A5075430577- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Ionic liquids properties and applications
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Graphene research and applications
- Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Semiconductor materials and devices
- Metal and Thin Film Mechanics
- Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Mechanical and Optical Resonators
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
- thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses
- Laser-Ablation Synthesis of Nanoparticles
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures
- Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Silicon Nanostructures and Photoluminescence
University of Milan
2016-2025
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2024
Mylan (South Africa)
2019-2021
Mylan (Switzerland)
2020
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
2020
Interface (United States)
2019
Fondazione Filarete
2009
European Institute of Oncology
2008
University of Parma
2004-2006
University of Genoa
2006
Bacterial infection of implants and prosthetic devices is one the most common causes implant failure. The nanostructured surface biocompatible materials strongly influences adhesion proliferation mammalian cells on solid substrates. observation this phenomenon has led to an increased effort develop new strategies prevent bacterial biofilm formation, primarily through nanoengineering topology used in implantable devices. While several studies have demonstrated influence nanoscale morphology...
We present a procedure that allows reliable determination of the elastic (Young’s) modulus soft samples, including living cells, by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The standardized nanomechanical AFM (SNAP) ensures precise adjustment optical lever system, prerequisite for all kinds spectroscopy methods, to obtain values independent instrument, laboratory and operator. Measurements hydrogel samples with well-defined using different AFMs revealed uncertainties in deflection sensitivity...
Background Protein adsorption is the first of a complex series events that regulates many phenomena at nano-bio interface, e.g. cell adhesion and differentiation, in vivo inflammatory responses protein crystallization. A quantitative understanding how nanoscale morphology influences strategic for providing insight into all these processes, however this has been lacking until now. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we introduce novel methods high-throughput characterization protein-surface...
We report the direct observation of solidlike ordering at room temperature thin films [Bmim][NTf2] ionic liquid on mica, amorphous silica, and oxidized Si(110). A statistical quantitative analysis atomic force microscopy topographies shows that these surfaces forms layered structures, characterized by a perpendicular structural periodicity approximately 0.6 nm. Remarkably, even highest up to 50 nm high, behave against AFM probe. Conversely, highly oriented pyrolitic graphite nanometer-sized,...
Nanostructured TiO2 (ns-TiO2) films obtained by supersonic cluster beam deposition possess highly porous, defective structures, and allow efficient incorporation of carbon- containing molecules during thermal treatment. Carbothermal reduction modifies the electronic structure ns-TiO2, narrowing optical gap to 2 eV. This is within range visible solar radiation (see Figure), allowing more photoconversion.
Nanostructured carbon films have been grown at room temperature by supersonic cluster beam deposition. Due to a structure based on nanotube embryos and porosity with grain sizes of few tens nanometers, these highly accessible surface area needed for electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors. Films density 1 g/cm3 show, in the dc regime, specific capacitance per electrode 75 F/g single-cell device polycarbonate organic electrolyte. The resulting energy power densities...
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has a great potential as tool to characterize mechanical and morphological properties of living cells; these have been shown correlate with cells' fate patho-physiological state in view the development novel early-diagnostic strategies. Although several reports described experimental technical approaches for characterization cell elasticity by means AFM, robust commonly accepted methodology is still lacking. Here we show that micrometric spherical probes (also...
The extracellular matrix (ECM) from perilesional and colorectal carcinoma (CRC), but not healthy colon, sustains proliferation invasion of tumor cells. We investigated the biochemical physical diversity ECM in pair-wised comparisons healthy, CRC specimens. Progressive linearization degree organization fibrils was observed to ECM, associated with a steady increase stiffness collagen crosslinking. In these modifications coincided increased vascularization, whereas neoplastic they were altered...
Thanks to mechanotransductive components cells are competent perceive nanoscale topographical features of their environment and convert the immanent information into corresponding physiological responses. Due its complex configuration, unraveling role extracellular matrix is particularly challenging. Cell substrates with simplified cues, fabricated by top-down micro- nanofabrication approaches, have been useful in order identify basic principles. However, underlying molecular mechanisms this...
Networks based on nanoscale resistive switching junctions are considered promising for the fabrication of neuromorphic computing architectures. To date random networks nanowires, nanoparticles, and metal clusters embedded in a polymeric matrix or passivated by shell ligands oxide layers have been used to produce systems. The strategies applied tailor behavior currently careful control volume fraction conducting phase that must be fixed close electrical percolation threshold. Here, blending...
Peritoneal metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with poor survival. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a fundamental role in modulating the homing of CRC to peritoneum. mechanisms underlying interactions between metastatic cells and ECM, however, remain poorly understood, number vitro models available for study peritoneal process is limited. Here, we show that decellularized ECM cavity allows growth organoids obtained PM, favoring development three-dimensional (3D)...
Intense and collimated supersonic cluster beams have been produced by exploiting inertial focusing effects. To this goal we developed tested a novel nozzle (focuser). Using device with pulsed microplasma source obtained divergence of 10 mrad average densities 3×1010 atoms/cm3 (2×1012 pulsed) corresponding to deposition rates 2 nm/s at 300 mm distance from the nozzle. With thermal relaxation mass distribution in expansion can be controlled. We measured transverse velocities, extremely high...
We report on the systematic investigation of role surface nanoscale roughness and morphology charging behaviour nanostructured titania (TiO2) surfaces in aqueous solutions. IsoElectric Points (IEPs) have been characterized by direct measurement electrostatic double layer interactions between micrometer-sized spherical silica probe an atomic force microscope NaCl electrolyte. The use a colloidal provides well-defined interaction geometry allows effectively probing overall effect morphology....
Nanostructured films obtained by the assembling of preformed atomic clusters are strategic importance for a wide variety applications. The deposition produced in gas phase onto substrate offers possibility to control and engineer structural functional properties cluster-assembled films. To date microscopic mechanisms underlying growth structuring poorly understood, particular transition from sub-monolayer thin film regime is experimentally unexplored. Here we report systematic...
The development of smart prosthetics, scaffolds, and biomaterials for tissue engineering organ-on-a-chip devices heavily depends on the understanding control biotic/abiotic interfaces. In recent years, nanometer scale emerged as predominant dimension processes impacting protein adsorption cellular responses surfaces. this context, extracellular matrix (ECM) can be seen prototype an intricate natural structure assembled by nanoscale building blocks forming highly variable configurations,...
The confinement of room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) in nanoscale geometries, where at least one, but often all three dimensions are reduced down to lengths comparable the anion-cation size, put ILs into a quite different condition with respect their bulk phase. An understanding properties confined nanoscale-constrained geometry is both fundamental and practical interest. In particular, spatial restriction promotes strong interaction surface confining matrix, which strongly affects...
The strong influence of surface adsorbates on the morphology a catalyst is exemplified by studying silver with and without deposited zinc oxide nanoparticles upon exposure to reaction gases used for carbon dioxide hydrogenation. Ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy scanning tunneling microscopy measurements indicate accumulation deposits at 200 °C. While oxygen-free species observed pure show interaction decorate atomic steps surface, this decoration not oxygen-containing...
We have produced nanostructured titanium dioxide thin films by supersonic cluster beam deposition. The as-deposited a nanocrystalline or amorphous structure depending on the mass distribution of precursor clusters. This can be controlled aerodynamic separation effects typical expansions. On thermal annealing at temperatures from 400 to 800 °C in ambient atmosphere, amorphous-to-anatase and anatase-to-rutile phase transitions been observed. nanostructure microstructure evolution film upon has...
Nanostructured cubic zirconia is a strategic material for biomedical applications since it combines superior structural and optical properties with nanoscale morphology able to control cell adhesion proliferation. We produced nanostructured thin films at room temperature by supersonic cluster beam deposition of nanoparticles in the gas phase.