Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
14:53
In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis
Published on: February 3, 2018
Nanoparticles--production and role in biotransformation
D P Mohapatra1, F Gassara, S K Brar
1INRS-ETE, Université du Québec, 490, Rue de la Couronne, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|April 2, 2011
Summary
Nanoparticles enhance biotransformation processes, improving efficiency and yield for bio-products like bioethanol and biodiesel. This review covers synthesis methods and their revolutionary impact on biotechnology applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Nanomaterials Science
Background:
- Nanoparticles exhibit enhanced properties compared to bulk materials, driving interest in their applications.
- The use of nanoparticles in biotechnology, particularly in biotransformation, is rapidly expanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review synthesis methods for nanoparticles.
- To explore the role of nanoparticles in biotransformation processes for various bio-products.
Main Methods:
- Overview of physical, chemical, and biological nanoparticle synthesis techniques.
- Analysis of nanoparticle integration into biotransformation pathways.
Main Results:
- Nanoparticle synthesis methods vary, influencing their efficacy in biotransformation.
- Nanoparticles significantly improve the efficiency and yield of bio-products such as bioethanol, biohydrogen, biodiesel, enzymes, and bioplastics.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle synthesis and application are crucial for advancing biotransformation processes.
- Nanoparticles are poised to revolutionize biotechnology by enhancing bio-product formation and expanding application ranges.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Drug Biotransformation: Overview
Pharmaceutical substances known as xenobiotics are predominantly lipophilic and nonionized. This enables them to permeate lipid bilayers, such as cell membranes, and interact with intracellular target receptors. Lipophilic drugs have an advantage in crossing biological barriers and reaching their intended sites of action. However, lipophilic drugs often have a restricted capacity for renal expulsion or elimination from the body. When these drugs enter the kidneys and undergo glomerular...
01:28Drug Biotransformation: Overview
Biotransformation, also known as drug metabolism, is a vital physiological process that chemically alters drugs, facilitating their elimination from the body and terminating their action. This process involves two main phases: phase I and phase II reactions. Phase I reactions, including oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis, introduce or unmask polar functional groups on the drug molecule, thereby increasing its water solubility. By enhancing water solubility, the drug becomes more hydrophilic...
01:27Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Phase II biotransformation reactions are essential for detoxifying and eliminating xenobiotics, including many pharmaceutical compounds. These reactions typically involve conjugation, the covalent attachment of polar endogenous groups such as glucuronic acid, sulfate, methyl, or acetyl moieties to functional groups introduced during Phase I metabolism. The resulting conjugates are more water-soluble, enabling efficient renal or biliary excretion.The major classes of Phase II enzymes include...
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Physicochemical and Chemical Properties of Drugs
A drug's physicochemical properties fundamentally influence its metabolism. For instance, a drug's molecular size and shape critically determine its interaction with enzymes and transporters — larger drugs may face difficulty reaching enzyme active sites, altering their metabolic pathways. The pKa of a drug, which establishes its ionization state, can impact its solubility and absorption, thereby influencing metabolism.
The drug's acidity or basicity is essential in determining the metabolic...
The drug's acidity or basicity is essential in determining the metabolic...
01:19Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Biological
Biological factors significantly impact drug metabolism, influencing drug clearance, efficacy, and potential toxicity.
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
01:25Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity
Bioactivation is a metabolic process that transforms less reactive substances into highly reactive metabolites, initiating tissue toxicity. This transformation can lead to various toxic effects, including carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Reactive metabolites are classified into two main types: electrophiles and free radicals.Electrophiles are electron-deficient species and are produced primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 during the metabolism of compounds containing carbon, nitrogen, or...