No abstract

Amylase is one of the important digestive enzymes involved in hydrolysis of starch. In this paper, we describe a novel approach to study the interaction of amylase enzyme with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and checked its catalytic function. AuNPs are synthesized using citrate reduction method and AgNPs were synthesized using biological route employing Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent to reduce silver nitrate to silver atoms. A modulatory effect of nanoparticles on amylase activity was observed. Gold nanoparticles are excellent biocompatible surfaces for the immobilization of enzymes. Immobilized amylase showed 1-to 2-fold increase of activity compared to free enzyme. The biocatalytic activity of amylase in the bioconjugate was marginally enhanced relative to the free enzyme in solution. The bioconjugate material also showed significantly enhanced pH and temperature stability. The results indicate that the present study paves way for the modulator degradation of starch by the enzyme with AuNPs and biogenic AgNPs, which is a promising application in the medical and food industry.

We investigated the effect of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the gut protease activity of insecticide resistant gram caterpillar, Helicoverpa armigera. The leaf extracts of Peepal tree, Ficus religiosa (FR) and banyan tree, Ficus benghalensis (FB) mediated biogenic AgNPs were synthesized to modulate the function of gut protease activity in H. armigera (Ha). Bioassay with FR and FB AgNPs significantly reduced both larval weight and survival rate of H.armigera. The FR and FB AgNPs inhibited the Ha-Gut protease activity by 50 and 70% at 100 µg concentration respectively. The FR and FB silver nanoparticles were interacted and binds with high affinity with protease. The inhibition studies on Ha-gut protease activity may contribute towards developing new IRM (Insecticide Resistant Management) strategies against H. armigera to overcome insecticidal resistance issues.

The study demonstrates ecofriendly and reproducible synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (SNPs)