Browsing by Author "Omprakash Singh"

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Amine-Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots Conjugated with Amphotericin B: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation for Visceral Leishmaniasis Treatment
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Prasoon Madhukar; Rashmi Kesarwani; Sundaram Pandey; Vishal K. Singh; Mallikarjuna Rao Gedda; Omprakash Singh; Mohammad R. Shaz; Rajiv Kumar; Santhanam Sundar
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a life-threatening parasitic disease primarily affecting populations in resource-limited, endemic regions. Existing treatments for VL face limitations such as toxicity, high costs, and suboptimal efficacy in specific patient groups. Given the lack of a vaccine, chemotherapy remains the only option, emphasizing the urgent need for safer and more effective treatments. Nanotechnology offers promising avenues to overcome these challenges. This study introduces a novel approach involving amine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (fGQDs) conjugated with Amphotericin B (fGQDAmB) to enhance targeted drug delivery to Leishmania-infected macrophages. This novel approach, which could lead to a safer and more effective treatment for VL, is a significant contribution to the field. Structural characterization by XRD and FTIR confirmed successful GQD synthesis and functionalization, while cellular assays demonstrated significantly higher macrophage uptake and enhanced antileishmanial efficacy. fGQDAmB demonstrated approximately 4.2-fold greater potency against intracellular amastigotes and 2-fold higher efficacy against promastigotes, while also exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity compared to conventional AmB. The safety and effectiveness of fGQDAmB were further validated through hemolysis assay, providing reassurance and confidence about its potential use and instilling confidence in the potential of Quantum Dot-based Nanomedicine formulations. © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
Emerging trends and Innovative strategies for the diagnosis of Leishmaniasis: A quantum leap from classical to modern era
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Lalit Nharwal; Mirza Adil Beg; Dev Sehgal; Omprakash Singh; Abhay Tiwari; Angamuthu Selvapandiyan; Garima Chouhan
The genus Leishmania comprises a distinct group of species that exhibit distinct clinical features. Interestingly, this clinical variability frequently overlaps or intersects resulting in symptoms that don't follow typical patterns and often resemble those of unrelated diseases. Diagnosing leishmaniasis is challenging as current techniques exhibit several lacunae including cross-reactivity with other protozoal species, inability to discriminate between species, along with differential sensitivity and specificity. Thus, despite multiple methods that can clinically confirm leishmaniasis disease, there are pitfalls present and the diagnostic methods are still far from being ideal. Over the last two decades, the emergence of non-invasive immunological and molecular techniques have played a key role in transforming and advancing the diagnostic approaches used for leishmaniasis. Although antibody-detection diagnostics such as rK39 ELISA, direct agglutination tests, indirect fluorescent antibody tests and immunochromatographic strip tests are very sensitive, they cannot be used to detect prior infections or to distinguish between Leishmania species. Molecular methods such as PCR and LAMP assay have gained popularity because of their extraordinary sensitivity and specificity as well as their versatility in analysing varied samples. However, diagnosing relapses and co-infections associated with leishmaniasis continues to pose significant challenges. Both misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can significantly impact a patient's survival. Here, this systematic and comprehensive review provides an overview of both conventional and emerging diagnostic methods for Leishmania, including biosensors and AI-based tools. It highlights innovative strategies to bridge traditional and advanced methods, emphasizing that improved diagnostics are critical for effective disease detection, management and control. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Virtual Water Export: Gaining Insights into the Dynamics of Water Economy
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) Anwesha Dey; Shiwani Bhadwal; Dharmik Borisagar; Harshita P. Singh; Omprakash Singh; Shubhi Patel
Water has traditionally been acknowledged as a fundamental element crucial for survival. Given the present scenario of climate change, which is altering global rainfall patterns, it becomes even more crucial to appreciate the significance of water. The notion of virtual water gained prominence in the late twentieth century, emerging as a significant concept in the realms of water governance and global trade flows. Subsequent years witnessed notable advancements in this field, with numerous researchers quantifying the virtual water or embedded water within agricultural commodities traded among nations. At the core of this idea is the principle that countries facing water deficits should import commodities with high water requirements from nations abundant in water resources. The current study seeks to comprehend the dynamics of the global water economy and the evolution of this concept over time. Additionally, it aims to explore the concept of water footprint and assess India’s position in virtual water trade. The study also delves into the limitations of this concept. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.