245 results on '"Moreno Meneghetti"'
Search Results
2. SERRS multiplexing with multivalent nanostructures for the identification and enumeration of epithelial and mesenchymal cells
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Lucio Litti, Andrea Colusso, Marcella Pinto, Erlis Ruli, Alessia Scarsi, Laura Ventura, Giuseppe Toffoli, Marco Colombatti, Giulio Fracasso, and Moreno Meneghetti
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract Liquid biopsy represents a new frontier of cancer diagnosis and prognosis, which allows the isolation of tumor cells released in the blood stream. The extremely low abundance of these cells needs appropriate methodologies for their identification and enumeration. Herein we present a new protocol based on surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) gold multivalent nanostructures to identify and enumerate tumor cells with epithelial and mesenchimal markers. The validation of the protocol is obtained with spiked samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Gold nanostructures are functionalized with SERRS labels and with antibodies to link the tumor cells. Three types of such nanosystems were simultaneously used and the protocol allows obtaining the identification of all individual tumor cells with the help of a Random Forest ensemble learning method.
- Published
- 2020
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3. Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Ta-N and Ta-Al-N Coatings Deposited by Reactive High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering
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Valentina Zin, Francesco Montagner, Silvia Maria Deambrosis, Cecilia Mortalò, Lucio Litti, Moreno Meneghetti, and Enrico Miorin
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tantalum nitride ,tantalum aluminum nitride ,high-power impulse magnetron sputtering ,mechanical properties of films ,tribological properties ,wear resistance ,Technology ,Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering ,TK1-9971 ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 ,Microscopy ,QH201-278.5 ,Descriptive and experimental mechanics ,QC120-168.85 - Abstract
In this article, the depositions and functional characterizations of Ta-N and Ta-Al-N coatings for protection purposes, grown by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering onto silicon substrates, are described. Nitride films were grown while changing the substrate polarization voltage (i.e., the applied bias voltage) during the process. Moreover, the effects of adding Al to form a ternary system and the resulting variation of the coatings’ mechanical and tribological properties have been widely investigated by nanoindentation, scratch, and wear tests. Micro-Raman characterization has been applied to the wear tracks to explore the comprehensive tribo-environment and wear mechanism. Interestingly, Ta-Al-N films, despite significantly improved mechanical properties, show a premature failure with respect to Ta-N coatings. The wear mechanisms of Ta-N and Ta-Al-N systems were revealed to be very different. Indeed, Ta-Al-N films suffer higher oxidation phenomena during wear, with the formation of an oxidized surface tribofilm and a reduced wear resistance, while Ta-N coatings undergo plastic deformation at the wear surface, with a slightly adhesive effect.
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- 2022
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4. Application of Multispectral Imaging and Portable Spectroscopic Instruments to the Analysis of an Ancient Persian Illuminated Manuscript
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Cecilia Rossi, Alfonso Zoleo, Renzo Bertoncello, Moreno Meneghetti, and Rita Deiana
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illuminated manuscript ,miniatures ,Persian ,multispectral imaging ,micro-Raman spectroscopy ,X-ray fluorescence ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
Illuminated manuscripts are, in general, the final products of a wise and complex interaction of different competencies. In particular, each manuscript reflects uses and techniques rooted in the historical and geographical traditions of the area of realization. Defining the characteristics and the materials in these valuable artefacts is an essential element to reconstruct their history and allow a more precise collocation and a possible comparison with other works in similar periods and areas. Non-invasive methods, mainly using portable instruments, offer undoubtedly good support in these studies. Recent analyses of an ancient Persian illuminated manuscript, combining multispectral imaging and spectroscopic measurements made with portable instruments (XRF, FORS, micro-Raman, IR-ATR) on selected points, provided new data for an improved understanding of this rare book. This study details the possibilities offered by combining these non-invasive methods for an in-depth understanding of the techniques and practices behind the realization of Middle Eastern illuminated manuscripts and provided new perspectives for multidisciplinary approaches to research in this field.
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- 2021
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5. Nanoparticles Engineering by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids: Concepts and Applications
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Enza Fazio, Bilal Gökce, Alessandro De Giacomo, Moreno Meneghetti, Giuseppe Compagnini, Matteo Tommasini, Friedrich Waag, Andrea Lucotti, Chiara Giuseppina Zanchi, Paolo Maria Ossi, Marcella Dell’Aglio, Luisa D’Urso, Marcello Condorelli, Vittorio Scardaci, Francesca Biscaglia, Lucio Litti, Marina Gobbo, Giovanni Gallo, Marco Santoro, Sebastiano Trusso, and Fortunato Neri
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colloids ,laser synthesis ,plasmonics ,sensing ,biomedicine ,catalysis ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
Laser synthesis emerges as a suitable technique to produce ligand-free nanoparticles, alloys and functionalized nanomaterials for catalysis, imaging, biomedicine, energy and environmental applications. In the last decade, laser ablation and nanoparticle generation in liquids has proven to be a unique and efficient technique to generate, excite, fragment and conjugate a large variety of nanostructures in a scalable and clean way. In this work, we give an overview on the fundamentals of pulsed laser synthesis of nanocolloids and new information about its scalability towards selected applications. Biomedicine, catalysis and sensing are the application areas mainly discussed in this review, highlighting advantages of laser-synthesized nanoparticles for these types of applications and, once partially resolved, the limitations to the technique for large-scale applications.
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- 2020
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6. Graphite-Based Geothermometry on Almahata Sitta Ureilitic Meteorites
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Anna Barbaro, M. Chiara Domeneghetti, Cyrena A. Goodrich, Moreno Meneghetti, Lucio Litti, Anna Maria Fioretti, Peter Jenniskens, Muawia H. Shaddad, and Fabrizio Nestola
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ureilites ,meteorites ,carbon phases ,graphite ,graphite geothermometer ,shock event ,Mineralogy ,QE351-399.2 - Abstract
The thermal history of carbon phases, including graphite and diamond, in the ureilite meteorites has implications for the formation, igneous evolution, and impact disruption of their parent body early in the history of the Solar System. Geothermometry data were obtained by micro-Raman spectroscopy on graphite in Almahata Sitta (AhS) ureilites AhS 72, AhS 209b and AhS A135A from the University of Khartoum collection. In these samples, graphite shows G-band peak centers between 1578 and 1585 cm−1 and the full width at half maximum values correspond to a crystallization temperature of 1266 °C for graphite for AhS 209b, 1242 °C for AhS 72, and 1332 °C for AhS A135A. Recent work on AhS 72 and AhS 209b has shown graphite associated with nanodiamonds and argued that this assemblage formed due to an impact-event. Our samples show disordered graphite with a crystalline domain size ranging between about 70 and 140 nm. The nanometric grain-size of the recrystallized graphite indicates that it records a shock event and thus argues that the temperatures we obtained are related to such an event, rather than the primary igneous processing of the ureilite parent body.
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- 2020
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7. Single File Flow of Biomimetic Beads for Continuous SERS Recording in a Microfluidic Device
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Diego Calzavara, Davide Ferraro, Lucio Litti, Greshia Cappozzo, Giampaolo Mistura, Moreno Meneghetti, and Matteo Pierno
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Physics ,QC1-999 - Abstract
A major challenge in cancer treatment is the quantification of biomarkers associated with a specific cancer type. Important biomarkers are the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detached from the main cancer and circulating in the blood. CTCs are very rare and their identification is still an issue. Although CTCs quantification can be estimated by using fluorescent markers, all the fluorescence techniques are strongly limited by the number of emissions (therefore markers) that can be discriminated with one exciting line, by their bleaching characteristics, and by the intrinsic autofluorescence of biological samples. An emerging technique that can overcome these limitations is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Signals of vibrational origin with intensity similar to those of fluorescence, but narrower bandwidths, can be easily discriminated even by exciting with a single laser line. We recently showed the benefit of this method with cells fixed on a surface. However, this approach is too demanding to be applied in clinical routine. To effectively increase the throughput of the SERS analysis, microfluidics represents a promising tool. We report two different hydrodynamic strategies, based on device geometry and liquids viscosity, to successfully combine a microfluidic design with SERS.
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- 2018
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8. Shortened single-walled nanotubes functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol): preparation and properties
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Enzo Menna, Gianfranco Scorrano, Michele Maggini, Matteo Cavallaro, Federico Della Negra, Marino Battagliarin, Renato Bozio, Fabiana Fantinel, and Moreno Meneghetti
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Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Published
- 2003
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9. Simple and sustainable synthesis of perovskite-based optoelectronic material: CsPbBr3 nanocrystals via laser ablation in alcohol
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Simone Sansoni, Filippo Maria Anoè, and MORENO MENEGHETTI
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General Engineering ,General Materials Science ,Bioengineering ,General Chemistry ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics - Abstract
Colloidal solutions of perovskite nanocrystals with good optical and emissive properties are synthesized in ambient conditions, without ligands and in green solvents.
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- 2022
10. Synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles by laser ablation of strontium ferrite under water and their characterization by optically detected magnetophoresis supported by BEM calculations
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Valentina Piotto, Lucio Litti, Alexander Omelyanchik, Alessandro Martucci, Piero Riello, Davide Peddis, and Moreno Meneghetti
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Materials Chemistry ,General Chemistry - Abstract
Optically detected magnetophoresis, using Boundary Element Method calculations, is exploited for characterizing the magnetic properties of low amounts of nanoparticles.
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- 2022
11. One-step laser ablation synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles with carbon coating for tribological applications
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Valentina Piotto, Lucio Litti, Valentina Zin, and Moreno Meneghetti
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Mechanics of Materials ,Mechanical Engineering ,Surfaces and Interfaces ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films - Published
- 2023
12. Enhancement of Magnetic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection by Tailoring Fe
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Leixuri B, Berganza, Lucio, Litti, Moreno, Meneghetti, Senentxu, Lanceros-Méndez, and Javier, Reguera
- Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has become a promising method for the detection of contaminants or biomolecules in aqueous media. The low interference of water, the unique spectral fingerprint, and the development of portable and handheld equipment for in situ measurements underpin its predominance among other spectroscopic techniques. Among the SERS nanoparticle substrates, those composed of plasmonic and magnetic components are prominent examples of versatility and efficiency. These substrates harness the ability to capture the target analyte, concentrate it, and generate unique hotspots for superior enhancement. Here, we have evaluated the use of gold-coated magnetite nanorods as a novel multifunctional magnetic-plasmonic SERS substrate. The nanostructures were synthesized starting from core-satellite structures. A series of variants with different degrees of Au coatings were then prepared by seed-mediated growth of gold, from core-satellite structures to core-shell with partial and complete shells. All of them were tested, using a portable Raman instrument, with the model molecule 4-mercaptobenzoic acid in colloidal suspension and after magnetic separation. Experimental results were compared with the boundary element method to establish the mechanism of Raman enhancement. The results show a quick magnetic separation of the nanoparticles and excellent Raman enhancement for all the nanoparticles both in dispersion and magnetically concentrated with limits of detection up to the nM range (∼50 nM) and a quantitative calibration curve. The nanostructures were then tested for the sensing of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, highly relevant in preventing antibiotic contaminants in water reservoirs and drug monitoring, showing that ciprofloxacin can be detected using a portable Raman instrument at a concentration as low as 100 nM in a few minutes, which makes it highly relevant in practical point-of-care devices and in situ use.
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- 2022
13. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Quantitative Analysis: Results of a Large-Scale European Multi-Instrument Interlaboratory Study
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Fatima Alsamad, Pellegrino Musto, Jakub Dybas, Valérie Untereiner, Michael Stenbæk Schmidt, Fabrizio Giorgis, Elena Rusu, Howbeer Muhamadali, Maria Paula M. Marques, Alessandro Chiadò, Karen Faulds, Stefano Fornasaro, Guillaume Falgayrac, Hrvoje Gebavi, Duncan Graham, Malama Chisanga, Valter Sergo, Tomas Rindzevicius, Cédric Malherbe, Chiara Novara, Amuthachelvi Daniel, Ewelina Wiercigroch, Fiona M. Lyng, Alois Bonifacio, Lucio Litti, Stacey Laing, Monica Baia, Renzo Vanna, Olivier Piot, Carlo Morasso, Claudia Beleites, Elisa Mitri, Hugh J. Byrne, Moreno Meneghetti, Vlasta Mohaček-Grošev, Pietro La Manna, Gauthier Eppe, Ganesh D. Sockalingum, Kamilla Malek, Mihaela Chis, Luís A. E. Batista de Carvalho, Royston Goodacre, Guillaume Penel, Marianna Pannico, Fornasaro, S., Alsamad, F., Baia, M., Batista De Carvalho, L. A. E., Beleites, C., Byrne, H. J., Chiado, A., Chis, M., Chisanga, M., Daniel, A., Dybas, J., Eppe, G., Falgayrac, G., Faulds, K., Gebavi, H., Giorgis, F., Goodacre, R., Graham, D., La Manna, P., Laing, S., Litti, L., Lyng, F. M., Malek, K., Malherbe, C., Marques, M. P. M., Meneghetti, M., Mitri, E., Mohacek-Grosev, V., Morasso, C., Muhamadali, H., Musto, P., Novara, C., Pannico, M., Penel, G., Piot, O., Rindzevicius, T., Rusu, E. A., Schmidt, M. S., Sergo, V., Sockalingum, G. D., Untereiner, V., Vanna, R., Wiercigroch, E., and Bonifacio, A.
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Analyte ,Standardization ,Surface enhanced Raman ,010402 general chemistry ,Physical Chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,SERS spectroscopy quantitative analysis Raman ,Analytical Chemistry ,Surface chemical ,QD ,Cost action ,interlaboratory study ,Analytic Chemistry ,SERS ,Chemistry ,Scale (chemistry) ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Analytical technique ,Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,0104 chemical sciences ,Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences ,Quantitative analysis (finance) ,Biochemical engineering ,SERS, Raman, substrates, colloids, interlaboratory study - Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful and sensitive technique for the detection of fingerprint sig-nals of molecules and for the investigation of a series of surface chemical reactions. Many studies introduced quantita-tive applications of SERS in various fields and several SERS methods have been implemented for each specific applica- tion, ranging in performance characteristics, analytes used, instruments, and analytical matrices. In general, very few methods have been validated according to international guidelines. As a consequence, the application of SERS in high-ly- regulated environments is still considered risky and the perception of a poorly reproducible and insufficiently robust analytical technique has persistently retarded its routine implementation. Collaborative trials are a type of interlabora-tory study (ILS) frequently performed to ascertain the quality of a single analytical method. The idea of an ILS of quan- tification with SERS arose within the framework of Working Group 1 (WG1) of the COST Action BM1401 Ra-man4Clinics32 in an effort to overcome the problematic perception of quantitative SERS methods. Here we report the first interlaboratory SERS study ever conducted, involving 15 laboratories and 41 researchers. In this study we tried to define a methodology to assess the reproducibility and trueness of a quantitative SERS method, and to compare differ- ent methods. In our opinion, this is a first important step toward a “standardization” process of SERS protocols, not proposed by a single laboratory but by a larger community.
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- 2020
14. Synthesis and Shape Manipulation of Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation in Solution
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Lucio Litti, Valentina Piotto, and Moreno Meneghetti
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Materials science ,Laser ablation ,Nanostructure ,business.industry ,Physics::Optics ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,General Energy ,Colloidal gold ,Optoelectronics ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Anisotropy ,Localized surface plasmon - Abstract
Anisotropic gold nanostructures are attracting attention due to the strong correlation between their shape and the localized surface plasmon resonances, which allows tuning their optical responses ...
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- 2020
15. In-line measurement of absorbed solar irradiance using a volumetric collector with SWCNH nanofluid
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Arianna Berto, Emanuele Zanetti, Giovanni Ponzana, Moreno Meneghetti, and Davide Del Col
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Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes ,Condensed Matter Physics - Abstract
Direct absorption solar collectors operating with nanofluids represent a promising technology in the field of solar thermal systems. However, the stability and the reliability of such fluids in real time operation is still an open issue, since their absorption performance has been mainly evaluated at lab-scale under stagnant conditions and their optical properties can be subject to degradation due to multiple reasons. A novel technique based on the combined use of pyranometers is here presented for measuring the absorption rate of nanofluids circulating in a volumetric solar receiver. In the present work, the absorption capability of a Single-Wall-Carbon-NanoHorns (SWCNHs) based nanofluid is experimentally investigated when varying temperature (between 25 °C and 45 °C) and mass flow rate (between 5 kg h−1 and 315 kg h−1). The optical efficiency of the nanofluid is found to be slightly affected by the temperature of the circulating fluid. The optical efficiency is checked for more than 80 hours of operation.
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- 2022
16. Enhancement of Magnetic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection by Tailoring Fe3O4@Au Nanorod Shell Thickness and Its Application in the On-site Detection of Antibiotics in Water
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Leixuri B. Berganza, Lucio Litti, Moreno Meneghetti, Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez, and Javier Reguera
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General Chemical Engineering ,General Chemistry - Published
- 2022
17. Formation of Pseudocarbynes by Self-Assembly
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Hyunsub Kim, Pilarisetty Tarakeshwar, Moreno Meneghetti, Peter R. Buseck, and Scott G. Sayres
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History ,Polymers and Plastics ,Business and International Management ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering - Published
- 2022
18. Gold Nanoparticle Aggregates Functionalized with Cyclic RGD Peptides for Targeting and Imaging of Colorectal Cancer Cells
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Simone Mocellin, Antonio Palleschi, Clara Benna, Giorgio Ripani, Francesca Biscaglia, Gianfranco Bocchinfuso, Marina Gobbo, Senthilkumar Rajendran, and Moreno Meneghetti
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RGD ,Colorectal cancer ,Chemistry ,gold nanoparticles ,molecular dynamics ,PEG ,SERRS ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,medicine.disease ,Colloidal gold ,PEG ratio ,medicine ,Nanobiotechnology ,General Materials Science ,Cyclic RGD ,Selectivity ,Settore CHIM/02 - Chimica Fisica - Abstract
The active targeting strategy has emerged as a promising approach to achieve selectivity in nanobiotechnology applications. Peptides are particularly suited as targeting moieties because the multiv...
- Published
- 2019
19. Thiolated Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons as Templates for Anchoring Gold Nanoparticles: Two‐Dimensional Nanostructures for SERS
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Moreno Meneghetti, Lucio Litti, Adrian Ostric, Jose M. González-Domínguez, Andrea Colusso, Tatiana Da Ros, Università degli Studi di Padova, European Commission, González Domínguez, José Miguel [0000-0002-0701-7695], Meneghetti, Moreno [0000-0003-3355-4811], Ros, Tatiana da [0000-0003-1932-1560], González Domínguez, José Miguel, Meneghetti, Moreno, Ros, Tatiana da, Gonzalez-Dominguez, J. M., Colusso, A., Litti, L., Ostric, A., Meneghetti, M., and Da Ros, T.
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Materials science ,Nanostructure ,Oxide ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Carbon nanotube ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Thiols ,law ,SERS ,Graphene ,nanoparticle ,General Chemistry ,gold ,graphene ,nanoparticles ,thiols ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,3. Good health ,0104 chemical sciences ,chemistry ,Covalent bond ,Colloidal gold ,symbols ,Nanoparticles ,Gold ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman scattering - Abstract
10 Figuras, 2 Tablas, Graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs), obtained from the oxidative unzipping of carbon nanotubes, have been investigated as building blocks towards reaching active platforms in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The complete development of carbon nanomaterials is strongly related to the exploitation of their chemical versatility, so this work is focused on the positive effect that a specific chemical functionalization provides to the SERS effect when gold nanoparticles are used. The covalent derivatization of GONRs with terminal thiol groups boosts their interaction with different types of gold nanoparticles (namely, ‘naked’ or citrate‐stabilized), and the resulting two‐dimensional aggregates show an intense enhancement of the Raman scattering from the carbon nanostructures because of their two‐dimensional extended aggregation pattern. The SERS effect has been corroborated by theoretical calculations and a conceptual proof of SERS‐based sensing., AC, LL and MM would like to thank the University of Padova for funding (P‐DiSC #04BIRD2016‐UNIPD and the strategic program NAMECA). This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska‐Curie Grant Agreement n° 734834 (INFUSION) and from the PEOPLE Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme FP7 Grant Agreement n°290023 (RADDEL).
- Published
- 2019
20. A surface enhanced Raman scattering based colloid nanosensor for developing therapeutic drug monitoring
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Marina Gobbo, Francesca Biscaglia, Andrea Ramundo, Moreno Meneghetti, Giuseppe Toffoli, and Lucio Litti
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Materials science ,Surface Properties ,Metal Nanoparticles ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Biomaterials ,Erlotinib Hydrochloride ,symbols.namesake ,Colloid ,Colloid and Surface Chemistry ,Nanosensor ,medicine ,Colloids ,Particle Size ,Laser ablation ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Small molecule ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Colloidal gold ,Therapeutic drug monitoring ,symbols ,Gold ,Erlotinib ,Drug Monitoring ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman scattering ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Competitive reactions, on the surface of plasmonic nanostructures, allow exploiting SERS signals for quantitative Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. As an example, the concentration of Erlotinib, an anti-EGFR small molecule, used for the treatment of non-small cell lung and pancreatic cancer, is determined. The numerous side effects and the variability of patient responses make Erlotinib a good candidate for monitoring. The new SERS based sensor can estimate Erlotinib down to nanomolar concentration and is based on the chemical reaction of the drug and of a competitor SERS reporter on the surface of gold nanostructures. Colloid solutions of naked gold nanoparticles obtained by laser ablation in solution were used for obtaining nanostructures with very efficient hot spots for SERS and with a clean surface for chemistry. Detection of the drug in the nanomolar concentration range is shown to be possible also in spiked plasma samples.
- Published
- 2019
21. Understanding lead iodide perovskite hysteresis and degradation causes by extensive electrical characterization
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Gaudenzio Meneghesso, Marco Buonomo, Moreno Meneghetti, Nicolò Lago, Antonio Rizzo, Andrea Cester, Simone Sansoni, Niccolò Michieli, Lorenzo Torto, Nicola Wrachien, Francesco Lamberti, Roberto Pilot, and Mirko Prato
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Materials science ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Electric field induced degradation ,Laser ablation ,Modelling ,Perovskite MAPI ,Raman spectroscopy ,Tunnel injection ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Ion ,Coatings and Films ,symbols.namesake ,Electric field ,Electronic ,Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Renewable Energy ,Perovskite (structure) ,Photocurrent ,Sustainability and the Environment ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Characterization (materials science) ,Surfaces ,Hysteresis ,Chemical physics ,symbols ,Degradation (geology) ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
We studied the hysteresis and electric field effects on planar CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite devices, synthetized from laser-ablated precursors, by means of electrical characterizations at different scan rates and optical measurements. The aim of our investigation is to characterize the phenomena behind perovskite degradation under prolonged applied electric field. Using a perovskite more resistant to electric field induced degradation, we run long time characterizations that were not accomplishable before. Thus, we distinguished all the degradation-involved phenomena. The results point to the presence of ions migrating in the perovskite when the device is biased. Our data showed that ion migration degrades the interfaces with the consequent creation of degradation layers that limit the current injected in the device and the extracted photocurrent. These layers where detected also by means of optical Raman characterization. In order to explain the details of the mechanisms concurring to the observed behaviors, we presented a qualitative model. The observed phenomena exacerbated by the planar structure are even more destructive on standard solution processed perovskites to which the results of this work can be extended. Since, the same degradation dynamics occur on vertical devices, typical on perovskite solar cells, this work provides a useful in-depth analysis of the ionic migration effects.
- Published
- 2019
22. Protection against proteolysis of a targeting peptide on gold nanostructures
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Flavio Rizzolio, Isabella Caligiuri, Antonio Palleschi, Moreno Meneghetti, Marina Gobbo, Giorgio Ripani, and Francesca Biscaglia
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chemistry.chemical_classification ,Proteases ,Chymotrypsin ,Gold ,Humans ,Peptides ,Proteolysis ,Metal Nanoparticles ,Nanostructures ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,biology ,Chemistry ,Peptide ,Settore BIO/11 - Biologia Molecolare ,Serine ,In vivo ,Colloidal gold ,medicine ,biology.protein ,Biophysics ,Nanomedicine ,General Materials Science - Abstract
Cell targeting has been considered an important strategy in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Among different targeting units, peptides have emerged for their ability to bind to many different cellular targets, their scarce immunogenicity and the possibility of introducing multiple copies on nanosystems, providing high avidity for the target. However, their sensitivity to proteases strongly limits their applications in vivo. Here, we show that when presented on the surface of nanostructures, peptide stability to proteolysis is strongly improved without reducing the targeting activity. We prepared plasmonic nanostructures functionalized with a dodecapeptide (GE11) which targets EGFR, a protein overexpressed on different types of tumors. Two types of nanosystems were prepared in which the targeting unit was either directly linked to gold nanoparticles or through a PEG chain, resulting in a different peptide density on the surface of nanostructures. The peptide was rapidly degraded in 20% human serum or in the presence of isolated serine proteases, whereas no significant proteolytic fragments were detected during incubation of the nanosystems and after 24 h digestion, the nanostructures maintained their targeting activity and selectivity on colon cancer cells. Molecular dynamic calculations of the interaction of the nanostructure with chymotrypsin suggest that the formation of the enzyme-peptide complex, the first step in the mechanism of peptide hydrolysis, is highly unlikely because of the constraint imposed by the link of the peptide to the nanoparticle. These results support the utilization of peptides as active targeting units in nanomedicine.
- Published
- 2021
23. Investigation of nanofluids circulating in a volumetric solar receiver
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Emanuele Zanetti, Moreno Meneghetti, Laura Fedele, Francesca Biscaglia, Davide Del Col, Simone Dugaria, and Filippo Agresti
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Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes ,Fluids ,Materials science ,060102 archaeology ,business.industry ,020209 energy ,Nuclear engineering ,General Engineering ,Energy / power systems ,06 humanities and the arts ,02 engineering and technology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Solar energy ,Nanofluids ,Nanofluid ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Radiation (Physics) ,0601 history and archaeology ,General Materials Science ,Actinometers ,business ,Stability - Abstract
Single-wall carbon nanohorn (SWCNHs)-based nanofluids have been proven to be promising media for the direct absorption of solar radiation due to their favorable optical properties and potential low cost. Still their stability in real working conditions is an open issue because they have been studied mainly under stagnant conditions, while limited information is available on the performance of these nanofluids during circulation in real systems. In the present work, the optical behavior of SWCNH-based nanofluids has been investigated with the aim of detecting possible effects of circulation and exposure to radiation, avoiding other effects such as thermal instability. An ad hoc experimental apparatus has been realized to check the stability of the circulating fluids in situ using a novel approach based on the use of pyranometers. Three suspensions are tested, two are surfactant stabilized and one is based on preoxidized and functionalized SWCNHs. Efficiency values higher than 90% were measured for more than 65 h of circulation. The effects of fluid circulation and exposure to solar radiation have been addressed, finding that the absorption efficiency decreases during tests due to the degradation of the optical properties and the nanofluid circulation is the main responsible for such degradation.
- Published
- 2021
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24. Wavy graphene sheets from electrochemical sewing of corannulene
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Andrea Goldoni, Moreno Meneghetti, Gianni Barucca, Eleonora Ussano, Massimo Marcaccio, Simona Fermani, Lawrence T. Scott, Claudio Fontanesi, Lucio Litti, Giovanni Valenti, Davide Vanossi, Edward A. Jackson, Carlo Bruno, Francesco Paolucci, Luca Pasquali, Bruno C., Ussano E., Barucca G., Vanossi D., Valenti G., Jackson E.A., Goldoni A., Litti L., Fermani S., Pasquali L., Meneghetti M., Fontanesi C., Scott L.T., Paolucci F., and Marcaccio M.
- Subjects
radical cation reactivity ,Materials science ,Curved polyaromatic hydrocarbon ,electron microscopy ,Graphene ,oxidation ,graphene ,chemistry.chemical_element ,scanning probe microscopy ,General Chemistry ,Electrochemistry ,law.invention ,Characterization (materials science) ,Scanning probe microscopy ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,chemistry ,Polymerization ,electrochemistry ,law ,Corannulene ,Honeycomb ,Carbon - Abstract
The presence of non-hexagonal rings in the honeycomb carbon arrangement of graphene produces rippled graphene layers with valuable chemical and physical properties. In principle, a bottom-up approach to introducing distortion from planarity of a graphene sheet can be achieved by careful insertion of curved polyaromatic hydrocarbons during the growth of the lattice. Corannulene, the archetype of such non-planar polyaromatic hydrocarbons, can act as an ideal wrinkling motif in 2D carbon nanostructures. Herein we report an electrochemical bottom-up method to obtain egg-box shaped nanographene structures through a polycondensation of corannulene that produces a new conducting layered material. Characterization of this new polymeric material by electrochemistry, spectroscopy, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), scanning probe microscopy, and laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry provides strong evidence that the anodic polymerization of corannulene, combined with electrochemically induced oxidative cyclodehydrogenations (Scholl reactions), leads to polycorannulene with a wavy graphene-like structure., A bottom-up synthesis of wavy graphene structures obtained through an anodic polymerization process, combined with an electrochemically triggered oxidative cyclodehydrogenation, of the bowl-shaped polyaromatic hydrocarbon corannulene.
- Published
- 2021
25. SERRS multiplexing with multivalent nanostructures for the identification and enumeration of epithelial and mesenchymal cells
- Author
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Moreno Meneghetti, Alessia Scarsi, Andrea Colusso, Giuseppe Toffoli, Lucio Litti, Marco Colombatti, Erlis Ruli, Marcella Pinto, Laura Ventura, and Giulio Fracasso
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Male ,Science ,Tumor cells ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,01 natural sciences ,Multiplexing ,Peripheral blood mononuclear cell ,Article ,Enumeration ,Tumor Cells, Cultured ,Humans ,Liquid biopsy ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,Chemistry ,Mesenchymal stem cell ,Liquid Biopsy ,Prostatic Neoplasms ,Diagnostic markers ,Epithelial Cells ,Mesenchymal Stem Cells ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Cell biology ,Nanostructures ,biology.protein ,Leukocytes, Mononuclear ,Medicine ,Gold ,Antibody ,0210 nano-technology ,Glioblastoma ,Blood stream - Abstract
Liquid biopsy represents a new frontier of cancer diagnosis and prognosis, which allows the isolation of tumor cells released in the blood stream. The extremely low abundance of these cells needs appropriate methodologies for their identification and enumeration. Herein we present a new protocol based on surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) gold multivalent nanostructures to identify and enumerate tumor cells with epithelial and mesenchimal markers. The validation of the protocol is obtained with spiked samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Gold nanostructures are functionalized with SERRS labels and with antibodies to link the tumor cells. Three types of such nanosystems were simultaneously used and the protocol allows obtaining the identification of all individual tumor cells with the help of a Random Forest ensemble learning method.
- Published
- 2020
26. Targeted killing of prostate cancer cells using antibody-drug conjugated carbon nanohorns
- Author
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José Luis García Fierro, Ester Vázquez, Maurizio Prato, Alessia Scarsi, Marcella Pinto, María Isabel Lucío, Giulio Fracasso, María Antonia Herrero, Roberta Opri, Moreno Meneghetti, LUCÍO BENITO, MARIA ISABEL, Opri, Roberta, Pinto, Marcella, Scarsi, Alessia, Fierro, Jose L. G., Meneghetti, Moreno, Fracasso, Giulio, Prato, Maurizio, Vázquez, Ester, and HERRERO CHAMORRO, MARIA ANTONIA
- Subjects
Materials science ,medicine.drug_class ,Biomedical Engineering ,02 engineering and technology ,Pharmacology ,010402 general chemistry ,Monoclonal antibody ,01 natural sciences ,carbon nanohorns ,prostate cancer ,antibody conjugates ,Carbon Nanohorns ,Prostate cancer ,carbon nanohorn ,Antigen ,medicine ,General Materials Science ,Nanomaterials ,Cancer ,Prostate Cancer (PCa) ,General Chemistry ,General Medicine ,Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ,Prodrug ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,medicine.disease ,0104 chemical sciences ,Antobody ,Drug delivery ,Cancer cell ,Cancer research ,Nanohorns ,antibody-drug nanosystem ,0210 nano-technology ,Conjugate - Abstract
The ability of carbon nanohorns (CNHs) to cross biological barriers makes them potential carriers for delivery purposes. In this work, we report the design of a new selective antibody-drug nanosystem based on CNHs for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). In particular, cisplatin in a prodrug form and the monoclonal antibody (Ab) D2B, selective for PSMA+ cancer cells, have been attached to CNHs due to the current application of this antigen in PCa therapy. The hybrids Ab-CNHs, cisplatin-CNHs and functionalised- CNHs have been also synthesized to be used as control systems. The efficacy and specificity of the D2B-cisplatin-CNHs conjugate to selectively target and kill PSMA+ prostate cancer cells have been demonstrated in comparison with the other derivatives. The developed strategy to functionalise CNHs is fascinating because it can allow a fine tuning of both drug and Ab molecules attached to the nanostructure in order to modulate the activity of the nanosystem. Finally, the herein described methodology can be used for the incorporation of almost any drugs or Abs in the platforms in order to create new targeted drugs for the treatment of different diseases.
- Published
- 2020
27. Preparation and Characterization of Ag-nanostars@Au-nanowires hierarchical nanostructures for highly sensitive enhanced Raman spectroscopy
- Author
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Ligia Maria Moretto, Moreno Meneghetti, Lucio Litti, Maria Sole Zalaffi, Paolo Ugo, and Patrizia Canton
- Subjects
gold nanowires ,Nanostructure ,Materials science ,Nanowire ,hierarchical nanostructures ,Nanotechnology ,silver nanostars ,Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,Highly sensitive ,Characterization (materials science) ,surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,boundary element method ,Settore CHIM/01 - Chimica Analitica - Abstract
In this work we study the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) produced by hierarchical nanostructures obtained by coupling different anisotropic nanomaterial of two SERS active metals, namely Ag nanostars (AgNSs) and Au nanowires (AuNWs). Ag nanostars (AgNSs) are prepared, by a two-step one-pot synthesis by reduction of AgNO3 with hydroxylamine, trisodium citrate and NaOH. AuNWs are obtained by electroless templated synthesis in track-etched polycarbonate membranes with following etching of the template. The two precursors are bound together by bridging with the bifunctional cysteamine molecule, obtaining AgNS@AuNW hierarchical structures. Benzenethiol (BT) is adsorbed on the nanostructured material and used as SERS probe to study the amplification of Raman signals. Experimental results indicate significantly larger Raman enhancement when BT is adsorbed onto the AgNS@AuNW in comparison to AuNWs alone or decorated with quasi-spherical silver nanoparticles obtaining AgNP@AuNW. Digital simulations performed by the boundary element method agree with the experimental findings, showing higher number of hot spots and significantly higher SERS enhancements for AgNS@AuNW versus AuNWs or AgNSs or AgNP@AuNW.
- Published
- 2020
28. Manipulating chemistry through nanoparticle morphology
- Author
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Javier Reguera, F. Javier García de Abajo, Moreno Meneghetti, Luis M. Liz-Marzán, Lucio Litti, and European Commission
- Subjects
spectroscopy ,Nanoparticle ,Protonation ,02 engineering and technology ,Thermal treatment ,010402 general chemistry ,Photochemistry ,01 natural sciences ,4-aminobenzenethiol ,symbols.namesake ,Adsorption ,Molecule ,General Materials Science ,gold nanostars ,Physics::Chemical Physics ,Chemistry ,intracellular PH ,AG ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,P-aminothiophenol ,Colloidal gold ,enhanced raman-scattering ,symbols ,cells ,Nanorod ,0210 nano-technology ,nanorods ,Raman scattering - Abstract
We demonstrate that the protonation chemistry of molecules adsorbed at nanometer distances from the surface of anisotropic gold nanoparticles can be manipulated through the effect of surface morphology on the local proton density of an organic coating. Direct evidence of this remarkable effect was obtained by monitoring surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from mercaptobenzoic acid and 4-aminobenzenethiol molecules adsorbed on gold nanostars. By smoothing the initially sharp nanostar tips through a mild thermal treatment, changes were induced on protonation of the molecules, which can be observed through changes in the measured SERS spectra. These results shed light on the local chemical environment near anisotropic colloidal nanoparticles and open an alternative avenue to actively control chemistry through surface morphology. LL and LML-M acknowledge funding from European Commission Grant (EUSMI 731019). Funding is also acknowledged from the Spanish MINECO (MAT2017-86659-R and MDM-2017-0720 to LML-M; MAT2017-88492-R and SEV2015-0522 to JGA) and the European Research Council (Advanced Grant 787510 4DBIOSERS to LML-M; Advanced Grant 789104-eNANO to JGA).
- Published
- 2020
29. Spotting aged dyes on paper with SERS
- Author
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Cecilia Rossi, Piero Baglioni, Alfonso Zoleo, Moreno Meneghetti, Giovanna Poggi, and Marta Rossi
- Subjects
Plasmonic nanoparticles ,Materials science ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,Spotting ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Highly sensitive ,body regions ,Colloidal gold ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,0210 nano-technology ,sers, gold nanoparticles, dyes, aging, fading, bic crystal ,Volume concentration ,circulatory and respiratory physiology - Abstract
Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly sensitive technique for the non- or minimally invasive identification of molecules at very low concentrations. In this work, SERS is exploited using naked laser-ablated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the detection of dyes on artificially aged paper inked with a ballpoint pen. Although several studies on inks with SERS are present in the literature, most of them report on the investigations on freshly prepared products, and less information is present on the detection of aged dyes and inks using SERS. Ballpoint inks are commonly used in daily activities, but have also been employed by several contemporary artists. These inks are very sensitive to light, and they discolor rapidly, making their detection demanding. In the present work, the SERS spectra of a ballpoint pen ink on two types of paper were analyzed after light-induced ageing, and the importance of the dye–AuNP interaction is discussed. The results show that the interpretation of the SERS spectra of the aged samples, such as those of interest in the Cultural Heritage field, is a tricky and delicate operation and that the diffusion of the dyes to the hot spot regions of the plasmonic nanoparticles plays a pivotal role in the detection of degraded ink components. Therefore, appropriate evaluation of the factors affecting the molecule–plasmonic nanoparticle interactions and of the history of the artwork to be analyzed is fundamental to avoiding the misinterpretation of the spectra and, consequently, of the original composition of the analyzed artwork.
- Published
- 2020
30. Zirconia-Based Magnetoplasmonic Nanocomposites: A New Nanotool for Magnetic-Guided Separations with SERS Identification
- Author
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Alessandro Scarso, Valentina Piotto, Davide Peddis, Pietro Riello, Anna Del Tedesco, Lucio Litti, Gabriele Sponchia, Khohinur Hossain, Moreno Meneghetti, and Alvise Benedetti
- Subjects
Nanocomposite ,Materials science ,Field (physics) ,SERS ,zirconia nanoparticles ,CoFe ,Nanotechnology ,bis(phosphonic acid) ,2 ,O ,4 ,nanoparticles ,gold nanoparticles ,magnetic sorting ,Nanomaterials ,zirconia nanoparticles, CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, bis(phosphonic acid), gold nanoparticles, magnetic sorting, SERS ,Colloidal gold ,Fuel cells ,CoFe2O4 nanoparticles ,General Materials Science ,Cubic zirconia ,Settore CHIM/02 - Chimica Fisica - Abstract
In the field of nanomaterials, multifunctional nanosystems play a prominent role in many applications as new magnetically recoverable catalysts, information processing, fuel cells, efficient bio/na...
- Published
- 2020
31. Evidences of De-Doped Spiro-OMeTAD Employing Tert-Butyl Pyridine As Additive in Hole-Transporting Layers for n-i-p Perovskite Photovoltaics
- Author
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Enzo Menna, Moreno Meneghetti, Antonio Rizzo, Lorenzo Franco, Annamaria Petrozza, Francesco Lamberti, Gaudenzio Meneghesso, Roberto Sorrentino, Enrico Cescon, and Teresa Gatti
- Subjects
Electron mobility ,Materials science ,business.industry ,Doping ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Conductivity ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,Photovoltaics ,Pyridine ,Lithium ,business ,Layer (electronics) ,Perovskite (structure) - Abstract
Spiro-OMeTAD is the mostly employed molecular hole transporting material (HTM) in n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Ease of processing from solution and good filmability on top of the perovskite photo-active layer are characteristics that make this HTM outstanding and incomparable for the role. However, both chemical doping with tert-butylpyridine (tBP) and lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (LiTFSI), coupled to further oxidation steps, are required in order to achieve high hole mobility and conductivity. Previous investigations revealed that tBP is fundamental for addressing the best morphology in the hole-transporting layer during processing. We provide here for the first time a spectroscopic evidence of the detrimental impact on long-term conservation of Spiro-OMeTAD structural and electrical properties when tBP is used as additive. These aspects are crucial for the future design and understanding of new molecular HTMs for PSCs.
- Published
- 2019
32. Understanding the good and poor cell targeting activity of gold nanostructures functionalized with molecular units for the epidermal growth factor receptor
- Author
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Marina Gobbo, Giorgio Ripani, Francesca Biscaglia, Moreno Meneghetti, Simone Mocellin, Senthilkumar Rajendran, Claudia Mazzuca, Benedetta Di Napoli, Andrea Braga, Clara Benna, and Antonio Palleschi
- Subjects
DYNAMICS ,Nanostructure ,KeyWords Plus:PARTICLE MESH EWALD ,SURFACE ,PEPTIDE LIGAND ,Bioengineering ,Peptide ,Polyethylene glycol ,THERAPY ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,DELIVERY ,LIPOSOME DISTRIBUTION ,NANOPARTICLES ,General Materials Science ,Epidermal growth factor receptor ,Settore CHIM/02 - Chimica Fisica ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,biology ,IDENTIFICATION ,General Engineering ,General Chemistry ,CANCER ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Cell targeting ,chemistry ,Colloidal gold ,Cancer cell ,biology.protein ,Biophysics - Abstract
Nanostructures can strongly interact with cells or other biological structures; furthermore when they are functionalized with targeting units, they are of great interest for a variety of applications in the biotechnology field like those for efficient imaging, diagnosis and therapy and in particular for cancer theranostics. Obtaining targeting with good specificity and sensitivity is a key necessity, which, however, is affected by the complexity of the interactions between the nanostructures and the biological components. In this work we report the study of specificity and sensitivity of gold nanoparticles functionalized with the peptide GE11 for the targeting of the epidermal growth factor receptor, expressed on many cells and, in particular, on many types of cancer cells. We show how a combination of spectroscopic measurements and molecular dynamics simulations allows the comprehension of the targeting activity of peptides linked to the surface of gold nanostructures and how the targeting is tuned by the presence of polyethylene glycol chains.
- Published
- 2019
33. PreS1 peptide-functionalized gold nanostructures with SERRS tags for efficient liver cancer cell targeting
- Author
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G. Villano, Maria Ruzzene, Marina Gobbo, Alessandra Biasiolo, Patrizia Pontisso, Santina Quarta, Francesca Biscaglia, Cristian Turato, Lucio Litti, and Moreno Meneghetti
- Subjects
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ,Liver tumor ,Materials science ,Metal Nanoparticles ,Mice, Transgenic ,Bioengineering ,Context (language use) ,Peptide ,02 engineering and technology ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Biomaterials ,Mice ,Drug Delivery Systems ,Antigens, Neoplasm ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Protein Precursors ,Serpins ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ,Liver cell ,Liver Neoplasms ,Hep G2 Cells ,Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,medicine.disease ,Fluorescence ,Neoplasm Proteins ,0104 chemical sciences ,Biochemistry ,chemistry ,Mechanics of Materials ,Colloidal gold ,Gold ,Peptides ,0210 nano-technology ,Liver cancer - Abstract
Early detection is the most effective mean of improving prognosis for many fatal diseases such as cancer. In this context, the Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS) technique is being proposed as alternative to fluorescent methods in detection of biomarkers, because SERRS nanostructures are bright as fluorescent tags but more stable and clearly detectable using the narrow Raman “fingerprints” of a suitable reporter. Here we show that biocompatible SERRS active gold nanostructures, functionalized with an engineered PreS1 peptide (AuNP@PEG-PreS1), detect the presence of the SerpinB3 antigen overexpressed on liver tumor cells, a biomarker of the onset of liver cell carcinomatous transformation. A proper engineering of the targeting unit, linked to the nanostructure by a polymer chain, affords a sensitivity and specificity larger than 80%, at subnanomolar concentrations. Taking into account the high sensitivity of SERRS and that SB3 overexpression is an early event in liver cell carcinomatous transformation, AuNP@PEG-PreS1 nanostructures could be used in routine diagnostic activities, to improve the accuracy of HCC detection in particular in patients with chronic liver diseases.
- Published
- 2019
34. Evidence of Spiro-OMeTAD De-doping by tert-Butylpyridine Additive in Hole-Transporting Layers for Perovskite Solar Cells
- Author
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Lorenzo Franco, Antonio Rizzo, Roberto Sorrentino, Teresa Gatti, Enrico Cescon, Gaudenzio Meneghesso, Enzo Menna, Annamaria Petrozza, Francesco Lamberti, and Moreno Meneghetti
- Subjects
Electron mobility ,Materials science ,General Chemical Engineering ,hole-transporting material ,chemistry.chemical_element ,SDG7: Affordable and clean energy ,Conductivity ,Biochemistry ,symbols.namesake ,de-doping ,Materials Chemistry ,Environmental Chemistry ,Raman ,Perovskite (structure) ,degradation ,ESR ,additives ,halide perovskite ,Spiro-OMeTAD ,tert-butylpyridine ,Biochemistry (medical) ,Doping ,General Chemistry ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,symbols ,Lithium ,Raman spectroscopy ,Layer (electronics) - Abstract
Summary Spiro-OMeTAD is the most-employed molecular hole-transporting material (HTM) in n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Ease of processing from solution and good filmability on top of the perovskite photo-active layer are characteristics that make this HTM outstanding and incomparable for the role. However, chemical doping with both tert-butylpyridine (tBP) and lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (LiTFSI), coupled with further oxidation steps, is required in order to achieve high hole mobility and conductivity. Previous investigations have revealed that tBP is fundamental for addressing the best morphology in the hole-transporting layer during processing. Here, we provide spectroscopic evidence of the detrimental impact on long-term conservation of Spiro-OMeTAD structural and electrical properties when tBP is used as an additive. These aspects are crucial for the future design and understanding of new molecular HTMs for PSCs.
- Published
- 2019
35. Predictions on the SERS enhancement factor of gold nanosphere aggregate samples
- Author
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Moreno Meneghetti and Lucio Litti
- Subjects
Materials science ,Nanostructure ,Aggregate (data warehouse) ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Gold nanospheres ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Colloid ,symbols.namesake ,Extinction spectrum ,Colloidal gold ,symbols ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman scattering - Abstract
Colloidal gold nanostructures are nowadays widely involved in sensor applications. One of the most interesting techniques that takes advantage of them is certainly the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effect, even if it is often considered a tricky technique due to structural constraints required by the nanostructured substrates to obtain high enhancement factors (EFs), i.e. the presence of hot spots. Because of the easy preparation and high number of hot spots, aggregated gold nanospheres seem to be the most efficient through the SERS colloids, but their characteristic high disorder makes them unpredictable and difficult to compare between different batches. For this reason, less SERS effective, but more regular and organized substrates are usually preferred. In this study, a method based on Boundary Element Method (BEM) simulation is used to accurately predict the colloidal SERS EFs of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregates, starting from their experimental extinction spectra. Surprisingly, it was found that larger aggregates do not exhibit stronger hot spots, but rather higher amounts of them, influencing the overall predicted EFs, which well reflect the results obtained experimentally.
- Published
- 2019
36. Nanoparticles Engineering by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids: Concepts and Applications
- Author
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Marco Santoro, Sebastiano Trusso, Marcella Dell’Aglio, Friedrich Waag, Moreno Meneghetti, Marina Gobbo, Chiara Zanchi, Paolo Maria Ossi, Enza Fazio, Vittorio Scardaci, Matteo Tommasini, Marcello Condorelli, Alessandro De Giacomo, Giovanni Gallo, Luisa D'Urso, Bilal Gökce, Fortunato Neri, Giuseppe Compagnini, Lucio Litti, Andrea Lucotti, and Francesca Biscaglia
- Subjects
Pollutants ,Materials science ,Laser ablation ,Nanostructure ,Biomedicine ,Catalysis ,Colloids ,Laser synthesis ,Plasmonics ,Sensing ,General Chemical Engineering ,Chemie ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,Review ,Nanomaterials ,Pulsed laser ablation ,lcsh:Chemistry ,lcsh:QD1-999 ,Application areas ,General Materials Science ,Plasmon - Abstract
Laser synthesis emerges as a suitable technique to produce ligand-free nanoparticles, alloys and functionalized nanomaterials for catalysis, imaging, biomedicine, energy and environmental applications. In the last decade, laser ablation and nanoparticle generation in liquids has proven to be a unique and efficient technique to generate, excite, fragment and conjugate a large variety of nanostructures in a scalable and clean way. In this work, we give an overview on the fundamentals of pulsed laser synthesis of nanocolloids and new information about its scalability towards selected applications. Biomedicine, catalysis and sensing are the application areas mainly discussed in this review, highlighting advantages of laser-synthesized nanoparticles for these types of applications and, once partially resolved, the limitations to the technique for large-scale applications.
- Published
- 2020
37. Degradation-by-design: Surface modification with functional substrates that enhance the enzymatic degradation of carbon nanotubes
- Author
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Isacco Bartolini, Moreno Meneghetti, Kostas Kostarelos, Adukamparai Rajukrishnan Sureshbabu, Alberto Bianco, Cécilia Ménard-Moyon, Rajendra Kurapati, and Julie Russier
- Subjects
Xanthine Oxidase ,Materials science ,Surface Properties ,Biophysics ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Bioengineering ,Carbon nanotube ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,Horseradish peroxidase ,Redox ,Nanomaterials ,law.invention ,Biomaterials ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,law ,Organic chemistry ,Horseradish Peroxidase ,Catechol ,biology ,Nanotubes, Carbon ,chemistry ,ultrastructure ,Biodegradation ,Mechanics of Materials ,Thermogravimetry ,Ceramics and Composites ,biology.protein ,Surface modification ,Chimie/Chimie thérapeutique ,metabolism ,Carbon - Abstract
Biodegradation of carbon-based nanomaterials has been pursued intensively in the last few years, as one of the most crucial issues for the design of safe, clinically relevant conjugates for biomedical applications. In this paper it is demonstrated that specific functional molecules can enhance the catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and xanthine oxidase (XO) for the degradation of carbon nanotubes. Two different azido coumarins and one cathecol derivative are linked to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These molecules are good reducing substrates and strong redox mediators to enhance the catalytic activity of HRP. XO, known to metabolize various molecules mainly in the mammalian liver, including human, was instead used to test the biodegradability of MWCNTs modified with an azido purine. The products of the biodegradation process are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that coumarin and catechol moieties have enhanced the biodegradation of MWCNTs compared to oxidized nanotubes, likely due to the capacity of these substrates to better interact with and activate HRP. Although azido purine-MWCNTs are degraded less effectively by XO than oxidized nanotubes, the data uncover the importance of XO in the biodegradation of carbon-nanomaterials leading to their better surface engineering for biomedical applications. journal article research support, non-u.s. gov't 2015 Dec 2015 08 28 imported
- Published
- 2015
38. Eco‐Friendly Spray Deposition of Perovskite Films on Macroscale Textured Surfaces
- Author
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Frédéric Laquai, Michele De Bastiani, Francesco Lamberti, Simone Sansoni, Furkan Halis Isikgor, Stefaan De Wolf, Esma Ugur, Erkan Aydin, Moreno Meneghetti, and Areej A. Alzahrani
- Subjects
Materials science ,Laser ablation ,Mechanics of Materials ,General Materials Science ,Nanotechnology ,Deposition (chemistry) ,Environmentally friendly ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Perovskite (structure) - Published
- 2020
39. A SERRS/MRI multimodal contrast agent based on naked Au nanoparticles functionalized with a Gd(III) loaded PEG polymer for tumor imaging and localized hyperthermia
- Author
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Marco Colombatti, Giulio Fracasso, Elena Nicolato, Niccolò Rivato, Marina Gobbo, Moreno Meneghetti, Lucio Litti, Pasquina Marzola, Alfonso Venzo, and Pietro Bontempi
- Subjects
tumor ,Materials science ,NANOSTARS ,MRI contrast agent ,Physics::Medical Physics ,Nanoparticle ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Laser ablation synthesis in solution ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,symbols.namesake ,GADOLINIUM ,Nuclear magnetic resonance ,medicine ,magnetic resonance imaging ,General Materials Science ,CHELATE ,Plasmon ,surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering ,PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY ,multiple imaging techniques ,SPECTROSCOPY ,multimodal contrast agents ,Naphthalocyanine ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,SERS ,localized hyperthermia ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,plasmonic nanosystem ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,CANCER ,0104 chemical sciences ,SIZE ,chemistry ,Colloidal gold ,GOLD NANOPARTICLES ,symbols ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman scattering ,MRI - Abstract
Multimodal contrast agents offer new interesting diagnostic possibilities, summing the benefits of multiple imaging techniques. Magnetic resonance and optical imaging are complementary techniques. The first allows total body screening, even though it suffers from low spatial resolution and needs high loadings, whereas the second shows lower penetration, but bright signals, and a higher spatial resolution and needs lower loadings. We present a plasmonic nanosystem as a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and SERRS (surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering) multimodal contrast agent. Naked gold nanoparticles, obtained by laser ablation synthesis in solution, are organized as a highly efficient SERRS substrate with a naphthalocyanine reporter and functionalized with a MRI contrast agent with a newly synthesized 3DOTA-PEG polymer, with a high GdIII loading. As a proof of concept, in vivo and ex vivo MRI and SERRS experiments are also performed. The plasmonic property of the nanosystem is then exploited to show its usefulness for localized hyperthermia.
- Published
- 2018
40. Safe core-satellite magneto-plasmonic nanostructures for efficient targeting and photothermal treatment of tumor cells
- Author
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Giueseppe Toffoli, Marco Colombatti, Giamaica Conti, Roberto Pilot, Marina Gobbo, Moreno Meneghetti, Marcella Pinto, Giulio Fracasso, Lucio Litti, Roberta Zappon, S. Fiameni, and Fabrizio Bertorelle
- Subjects
Male ,Materials science ,Nanostructure ,Biocompatibility ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,01 natural sciences ,Antibodies ,ABLATION THERAPY ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Cell Line, Tumor ,Nanobiotechnology ,Humans ,General Materials Science ,CANCER-CELLS ,Magnetite Nanoparticles ,SHELL NANOPARTICLES ,Laser ablation ,IRON-OXIDE NANOPARTICLES ,Prostatic Neoplasms ,Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ,Photothermal therapy ,Phototherapy ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,chemistry ,Colloidal gold ,GOLD NANOPARTICLES ,symbols ,Materials Science (all) ,Gold ,ENHANCED RAMAN-SCATTERING ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman spectroscopy ,Iron oxide nanoparticles - Abstract
Magneto-plasmonic nanostructures functionalized with cell targeting units are of great interest for nanobiotechnology applications. Photothermal treatment of cells targeted with antibody functionalized nanostructures and followed by magnetic isolation, allows killing selected cells and hence is one of the applications of great interest. The magneto-plasmonic nanostructures reported herein were synthesized using naked gold and magnetite nanoparticles obtained through a green approach based on laser ablation of bulk materials in water. These particles do not need purifications steps for biocompatibility and are functionalized with a SERRS (surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering) active molecule for detection and with an antibody for targeting prostate tumor cells. Quantitative results for the cell targeting and selection efficiency show an overall accuracy of 94% at picomolar concentrations. The photothermal treatment efficiently kills targeted and magneto-selected cells producing a viability below 5% after 3 min of irradiation, compared with almost 100% viability of incubated and irradiated, but non targeted cells.
- Published
- 2018
41. Single File Flow of Biomimetic Beads for Continuous SERS Recording in a Microfluidic Device
- Author
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Matteo Pierno, Diego Calzavara, Moreno Meneghetti, Greshia Cappozzo, Giampaolo Mistura, Lucio Litti, and Davide Ferraro
- Subjects
Materials science ,Article Subject ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Microfluidics ,Cancer type ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Clinical routine ,Condensed Matter Physics ,01 natural sciences ,Fluorescence ,lcsh:QC1-999 ,0104 chemical sciences ,Cancer treatment ,Autofluorescence ,Circulating tumor cell ,Laser line ,0210 nano-technology ,lcsh:Physics - Abstract
A major challenge in cancer treatment is the quantification of biomarkers associated with a specific cancer type. Important biomarkers are the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detached from the main cancer and circulating in the blood. CTCs are very rare and their identification is still an issue. Although CTCs quantification can be estimated by using fluorescent markers, all the fluorescence techniques are strongly limited by the number of emissions (therefore markers) that can be discriminated with one exciting line, by their bleaching characteristics, and by the intrinsic autofluorescence of biological samples. An emerging technique that can overcome these limitations is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Signals of vibrational origin with intensity similar to those of fluorescence, but narrower bandwidths, can be easily discriminated even by exciting with a single laser line. We recently showed the benefit of this method with cells fixed on a surface. However, this approach is too demanding to be applied in clinical routine. To effectively increase the throughput of the SERS analysis, microfluidics represents a promising tool. We report two different hydrodynamic strategies, based on device geometry and liquids viscosity, to successfully combine a microfluidic design with SERS.
- Published
- 2018
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42. Parallel optical read-out of micromechanical pillars applied to prostate specific membrane antigen detection
- Author
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Martina Tardivo, Sergio Carrato, Giulio Fracasso, Daniele Borin, Andrea Colusso, Moreno Meneghetti, Marco Lazzarino, Giacinto Scoles, Marco Colombatti, Valeria Toffoli, Simone Dal Zilio, Tardivo, Martina, Toffoli, Valeria, Fracasso, Giulio, Borin, Daniele, Dal Zilio, Simone, Colusso, Andrea, Carrato, Sergio, Scoles, Giacinto, Meneghetti, Moreno, Colombatti, Marco, and Lazzarino, Marco
- Subjects
Male ,Analyte ,Materials science ,Biomedical Engineering ,Biophysics ,Frequency shift ,Nanotechnology ,Biosensing Techniques ,Tracking (particle physics) ,Buffer (optical fiber) ,parallel optical read-out detection ,Resonator ,Limit of Detection ,Biomarkers, Tumor ,PSMA ,Electrochemistry ,Glutamate carboxypeptidase II ,Humans ,Micromechanical sensors ,Parallel optical read-out detection ,Prostate specific membrane antigen ,Biotechnology ,Micromechanical sensors Parallel optical read-out detection Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen ,Prostate ,Prostatic Neoplasms ,Equipment Design ,General Medicine ,Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems ,Prostate-Specific Antigen ,biosensors ,prostate cancer ,Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen ,Antibodies, Immobilized ,Biosensor ,Sensitivity (electronics) ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Micro and nanomechanical resonators represent a promising platform for proteins label-free detection because of their extreme sensitivity, fast response and low cost. Micro-pillars are columnar resonators that can be easily arranged in dense arrays of several thousand sensors in a squared mm. To exploit such a large density, however, a method for tracking independently micropillars resonance frequency is required. Here we present a detection method based on CCD imaging and software image analysis, which can measure the resonance frequency of tens of pillars in parallel. Acquiring simultaneously the frequency shift of up to 40 sensors and applying a proper statistical analysis, we were able to overcome the variability of the single measures improving the device sensitivity at low analyte concentration range. As a proof of concept, this method has been tested for the detection of a tumor marker, the Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA). Pillars have been functionalized with an antibody against PSMA. The tumor marker (PSMA) has been detected in a range of concentrations between 300 pM and 100 nM, in buffer and in diluted bovine serum. The sensitivity of our method was limited only by the affinity constant of the antigen–antibody recognition. Moreover, this detection technique demonstrated to be effective in the 1–6 nM range, which is the window of PSMA concentration of clinical interest.
- Published
- 2015
43. Enhanced EGFR targeting activity of plasmonic nanostructures with engineered GE11 peptide
- Author
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Antonio Rosato, Moreno Meneghetti, Simone Mocellin, Lucio Litti, Gianfranco Bocchinfuso, Senthilkumar Rajendran, Roberta Sommaggio, Clara Benna, Paolo Conflitti, Marina Gobbo, Donato Nitti, Antonio Palleschi, and Francesca Biscaglia
- Subjects
Molecular dynamic ,Materials science ,Biomedical Engineering ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Nanoparticle ,Metal Nanoparticles ,Cetuximab ,Peptide ,02 engineering and technology ,Polyethylene glycol ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Antibodies ,Polyethylene Glycols ,Biomaterials ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Drug Delivery Systems ,Nanostructures ,Peptides ,SERS ,Targeting activity ,Caco-2 Cells ,Humans ,Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ,Gold ,3003 ,PEG ratio ,Epidermal growth factor receptor ,Settore CHIM/02 - Chimica Fisica ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,biology ,Epidermal Growth Factor ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Ligand (biochemistry) ,Small molecule ,Combinatorial chemistry ,0104 chemical sciences ,ErbB Receptors ,chemistry ,Colloidal gold ,biology.protein ,0210 nano-technology ,Receptor - Abstract
Plasmonic nanostructures show important properties for biotechnological applications, but they have to be guided on the target for exploiting their potentialities. Antibodies are the natural molecules for targeting. However, their possible adverse immunogenic activity and their cost have suggested finding other valid substitutes. Small molecules like peptides can be an alternative source of targeting agents, even if, as single molecules, their binding affinity is usually not very good. GE11 is a small dodecapeptide with specific binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and low immunogenicity. The present work shows that thousands of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains modified with lysines and functionalized with GE11 on clusters of naked gold nanoparticles, obtained by laser ablation in water, achieves a better targeting activity than that recorded with nanoparticles decorated with the specific anti-EGFR antibody Cetuximab (C225). The insertion of the cationic spacer between the polymeric part of the ligand and the targeting peptide allows for a proper presentation of GE11 on the surface of the nanosystems. Surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering signals of the plasmonic gold nanoparticles are used for quantifying the targeting activity. Molecular dynamic calculations suggest that subtle differences in the exposition of the peptide on the PEG sea are important for the targeting activity.
- Published
- 2017
44. High-Quality, Ligands-Free, Mixed-Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Inks for Optoelectronic Applications
- Author
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Lucio Litti, Marina Gandini, Michele De Bastiani, Francesco Lamberti, Roberto Sorrentino, Annamaria Petrozza, and Moreno Meneghetti
- Subjects
hysteresis ,inks ,laser ablation ,mixed-halide perovskites ,nanocrystals ,photo-stability ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Materials Science (all) ,Materials science ,Halide ,Photo stability ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Quality (physics) ,General Materials Science ,Renewable Energy ,Perovskite (structure) ,Laser ablation ,Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Hysteresis ,Nanocrystal ,Optoelectronics ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Published
- 2017
45. A new integrated TLC/MU-ATR/SERS advanced approach for the identification of trace amounts of dyes in mixtures
- Author
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Silvia Prati, Irene Bonacini, Giorgia Sciutto, Moreno Meneghetti, Rocco Mazzeo, Lucio Litti, Sciutto, Giorgia, Prati, Silvia, Bonacini, Irene, Litti, L., Meneghetti, M., and Mazzeo, Rocco
- Subjects
Enhanced vibrational techniques ,Analytical chemistry ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,Analytical Chemistry ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Dyes ,MU/ATR ,SERS ,Environmental Chemistry ,Spectroscopy ,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ,Dyes, Enhanced vibrational techniques, MU/ATR, SERS ,Elution ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Silver iodide ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Thin-layer chromatography ,0104 chemical sciences ,chemistry ,Attenuated total reflection ,symbols ,Dyeing ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman spectroscopy - Abstract
The present research is focused on the setting up of an advanced analytical system for the detection of synthetic dyes. The system is based on the combination of an innovative thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate coupled with enhanced infrared (MU-ATR, metal underlayer attenuated total reflection) and Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS) spectroscopy. In particular, a TLC plate made of silver iodide (AgI) applied onto a gold coated glass slide (AgI@Au) is proposed as an efficient stationary phase for the separation of dyes mixtures. The separated dyes are then identified by means of both enhanced FTIR and SERS, performed directly on the same eluted spots. The use of a mid-IR transparent inorganic salt as stationary phase coupled with the underneath gold layer avoids spectral interferences, enhancing the signal obtained from ATR analyses. At the same time, SERS spectra can be recorded as the TLC plate may act as a SERS active substrate due to the photoreduction of AgI to metallic Ag caused by the exposure to the laser during the Raman analysis. Different mixtures of synthetic dyes of known composition, widely used in dyeing processes, have been tested and the method resulted to be effective in identifying trace amounts in the order of tens nanograms. Moreover, the method has been further evaluated on a real case study represented by dyes extracted from dyed wool.
- Published
- 2017
46. The Renaissance of fullerenes with perovskite solar cells
- Author
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Enzo Menna, Moreno Meneghetti, Francesco Lamberti, Annamaria Petrozza, Michele Maggini, and Teresa Gatti
- Subjects
Materials science ,Fullerene ,Organic solar cell ,Perovskite solar cell ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,C60 ,Cross-linked fullerene ,Electron transporting layer ,PCBM ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Materials Science (all) ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Photovoltaics ,General Materials Science ,Renewable Energy ,Perovskite (structure) ,Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,The Renaissance ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Abstract
Fullerenes have been extensively used for more than two decades for the development of organic photovoltaics (OPV). While OPV seems to be a technology almost ready for the market, in the last few years fullerenes are attracting a big interest for the improvement they afford on the already well-performing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thanks to PSC integration, interest in fullerenes is rising again, opening up new exciting perspectives for photovoltaics. This review article aims at analyzing the landmark contributions that gave birth to the novel application of fullerenes in PSCs and to the technological solutions that are emerging with them.
- Published
- 2017
47. Efficient AuFeOx Nanoclusters of Laser-Ablated Nanoparticles in Water for Cells Guiding and Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Imaging
- Author
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Vincenzo Amendola, Fabrizio Bertorelle, Moreno Meneghetti, Martina Ceccarello, Denis Badocco, Paolo Pastore, Giulio Fracasso, Marcella Pinto, and Marco Colombatti
- Subjects
surface-enhanced Raman scattering ,Materials science ,Analytical chemistry ,Nanoparticle ,FeOxNP ,Photochemistry ,Nanoclusters ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,symbols.namesake ,Surface charge ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,cell sorting ,Plasmon ,Laser ablation ,AuNP ,macrophages ,superparamagnetic nanoparticles ,Nanostructures ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Nanoscience ,General Energy ,surface plasmon resonance ,chemistry ,symbols ,Iron oxide nanoparticles ,Raman scattering ,Superparamagnetism - Abstract
Nanoclusters with plasmonic and magnetic properties are obtained with naked gold (AuNP) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeOxNP) separately synthesized by laser ablation in water and simply assembled by using their opposite surface charges. Controlling the amount of AuNP and FeOxNP, we obtained nanoclusters with both good surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) signals and superparamagnetic properties. Nanoclusters are incubated with murine macrophage cells which, after mixing with other macrophages, can be magnetically guided in solution by sorting them in less than 10 min. SERRS signals, observed at the single cell level, were recorded for the sorted macrophages, showing that the nanoclusters are active also in a biological environment and allow the identification of the incubated macrophage cells.
- Published
- 2014
48. Microscopic View on a Chemical Vapor Deposition Route to Boron-Doped Graphene Nanostructures
- Author
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Pavel Dudin, Mattia Cattelan, Alexei Barinov, Marco Favaro, Gaetano Granozzi, Stefano Agnoli, Filippo Romanato, Moreno Meneghetti, and Denis Garoli
- Subjects
Materials science ,Graphene ,General Chemical Engineering ,Graphene foam ,Inorganic chemistry ,Doping ,chemistry.chemical_element ,General Chemistry ,Chemical vapor deposition ,Carbide ,law.invention ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,law ,Materials Chemistry ,Boron ,Graphene nanoribbons ,Diborane - Abstract
Single layer boron-doped graphene layers have been grown on polycrystalline copper foils by chemical vapor deposition using methane and diborane as carbon and boron sources, respectively. Any attempt to deposit doped layers in one-step has been fruitless, the reason being the formation of very reactive boron species as a consequence of diborane decomposition on the Cu surface, which leads to disordered nonstoichiometric carbides. However, a two-step procedure has been optimized: as a first step, the surface is seeded with pure graphene islands, while the boron source is activated only in a second stage. In this case, the nonstochiometric boron carbides formed on the bare copper areas between preseeded graphene patches can be exploited to easily release boron, which diffuses from the peripheral areas inward of graphene islands. The effective substitutional doping (of the order of about 1%) has been demonstrated by Raman and photoemission experiments. The electronic properties of doped layers have been char...
- Published
- 2013
49. What controls the composition and the structure of nanomaterials generated by laser ablation in liquid solution?
- Author
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Vincenzo Amendola and Moreno Meneghetti
- Subjects
Chemical process ,Laser ablation ,Nanostructure ,Chemistry ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Nanotechnology ,engineering.material ,Characterization (materials science) ,Nanomaterials ,laser ablation ,nanomaterials ,engineering ,Noble metal ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,Group 2 organometallic chemistry - Abstract
Laser ablation synthesis in liquid solution (LASiS) is a "green" technique that gives access to the preparation of a library of nanomaterials. Bare noble metal spherical particles, multiphase core-shell oxides, metal-semiconductor heterostructures, layered organometallic compounds and other complex nanostructures can be obtained with the same experimental set up, just by varying a few synthetic parameters. How to govern such versatility is one of the current challenges of LASiS and requires a thorough understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved in the synthesis. In this perspective, the fundamental mechanisms of laser ablation in liquids are summarized, organized according to their temporal sequence and correlated with relevant examples taken from the library of nanomaterials disclosed by LASiS, in order to show how synthesis parameters influence the composition and the structure of products. The resulting framework suggests that, to date, much attention has been devoted to the physical aspects of laser-matter interaction and to the characterization of the final products of the synthesis. Conversely, the clarification of chemical processes active during LASiS deserves more research efforts and requires the synergy among multiple investigation techniques.
- Published
- 2013
50. Light-Controlled Resistance Modulation in a Photochromic Diarylethene–Carbon Nanotube Blend
- Author
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Maria Dekermenjian, Ajay Ram Srimath Kandada, Chiara Bertarelli, Moreno Meneghetti, Rossella Castagna, Andrea Bianco, Guglielmo Lanzani, Calogero Sciascia, Richard Martel, and Fabio Di Fonzo
- Subjects
Materials science ,Conducting blend ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Carbon nanotube ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Photochromism ,Diarylethene ,Electrical resistivity and conductivity ,law ,Thermal stability ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,Electrical conductor ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,carbon nanotubes ,business.industry ,Polymer ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,General Energy ,chemistry ,Electrode ,Optoelectronics ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Abstract
Photochromic molecules are part of a large class of materials in which light stimulus not only induces a color variation but also affects other physicochemical properties. However, the change of bulk electrical properties (e.g., electrical conductivity) via light excitation remains difficult to control because the intrinsically switchable molecules may lose their functionality when wired with conductive electrodes. In contrast with previous work based on single molecules, here we demonstrate a facile and accessible “wet-chemical” method to produce light-induced electrical switching. The electrical conductivity of a photochromic blend composed of diarylethene polymer and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is reversibly tuned according with UV–vis excitation. The devices present good thermal stability and remarkable fatigue resistance under ambient conditions. Supported by electrical and spectroscopic evidence, we show that the intertube electrical coupling, mediated by the light-induced electrocyclizat...
- Published
- 2012
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