Nanozymes represent the class of nanomaterials exhibiting enzyme mimicking properties. Biocompatible nanozymes with the ability to imitate antioxidant enzymes hold tremendous possibility for development of therapeutics in various disorders related to stress. In the present work we synthesized BSA templated MnO 2 nanoparticles. Synthesized nanoparticles was found to mimic antioxidant enzymes viz, superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase. Additionally, it also showed oxidase mimicking activity. Nanoparticles were assessed for cytotoxicity by MTT assay in mammalian cells by treating human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) at varying doses and time period. Morphological variations induced after treatment of HEK 293 with nanoparticles was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Nanoparticles at 50 µg/mL concentration were found to significantly increase viability of HEK 293 cells compared to control due to their inherent antioxidant property. But at higher doses nanoparticles induced toxicity. This may be due to the intrinsic oxidase mimicking activity of the nanoparticles which suggest that at higher doses nanoparticle has cross over role as pro-oxidant. Additionally, there was no visible morphological alteration in TEM micrograph of treated cells. The results indicated that the BSA template MnO 2 particles act as pro-oxidant at higher doses due to its oxidase mimicking property however, at an optimum dose it functions as therapeutic under stress related conditions due to its anti-oxidant property.

under the supervision of Prof. Paulraj Rajamani. His area of interest is nanobiotechnology, organic quantumdots, water purification, pollutant sensing, and decontamination.

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The rapid industrialization and urbanization of developing countries such as India have encroached on cultivable lands to meet the demands of an ever-increasing population. The altered land use paterns with increased fertilizer use has increased crop yields with leaching of major portion of the applied nutrients from the soil. Nitrates and phosphates are the agricultural pollutants that are discharged into aquifers due to anthropogenic reasons causing severe environmental and health problems. Production of these nutrients requires energy and inite resources (rock phosphate, which has gradually depleting reserves). An alternative management strategy would be to sequester excess nutrients within a biomass that is reused for agriculture. Two discrete enriched microbial consortia with the potential of simultaneous nitrate and phosphate sequestration upon application as biofertilizer restricted them within the plant root zone, ensuring prevention of eutrophication through leaching while making it available for uptake by plants. The nutrient accumulated biomass enhanced the crop yield by 21.88% during mung bean cultivation with maintained elemental content and other nutritional qualities. The major drawback of conventional biofertilizer application (slow release and action) could be overcome using this formulation leading to environmental protection, crop yield enhancement and soil fertility maintenance post-cultivation.