Graphical abstractFabrication of experimental light curing resin from green-synthesized fillers.

A microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) has been developed for rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus in resource limited settings. Staphylococcus aureus can be detected from food or clinical samples with enrichment in Sterile PYP broth for 1.5 h and used for detection of Alkaline Phosphatase activity using chromogenic substrate Blue Phos. The test is accompanied by Gram staining of the sample and coagulase test. Qualitative detection is based on visual detection while quantitative analysis is done using ImageJ TM software. The test can detect up to 10 4 CFUmL-1 of Staphylococcus aureus within 3-4 h. This test is cost effective, does not need any trained personnel or sophisticated instruments for analysis. Analysis can be done on a smart phone. The test is ideal for presumptive diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus for clinicians operating in remote locations and can be used as a screening test by food industries.

Reliable procedures are necessary to preserve, transport and test clinical, water or food samples, frequently requiring a challenging and costly cold chain to be in place. Effective disease surveillance or detection is thus severely hampered in resource-limited settings, such as those currently present in rural India, where procedures for appropriate laboratory based detection are suboptimal. Hence the recent scientific research is been focused to develop laboratory techniques/devices that can be applied in point of care settings. Point-of care (POC) techniques are getting increasingly popular, due to the advantages provided by them like ease of use, variety of applications, cost effectiveness and ease of disposal. This study deals with the standardization of method for microbial detection from sample collected on filter paper by direct amplification of a gene using PCR. Bacterial presence in a sample is confirmed by amplification of 16S rRNA gene as a proof of concept. 16S rRNA gene detection directly from sample spotted on Whatman filter paper no.3 without any pre-treatment to extract DNA is demonstrated, which is different from the currently practiced methods that include an additional step of DNA extraction from the paper. Robustness of the method was tested using Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial cultures and the sensitivity of detection on Whatman filter paper no. 3 was found to be 40-50 cells.

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Background: There has been an increasing curiosity over the past few years to carry out organic reactions over heterogeneous nanocatalysts. Microwave activation coupled with a nanocatalyst along with water as a reaction medium makes the process further green. Microwave activation as a green process reduces reaction times, enhances product purity and improves chemical yield. Methods: Nitrile group chemistry has been explored by many researchers across the globe owing to its interesting properties and its importance in synthetic chemistry. Despite several methods being available for the synthesis of nitriles, microwave assisted synthesis of nitriles using Fe3O4 nanoparticles appears more promising. The present study is intended at developing a recyclable magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles catalyzed protocol towards the synthesis of organonitrile derivatives using one pot reaction. Results: The above protocol incorporates the use of microwave for heating and water as reaction medium. Several substituted nitriles could be synthesized for excellent yields. The magnetite nanoparticles can be reused for new reaction without significant loss in activity. Conclusion: The experiment makes the protocol simple, environment friendly and economically feasible.