A5014365644- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Ionic liquids properties and applications
- Photonic and Optical Devices
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Proteins in Food Systems
- Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications
- Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research
- Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Protein Interaction Studies and Fluorescence Analysis
- Nanocluster Synthesis and Applications
- Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Photonic Crystals and Applications
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
- Ultrasound and Cavitation Phenomena
- Electromagnetic Compatibility and Measurements
- Random lasers and scattering media
University of L'Aquila
2023-2025
Institute for Complex Systems
2020-2023
Sapienza University of Rome
2019-2023
National Research Council
2020-2023
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2023
Istituto di Nanotecnologia
2020-2021
Aberrant protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils underlies the onset of several degenerative pathologies, requiring increasing efforts to identify ever newer approaches prevent their formation and disassemble toxic structures. In this context, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) show great promise, thanks ability chemically interact with proteins while simultaneously serving as local spectroscopic probes due peculiar optical properties. Here, we investigate role surface chemistry AuNPs in...
The merging of the molecular specificity Raman spectroscopy with extraordinary optical properties metallic nanoarchitectures is at heart Surface Enhanced Spectroscopy (SERS), which in last few decades proved its worth as powerful analytical tool detection limits pushed to single molecule recognition. Within this frame, SERS-based nanosensors for localized pH measurements have been developed and employed a wide range applications. Nevertheless, improve performances such nanosensors, many key...
Among hydrocolloids, gellan is one of the most studied polysaccharides due to its ability form mechanically stable gels. Despite long-standing use, aggregation mechanism still not understood because lack atomistic information. Here, we fill this gap by developing a new force field. Our simulations offer first microscopic overview aggregation, detecting coil single-helix transition at dilute conditions and formation higher-order aggregates high concentration through two-step process: first,...
An in-depth study of the hydrophobic eutectic mixtures formed by l-menthol (MEN) with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 2-tert-butyl-p-cresol (TBC), and p-cresol (PC) compounds has been carried out, where TBC PC are analogous to BHT species but a different degree steric hindrance around hydroxyl group. Thermal characterization evidenced that BHT/MEN system can be classified as an ideal eutectic, while TBC/MEN PC/MEN behave type V deep solvents (DESs) for wide range compositions point. As shown...
Highly accurate biosensors for few or single molecule detection play a central role in numerous key fields, such as healthcare and environmental monitoring. In the last decade, laser have been investigated proofs of concept, several technologies proposed. We here propose demonstration polymeric whispering gallery microlasers detecting small amounts proteins, down to 400 pg. They advantage working free space without any need waveguiding input excitation output signal detection. The photonic...
Abstract We investigate Mie resonances in a high-permittivity dielectric (ceramic) sphere within the radio-frequency (RF) range, exploring its potential application magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using transmitting and receiving RF coil, we observe signatures both transmission frequency spectrum field distribution surrounding 40 mm-diameter sphere. Through full-wave numerical simulations standard fitting technique, identify characterize lowest-frequency transverse-electric modes of at...
Microscopic lasers represent a promising tool for the development of cutting-edge photonic devices thanks to their ability enhance light-matter interaction at microscale. In this work, we realize liquid microlasers with tunable emission by exploiting self-formation three-dimensional droplets into polymeric matrix driven viscoelastic dewetting. We design flexible device be used as smart label which is detachable and reusable on various types substrates such paper or fabric. The innovative...
Abstract Ultrasound (US) induced transient membrane permeabilisation has emerged as a hugely promising tool for the delivery of exogenous vectors through cytoplasmic membrane, paving way to design novel anticancer strategies by targeting functional nanomaterials specific biological sites. An essential step towards this end is detailed recognition suitably marked nanoparticles in sonoporated cells and investigation potential related effects. By taking advantage Synchrotron Radiation Fourier...
A combined label-free spectroscopic approach at the nanoscale, based on tip-enhanced and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopies, enabled to identify key mechanisms in degradation of amyloid fibrils mediated by gold nanoparticles.
Antifolate plasmonic nanovectors (NVs) are proposed. SERS and cytotoxicity studies on non-cancer cancer cells reveal the efficient targeting killing of cells. The selectivity is optimized by coloading folate antifolate NV.
Abstract Coherent random lasers (RLs) originate from the resonant amplification of light scattered by disordered media resulting in spiky emission spectra with well‐defined spectral signatures. Here coherent RL is proposed as a tool for identifying fingerprint porous micro‐structured materials obtained soft lithography techniques. The close control spatial patterns and structural characteristics scattering elements enable us to obtain stable unique distinctive each lithographed device. has...
Multi-responsive nanomaterials based on the self-limited assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles are great interest due to their widespread employment in sensing applications. We present a thorough investigation hybrid nanomaterial protein-mediated aggregation gold at varying protein concentration, pH and temperature. By combining Small Angle X-ray Scattering with extinction spectroscopy, we able frame morphological features formed fractal aggregates theoretical model patchy interactions. Based...
The demand for next-generation multifunctional nanovectors, combining therapeutic effects with specific cellular targeting, has significantly grown during the last few years, pursuing less invasive therapy strategies. Polyphenol-conjugated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) appear as potential integrating biorecognition capability and antioxidant power of polyphenols, antimicrobial activity silver, drug delivery NPs. We present a spectroscopic microscopic investigation on polyphenol-synthesized...
The interplay of soft responsive particles, such as microgels, with nanoparticles (NPs) yields highly versatile complexes that show great potential for applications, ranging from plasmonic sensing to catalysis and drug delivery. However, the microgel-NP assembly process has not been investigated so far at microscopic level, thus hindering possibility designing hybrid systems a priori. In this work, we combine state-of-the-art numerical simulations experiments elucidate fundamental mechanisms...
The complexation of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) and thermoresponsive microgels is widely exploited for applications. Yet, a microscopic description the mechanisms governing spatial organization NPs still lacking. Combining small angle X-ray scattering, state-of-the-art numerical simulations simple toy model, we uncover how volume phase transition drives NP-NP interactions, inducing NP progressive rearrangement with temperature. These results are directly compared to extinction spectra...
High-precision biosensors for single or few molecules detection play a central role in numerous key fields, such as environmental monitoring and healthcare early-stage disease diagnosis. In the last decade, laser have been investigated proofs of concept, several technologies proposed. Here we propose demonstration polymeric whispering gallery microlasers detecting proteins at low concentrations. Free space great advantage working without any need waveguiding input excitation output signal...