Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhou Ye, Ting Sang, Kun Li, Nicholas G. Fischer, Isha Mutreja, Constanza Echeverria, Dhiraj Kumar, Zhen Tang, Conrado Aparicio
Summary: Antimicrobial coatings are a promising strategy to prevent implant infections, and hybrid nanocoatings with antimicrobial peptide (AMP) amphiphiles decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show significantly increased antimicrobial potency in vitro and in vivo.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Andrea Pietro Reverberi, Valery Pavlovic Meshalkin, Oleg B. B. Butusov, Tamara B. B. Chistyakova, Maurizio Ferretti, Anna Maria Cardinale, Bruno Fabiano
Summary: A critical survey of biocidal energetics based on their chemical structure is proposed, with a focus on optimizing compound performance for the inertization of biological weapons. The study discusses and compares the physicochemical aspects related to synthesis technique, thermodynamic variables, and antimicrobial activity. The role of iodine as an eco-friendly chemical species is emphasized. Evaluation protocols for biocidal agents are examined, and suggestions for future research are provided.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Qiuqin Huang, Zhenghuan Lin, Dongpeng Yan
Summary: Organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), especially ultralong organic RTP (UOP), has great potential in fields such as flexible intelligent information encryption, optical anticounterfeiting, and biological imaging. Various strategies have been implemented to improve phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime, with the confinement effect of inorganic micro/nanostructures being particularly effective. The confinement of inorganic frameworks can enhance the efficiency and lifetime of RTP for organic phosphors, as well as the interactions between organic and inorganic components.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marcel T. Seuffert, Tim Granath, Thomas Kasper, Ruben Maile, Rosa Pujales-Paradela, Johannes Prieschl, Susanne Wintzheimer, Karl Mandel, Klaus Mueller-Buschbaum
Summary: Luminomagnetic composites consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and luminescent MOFs were synthesized, allowing for individual tuning of luminescence intensity, chromaticity, and magnetization. By reversing the structure compared to previous composites, the luminescent MOF acts as the core and is covered by magnetic nanoparticles forming the satellite shell. The magnetic and photophysical properties can be adjusted by changing the particle coverage of the MOF. The composition and synthesis conditions of the composites were analyzed using various techniques.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amna Hassan, Zohra Nazir Kayani, Maryam Anwar, Madia Sahar
Summary: Thin films of Nd-doped TiO2 were fabricated using sol-gel dip-coating, and characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer, and LCR meter. The anatase phase formation was confirmed by XRD and FTIR spectra. The crystallite size increased from 1 to 4 wt% and then decreased for 5 wt%, and a blue shift was observed in transmission spectra with increasing dopant concentration. The antibacterial and photocatalytic activity was highest for 2 and 4 wt% Nd-doped TiO2, respectively. Nd doping enhanced the AC conductivity and ferromagnetic behavior.
ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Aboulfazl Mirzapoor, Erfan Ghashghaee
Summary: Bio Threat Storm has drawn attention to bio safety, which can be increased by reducing microorganism concentration on surfaces and in the air. The main focus of bio safety is to improve the antimicrobial activity of antimicrobial agents and surfaces. Antimicrobial nanomaterials like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can be used to fight pathogens and decrease microorganism levels.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xi Bi, Zhanli Chai, Yongjian Niu, Yangyang Feng, Linlin Zhang, Cheng Wang
Summary: TiO2-C-rGO composite, prepared from well-defined TiO2 nanocrystals coupled with carbon layers and graphene nanosheets, exhibited superior performance as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. The exposed facets of TiO2 nanocrystals and the carbon coupling contributed to enhanced lithium diffusion and electron transfer, while the abundant three-phase interfaces between carbon species and TiO2 nanocrystals boosted pseudo-capacitive lithium storage. This work provided a new approach to design versatile nanostructures and improve the efficiency of energy materials.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yike Hou, Asim Mushtaq, Zhe Tang, Eithne Dempsey, Yuling Wu, Yuguang Lu, Cong Tian, Jabeen Farheen, Xiangdong Kong, M. Zubair Iqbal
Summary: This work reports on the design of Ag decorated TiO2 hybrid nanorods with dual functionalities of enhanced photodynamic therapy and antibacterial activity. The Ag-TiO2 HNRs showed high intracellular ROS production in cancer cells under UV conditions, resulting in cancer cell apoptosis. They also exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE-ADVANCED MATERIALS AND DEVICES
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Alberto Escudero, Carolina Carrillo-Carrion, Elena Romero-Ben, Ana Franco, Christian Rosales-Barrios, Ma Carmen Castillejos, Noureddine Khiar
Summary: Chemical routes for the synthesis of nanostructures are fundamental in nanoscience. This article focuses on wet chemistry synthesis, providing a general overview of the synthesis of different inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic nanostructures. It is suitable for early researchers and non-specialist readers with a basic background in chemistry.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahdiyeh Akbari, Mohammad Emad Sadeghi, Mohammad Ali Ghasemzadeh
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained attention for their applications in various fields such as gas storage, energy storage, drug delivery, and catalysis. This research focused on synthesizing a nanocarrier called TiO2@Chitosan@ZIF-8 for delivering the antibiotic tetracycline (TC). The antimicrobial effect of the nanocarrier loaded with TC was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria, showing promising results. The synthesized nanocarrier was validated through various characterization techniques, and it was found to have a high loading capacity for TC and controlled drug release at different pH levels.
RESEARCH ON CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Soumya Ranjan Mishra, Vishal Gadore, Md. Ahmaruzzaman
Summary: The study focused on synthesizing cadmium-doped CdIn2S4 incorporated in chitosan to form quantum dots for efficient photodegradation of hazardous pollutants. Various characterization methods were used, and the prepared Cd/CdIn2S4@Ch quantum dots showed excellent photodegradation efficiency and stability, with the ability to be recycled multiple times.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Dae Eon Jung, Irene R. Howell, Vincent J. Einck, Feyza Dundar Arisoy, Lucas D. Verrastro, Andrew McClung, Amir Arbabi, James J. Watkins
Summary: In this work, atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used as a short post-fabrication step to increase the refractive index (RI) of nanocrystal (NC)-based films and patterned nanostructures. The RI of TiO2 NC-based films was increased from 1.95 to 2.15 by ALD, and the number of ALD cycles could be adjusted to achieve desired intermediate RI values. The use of ALD resulted in a denser structure and improved optical performance of the nanostructures, as demonstrated by the increased focusing efficiency of metalenses.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Claudio Imparato, Gerardino D'Errico, Wojciech Macyk, Marcin Kobielusz, Giuseppe Vitiello, Antonio Aronne
Summary: Metal oxide-organic hybrid semiconductors have specific properties determined not only by their composition but also by the synthesis procedure and functionalization method. This study presents a sol-gel route as an alternative strategy to synthesize titanium oxide-based materials containing organic molecules coordinated to the metal. The effect of ligand molecular structure on the surface properties of the hybrids is investigated.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Guerriero, Gerardino D'Errico
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Lucia Panzella, Kenneth Benning, Darren N. Nesbeth, Brunella Setaro, Gerardino D'Errico, Alessandra Napolitano, Marco D'Ischia
Summary: This study purified the pigment of black sturgeon caviar and identified it as a typical black pigment through chemical degradation and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) evidence. Analysis of oxidative degradation mixtures revealed the formation of a specific marker of eumelanin pigments, providing a novel molecular basis for the valorization of black caviar and production wastes in food chemistry and diet.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Augusta de Santis, Ernesto Scoppola, Maria Francesca Ottaviani, Alexandros Koutsioubas, Lester C. Barnsley, Luigi Paduano, Gerardino D'Errico, Irene Russo Krauss
Summary: The structural properties of cholesterol-containing lipid bilayers with increasing amounts of polyunsaturated omega-3 lipids were investigated using multiple techniques in this study. Results indicate that the different effects of hybrid and symmetric omega-3 phospholipids on lipid bilayers' microscopic organization, with cholesterol able to suppress non-lamellar structures induced by symmetric polyunsaturated lipids. The structural organization of the resulting bilayer does not fit neatly into typical liquid ordered or liquid disordered phases, showing loose packing of lipid chain segments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Michela Di Napoli, Giusy Castagliuolo, Natale Badalamenti, Alessandro Vaglica, Vincenzo Ilardi, Mario Varcamonti, Maurizio Bruno, Anna Zanfardino
Summary: This study analyzed the essential oil composition and medicinal activities of Prangos trifida from Northern Italy. The essential oil was found to be rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons and exhibited significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, which makes it a promising candidate for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marco Campanile, Rosario Oliva, Gerardino D'Errico, Pompea Del Vecchio, Luigi Petraccone
Summary: LL-III is an anticancer peptide that can translocate across tumor cell membranes. However, the mechanism through which it enters the cell cytoplasm is still unknown. In this study, we used physico-chemical techniques to characterize the interaction of LL-III with liposomes resembling the lipid matrix of the tumor cell membrane. Our results show that the peptide selectively interacts with the model tumor cell membrane without disrupting the lipid bilayer, but alters its properties by promoting lipid reorganization and increasing membrane permeability.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Giuliano Gattoni, Rafael R. de la Haba, Jesus Martin, Fernando Reyes, Cristina Sanchez-Porro, Antonia Feola, Candida Zuchegna, Shaday Guerrero-Flores, Mario Varcamonti, Ezio Ricca, Nelly Selem-Mojica, Antonio Ventosa, Paulina Corral
Summary: The low-abundance microbiota in the marine environment has the potential to produce new bioactive molecules with pharmaceutical applications. This study isolated a new marine bacterium, Leeuwenhoekiella parthenopeia sp. nov. Mr9(T), from the rare biosphere using seasonal and diel sampling approaches. The bacterium showed potential for synthesizing novel bioactive compounds, and its lipidome exhibited activity against prostatic and brain tumor cells. The study emphasizes the importance of ecological sampling strategies and the use of bacterial membrane constituents in developing novel therapeutics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodolfo Esposito, Immacolata Speciale, Cristina De Castro, Gerardino D'Errico, Irene Russo Krauss
Summary: To protect human and environmental health, researchers are focusing on discovering and developing new molecules with high biocompatibility and biodegradability. Surfactants are particularly urgent in this matter, and biosurfactants derived from microorganisms are a promising alternative. Rhamnolipids, a well-known family of biosurfactants, have been extensively studied for their production and physicochemical characterization, although a clear structure-function relationship is still lacking. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of the physicochemical properties of rhamnolipids under different solution conditions and their structure, while also addressing unresolved issues for their potential replacement of conventional surfactants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rita Argenziano, Maria Laura Alfieri, Noemi Gallucci, Gerardino D'Errico, Lucia Panzella, Alessandra Napolitano
Summary: The search for new synthetic melanin-related pigments with antioxidant and photoprotective properties is important for dermo-cosmetic purposes. In this study, a melanin derived from 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) was synthesized and found to have similar structural properties to DHICA melanin. The synthesized pigment demonstrated stronger UV-visible absorption and improved solubility compared to DHICA melanin. Furthermore, the pigment exhibited marked antioxidant properties and enhanced inhibitory action against lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that the melanin derived from DHICA has potential as a functional ingredient in dermo-cosmetic formulations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Mariano, Ines Fasolino, Nikita Bhupesh Dinger, Claudia Latte Bovio, Irene Bonadies, Alessandro Pezzella, Luigi Ambrosio, Maria Grazia Raucci, Francesca Santoro
Summary: During neural system development, neurons respond to cues found in the brain's environment, and these cues have been used in neural tissue engineering to create scaffolds that can guide neuronal behavior. Anisotropic aligned fibers, mimicking natural fiber structures, have proven effective in promoting cell alignment and neuronal differentiation. Melanins, including eumelanin, possess beneficial properties and have been used as coatings. Aligned poly(lactic acid) fibers coated with eumelanin promote cell alignment, morphology, and maturation of neuroblastoma cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Flaviana Di Lorenzo, Simone Nicolardi, Roberta Marchetti, Adele Vanacore, Noemi Gallucci, Katarzyna Duda, Ferran Nieto Fabregat, Ha Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Djamel Gully, James Saenz, Eric Giraud, Luigi Paduano, Antonio Molinaro, Gerardino D'Errico, Alba Silipo
Summary: The ability of Methylobacterium extorquens to grow on methanol as the sole carbon and energy source is influenced by the composition and function of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane. The LPS of M. extorquens is unique, with non-phosphorylated and heavily O-methylated core oligosaccharides, and a distinctive lipid A structure. These chemical features impact the resistance of the membrane to methanol, regulating membrane ordering and dynamics.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Brigida Silvestri, Paolo Armanetti, Giulio Pota, Giuseppe Vitiello, Alessandro Pezzella, Luca Menichetti, Vincenzo Giannini, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: Photoacoustics is an increasingly recognized biomolecular imaging technique due to its non-invasiveness, deep penetration, high spatial resolution, and excellent endogenous contrast. Recent research has shown that a self-structured biocompatible nanoprobe, consisting of ternary hybrid nanoparticles with a silver core and a melanin component embedded into a silica matrix, exhibits excellent photoacoustic response. The interaction between eumelanin and silver is found to play an important role in the in situ-generated metal-organic interface. By systematically varying the metal/melanin component, the stability and intensity of the photoacoustic response can be tuned for various biomedical and theranostic applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chiara Deriu, Shaila Thakur, Olimpia Tammaro, Laura Fabris
Summary: SERS plays a crucial role in biosensing innovation, but faces challenges in its application to the biomedical field. Solutions involve enhancing substrate design and improving spectral collection set-up.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Michela Di Napoli, Brigida Silvestri, Giusy Castagliuolo, Andrea Carpentieri, Giuseppina Luciani, Antimo Di Maro, Sergio Sorbo, Alessandro Pezzella, Anna Zanfardino, Mario Varcamonti
Summary: In this study, a fungal species, Cladosporium halotolerans, is isolated from Galleria mellonella larvae. It is found that this fungus is capable of interacting with and degrading polyethylene.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Virginia Venezia, Mariavittoria Verrillo, Noemi Gallucci, Rocco Di Girolamo, Giuseppina Luciani, Gerardino D'Errico, Luigi Paduano, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppe Vitiello
Summary: The waste-to-wealth strategy promotes the design of new value-added materials using biowastes. Humic Acids (HA) are intriguing due to their supramolecular associations, which enable adsorption, chelation, redox behavior, and antibacterial activity. Combining HA with semiconductor nanoparticles allows for the creation of nanostructured hybrids with advanced properties. The study provides insights into producing low-cost organo-inorganic nanomaterials with redox and biocide properties to address environmental and health issues.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
