the process engineering and process regime, and conclude with the enhancement of product recovery in terms of time, energy, and material input. Microbial Biopolyester Production, Performance and Processing: Microbiology, Feedstocks, and Metabolism encompasses eight chapters that cover aspects of the microbiology and biotechnology of producing biodegradable plastics. The contents focus on the selection of powerful archaeal and eubacterial production strains, genetic engineering as a tool for optimized PHA production and inexpensive carbon sources for microbial cultures. The volume is a useful resource for bioprocess engineers, microbiologists, biotechnologists and chemical engineers interested in the basics of biodegradable plastic production. Recent Advances in Biotechnology is a book series comprising of peer-reviewed reference works and monographs that compile the latest developments in the field of biotechnology. Each volume has a thematic focus and features topical reviews written by experts. The series will highlight multidisciplinary perspectives to interested readers (biotechnologists, microbiologists, bioprocess engineers, agronomists, medical professionals, sustainability researchers etc.)

Global plastic production is estimated to be over 300Mt annually. Most conventional plastics are predominantly produced from fossil fuels and are highly resistant to biodegradation, and only a small share of about 20% of spent plastics is believed to be recycled, which is a cause for environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics would solve this concern as they are a sustainable alternative, yet these do not even cover 5% of the global plastic market. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a versatile group of polyesters produced by nature as prokaryotic storage materials. PHAs can be produced through sustainable bioprocess engineering and have displayed remarkable flexibility in their physical and chemical properties. PHAs are the subject of several scientific papers and numerous PHA patents have also been filed, generating significant interest in the plastic production industry. To develop overall sustainable and efficient production processes, all bioprocess steps need to be thoroughly understood and accounted for. These processes start with the selection of suitable inexpensive raw materials (microbes and enzymes), optimizing the process engineering and process regime, and conclude with the enhancement of product recovery in terms of time, energy, and material input. Microbial Biopolyester Production, Performance and Processing: Bioengineering, Characterization, and Sustainability is a compilation of eight chapters covering bacterial polyesters, green plastics and PHAs from various angles. The contents of this volume focus on sustainable practices focus on the sustainability of processes that involve the synthesis and recycling of these meterials. The volume is a useful resource for bioprocess engineers, microbiologists, biotechnologists and chemical engineers interested in the basics of biodegradable plastic production.