2,177 research outputs found
Novel nanobiotechnology platforms based on photochromic molecules
No full textThe development of new nano-biotechnologies is a promising and ever demanding research
field. In particular, the possibility to use the organic chemistry tools to build molecules
sensitive to a wide range of external stimuli, responsible of a switching between their two
isomers, represents an interesting area of investigation with suitable applications in novel
nano-technologies. The use of photochromic molecular switches in applications ranging
from drug delivery to the probing of biochemical parameters, passing through their uses in
material science, in polymer and carbon nano materials realms, constitute the main research
subject of my PhD course. In this manuscript I’ll report in Chapter 3 investigations upon
Spiropyrans molecular switches in their metal complexations attitude for the Visible light
regulated delivery of pharmaceutical active compounds. Chapter 4 will be dedicated to the
study I conducted on hybrid mesostructures prepared combining Azobenzenes molecules
and Graphene Oxide in order to apply these modified materials in the biological context.
Chapter 5 will be instead dedicated to the study of photochromic Oxazines and Oxazolidines
in their modifications with fluorophores to have ratiometric Temperature and pH sensing
tools and in their use as switchable blocks in photo-modulable polymers
Photo-responsive graphene and carbon nanotubes to control and tackle biological systems
No full textPhoto-responsive multifunctional nanomaterials are receiving considerable attention for biological applications because of their unique properties. The functionalization of the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, among other carbon based nanomaterials, with molecular switches that exhibit reversible transformations between two or more isomers in response to different kind of external stimuli, such as electromagnetic radiation, temperature and pH, has allowed the control of the optical and electrical properties of the nanomaterial. Light-controlled molecular switches, such as azobenzene and spiropyran, have attracted a lot of attention for nanomaterial's functionalization because of the remote modulation of their physicochemical properties using light stimulus. The enhanced properties of the hybrid materials obtained from the coupling of carbon based nanomaterials with light-responsive switches has enabled the fabrication of smart devices for various biological applications, including drug delivery, bioimaging and nanobiosensors. In this review, we highlight the properties of photo-responsive carbon nanomaterials obtained by the conjugation of CNTs and graphene with azobenzenes and spiropyrans molecules to investigate biological systems, devising possible future directions in the field
Behavior of Ternary Mixtures of Hydrogen Bond Acceptors and Donors in Terms of Band Gap Energies
No full textThree ternary mixtures composed by choline chloride (ChCl), ethylene glycol (EG), and a second hydrogen bond donor (HBD) as ethanol (A), 2-propanol (B), and glycerol (C) were studied in terms of composition related to the band gap energy (BGE). A Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, and in particular a Simple Lattice three-components design, was employed for determining the variation of the BGE upon the composition of each system. UV-VIS analysis and subsequent Tauc plot methodology provided the data requested from the DoE, and multivariate statistical analysis revealed a drop of the BGE in correspondence to specific binary compositions for systems A and B. In particular, a BGE of 3.85 eV was registered for the mixtures ChCl/EtOH (1:1) and ChCl/2-propanol (1:1), which represents one of the lowest values ever observed for these systems
Choline chloride-based ternary deep band gap systems
No full textThe structural features derived by the UV-VIS spectroscopical analysis of five ternary eutectic systems containing
choline chloride as Hydrogen Bond Acceptor (HBA), and ethylene glycol and a second Hydrogen Bond Donor
(HBD, water, glycerol, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol), have been determined and described in terms of
band gap and Urbach energies (BGE and UE). In particular, the relationship between the molar composition of
the ternary eutectic systems and the BG and U energies was assessed through the Tauc plot methodology,
which revealed a peculiar behaviour of the system containing 2-propanol. Thus, a Design of Experiments
(DoE) approach, specifically a two-levels full factorial screening experiment, followed by a Surface Responding
Analysis (SRA), allowed to determine the influence of the composition and other operational parameters (temperature
and resting time) on the structural disorder of the final ternary eutectic system. An unprecedented effect
of the DES-aging was observed on the UE, indicating that the structure of these systems evolves during time by
increasing its order
"The love that made hell, paradise." Ouida re-writing the Paolo and Francesca theme in Held in Bondage
No full textThe bestselling Victorian author Ouida reveals in her novels, and, in particular, Held in Bondage, an extraordinary knowledge od Dante, by using characters and themes from the Commedia. The Paolo and Francesca theme actually constitutes part of the plot of the novel and is to be found in many of her other works, short stories and non-fiction writing
HERStory Makers 2023: Francesca Fotheringham
No full textFrancesca Fotheringham is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh studying educational psychology with a focus on neurodiversity. She took part in HERStory Makers 2023.What is HERStory Makers?HERStory Makers is a social media competition for female-identifying early career researchers to share their research, their career journeys, and to inspire the next generation. Winners are selected by public vote. HERStory Makers is also part of EXPLORATHON, Scotland's contribution to European Researchers' Night.In 2022-23, EXPLORATHON Francescasupported by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/X020762/1].Author contributions to contentFrancesca conceived, planned, and recorded the video content. Kirsty Ross edited the video content to insert HERStory Maker credits, added subtitles, and reduce video length to below Twitter/X limit of 2 mins and 20 secs.</p
In-depth characterization of choline lysinate ([Cho][Lys]) in ethylene glycol for optimized CO2 capture conditions
No full textCholine Lysinate, an amino acid ionic liquid, demonstrates significant potential as an environmentally friendly solvent for post-combustion CO2 capture. This study explores the physicochemical properties and CO2 absorption performance of Choline Lysinate in ethylene glycol solutions at concentrations of 25 %, 33 %, and 50 % by weight. Key findings indicate that while the 50 % solution offers the highest CO2 capacity, its tendency to form precipitates post-absorption renders it impractical for industrial use. The 33 % solution achieved optimal performance with a CO2 absorption capacity of 4.45 % by weight, maintaining structural stability and thermal resistance under aging conditions. ATR-IR and TGA analyses confirmed carbamate formation during CO2 capture and demonstrated the thermal stability of the solutions. The 25 % solution exhibited viscosity 1.3 times lower than the 33 % solution and 2.5 times lower than the 50 % solution at 30 °C, resulting in significantly reduced energy demands for solvent circulation and regeneration. Despite slightly lower CO2 absorption (3.83 % by weight), the 25 % solution demonstrated superior energy efficiency, making it the ideal ionic liquid concentration for scalable industrial applications. These findings underscore the potential of Choline Lysinate -based solutions for sustainable CO2 capture, offering a balance of efficiency and process stability
Interface properties of nanostructured carbon-coated biological implants: an overview
No full textThe interfaces between medical implants and living tissues are of great complexity because of the simultaneous occurrence of a wide variety of phenomena. The engineering of implant surfaces represents a crucial challenge in material science, but the further improvement of implant properties remains a critical task. It can be achieved through several processes. Among them, the production of specialized coatings based on carbon-based materials stands very promising. The use of carbon coatings allows one to simultaneously fine-tune tribological, mechanical, and chemical properties. Here, we review applications of nanostructured carbon coatings (nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes, and graphene-related materials) for the improvement of the overall properties of medical implants. We are focusing on biological interactions, improved corrosion resistance, and overall mechanical properties, trying to provide a complete overview within the field
Medicina illuminata. La Biblioteca Lancisiana di Roma
No full textL'articolo presenta i codici miniati della Biblioteca Lancisiana di Roma. La prima parte, del coautore, è dedicata alla Biblioteca. La seconda parte, di F. Manzari, tratta dei manoscritti miniati, costituiti da due codici con le opere di Avicenna e dal Liber fraternitatis della Confraternita dell'Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia a Roma.The article introduces the illuminated manuscripts of the Biblioteca Lancisiana in Rome. The first part of the article, by the co-author, is dedicated to the Library. The second part, by Francesca Manzari, illustrates the manuscipts; these are two manuscripts with the works of Avicenna and the Liber fraternitatis of the Confraternity of the Hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome
A DH-Leavened Musicological Toolbox
No full textGraduate-level training in music research methodologies tends to ignore digital humanities work and overlook the use of digital tools created in support of new forms of reading. Training instead focuses on source material in the student’s area of interest. This material includes secondary and primary (archival) resources, as well as information resources, such as: monuments of music and critical editions; indexes; bibliographies and thematic catalogs; dictionaries and encyclopedias; digital libraries of scores or editions; and databases of period-specific newspapers or journals. Graduate students taking research methods courses already have a toolbox built from their experiences as musicians and students of music, including the ability to read and interpret music notation, to understand theoretical and analytical concepts in music, as well as a command of music history, including the canon of musical works.
Digital humanities has become a major area of academic endeavor at the “interface of technological development, epistemological change and methodological concerns." An important characteristic of digital humanities research has been its interdisciplinarity. We argue that graduate training in musicology needs to include coverage of methodologies applied by digital humanists in support of new forms of reading, not only to broaden the canon of research topics in musicology, but also to build common ground with researchers of other disciplines. We propose that librarians are well positioned to provide this expertise and training
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