Ben Shekhar | Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner (original) (raw)

Papers by Ben Shekhar

The objective of present work is to fabricate porous three-dimensional biocomposite scaffolds wit... more The objective of present work is to fabricate porous three-dimensional biocomposite scaffolds with interconnected pore networks and mechanical strength for wound healing. Variable concentrations of chitosan and methylcellulose hydrogels were blended in the presence of calcium cations to prepare scaffolds by freeze-drying method. Curcumin-aerosol was deposited over the scaffold surface to improve antimicrobial efficacy. Scaffold stability and curcumin interaction were evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicate multi-layered porosity, mesh-like structure and pore-size ranging from 50 to 500 μm. Erythrocyte interaction with chitosan and methylcellulose using Surface Plasmon Resonance assay in the presence of curcumin depicted high binding affinity of chitosan alone than curcumin. The antibacterial activity of SCF-4C against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the instant haemostasis in erythrocyte-agglutination assay by SCF-7 indicate good material properties for wound treatment. Bleeding time and wound healing efficacy conducted on Sprague Dawley rats depict minimum clotting time of SCF-4 (~32 AE 2 s) compared to SCF-4C (~45 AE 2 s), while highest~85 AE 5 s was observed in curcumin alone. SCF-4C exhibit complete wound healing on day14 in diabetic animals. In-vivo studies confirmed that high concentration of chitosan in presence of curcumin enhances diabetic wound healing process.

AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021

Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding (The), 2014

Genetic diversity analysis of sixteen accessions of two Cucumis melo groups var. callosus (kachar... more Genetic diversity analysis of sixteen accessions of two Cucumis melo groups var. callosus (kachari) and momordica (kakari) collected from four districts viz., Ajmer, Bikaner, Churu and Nagaur of Rajasthan was carried out using RAPD primers. A total of 102 amplified fragments were generated, out of which 99 were polymorphic. Primers OPG17 could distinguish all the accessions recording the highest discriminatory power (1.00) followed by OPB 6 (0.991). The Jaccard's similarity coefficient recorded an average similarity of 0.40 indicating 60% diversity, ranging from 18 to 67% among all the 16 accessions. The SAHN clustering based on UPGMA algorithms divided the accessions into three groups, the I consisting nine (eight of kakari and one kachari (Nagaur 1k) accessions, the II included five (all kachari one Nagaur 2k and four from Ajmer and Bikaner) and the III had two kachari accessions of Churu. Kachari recorded 20% more genetic diversity as compared to kakari. Churu Kachari recorded maximum diversity (61 to 82%). The study indicated that the landraces possess wide genetic diversity, which can be used for improvement.

Fabrication of 3D composite scaffolds was carried out by lyophilization of variable concentration... more Fabrication of 3D composite scaffolds was carried out by lyophilization of variable concentrations of collagen and chitosan gel solutions. Fibrinogen and thrombin aerosol were deposited over the surface of scaffolds to enhance hemostasis and wound healing. Composite scaffolds were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer to ascertain the aerosol deposition and stability. Scanning electron microscope showed multilayered porosity with pore size of~30 μm and mushroom-like fibril growth of aerosol. A detailed investigation by surface plasmon resonance confirmed higher binding affinity of collagen toward the human blood platelets and erythrocytes in comparison to chitosan and was found to increase with the increase in blood cell concentration from 480.8 to 886.4 RU for erythrocytes. Scaffolds showed higher binding response for platelets than erythrocytes, while fibrinogen and thrombin showed no or limited interaction. Highest blood sorption of 83 ± 4% was observed in case of aerosol deposited scaffolds. Aerosol deposited scaffolds showed minimum clotting time of 20 ± 3 s and bleeding time of 38 ± 4 s, which was significantly lower compared to the scaffolds without aerosol treatment. Aerosol deposited composite scaffolds with 2:1 concentration of chitosan/collagen showed complete wound contraction by day 14, while 50% was observed in case of the control group. In vivo studies revealed that chitosan had a crucial role in the inflammatory phase, while collagen played an important role in the proliferation and maturation phase. The present study suggests that the fabricated 3D composite scaffolds with bioactive moieties may be a potential candidate for enhanced hemostasis and wound healing applications.

Genetic diversity analysis of sixteen accessions of two Cucumis melo groups var. callosus ( ka... more Genetic diversity analysis of sixteen accessions of two
Cucumis melo groups var. callosus ( kachari ) and
momordica(kakari) collected from four districts viz., Ajmer,
Bikaner, Churu and Nagaur of Rajasthan was carried out
using RAPD primers. A total of 102 amplified fragments
were generated, out of which 99 were polymorphic. Primers
OPG17 could distinguish all the accessions recording the
highest discriminatory power (1.00) followed by OPB 6
(0.991). The Jaccard’s similarity coefficient recorded an
average similarity of 0.40 indicating 60% diversity, ranging
from 18 to 67% among all the 16 accessions. The SAHN
clustering based on UPGMA algorithms divided the
accessions into three groups, the I consisting nine (eight
of kakariand one kachari(Nagaur 1k) accessions, the II
included five (all kacharione Nagaur 2k and four from Ajmer
and Bikaner) and the III had two kachariaccessions of
Churu. Kachari recorded 20% more genetic diversity as
compared to kakari. Churu Kachari recorded maximum
diversity (61 to 82%). The study indicated that the landraces
possess wide genetic diversity, which can be used for
improvement.

In earlier study, single dose of a standardized leaf extract of Hippophae rhamnoides (code SBL-1)... more In earlier study, single dose of a standardized leaf extract of Hippophae rhamnoides (code SBL-1), @ 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) 30min before whole body 60Co-gamma-irradiation (10 Gy), rendered >90% survivors in comparison to zero survivor in non-SBL-1treated 60Co-gamma-irradiated (10 Gy) mice population. Present study investigated the modifying effects of SBL-1 on jejunal microbiota. 9 weeks old Swiss albino Strain‘A’ male mice were segregated as Untreated Control; 60Co-gamma-irradiated (10 Gy); Drug alone (30 mg/kg b.w. SBL-1) and Drug + Radiation (30 mg/kg b.w. SBL-1, 30 min before 10 Gy). 16S rRNA gene amplicons,
prepared using universal primers were sequenced on ABI3130, Genetic Analyzer. After removing vector contamination and chimeras, the sequences [GenBank Acc.No. KF681283 to KF681351] were taxonomically classified by using Sequence Match program, Ribosomal Database Project and by nucleotide-BLAST [E-value: 10, database: 16S rRNA gene sequences, Bacteria and Archea]. Phylogenetic Tree was prepared by MEGA, using maximum likelihood algorithm after sequence alignment by MUSCLE. Branch stability was assessed by bootstrap analysis. Rooted tree had Thermus aquaticus as out-group. Untreated Control and Drug alone groups had 100% Lactobacillus; Drug + Radiation had 89% Lactobacillus and11% Clostridium; 60Co-gamma-irradiated group had 55% Cohaesibacter (Alphaproteobacteria); 27% Mycoplasma (Tenericutes) and only 18% Lactobacillus. The radioprotective SBL-1 countered the radiation caused microbiota dysbiosis.

AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021

Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding (The), 2014