Faculty Publications
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Scholarly Publications by Integral Academia
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Item Biological Tools for Improving Crop Plant Growth Under Contaminants(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Bhoomika Varshney, Reena Vishvakarma & Archana VimalCrop production and development under micro and nanocontamination have become a very considerate subject for farmers and researchers. These contaminants can negatively affect plant growth, soil health inclusive agricultural productivity. For the production of crops, scientists use several chemical and biological methods. The biological approach has proven more successful as compared to chemical means. Biological systems are more effective, useful, and eco-friendly. There are several biological methods or tools such as phytoremediation, plant growth-promoting bacteria, genetic engineering, and nanobiotechnology which are significant tools for crop improvement under these critical contaminants. Crop development and their productivity are affected by both environmental and genetic factors. Numerous microbes such as Acetobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, and Pseudomonas genera are naturally helpful for the growth and development of plants under unfavorable conditions. Additionally, there are many genetic transformations, nanochemicals, and nanoparticles that have arrived as a promising agent for the growth and development of crops. Recently, nanomaterials have been considered the best alternative to insecticides and pesticides. Biological tools are very beneficial to obtain a newly cultivated crop of desired traits such as high quality and quantity and easily grow in biotic and abiotic stress conditions.Item Nanosensors and Their Role in Recycling of Agricultural Wastes(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Mohammad Areeb Siddiqui, Reena Vishvakarma, Archana VimalA huge of agriculutural waste is generated every year throughout the world leading to environmental burden due to pollutant and greenhouse gas emitted by them. The advancement in nanotechnology and uses of nanosensors helps in recycling the agricultural waste and in turn promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Nanosensors are the analytical tools that are highly specific and sensitive and helps tracking and surveillance of important agricultural parameters. In this chapter the various types of nanosensors like optical, chemical, biosensors and their utility in monitoring soil quality, seed quality, plant diseases, plant nutrition, irrigation etc. are discussed. Nanosensors also aids in various process of recycling agriculture wastes like composting, biogas production, mulching. They assists in real time monitoring of biological process and contaminants detection that improves product quality along with cost-effectiveness. They help out in monitoring and regulating various inhibitory factors. They also participates in biomass conversion process like fermentation, pyrolysis, combustion and gasification for better yields and waste valorization. Another important role that biosensors plays is that evaluation of environmental emissions and managing carbon footprint emissions. However, there are still some challenges to be addressed that are scalability, economic viability, specificity, farmers acceptance. Nanosensors are future technology designed to revolutionized agriculture practices by optimizing resources, waste recycling and management in a eco-friendly manner. Scientists are also integrating IoT systems to improve their potential. This chapter deals with the role of nanosensors in sustainable agriculture practices and recycling agricultural products to generate valuable products in a economical way to reduce environmental burden.Item Nanofertilizers: Revolutionizing Nutrient Delivery in Crops(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Misba Khan, Nisha Ali, Mariyam Rafi, Archana Vimal, Reena VishvakarmaNanofertilizers, as an efficient alternative to traditional fertilizers, have transformed the agricultural scenario by demonstrating precise, targeted, and controlled delivery of nutrients to the crops. Such efficiency has boosted sustainability through reduced nutrient losses and contamination in the environment. These attributes have arisen due to their specific features, such as enhanced nutrient absorption efficiency, due to high surface area-to-volume ratio, better reactivity with reduced leaching, and tendency to interact at cellular and molecular levels, which ultimately culminate in enhanced plant growth. Moreover, these have a minimal ecological footprint and contribute substantially to the improvement of soil fertility through their customized nutrient availability approach. Though a revolutionary step in sustainable agriculture, the application and utility of nanofertilizers still face regulatory hurdles, a lack of proper frameworks for large-scale production, and substantial knowledge, hindering their extensive usage. This chapter, which deals with nanofertilizers, their classifications, mechanism of action, applications, and limitations, is therefore an attempt to enlighten readers about the innovative and sustainable approach to utilizing nanofertilizers in agriculture for efficient farming practices that cater to growing food demands.Item Nanosensors in Agricultural Applications: An Overview(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Reena Vishvakarma, Mohammad Areeb Siddiqui, Nida Ansari, Pooja Kumari, Fiza Batool, Zoha Parvez, Archana VimalThe ongoing global environmental crisis has adversely affected agricultural productivity and, in the process, threatened food security. To boost agricultural production and enhance crop yield, the use of pesticides and fertilizers has led to the accumulation of toxins and heavy metals, further exacerbating the issue. Conventional methods of monitoring and quantifying the contaminants and toxins, like gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography, have proved to be effective but are at a disadvantage owing to limitations such as the need for skilled personnel, costly and sophisticated instruments, and complexity in use. With the advent of nanotechnology, a suitable alternative to these conventional methods has emerged as nanobiosensors or nanosensors, which are simple, cost-effective, and rapid in real-time analysis of soil temperature, moisture, pH, detection of contaminants, pesticides, and microorganisms in soil. Transitioning from laboratory study to commercial utility of nanosensors is tedious, but its successful application in agriculture commercially will ensure enhanced agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability.Item Current Update on Microbial-Based Water Treatment and its Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Arpit Srivastava, Kamlesh Choure, Reena VishvakarmaMicrobial-based water treatment has emerged as a promising approach to address the concerning issue of water scarcity and pollution. This chapter highlights the current advancements in microbial engineering approaches for wastewater treatment, emphasizing the role of microorganisms in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, it focuses on the applications of microbes in water purification, bioremediation, and resource recovery from wastewater. This chapter discusses the importance of microbial communities in water treatment processes, including their ability to degrade pollutants, remove contaminants, and recover valuable resources. It also explores the impact of disinfection methods on microbial communities and the potential risks associated with the presence of resistant pathogens. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of microbial-based water treatment to contribute to the achievement of SDGs, emphasizing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly technologies that align with the principles of the circular economy and promote environmental sustainability. This chapter concludes by emphasizing the urgent need to develop and implement microbial-based water treatment solutions that are both effective and environment suitable. Coupling the understanding of microbes’ effect on wastewater treatment with the SDGs can lead to positive changes globally.Item Role of Metal and Metal-Oxide Nanoparticles in Agricultural Crops Under UV Radiation, Stress Adaptation, and Mitigation(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Aisha Kamal, Nida Sultan, Sazia Siddiqui, Ayeesha KhatoonPlants, as primary producers, are vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UV-B (280–315 nm), which disrupts cellular processes, impairs photosynthesis, and reduces crop productivity. The ozone layer’s breakdown has exacerbated UV-B exposure, intensifying oxidative stress in plants. To counter these challenges, nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative solution. Metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, such as Si, Ag, TiO2, and CeO2, exhibit unique properties, including UV absorption, antioxidant mimicry, and the ability to enhance photosynthesis. These nanoparticles mitigate UV-B-induced damage by acting as UV shields, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and promoting the synthesis of protective metabolites like flavonoids. This chapter explores recent advancements in nanoparticle applications to alleviate UV stress, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and agricultural implications. By bridging nanotechnology and plant science, these innovations hold potential to enhance crop resilience, support sustainable agriculture, and address the challenges posed by climate change.Item Mitigation of Metal Toxicity in Plants Using Gold Nanoparticles(Springer, Singapore, 2024) Mohammad Areeb Siddiqui, Archana Vimal, Swati Sharma, Poonam Sharma, Reena VishvakarmaIn recent times, the emergence of trace elements in the environment at potentially harmful amounts has become a global concern. High potentially hazardous levels of these elements in the environment are building up due to anthropogenic activities like construction, mining, and population growth. Plants that are exposed to settings contaminated with metals suffer significant effects on their vegetative and reproductive growth, which ultimately affects crop productivity and performance. Finding ways to lessen the stress that hazardous substances create in plants that are important to agriculture is therefore imperative. In this regard, it is well known that metal nanoparticles, such as those of zinc and iron, can reduce metal toxicity and encourage plant development under a variety of stressful circumstances. Using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to mitigate the deadly effects of metals and promote crop development is a relatively new strategy. Astaxanthin synthesized gold nanoparticles (Ast-AuNPs) and AuNP produced from melatonin (Mel-AuNPs) are two examples of nanocomposites that contain AuNPs, however they have been only researched in rice to reduce metal toxicity, primarily of cadmium. With an emphasis on potential mechanisms to lessen metal toxicity in plants, this chapter aims to help researchers understand the potential of AuNPs to reduce metal stress and enhance plant growth and foster future investigation of full potential of these nanoparticles for the alleviation of metal stress in crops and other agricultural fields.Item Telemedicine: The Age of Digital Health Care Technology Management(CRC Press, 2025) Reena Vishvakarma, Archana Vimal, Poonam Sharma, Abha Mishra, Vivek Kumar GaurTelemedicine once conceptualized as a futuristic method of dialogue between healthcare providers and patients, is now a reality owing to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. In simple terms, telemedicine involves the usage of information and communication technology to diminish the distance between remote patients and the healthcare system. Additionally, telemedicine is not restricted to public health possibilities but also envisages advancement in medical education and research. The field of telemedicine expanded in step with the development of telecommunication technologies, and as previous pandemic-related travel restrictions decreased mobility, the idea of equitable access to digital health gained traction. Telemedicine appears to be a feasible and attractive alternative to the conventional medical approach that is sure to stay due to easy access to world-class healthcare facilities by remote and rural populations without unnecessary delay in treatment time. This chapter addresses the viability of telemedicine in the present environment, its effectiveness in bridging the communication gap between the medical service provider and the recipient, recent attempts for its better implementation, and the difficulties in realizing the benefits of telemedicine. The chapter provides insights to researchers about the management and opportunities in the telemedicine field, specifically in chronic diseases, to develop it as an economical digital healthcare approach.Item Micro-nano Plastics: Impact on Gastrointestinal System(Springer, Singapore, 2025) Shareen Fatima Rizvi, Syed Khalida Izhar, Uzma Afaq, Mohammed Kuddus, Danish Iqbal, RoohiAside from the numerous technological advantages of living in the “plastic age,” the sheer abundance of plastic products, their unsustainable use and disposal, and their great durability in the environment all contribute to pollution dangers, raising significant environmental and public health concerns (Fackelmann and Sommer 2019). Growing concerns have been raised that waste management needs to be equipped to deal with the vast quantities of plastics being produced and disposed of via the several available channels (Rajpal et al. 2024). Microplastics (MPs) are tiny fragments of plastic released into the environment when consumer or industrial plastic goods are discarded or degraded. Microplastics are categorized based on their origin into two distinct groups. The first ones are primary microplastics. These are manufactured in shapes such as pellets, nurdles, and microfibers for cosmetics, toothpaste, pharmaceutical drugs, and textiles. Secondary microplastics are the second category of microplastics. These originate when larger plastic materials are fragmented into tinier pieces in nature (Weber et al. 2022).Item Implications of Polyextremophiles in Astrobiology Research(Springer, Cham, 2025) Gaurav Yadav, Sahaj Bharindwal, Anchal Mehrotra, Surati Kumari, Roohi, Renitta JobbyAstrobiology seeks to expand our knowledge of life by investigating how microorganisms survive and thrive in extreme environments, allowing us to better assess the potential habitability of distant worlds. Recent developments in the study of extremophiles, solar system planetary exploration, and exoplanet discovery and analysis are providing fresh insights into astrobiology and the possible distribution of life on other planets. Extraterrestrial environments frequently feature extreme conditions spanning multiple factors simultaneously. In order to survive in such complex and extreme conditions organisms need to develop adaptations that enable them to withstand a wide range of challenges. Therefore, a critical next step toward understanding the true limits of habitability is the study of polyextremophiles, or microorganisms that can survive under multiple extreme conditions simultaneously. This chapter outlines various extreme environments on Earth and the types of extremophiles found in these conditions. This chapter also explores the interesting world of polyextremophiles and the strategies they have evolved that enable them to thrive in these environments. Polyextremophiles can serve as invaluable model organisms in astrobiology, offering insights into the possibilities of life beyond Earth and to gain valuable knowledge for future space exploration missions.