Boise State University

Kevin Feris

Alex Punnoose

Denise Wingett

Hua Wang

Patrick Thomas

Madhusudan R Kongara

Gary Dunn

Maxine Passero

Maxine Prior

Mfadhusudan R Kongara

Method of inhibiting live grazing organisms in an algae composition are disclosed, which do not inhibit the algae. In certain embodiments the concentration of algae increases. In other embodiments the mortality of live grazing organisms is complete. The method contacts an algae composition with wastewater comprising free ammonia and maintaining pH of at least 8 for more than two hours.

Methods of enhancing algae production

The present invention relates to a process of remediating wastewaters, preferably agricultural wastewaters resulting from animal production or contained animal feeding operation sites. The water is treated to promote assimilation of nutrients into algal biomass, which can be harvested and sold, and the resultant wastewater is then purified. According to the invention, short wavelength UV radiation (less than 280 nm wavelength) is used to pretreat wastewater, with the dose determined by absorbance of the water, not by bacterial load. Pretreated water exhibits changes in chromophoric dissolved organic matter that allows for improved and increased algae production by as much as 88%.

Ultraviolet radiation pre-treatment of wastewater, improving its utility for algal cultivation

A core-shell nanoparticle having a core that includes a fluorophore and a first oxide of a first metal and a shell that includes a second oxide of a second metal such that the first oxide and the second oxide are different. Also disclosed are methods relating to the core-shell nanoparticle.

Fluorescent particles comprising nanoscale ZnO layer and exhibiting cell-specific toxicity

Multifunctional 'smart' nanostructures are disclosed that include fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-encapsulated SiOcore-shell particles with a nanoscale ZnO finishing layer, wherein an outer ZnO layer is formed on the SiO-FITC core. These &#x2dc;200 nm sized particles showed promise toward cell imaging and cellular uptake studies using the bacteriumand Jurkat cancer cells, respectively. The FITC encapsulated ZnO particles demonstrated excellent selectivity in preferentially killing Jurkat cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal primary immune cells (18% and 75% viability remaining, respectively, after exposure to 60 &#x3bc;g/mL) and inhibited the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at concentrations &#x2267;250-500 &#x3bc;g/mL (forand, respectively). These results indicate that the FITC encapsulated multifunctional particles with nanoscale ZnO surface layer can be used as smart nanostructures for particle tracking, cell imaging, antibacterial treatments and cancer therapy.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Kevin Feris