Background: In the emerging field of nanotechnology, copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterials are considered to be one of the most important transition metal oxides owing to its fascinating properties. Its synthesis from green chemistry principles is gaining importance as next-generation antibiotics due to its simplicity, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. In the present study, CuO nanorods (CuO NRs) were synthesized from the aqueous fruit extract of Momordica charantia and characterized using different analytical techniques. Further, the biomedical therapeutic potential was evaluated against multi-drug resistant microbial strains. Materials and Methods: To synthesize CuO NRs, 0.1M of CuSO₄.5H₂O solution was added to aqueous extract of Momordica charantia in a 1:3 (v/v) ratio (pH=11) and heated at 50°C followed by washing and drying. The synthesized CuO NRs were subjected to characterization using different analytical techniques such as UV visible spectroscopy, zeta sizer equipped with zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, the application as a biomedical therapeutic potential was evaluated in vitro using well diffusion method against eleven multidrug-resistant clinical bacterial strains, a fungus- Trichophyton rubrum and in ovo against the R₂B virus using haemagglutination (HA) test. Results: Characterization was preliminarily done by the spectral study that confirms the absorbance band at 245nm. FTIR analysis at 628 cm^{− 1} peak identified copper oxide vibration. SEM analysis revealed agglomerated particle clusters. However, with TEM clear nanorods of average diameter of 61.48 ± 2 nm were observed. EDAX confirmed CuO formation while XRD showed a typical monoclinic structure with 6 nm crystallite size. Biological screening of CuO NRs showed significant results against both in vitro and in ovo methods. Significant inhibitory activity (p< 0.0001) was noted against most of the resistant human pathogenic strains including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The highest efficacy was observed against Bacillus cereus with a 31.66 mm zone of inhibition. Besides, the therapeutic potential of CuO NRs against Corynebacterium xerosis, Streptococcus viridians and R₂B strain of Newcastle disease is reported for the first time. Conclusion: Based on the present results, it could be expected that green synthesized CuO NRs would find potential applications in the field of nanomedicine.

Cyanobacteria (blue-green microalgae) are ubiquitous, Gram-negative photoautotrophic prokaryotes. They are considered as one of the most efficient sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. More than 50% of cyanobacteria are cultivated on commercial platforms to extract bioactive compounds, which have bene shown to possess anticancer activity. The chemically diverse natural compounds or their analogues induce cytotoxicity and potentially kill a variety of cancer cells via the induction of apoptosis, or altering the activation of cell signaling, involving especially the protein kinase-C family members, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative damage. These therapeutic properties enable their use in the pharma and healthcare sectors for the betterment of future generations. This review provides a baseline overview of the anti-cancerous cyanobacterial bioactive compounds, along with recently introduced nanomaterials that could be used for the development of new anticancer drugs to build a healthy future for mankind.

Worldwide, bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is the greatest challenge in public health care. To overcome the issue, metal-based nanoparticles were extensively used as an alternative to traditional antibiotics. However, their unstable nature limits their use. In the present study a very simple, environmentally friendly, one-pot synthesis method that avoids the use of organic solvents has been proposed to design stable, novel nanocomposites. Formulation was done by mixing biogenic copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterial with glycerol and phospholipids isolated from egg yolk in an appropriate ratio at optimum conditions. Characterization was done using dynamic light scattering DLS, Zeta potential, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, its antibacterial activity was evaluated against the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase strains based on zone of inhibition and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) indices. Results from this study have demonstrated the formulation of stable nanocomposites with a zeta potential of 34.9 mV. TEM results indicated clear dispersed particles with an average of 59.3 ± 5 nm size. Furthermore, HPLC analysis of the egg yolk extract exhibits the presence of phospholipids in the sample and has significance in terms of stability. The newly formed nanocomposite has momentous antibacterial activity with MIC 62.5 μg/mL. The results suggest that it could be a good candidate for drug delivery in terms of bactericidal therapeutic applications.

Secondary bacterial infections have been associated with COVID-19, leading to increased antibiotic consumption and exacerbating the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The present study evaluated the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae (specifically Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) in wastewater collected from three different Western Uttar Pradesh (WUP) zones during the pandemic. A total of 150 isolates were identified both biochemically and using VITEK-2. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was achieved using the disc diffusion method. Of the 150 isolates, Escherichia Coli (E. coli) (62%) was the predominant bacterial species, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (24%), other Enterobacteriaceae (8%) and a mixed population of bacterial isolates (6%). Also, 74% of the isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotic classes. A high percentage of MDR was detected in E. coli (57.14%), followed by K. pneumoniae (28.57%). However, compared to E. coli, the MDR prevalence of K. pneumoniae in different zones was significant (p-value=0.0081). Of the total isolates, 79.3% were extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producers. The resistance to ESBL in E. coli was higher than in K. pneumoniae. The highest resistance was observed against penicillin, cephalosporin, quinolone, and fluoroquinolone. Notably, two K. pneumoniae isolates and Pantoea agglomerans showed resistance to all antibiotics tested, including colistin. To our knowledge, this is the first study performed in the Indian WUP region during COVID-19. Resistance to colistin and the multidrug resistance observed in the current study is a cause for concern due to the constant exposure of people to polluted waters in India, especially within resource-limited environments. The study calls for further studies to understand the full extent of the problem and implement mitigation measures.