13,103 research outputs found
Preface
No full textWe believe that the development of luminescent sensors will have a strong social and economical impact. As scientists actively working in this field since many years, we would like to start by thanking Prof. Vincenzo Balzani that, as a previous member of the editorial board of Topics in Current Chemistry, was the one who proposed a volume on this subject.
In this volume, through a short but multisided overview, we try to provide the reader with an understanding of how deeply the merging of the three main scientific areas sensing, luminescence and nanotechnology can impact on our everyday life. In this preface we will give a short introduction to the general fundamental principles of each of them, hoping that this will allow an easier and clearer understanding of the ‘result of their sum’.
We can say, from a very broad and generalized point of view, that sensing processes necessarily entail the exploitation of one or more chemical-physical phenomena to convey information about the external environment (the sensing domain). What follows this is the conversion of the stimulus of the sensed phenomenon/species into a signal or data stream that can be understood and manipulated.
In particular, chemical sensing involves the design of single molecules or of arrays of molecules that specifically recognize a chemical species in a reversible manner and in a given concentration range. The need for reversibility is an essential requirement for continuous or in vivo monitoring, but in the case of once-off measurements it is not always necessary. Moreover, in recent times, single analyte sensing has been flanked by new kinds of systems that are able to detect classes or mixtures of chemicals in a similar manner to which nature has developed human taste or smell.
As these requirements are rather complex, the advent of luminescent signalling systems and luminescent-based devices continues to bring about many advantages, since fluorescence measurements are usually very sensitive, low cost, easily performed, and versatile, offering submicron visualisation and submillisecond temporal resolution. Consequently, luminescent chemical sensors play a major role in key fields such as industry, diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, and various kinds of environmental monitoring.
Likewise, since molecular nanotechnology is the most advanced frontier of research in many scientific areas, it is again not surprising how this is also the framework of the natural evolution and development of sensors. Nanotechnology is certainly still a science in its infancy, but it is already extensively affecting our everyday life with many different products that span the widest variety of applications. There are valid safety concerns about the production and use of nanomaterials and increasingly research is still needed to separate speculative risks from real ones. This is particularly true for nanoparticles. In fact, nanoparticles, among all the nanostructured materials, not only have the highest number of industrial applications, but they are also the most extensively studied worldwide. These extremely versatile nano-objects are usually described as small spheres with controlled dimensions and a radius in the range of nanometers, but their shape can vary significantly, as can their constituting material (metals, semiconductors, lipids, polymers, etc.), and their surface derivatization with different capping agents (receptors, reactive sites, electroactive or photoactive functionalities, DNA strains, etc.).
Merging nanotechnology and luminescent signalling can therefore lead to the creation of unique materials that can induce great improvements in the technical development of many areas. In this volume, leading scientists present comprehensive reviews on modern research trends that accompany the reader on a journey from optical and luminescent chemosensors and biosensors (Cite the contributions of Prof A.P. de Silva and Prof. O. Wolfbeis), also exploiting chiral sensing (Prof. Corradini), to their implementation in more complex structures to yield materials able to perform signal amplification (Contributions of Prof. Rurack and Prof Prodi) and to be included in detection devices (Contributions of Prof. Rurack, Prof Prodi, Prof. O. Wolfbeis and Prof. Paolesse).
We believe that the high impact on different fields, and the variety of approaches to the topic will attract the attention of scientists from different communities such as chemistry, materials, technology, medicine, and industry. We also hope that the writing style will enable readers from diverse areas of research to fully enjoy the presentations on this fascinating subject and we hope to offer at least a taste of its huge potential
Mass Immunization and Vaccine Hesitancy in Children and Their Families: A Long and Winding Road Ahead to Address without a Second Thought
No full textIn 2019, vaccine hesitancy (VH), defined by the SAGE working group as “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services” [...
Penetration of Microplastics and Nanoparticles Through Skin: Effects of Size, Shape, and Surface Chemistry
No full textSkin represents an effective barrier against the penetration of external agents into the human body. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that small particles, especially in the nanosized range, can not only penetrate through the skin but also work as vectors to transport active molecules such as contrast agents or drugs. This knowledge has opened new perspectives on nanomedicine and controlled drug delivery. On the other hand, micro- and nanoplastics represent a form of emerging pollutants, and their concentration in the environment has been reported to drastically increase in the last years. The possible penetration of these particles through the skin has become a major concern for human health. If the actual primary toxicity of these materials is still debated, their possible role in the transport of toxic molecules through the skin, originating as secondary toxicity, is surely alarming. In this review paper, we analyze and critically discuss the most recent scientific publications to underline how these two processes, (i) the controlled delivery of bioactive molecules by micro- and nano-structures and (ii) the unwanted and uncontrolled penetration of toxic species through the skin mediated by micro- and nanoparticles, are deeply related and their efficiency is strongly affected by the nature, size, and shape of the particles
The Importance of Mapping Determinants, Attitudes and Beliefs of Vaccine Hesitancy in the Great Challenge of Compulsory Childhood Vaccination Comment on "Convergence on Coercion: Functional and Political Pressures as Drivers of Global Childhood Vaccine Mandates"
No full textVaccine hesitancy (VH) has risen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a major global health concern. VH is characterized by the delay or refusal of vaccination despite its availability. Various frameworks have been developed to understand the complex factors influencing VH, with attitudes, beliefs, and external influences being the most significant. The surge in VH has reignited the debate on the best approach to address it: persuasive/ educational or coercive. Attwell and Hannah studied the political and social reasons behind the adoption of mandatory vaccination in four jurisdictions (Italy, France, Australia, and California) due to declining vaccine coverage below the safety threshold. However, these methods may foster parental disbeliefs and opposition to vaccination campaigns. To combat VH, it is crucial to systematically assess its determinants within specific contexts and population groups. Increasing awareness about vaccination benefits, engaging with social media, and employing tailored strategies can foster spontaneous adherence to vaccination programs, eliminating the need for coercive measures
Multimodal treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis: an update
No full textAbstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver tumor, and overall, it is one of the most frequent cancers. The association of HCC with chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis in particular, is well known, making treatment complex and challenging. The treatment of HCC must take into account the presence and stage of chronic liver disease, with the aim of preserving hepatic function that is often already impaired, the stage of HCC and the clinical condition of the patient. The different treatment options include surgical resection, transplantation, local ablation, chemoembolization, radioembolization and molecular targeted therapies; these treatments can be combined in various ways to achieve different goals. Ideally, liver transplantation is best treatment for early stage HCC on cirrhosis because it removes both the tumor and the chronic disease that produced it; however, the application of this powerful tool is limited by the scarcity of donors. Downstaging and bridging are different strategies for the management of HCC patients who will undergo liver transplantation. Several professionals, including gastroenterologists, radiologists and surgeons, are involved in the choice of the most appropriate treatment for a single case, and a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to optimize the outcome. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the current treatment options for patients with HCC by analyzing the advantages, disadvantages and rationale for their use
Vaccine Hesitancy: Lessons Learned and Perspectives for a Post-Pandemic Tomorrow
No full textInfectious diseases have always posed a significant threat to mankind, resulting in high mortality and morbidity throughout history [1]. Currently, the burden of communicable diseases still remains very high in all age groups worldwide [2]. Moreover, the current COVID-19 pandemic has once again underlined the tremendous impact of transmittable diseases in terms of public health [1].
From this point of view, vaccines have always represented a fundamental public health tool. Indeed, mass immunization campaigns save millions of lives each year [3]. Furthermore, COVID-19 vaccines are enabling us to overcome the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to promote vaccine uptake and to identify and address barriers for achieving adequate vaccination coverage.
Among the obstacles to reaching adequate vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy (VH) is rightfully included.
VH is defined by SAGE working group as “the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite the availability of vaccination services”[4] and was included by the World Health Organization (WHO) amongst the major health concerns in 2019 [5]. Going into detail, VH appears to be complex and context specific, varying across time, place and types of vaccines [4]. All these factors have been studied with respect to VH in recent decades and have played a big role during the COVID-19 pandemic and will certainly continue to do so in the post-pandemic future
Polydopamine Nanosystems in Drug Delivery: Effect of Size, Morphology, and Surface Charge
No full textRecently, drug delivery strategies based on nanomaterials have attracted a lot of interest in different kinds of therapies because of their superior properties. Polydopamine (PDA), one of the most interesting materials in nanomedicine because of its versatility and biocompatibility, has been widely investigated in the drug delivery field. It can be easily functionalized to favor processes like cellular uptake and blood circulation, and it can also induce drug release through two kinds of stimuli: NIR light irradiation and pH. In this review, we describe PDA nanomaterials' performance on drug delivery, based on their size, morphology, and surface charge. Indeed, these characteristics strongly influence the main mechanisms involved in a drug delivery system: blood circulation, cellular uptake, drug loading, and drug release. The understanding of the connections between PDA nanosystems' properties and these phenomena is pivotal to obtain a controlled design of new nanocarriers based on the specific drug delivery applications
Multimodal treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis: An update
No full textAbstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver tumor, and overall, it is one of the most frequent cancers. The association of HCC with chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis in particular, is well known, making treatment complex and challenging. The treatment of HCC must take into account the presence and stage of chronic liver disease, with the aim of preserving hepatic function that is often already impaired, the stage of HCC and the clinical condition of the patient. The different treatment options include surgical resection, transplantation, local ablation, chemoembolization, radioembolization and molecular targeted therapies; these treatments can be combined in various ways to achieve different goals. Ideally, liver transplantation is best treatment for early stage HCC on cirrhosis because it removes both the tumor and the chronic disease that produced it; however, the application of this powerful tool is limited by the scarcity of donors. Downstaging and bridging are different strategies for the management of HCC patients who will undergo liver transplantation. Several professionals, including gastroenterologists, radiologists and surgeons, are involved in the choice of the most appropriate treatment for a single case, and a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to optimize the outcome. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the current treatment options for patients with HCC by analyzing the advantages, disadvantages and rationale for their use
Luminescent chemosensors based on silica nanoparticles for the detection of ionic species
No full textThe field of nanoparticles is very complex and many-sided, and these versatile materials find applications in different areas going from industry, to bio-analysis, and catalysis. Within this wide framework we have focused our attention on luminescent silica nanoparticles able to act as sensing materials. We present here an overview on recent examples having ionic species as the target analyte. Our analysis tries to highlight the huge potentiality offered by these nanoarchitectures that can allow pairing and even improving many of the typical features of molecular probes in several applications
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