Ahmed Tayel

• PhD
• Head of Faculty at Kafrelsheikh University

Strawberry fruits (Fragaria x ananassa) are very perishable and susceptible to fungal deterioration, mainly by Botrytis cinerea (grey mold). The amla (Phyllanthus emblica) fruits’ extract (AmE) was employed for biosynthesizing selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and their nanoconjugates with nanochitosan (NCT) were constructed, characterized and assesse...

Cancers still globally endanger millions of people yearly; the incidences/mortalities of colorectal cancers are particularly increasing. The natural nanoparticles (NPs) and marine biopolymers were anticipated to provide effectual safe significances for managing cancers. The transformation of curcumin to nano-curcumin (NCur) was conducted with gum A...

The work focuses on the preparation of bioplastics from two sources of renewable material Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) and Rhodophyta spp. (red algae) incorporated with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to improve the performance of these bioplastics in sustainable food packaging systems. Reference biomolecules from water hyacinth and red alg...

Background: The usages of biosynthesized nanomaterials for microbial pathogens’ fighting have numerous rationales and effectiveness. Skin microbes could acquire drug-resistance that needs innovative approaches for overcoming. Objectives: Phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Commiphora myrrh resin extract (MR) and their nanoconjugates...

Helicobacter pylori can infect most people worldwide to cause hazardous consequences to health; the bacteria could not easily be controlled or disinfected. Toward exploring of innovative biocidal nanoformulations to control H. pylori, broccoli seeds (Brassica oleracea var. italica) mucilage (MBS) was employed for biosynthesizing selenium nanopartic...

In the global quest for sustainable agricultural practices, minimizing postharvest losses has emerged as a critical challenge. Fruits and vegetables can lose their freshness after harvesting for a number of reasons, such as physical harm sustained during the harvesting process, natural loss of moisture, unfavorable conditions of weather, and infest...

Fish gelatine offers promising benefits for the nutritional and pharmaceutical industries owing to its biocompatibility, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. In the present work, the gelatine was extracted from sole fish (Solea solea) skin, and converted into nanoparticles (GeNPs), and utilised as mediators, stabilisers, and carriers for selenium...

FLATOXIN B1(AFB1), a hazardous mycotoxin frequently contaminates food and animal feed, represents a critical threat to global health. Chitosan (CS), a natural biopolymer derived from chitin, has emerged as a promising candidate for mycotoxin adsorption due to its unique properties. The study evaluated the aflatoxin adsorption potential of eight com...

Skin health and protection are paramount in the pursuit of well‐being and beauty. In this study, we introduce an innovative approach to develop skin protectant agents by nanocomposites derived from natural sources, involves the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using squash plant mucilage (SqM), and their integration with nano chitosan (N...

BACKGROUND The recurrent contaminations of feed materials with mycotoxigenic fungi can endanger both farmed animals and humans. Biosynthesized nanomaterials are assumingly the ideal agents to overcome fungal invasion in feed/foodstuffs, especially when utilizing sustainable sources for synthesis. Herein, the phycosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles...

The polymeric nanocomposites (NCs), constructed from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) fruits mucilage (OM), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and chitosan (Ch), were fabricated as potential candidates to overcome drug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria. AgNPs were directly mediated by OM, with 4.2 nm mean diameters. The composed NCs from Ch/OM/AgNP...

This study describes the preparation, physicochemical characterization, controlled release, and bioavailability of chitosan nanoparticles (CTSNPs) loaded with salvianolic acid B (SlB) and tanshinone IIA (TnA). It also aimed to assess their antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogen. SlB and TnA were loaded on CTSNPs with ionic gelation metho...

Algae and their food products are in a great interest worldwide because of their nutritional value and health benefits. These edible substances are an excellent supply of antioxidants, high-quality protein, and fibers. The present work therefore targeted assessing Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) (Cyanobacteria) and Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulga...

Nanobiotechnological approaches can provide effective solutions for overcoming food products' contamination and spoilage. The development of rapid and eco-friendly approaches for synthesizing nanocomposites from chitosan nanoparticles (Cht), Neptune grass “Posidonia oceanica” extract (NG), and NG-mediated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) was targeted...

Targeting the remediation of oil pollution in water, the construction of super magnetic adsorbent nanocomposites (NCs) was achieved using the nanoparticles of chitosan (Cht), lignin (Lg) and phycosynthesized iron nanoparticles (Fe MNPs) using Gelidium amansii extract. The syntheses and conjugations of nanomaterials were authenticated via infrared s...

Natural bioactive alternatives are the utmost requests from researchers to provide biosafe and effectual health-guarding agents. The biopolymers chitosan nanoparticles (NCT), mucilage of cress seed (GCm; Lepidium sativum), and GCm-mediated selenium nanoparticles (GCm/SeNPs) were innovatively employed for fabricating novel bioactive natural nanocomp...

The fish-borne zoonotic bacteria may pose a risk to humans; nanobiotechnological techniques could serve as effective solutions for fighting them. The direct phycosynthesis of metals’ nanoparticles (NPs), silver (AgNPs), and selenium (SeNPs) using Corallina officinalis extract (CoE) was achieved. The construction of nanocomposites (NCs) from phycosy...

For controlling pathogenic bacteria using nano-polymer composites with essential oils, the formulation of chitosan/alginate nanocomposites (CS/ALG NCs) loaded with thyme oil, garlic oil, and thyme/garlic oil was investigated. Oils were encapsulated in CS/ALG NCs through oil-in-water emulsification and ionic gelation. The CS/ALG NCs loaded with oils...

In cancer management and control, the most challenging difficulties are the complications resulting from customized therapies. The constitution of bioactive anticancer nanoconjugates from natural derivatives, e.g., chitosan (Ct), curcumin (Cur), and eugenol (Eug), was investigated for potential alternatives to cancer cells’ treatment. Ct was extrac...

Fish-borne zoonotic bacteria can endanger the health of human and aquatic organisms; the nanobiotechnology applications can help. Curcumin nanoparticles (NC) were synthesized using gum Arabic (GA) and the resulted NC was innovatively employed for mediating selenium nanoparticles (NSe), then each compound/composite was evaluated as candidates for in...

Background Citrus production and trading are seriously affected by fungal decays worldwide; the green mold infection by Penicillium digitatum could be the most disastrous. The substitutions of chemical and synthetic fungicides with effectual natural alternatives are global demands; plant extract from pomegranates peels (PPE), biosynthesized seleniu...

Lake Mariout is Egypt’s degraded coastal marine habitat that encompasses a variety of wastes. The biodiversity and hard environmental conditions allow the co-existence of organisms with high resistance and rich metabolism, making them potential candidates for screening and isolating novel microbial strains. A bacterial isolate (BF202) cultured from...

Bee products, e.g., chitosan and propolis (Pro), have extraordinary importance in many disciplines including food biopreservation. Fish meat is highly susceptible to vast spoilage, especially catfish (Clarias gariepinus) products. The current work involved the extraction of bees’ chitosan nanoparticles (BCht), Pro, Pro-mediated SeNPs and their comp...

Aiming to boost the catfish fillet quality, the consequences of their treatment with Lepidium sativum seeds mucilage (LSSM) and with LSSM-mediated selenium nanoparticles (LSSM-Se NPs) were investigated. The LSSM assessment for phenolic acids contents emphasized higher concentrations. Green-synthesized Se NPs were conjugated with LSSM to form LSSM-S...

The protection of persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki L.) from postharvest fungal infestation with Alternaria alternata (A. alternate; black rot) is a major agricultural and economic demand worldwide. Edible coatings (ECs) based on biopolymers and phytocompounds were proposed to maintain fruit quality, especially with nanomaterials’ applications. Chit...

Cancer-fighting needs more effective and targeted drugs, desirably with least side-effects and from natural bases. The assessment and synergistic actions of multiple anticancer drug candidates were investigated. Fucoidan (Fu) was extracted from Sargassum cinereum, which was attained from the Saudi Red-Sea coast. The extract of Ganoderma lucidum or...

Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are common pathogens causing some health problems, however, the increase of their resistance to variety of medications increases the demand of searching for new antimicrobial agents. In this regard, the crude extract of Quercus infectoria (QIE) was verified as active antimicrobial with MBC of 1 mg/mL and M...

The authors wish to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]

The isolation and assessment of the active constituents in polar and non-polar crude extracts of Saussurea costus roots as antifungal agents, against Candida albicans and non-C. albicans (NAC) species, was the aim of this current investigation. The SEM “Scanning electron microscopy” imaging provided potential action modes of n-hexane extract (nhhE)...

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels that occurs either due to insufficient insulin production or mounting resistance to its action. The purpose of this study was to investigate if methanolic extracts of Lepidium sativum seeds, Ficus carica, and Punica granatum leaves had any effect o...

Candida genus includes many hazardous and risky species that can develop resistance toward various antifungal types. Metals nanoparticles (NPs) possess powerful antimicrobial actions, but their potential human toxicity could limit their practices. The algal polysaccharide fucoidan (Fu) was extracted from the macro-brown algae, Cystoseira barbata ,...

Today, nanotechnology has a promising role in food industry regarding all aspects of food processing and packaging. Using nanoforms can significantly boost the nutritional and organoleptic qualities of food commodities. Therefore, as a robust polymer, chitosan has been extensively exploited as vehicle, owing to its remarkable qualities such as bioc...

The invasion of fish/seafoods by zoonotic pathogens causes health threats to humans. Plant derivatives and phytosynthesized nanometals could promisingly overcome bacterial infections/contaminations. The extract of pomegranate rinds (PRE) was innovatively employed for biosynthesizing selenium nanorods (Se-NRs). These agents were assessed as antibact...

Biopolymers and nanomaterials are ideal candidates for environmental remediation and heavy metal removal. As hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) is a hazardous toxic pollutant of water, this study innovatively aimed to synthesize nanopolymer composites and load them with phycosynthesized Fe nanoparticles for the full Cr⁶⁺ removal from aqueous solutions. The...

Skin is the largest protective organ that could be recurrently wounded and attacked by microorganisms. The wounded skin safeguarding and supporting were intended through natural derivatives. Fish collagen (Cg) type I, extracted from sea bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus), chitosan nanoparticles (NCht) from shrimp shells, and henna (Lawsonia inermis L....

Nanometals (NM) frequently possess potent antimicrobial potentials to combat various pathogens, but their elevated biotoxicity limits their direct applications. The biosynthesis of NM and their capping/conjugation with natural biopolymers can effectually enhance NM stability and diminish such toxicity. Yeast β‐glucan (βG), from Saccharomyces cerevi...

Bioactive nanocomposites were constructed, containing chitosan (Cht), extracted from shrimps' wastes, and transformed into nanoparticles (NPs) using ionic-gelation. Selenium NPs (Se-NPs) were phytosynthesized using cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark extract (CIE), characterized and evaluated with Cht-NPs as antimicrobial composites against bacte...

Algae are used as one of important medical sources for its therapeutic properties; and edible algae are acknowledged as complete foods which provide right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral salts, carotenoids, and antioxidants. The aim of the current study was to evaluate hot-water extracts of different marine microalgae species...

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were the targets of numerous biological syntheses to attain their precious values in various biomedical fields. The phycosynthesis of ZnONPs were innovatively investigated using cell-free extract of the macroalgae, Ulva fasciata Delile. The phycosynthesized U. fasciata-zinc oxide nanoparticles (UFD-ZnONPs) had 77.8...

The biopreservation, flavoring, and coloration of foodstuffs, e.g., seafoods, with natural plant derivatives are major demands for consumers and overseers. Different colored plant parts, i.e., Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces, Curcuma longa rhizomes, and Rhus coriaria fruits, were extracted and evaluated as biopreservatives, antimicrobial and colorant a...

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are reinforced safe forms of the essential micronutrient selenium (Se) which take a lead in countless biotechnological and biomedical applications. The phycosynthesis of SeNPs was successfully investigated using cell-free extract of the microalgae, Spirulina platensis. The phycosynthesized S. platensis-SeNPs (SpSeNPs)...

Background: Spirulina is blue-green algae that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical lakes and is commonly used due to its nutritional features including high concentrations of protein, vitamins, mineral salts, carotenoids and antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the anti-hypercholesterolemic potential of aqueous extract of Spirulina pl...

Background Spirulina is blue-green algae that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical lakes and is commonly used due to its nutritional features including high concentrations of protein, vitamins, mineral salts, carotenoids and antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the anti-hypercholesterolemic potential of aqueous extract of Spirulina pla...

Shrimps are highly valuable and perishable foodstuff that could be rapidly spoiled. Chitosan (Cht) was extracted and transformed into nanoparticles (NPs) via ionic gelation and fortified with cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) buds extract (CLE) for usage as antimicrobial composites against food-borne bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typ...

Selenium (Se) as a bioactive micronutrient could be augmented via transforming into nanoparticles (NPs), especially using biogenic protocols, for usage as an antimicrobial element. The reducing power of costus (Saussurea costus) root extract (SCE) was employed for phytosynthesis of Se-NPs through a simple and rapid protocol that included stirred mi...

Chitosan and its nanoparticles (NPs) could be extracted from numerous fungal species and used as effectual carriers for bioactive compounds. The fungal chitosan (FC) was innovatively acquired from Fusarium oxysporum grown mycelia, characterized and used for NP synthesis and loading with bee venom (BV). The nano-FC (NFC) had 192.4 nm mean NP diamete...

Here we report the phycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), using Codium capitatum extract, and the synthesis of fungal chitosan nanoparticles (FC-NPs), using extracted chitosan from Aspergillus niger mycelia. Then nanoconjugates from FC/Ag-NPs were produced and evaluated. The synthesized NPs had mean particles’ size diameters of 37.2, 68.4...

Fungal chitosan (FCt) from Amylomyces rouxii, with 88.7% deacetylation degree and 112.4 kDa molecular weight, was utilized for nanoparticles (NPs) formation via ionic gelation. FCt-NPs were employed as carriers for curcumin (CUR) to augment its availability and anticancer bioactivity. The synthesis of CUR/FCt-NPs composite was succeeded as evidence...

Fungal chitosan (ACT) extraction from Amylomyces rouxii, its transforming into nano-form, loading with fluconazole (Flu) and evaluation of synthesized nanoconjugates against drug-resistant (DR) Candida spp., were investigated. The produced ACT was characterized with 112.4 kDa molecular weight and 88.7% deacetylation degree. Synthesis of chitosan na...

As a part of sustainable culture, aquaculture is objectively a very promising activity comparing to other livestock production industries. Practically, aquaculture encounters serious challenges causing numerous drawbacks at multiple levels such as water infection, pond contamination, biofouling, chronic/acute diseases, and postharvest preservation....

BACKGROUND Contamination of date fruit with mycotoxigenic fungi is a hazardous threat. The present study investigated the effectiveness of natural derivatives for controlling this. Chitosan (Cts) was produced from Aspergillus niger mycelia and characterized and then nanochitosan (NCt) particles were synthesized from fungal Cts. Edible‐coating films...

The Penicillium species are among the most commonly occurring and economically important members of micro-fungi family. In this study, Molecular identification of fungal isolates were used to group and determine genetic variability of Penicillium isolate from Egyptian Gamiza11 wheat grains Triticum aestivum were obtained from Agricultural Administr...

The bioremediation of water and soil, from heavy metal (HM) contamination, is a continuing worldwide demand. Chitosan, as a promising bioactive polymer, was produced from grown fungal (Cunninghamella elegans) mycelia and had a molecular weight of 112 kDa and a deacetylation degree of 87%. Sodium tripolyphosphate was applied for the synthesis of chi...

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly dangerous pathogen that causes lots of health problems. The resistant strains to methicillin (MRSA) are dangerously health threatens. Nine plant seeds’ extracts (Alium ampeloprasum, Allium cepa, Brassica juncea, Lycium shawii, Nigella sativa, Ocimum basilicum, Peganum harmala, Phyllanthus emblica and Portulaca oler...

Skin protection and control of its microbial pathogens are highly important demands; natural biological agents are the ideals for that. Collagen (Cg) was extracted and characterized from skin and scales of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus), chitosan (Cts) was extracted from shrimp shells and extract of oak (Quercus infectoria) galls (OGE) w...

Burkholderia sp. C3 was previously isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contaminated soil; it was evaluated for the ability to utilize a range of diesel and biodiesel as sole carbon sources. Burkholderia sp. C3 could degrade 99% of diesel and biodiesel supplemented at 2% (v/v) in a basal mineral medium within 3 days of incubation at...

Egg contamination with microbial pathogens is an enduring worldwide concern. Natural products are frequently recommended as ideal alternatives to substitute synthetic and chemical antimicrobials. Oak galls (Quercus infectoria) are aberrant growths on oak trees that have many medicinal and pharmaceutical applications. Q. infectoria extract (QIE) ant...

The anti‐listerial activity of various plant extracts was investigated, qualitatively and quantitatively against Listeria monocytogenes strains. The extracts of Punica granatum peels (PPE) and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyxes (RCE) exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity. The application of PPE and RCE, as colorant, preservative, and antimicrob...

Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are useful to control the persistent development of pathogenic microorganisms in food and medicine fields. The bacteriocin acidocin was extracted from Lactobacillus acidophilus M1 that was isolated from fermented milk, purified using ammonium sulphate fractionation, and gel filtration column chromatograp...

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacterial pathogen that causes serious health risks. Chitosan (Ch) is a bioactive polymer that could be effectively applied for foodstuffs biopreservation. Lycium barbarum (Goji berry) is ethnopharmaceutical fruit that have diverse health protecting benefits. Chitosan was produced from A. niger and employed wit...

Fish are generous sources for providing man with his essential nutritional requirements, but the extreme susceptibility to quality deterioration hinders their optimal usage and storage. Natural derivatives are always the perfect alternatives for food preservation. The application of fungal chitosan (Ch), from Aspergillus niger, and pomegranate peel...

Microorganisms (MOs), due to their biodiversity, are considered a valuable resource for novel healthy food ingredients and biologically active compounds. With the current trend toward using natural ingredients in foods, there is growing interest in the development of microbial bioingredients to fulfill the high consumer demand for health-promoting...

Processed fish products are worthy sources to supply man with his main nutritional needs, but they are extremely susceptible to quality loss during storage. Microbial (fungal) chitosan is a bioactive polymer that has numerous applications in health promoting fields. Fungal chitosan was extracted from the grown mycelia of Aspergillus brasiliensis (n...

Fungal deterioration is one of the most serious risks for books and paper-based documents in archives. A wide screening for fungi contamination in historic books was conducted by the National Records and Archives, Tanta, Egypt. A large percentage (59.3%) of the screened books showed fungal contamination and deterioration. In this study, the fumes r...

Water contamination, with heavy metals and microbial pathogens, is among the most dangerous challenges that confront human health worldwide. Chitosan is a bioactive biopolymer that could be produced from fungal mycelia to be utilized in various applied fields. An attempt to apply fungal chitosan for heavy metals chelation and microbial pathogens in...

Cheese contaminations with foodborne bacterial pathogens, and their health outbreaks, are serious worldwide problems that could happen from diverse sources during cheese production or storage. Plants, and their derivatives, were always regarded as the potential natural and safe antimicrobial alternatives for food preservation and improvement. The e...

An eco-friendly process for the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) biosynthesis was investigated using the fungus Monascus purpureus as a safe and commercially used microorganism. M. purpureus growth filtrate was used for the reduction of the aqueous silver nitrate into Ag-NPs with almost 100% size range of 1-7 nm, which was considered as one of the sma...

Lectins are non-immune, carbohydrate-binding proteins, which are very specific for sugar moieties and agglutinate cells or precipitate polysaccharides. Lectin from Egyptian Jatropha curcas seeds was isolated and purified using ammonium sulphate fractionation and gel filtration columns chromatography. The purified lectin has a specific activity of 3...

The ongoing postharvest loss in citrus fruits, due to fungal infection, is a chronic economic and agricultural problem. Most of citrus damages are caused by Penicillium spp., e.g. green mold by P. digitatum and blue mold by P. italicum. Fungal chitosan, from Mucor rouxii, and plant extracts from cress seeds, olive leaves, pomegranate peels and senn...

The need is always found for effective substitution of chemical and synthetic food preservatives with effective and powerful alternatives from natural origins. Chitosan is an amazing biopolymer with a very wide range of applications. Chitosan could be produced microbiologically from the fungal cell walls. The nature, occurrence, antimicrobial activ...

Background/Objective: Trichophyton verrucosum is a serious zoophilic dermatophyte causing dermatophytic infections and skin lesions in humans and animals. Raising small ruminants beside cattle is a common practice in rural areas of Egypt. Therefore, the current study emphasizes the risk of T. verrucosum spreading through backyard farming, recognizi...