Welcome Note from Editor-in-Chief

It is with great pleasure that I write this editorial to welcome you to the first issue of this new International journal, “Pakistan Biomedical Journal” (PBMJ). The topics covered by the journal are certainly broad and interesting. Biomedical science is a collection of applied sciences that help us understand, research, and innovate within the field of healthcare. It includes disciplines like molecular biology, clinical virology, bioinformatics, and biomedical engineering, among others. It's designed to apply the biological sciences to advance not only individual health but also the area of public health. Biomedical Research can help health professions better understand things like the human body and cell biology, making advances in our understanding of epidemics, health initiatives, and human health in the age of longer life expectancy. It aids our understanding of infectious disease and provides research opportunities into some of our most troubling health issues. The journal will continue to publish high quality clinical and biomedical research in health and disease later in life. Peer review will remain a vital component of our assessment of submitted articles.I am very happy to have a team of excellent editors and editorial board members from the top international league covering in depth the related topics. They will ensure the highest standards of quality for the published manuscripts and, at the same time, keep the process time as short as possible. We hope to bring best researches in the field of biomedical sciences that may serve as a guideline in health awareness, understanding the mechanisms and its management in future.   We definitely look forward to receiving your excellent studies to making PBMJ synonymous with high quality in the biomedical science domain.

Natural Colorants As Photosensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Dsscs for Green Enconomy

Twenty five natural dyes (D1-D25) were extracted through maceration from local plants species categorized as A= D1-D6, B= D7-D17, C= D18-D20, D= D21-D22, E= D23 and F= D24-D25 on the basis of their parts used for the application in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photo-physical and electro-chemical behaviors of natural dye were evaluated through UV-visible spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry respectively. The UV-Visible absorption spectrum of the individual dye extracts D1-D25 revealed two distinct bands i.e. First band corresponds to π-π* transition while the second band corresponds to intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) band. Out of all the extracted natural dyes, S. oleracea (D23-E) dye resulted in best absorption at ICT band with λmax = 662 nm having absorbance A= 0.33. Cyclic voltammetry of the dyes D1-D25 was carried out which revealed the distinct oxidation and reduction peaks. The peaks can be seen more prominently among S. oleracea (D23-E), R. tinctorum (D21-D) and H. rosa-sinensis (D1-A) dyes while rest of the dyes exhibited less prominent peaks. The photovoltaic performances of the individual dyes D1-D25 (A-F) were evaluated by fabricating the sandwich-type DSSCs with the extracted natural dyes. TiO2 coated FTO glass slides were prepared for dye adsorption. The J-V profiles showed open circuit voltage values and short circuit current density. The most promising results of photovoltaic parameters were found for solar cell fabricated with D23-E dye with Jsc= 5.38 mA/cm2 and Voc= 0.47 V followed by D21-D (Jsc=4.14; Voc= 0.36 V) and D1-A (Jsc= 5.48; Voc= 0.36 V) respectively The best sunlight to energy conversion efficiency was obtained from D23-E (η= 1.4%) dye which has better UV absorption and oxidation properties. The respective dye gave high short circuit current density and hence high photon to current efficiency was achieved. Other dyes gave the efficiency in the following order D21-D (R. tinctorum) = 1.1% > D22-D (A. tinctoria)= 1.05% > D1-A (H. rosa sinensis)= 1.02% > D17-B (S. anacardium)= 0.92 > D2-A (B. oleracea var. capitata) & D11-B (P. granatum) = 0.9% > D6-A (R. macdub)= 0.8% > D19-C (B. vulgaris) = 0.7%. Other natural dyes also showed satisfactory results. These natural dyes can easily replace conventional harmful, persistent and expensive metallic and synthetic dyes. Natural dye can be regarded as a promising candidate for low cost DSSCs fabrication with no environmental damage.