Nanobiotechnology is one of the emerging fields and its interventions in agriculture is been attracting the scientific community. Herein, the authors first to report on control of groundnut bruchid ( Caryedon serratus O.) using nanoscale zinc oxide (ZnONPs) particles and nanoscale chitosan (CNPs) particles‐based Azadirachtin formulations. ZnONPs and CNPs were prepared using sol–gel and ion tropic gelation techniques, respectively. Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5% and Neem oil (3000 and 1000 ppm) were encapsulated using the prepared nanoscale materials and characterised using the techniques such as dynamic light scattering, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. Spherical‐shaped nanoparticles were formed after encapsulation with the required bio‐materials (ZnONPs 33.1 nm; CNPs 78.8 nm; neem oil encapsulated (3000 ppm) ZnONPs 182.9 nm; NSKE encapsulated ZnONPs 84.9 nm) and observed that the particles are stable (52.3 mV for ZnONPs, −36.2 mV for CNPs, −43.0 mV for neem oil encapsulated (3000 ppm) ZnONPs and −39.4 mV for NSKE encapsulated ZnONPs). NSKE encapsulated CNPs were able to contain groundnut bruchid up to 180 days with 54.61% weight loss compared to other formulations tested. Thus biomaterial encapsulated nanoscale material formulations are proved to be effective in controlling stored grain pests to reduce huge economic losses.

Meloxicam (MLX) is currently used in the therapeutic management of both acute and chronic inflammatory disorders such as pain, injuries, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis in both humans and animals. Gastrointestinal toxicity and occasional renal toxicity were observed in patients taking it for a long-term period. Meloxicam’s late attainment of peak plasma concentration results in a slow onset of action. The goal of the current study was to prepare and characterize chitosan encapsulated meloxicam nanoparticles (CEMNPs) with high bioavailability and less gastro intestinal toxicity in order to prevent such issues. The size of the prepared CEMNPs was approximately 110–220 nm with a zetapotential of +39.9 mV and polydispersity index of 0.268, suggesting that they were uniformly dispersed nanoparticles. The FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy have confirmed the presence of MLX in the prepared CEMNPs. The pharmacokinetics have been studied with three groups of male Wistar rats receiving either of the treatments, viz., 4 mg·kg⁻¹ of MLX and 1 or 4 mg·kg⁻¹ of CEMNPs. Plasma samples were collected until 48 h post administration, and concentrations of MLX were quantified by using reverse (C₁₈) phase HPLC. Non-compartmental analysis was applied to determine pharmacokinetic variables. Upon oral administration, the maximum concentration (C_max) was reached in 4 h for CEMNPs and 6 h for MLX. The mean area under the plasma MLX concentration-time curve from ‘zero’ to infinity (AUC_0–∞), half-life (t_1/2β), and mean resident time (MRT) of 1 mg·kg⁻¹ of CEMNPs was 1.4-, 2-, and 1.8-fold greater than 4 mg·kg⁻¹ of MLX. The prepared CEMNPs demonstrated quicker absorption and prolonged release along with a significant improvement in the bioavailability of MLX, paving a prospective path for the development of drugs with enhanced bioavailability with less side effects.

Wound healing requires a series of cellular events and a cascade of co‐ordinated and systemic biochemical events. Silver nanoparticles possess many beneficial properties for wound management including antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory and pro‐healing properties. In this study, the authors investigated the wound healing properties of Cinnamomum verum extract mediated nanosilver (CENS) particles in comparison with 1% povidone iodine, citrate mediate NS and CE treatments. The topical application of CENS showed good antibacterial activity and accelerated wound healing with complete epithelialisation and normal re‐growth of hair in all three models of study: namely, excision, incision and dead space models in rats compared with all other treatments. CENS was also found to promote collagen synthesis, stabilise wound besides countering oxidative stress and stimulating cellular proliferation CENS could be a novel therapeutic agent for wound management.

Mastitis is an important economic disease causing production losses in dairy industry. Antibiotics are becoming ineffective in controlling mastitis due to the emergence of resistant strains requiring the development of novel therapeutic agents. In this study, the authors present the phytochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with acetyl‐11‐α‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid and evaluation of their activity in Staphylococcus aureus induced murine mastitis. Boswellic acid mediated AgNP (BANS) were oval, polydispersed (99.8 nm) with an minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.033 µg ml ⁻¹ against S. aureus , inhibitory concentration (IC ₅₀ ) of 30.04 µg ml ⁻¹ on mouse splenocytes and safe at an in vivo acute oral dose of 3.5 mg kg ⁻¹ in mice. Mastitis was induced in lactating mice by inoculating S. aureus (log ₁₀ 5.60 cfu) and treated 6 h post‐inoculation with BANS (0.12 mg kg ⁻¹ , intramammary and intraperitoneal), and cefepime (1 mg kg ⁻¹ , intraperitoneal). S. aureus inoculated mice showed increased bacterial load, neutrophil infiltration in mammary glands and elevated C‐reactive protein (CRP) in serum. Oxidative stress was also observed with elevated malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. BANS treatment significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced bacterial load, CRP, SOD, CAT activities and neutrophil infiltration in affected mammary glands. BANS could be a potential therapeutic agent for managing bovine mastitis.

Nanobiotechnology is an emerging biological branch of nanotechnology. Application of nanoparticles with specific size and shape in biology has already shown unforeseen and interesting results. A study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phytogenically derived aloin mediated nanosilver particles (AAgNPs), prepared by reduction of silver nitrate with aloin, in Staphylococcus aureus induced murine mastitis. A total of 40 female mice were divided into five groups of eight animals each. Group I served as lactating control, groups II‐V were inoculated with 20 μl of 24 h broth culture of S. aureus containing 4.0 × 105 cfu/quarter under ketamine anaesthesia. After 6 h post inoculation, groups III and IV received 20 μl of aloin nanosilver (AAgNPs) through intramammary and intraperitoneal routes, respectively. Group V received antibiotic cefepime at 1 mg/kg body weight through the intra‐peritoneal route. After 18 h post‐treatment, serum C reactive protein, weights of mammary glands, mammary gland bacterial load, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content, reduced glutathione content, superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity and histopathology were determined. The compound showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 21.8 ng/ml against S. aureus . Significant reduction (98%) in poly‐morpho nuclear cell infiltration was observed with AAgNPs than antibiotic (50%).