Colloidal synthesis has emerged as a powerful bottom‑up approach for the preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals with narrow size dispersion, exhibiting optoelectronic properties that can be tuned by controlling their size and morphology.
Binary Quantum Dots (QDs) of the II-VI, III-V classes and ternary nanocrystals of the metal halide perovskite family, are of major interest in the field...
Papain-like protease (PLpro) coded by SARS-CoV-2 genome is a key enzyme in viral replication. This enzyme is a subdomain of the viral non-structural protein 3 (nsp3) [1]. PLpro is a cysteine protease which recognizes and cleaves the LXGG consensus sequence of both viral and host proteins showing deubiquitinating and deISGlating activity on key proteins in cytokines response pathways, which...
Nanostructures of Titanium oxide are being studied for many promising applications due to their excellent photo-catalytic properties [1]. We have synthesized low-dimensional TiO2 nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis technique. The synthesis process has been optimized for the deposition of highly pure and nearly mono-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles on silicon substrates [2]. The surface morphology of...
Plastic Crystals are materials in which the molecules or ions occupy the same center of mass as in regular crystal lattice but have freedom of rotation. They show typical disorder-order transitions that lead to realize various sort of functional materials. Especially, organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCS) have gained much attention over the past years thanks to their potential usage as...
The small difference in X-ray attenuation properties of tumor and normal breast tissue demands for X-ray breast imaging techniques that deliver high contrast, high spatial resolution images acquired at a low dose. Previous studies [1-3] have shown the potential usefulness of 3D phase-contrast micro-tomography (micro-CT) imaging as an adjunct tool to conventional histological techniques. We...
Amorphization of crystalline powder is known in the pharmaceutical industry to increase the solubility of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). Amorphization can be achieved by different routes, among which the mechanical comminution of the powders, which however requires the detailed understanding of mechanochemical processes involved so to gain control on the process and it effect on...
The direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of graphene on industrially preferred semiconductor (like Si wafers) or dielectric substrates has been considered a valid alternative to directly incorporate graphene into electronic devices, thus preventing the common transfer process of the as-grown film which inevitably induce residual contamination and mechanical defects [1]. Usually, the thermal...
The recovery of critical elements from materials and devices with high technological content is currently necessary in the perspective of the circular economy precepts. Rare earth elements (REEs, lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium) are metals with peculiar optical and magnetic properties [1]. In recent years, the demand for REEs has grown significantly. Hence, efforts have been directed...
In 2009 Kojima et al., [1] reported the first hybrid organometal halide perovskites as visible-light sensitizers for photovoltaic cells. They studied the photovoltaic function of the organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite compounds methylammonium (CH3NH3+, MA) PbBr3 and MAPbI3 as visible-light sensitizers in photoelectrochemical cells, opening a fruitful worldwide field of research. Halide...
VHH antibodies, also known as nanobodies, are the engineered version of antigen-binding domains from heavy-chain-only antibodies found in camelid serum [1]. As the smallest antibody fragments preserving the binding capacity of a whole antibody, they are largely employed for diagnostic and therapeutic applications [2,3]. The small size (~15 kDa) and stability of nanobodies allow their...
Since the last century, plastics became indispensable for our everyday life. Nowadays, less than 20% of the global plastic waste is recycled and plastic pollution causes a huge impact on the global ecosystem: prompt action is needed to face one of the most pressing environmental issues [1].
Plastics represent a major challenge for the recycling industry and enzymatic degradation is an...
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of widely used medicines that includes different classes of compounds, the most important of which is that of the arylpropionic acids (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen etc). Due to the presence of one stereogenic center these acids exist as a pair of enantiomers and, although only the S one is the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API),...
Lafora disease (LD) is a rare, genetic, neurodegenerative disorder manifested by severe teenage onset of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The patients usually die within 10 years of first symptoms occurrence. There is no cure available. LD is caused by mutations in laforin-malin complex which leads to appearance of neurotoxic inclusion bodies formed by insoluble polyglucosans called Lafora...
Multi-junction (tandem) solar cells in the form of monolithically stacked III-V cells, each absorbing a different interval of the solar spectrum allow to reach external quantum efficiencies well beyond the Schockley-Qeisser limit for single-junction solar cells [1]. Tandem solar cells based on a Silicon bottom junction are very attractive due to the relative low cost of Silicon substrates; a...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health crisis worldwide. The excess and improper use of antibiotics is increasing the number of reported resistant microbial strains, compromising the conventional clinical treatments. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared AMR a health emergency and has announced that the deaths attributable to AMR every year will be of 10 million...
The increasing exploitation of fossil fuels for the production of energy is closely related to increased CO2 release into the atmosphere, with climate change as main consequence
[1]. Photosynthesis has been the subject of inspiration for the development of systems able to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Artificial photosynthesis (AP) might allow the production of not-polluting...
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) (Y, Sc, La-Lu) are widely used for their outstanding magnetic and luminescent properties. Their applications range from fluorescent light tubes to electric car batteries to permanent magnets. However, the supply of REEs is presently struggling to meet the demand. REEs deposits are located only in some regions leading to delicate geopolitical considerations and the...
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline solids containing metal ions and organic ligands. Owing to their high porosity and tuneable selectivity, they have been intensively researched for their application in gas separation, filtration, catalysis, sensing and energy storage [1]. However, MOFs are typically produced in forms of powders, which require further processing before...
Arginines (Arg) and Lysines (Lys) on protein surfaces undergo several post-translational events, such as acetylation, ubiquitination, and methylation. Lysine or arginine residues can undergo different extents of methylation (mono-, di- and, for lysine, also trimethylation). These modifications affect protein-protein or protein-substrate interactions and can act as the trigger of different...
Iron acquisition via chelation by siderophores plays a crucial role in the virulence of numerous bacterial and fungal pathogens. Therefore, the biosynthetic pathway for siderophores has great potential for improving the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections. In this study, we characterized SidF, an essential enzyme of extracellular siderophore biosynthesis from Aspergillus fumigatus,...
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a homodimeric, PLP-dependent enzyme that plays a key role in the polyamine biosynthesis, catalysing the rate-limiting decarboxylation of ornithine to putrescine. Polyamines are essential promoters of the proliferation of cells and are fundamental in cellular processes such as replication of DNA and apoptosis. Moreover, in trypanosomatids the synthesis of...
According to the formal definition, materials can be described as multiferroics if they exhibit the coexistence of two or more primary ferroic orderings, such as ferroelectricity and ferri/ferro/antiferro-magnetism. Most of the increasing interest around this class of materials arises from the possibility of mutual control of both electric and magnetic domains, as this feature could allow to...
Porphyrins are the most studied heterocyclic macrocycle organic compounds for numerous applications, due to their optical properties and chemical stability. Among the optical properties, porphyrins show in solution interesting Non Linear Optical (NLO) Properties, i.e. Second (SHG) and Third (THG) Harmonic Generation [1,2]. At our knowledge, up to now in solid state the SHG properties of...
ESKAPE group includes pathogens with extreme capacities to develop antibiotic resistance, which makes them insusceptible to conventional treatments. Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter sp. are members of this unglorious group. These bacteria are leading etiological agents of dangerous...
The gold standard for pathological tissue analysis is histology. Histology is a destructive technique and can provide only 2D information. To overcome these drawbacks a 3D imaging method such as computed micro tomography (microCT) can be used, providing a non destructive 3D view of the entire specimen.
Conventional microCT systems, based on benchtop microfocus X-ray generators, generally...
Autophagy is responsible for degradation and recycling of damaged cellular contents, as misfolded proteins, aggregates and organelles [1]. Its deregulation is linked to different health disorders and in recent years is under evaluation as a target for cancer treatment. In human cells, autophagy is initiated through ULK1 complex, which triggers the activation of the autophagy cascade upon...
X-ray Structure Investigation of Confused-Prism[5]arene: a Conformationally Adaptive Host with Stereoselective Opening of its 1,4-bridged Naphthalene Flap
Neal Hickeya, Paolo Della Salab, Rocco Del Regnob, Placido Nerib, Carmine Gaetab and Silvano Geremiaa
a Centro di Eccellenza in Biocristallografia, Dipartimento di...
