Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our a... more Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our approach makes use of lithography processes to build the desired nanostructures directly. The fabrication process involves an electron-beam lithography technique to define metallic microstructures onto which nanometre scale patterning is performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a mechanical modification tool. Both direct material removal
Journal of Drug Targeting, doi:10.3109/1061186X.2013.878941
Background: Catechin–dextran conjugates have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their a... more Background: Catechin–dextran conjugates have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their anticancer activity against a range of cancer cells. Magnetic nanoparticles have the ability to concentrate therapeutically important drugs due to their magnetic-spatial control and provide opportunities for targeted drug delivery.
Purpose: Enhancement of the anticancer efficiency of catechin–dextran conjugate by functionalisation with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Methods: Modification of the coating shell of commercial magnetic nanoparticles (Endorem) composed of dextran with the catechin–dextran conjugate.
Results: Catechin–dextran conjugated with Endorem (Endo–Cat) increased the intracellular concentration of the drug and it induced apoptosis in 98% of pancreatic tumour cells placed under magnetic field.
Discussion: The conjugation of catechin–dextran with Endorem enhances the anticancer activity of this drug and provides a new strategy for targeted drug delivery on tumour cells driven by magnetic field.
Conclusion: The ability to spatially control the delivery of the catechin–dextran by magnetic field makes it a promising agent for further application in cancer therapy.
"Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its t... more "Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic
action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres
by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective
treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561
nm irradiation at mW power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical
applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control."
ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works i... more ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works in a synergistic way with others could potentially lead to a completely new type of tools for nanomedicine. The development of nanostructures able to release drugs directly within the target after a stimulus can drastically improve the therapeutics efficiency by reducing side effects. Gold nanoparticles offer one of the most suitable platforms for the development of modular nano-devices. On the one hand, their surface properties enable effective coating by peptides containing at least one cysteine, thus yielding stable and non-cytotoxic systems. On the other, their intriguing photophysics, characterized by the surface plasmon resonance, can be exploited for novel excitation schemes. Doxorubicin is a widely used, but toxic, cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action while minimizing its side effects, doxorubicin was covalently conjugated to 30 nm peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then it was photo-released in a controlled fashion through the cleavage of the 1,2,3-triazolic ring by a multiphoton process using 561 nm irradiation at µW power. Selective apoptosis of human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells was observed only in the irradiated 100x100 micron area in less than six minutes after the stimulus. Notably, the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin was completely inhibited for at least eight hours until its release “on demand” was externally light-triggered.
Abstract. Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevi... more Abstract. Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our approach makes use of lithography processes to build the desired nanostructures directly. The fabrication process involves an electron-beam lithography technique to define metallic microstructures onto which nanometre scale patterning is performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a mechanical modification tool. Both direct material removal and AFM-assisted mask patterning are applied in order to achieve ...
Al/Si/GaAs(001) diode structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy were examined as a function of t... more Al/Si/GaAs(001) diode structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy were examined as a function of the thickness of the Si interface layer and the intensity of the As or Al flux employed during Si deposition. We found that Schottky barriers as low as 0.3–0.4 eV (in the presence of a sufficiently high As flux) or as high as 1.0–1.1 eV (in the presence of a sufficiently high Al flux) can be established on n-type GaAs at Si coverages in the submonolayer to monolayer range. We therefore associate the tunability of the barrier height with a Si-induced local interface dipole.
The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implemen... more The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implementing the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in controlled experiments. The novelty of our application stems from proposing an open system located in between the expensive, ultra-high-vacuum instruments and those working in air conditions, both available on the market. The former are in fact designed to obtain a detailed inspection of the samples and to develop particular geometries on them, by means of nanolithography or nanomanipulation, while the latter are designed for and used in all the situations in which the environmental conditions do not cause artifacts, problems, or formation of spurious particles on the samples during imaging. We have developed an ad hoc system based on a high-vacuum chamber (up to 10-6 Torr), which allows us to work under controlled-atmosphere conditions. The system, therefore, can be used with most of the samples which suffer from higher pressures, and exploits all the benefits arising from a controlled environment. We have equipped the chamber with an AFM and a sample-holder/mover. An external X-Y-Z motion controller, completely automated, allows the easy positioning of the sample under the sensing cantilever and the consequent relative approach. Experiments with the proposed system are presented, in which the control of environmental conditions during AFM measurements has been investigated with satisfactory results.
ABSTRACT A laser light polarization visualizer (LPV) is obtainable by the photopolymerization of ... more ABSTRACT A laser light polarization visualizer (LPV) is obtainable by the photopolymerization of a multi-acrylate monomer, initiated by diketones under a single beam nano-pulsed (λ = 532 nm) laser light. The derived light scattering distribution and polymer anisotropy are dependent on the polarization state of the incident-polymerizing beam. By adding a 1-haloalkane to the mixture, the solid angle of the scattered light increases. This phenomenon is dependent on the halogen of the haloalkane.
A single-biomolecule optical toggle switch is demonstrated based on a mutated green fluorescent p... more A single-biomolecule optical toggle switch is demonstrated based on a mutated green fluorescent protein (GFP). We have exploited molecular biology techniques to tailor the GFP molecular structure and photophysical properties and to give it optically controlled bistability between two distinct states. We present optical control of the fluorescence dynamics with two laser beams at 476 and 350 nm down to
ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works i... more ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works in a synergistic way with others could potentially lead to a completely new type of tools for nanomedicine. The development of nanostructures able to release drugs directly within the target after a stimulus can drastically improve the therapeutics efficiency by reducing side effects. Gold nanoparticles offer one of the most suitable platforms for the development of modular nano-devices. On the one hand, their surface properties enable effective coating by peptides containing at least one cysteine, thus yielding stable and non-cytotoxic systems. On the other, their intriguing photophysics, characterized by the surface plasmon resonance, can be exploited for novel excitation schemes. Doxorubicin is a widely used, but toxic, cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action while minimizing its side effects, doxorubicin was covalently conjugated to 30 nm peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then it was photo-released in a controlled fashion through the cleavage of the 1,2,3-triazolic ring by a multiphoton process using 561 nm irradiation at µW power. Selective apoptosis of human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells was observed only in the irradiated 100x100 micron area in less than six minutes after the stimulus. Notably, the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin was completely inhibited for at least eight hours until its release “on demand” was externally light-triggered.
The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implemen... more The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implementing the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in controlled experiments. The novelty of our application stems from proposing an open system located in between the expensive, ultra-high-vacuum instruments and those working in air conditions, both available on the market. The former are in fact designed to obtain a detailed inspection of the samples and to develop particular geometries on them, by means of nanolithography or nanomanipulation, while the latter are designed for and used in all the situations in which the environmental conditions do not cause artifacts, problems, or formation of spurious particles on the samples during imaging. We have developed an ad hoc system based on a high-vacuum chamber (up to 10-6 Torr), which allows us to work under controlled-atmosphere conditions. The system, therefore, can be used with most of the samples which suffer from higher pressures, and exploits all the benefits arising from a controlled environment. We have equipped the chamber with an AFM and a sample-holder/mover. An external X-Y-Z motion controller, completely automated, allows the easy positioning of the sample under the sensing cantilever and the consequent relative approach. Experiments with the proposed system are presented, in which the control of environmental conditions during AFM measurements has been investigated with satisfactory results.
Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our a... more Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our approach makes use of lithography processes to build the desired nanostructures directly. The fabrication process involves an electron-beam lithography technique to define metallic microstructures onto which nanometre scale patterning is performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a mechanical modification tool. Both direct material removal
Journal of Drug Targeting, doi:10.3109/1061186X.2013.878941
Background: Catechin–dextran conjugates have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their a... more Background: Catechin–dextran conjugates have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their anticancer activity against a range of cancer cells. Magnetic nanoparticles have the ability to concentrate therapeutically important drugs due to their magnetic-spatial control and provide opportunities for targeted drug delivery.
Purpose: Enhancement of the anticancer efficiency of catechin–dextran conjugate by functionalisation with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Methods: Modification of the coating shell of commercial magnetic nanoparticles (Endorem) composed of dextran with the catechin–dextran conjugate.
Results: Catechin–dextran conjugated with Endorem (Endo–Cat) increased the intracellular concentration of the drug and it induced apoptosis in 98% of pancreatic tumour cells placed under magnetic field.
Discussion: The conjugation of catechin–dextran with Endorem enhances the anticancer activity of this drug and provides a new strategy for targeted drug delivery on tumour cells driven by magnetic field.
Conclusion: The ability to spatially control the delivery of the catechin–dextran by magnetic field makes it a promising agent for further application in cancer therapy.
"Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its t... more "Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic
action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres
by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective
treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561
nm irradiation at mW power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical
applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control."
ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works i... more ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works in a synergistic way with others could potentially lead to a completely new type of tools for nanomedicine. The development of nanostructures able to release drugs directly within the target after a stimulus can drastically improve the therapeutics efficiency by reducing side effects. Gold nanoparticles offer one of the most suitable platforms for the development of modular nano-devices. On the one hand, their surface properties enable effective coating by peptides containing at least one cysteine, thus yielding stable and non-cytotoxic systems. On the other, their intriguing photophysics, characterized by the surface plasmon resonance, can be exploited for novel excitation schemes. Doxorubicin is a widely used, but toxic, cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action while minimizing its side effects, doxorubicin was covalently conjugated to 30 nm peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then it was photo-released in a controlled fashion through the cleavage of the 1,2,3-triazolic ring by a multiphoton process using 561 nm irradiation at µW power. Selective apoptosis of human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells was observed only in the irradiated 100x100 micron area in less than six minutes after the stimulus. Notably, the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin was completely inhibited for at least eight hours until its release “on demand” was externally light-triggered.
Abstract. Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevi... more Abstract. Nanoscale science and technology is today mainly focused on the fabrication of nanodevices. Our approach makes use of lithography processes to build the desired nanostructures directly. The fabrication process involves an electron-beam lithography technique to define metallic microstructures onto which nanometre scale patterning is performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a mechanical modification tool. Both direct material removal and AFM-assisted mask patterning are applied in order to achieve ...
Al/Si/GaAs(001) diode structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy were examined as a function of t... more Al/Si/GaAs(001) diode structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy were examined as a function of the thickness of the Si interface layer and the intensity of the As or Al flux employed during Si deposition. We found that Schottky barriers as low as 0.3–0.4 eV (in the presence of a sufficiently high As flux) or as high as 1.0–1.1 eV (in the presence of a sufficiently high Al flux) can be established on n-type GaAs at Si coverages in the submonolayer to monolayer range. We therefore associate the tunability of the barrier height with a Si-induced local interface dipole.
The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implemen... more The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implementing the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in controlled experiments. The novelty of our application stems from proposing an open system located in between the expensive, ultra-high-vacuum instruments and those working in air conditions, both available on the market. The former are in fact designed to obtain a detailed inspection of the samples and to develop particular geometries on them, by means of nanolithography or nanomanipulation, while the latter are designed for and used in all the situations in which the environmental conditions do not cause artifacts, problems, or formation of spurious particles on the samples during imaging. We have developed an ad hoc system based on a high-vacuum chamber (up to 10-6 Torr), which allows us to work under controlled-atmosphere conditions. The system, therefore, can be used with most of the samples which suffer from higher pressures, and exploits all the benefits arising from a controlled environment. We have equipped the chamber with an AFM and a sample-holder/mover. An external X-Y-Z motion controller, completely automated, allows the easy positioning of the sample under the sensing cantilever and the consequent relative approach. Experiments with the proposed system are presented, in which the control of environmental conditions during AFM measurements has been investigated with satisfactory results.
ABSTRACT A laser light polarization visualizer (LPV) is obtainable by the photopolymerization of ... more ABSTRACT A laser light polarization visualizer (LPV) is obtainable by the photopolymerization of a multi-acrylate monomer, initiated by diketones under a single beam nano-pulsed (λ = 532 nm) laser light. The derived light scattering distribution and polymer anisotropy are dependent on the polarization state of the incident-polymerizing beam. By adding a 1-haloalkane to the mixture, the solid angle of the scattered light increases. This phenomenon is dependent on the halogen of the haloalkane.
A single-biomolecule optical toggle switch is demonstrated based on a mutated green fluorescent p... more A single-biomolecule optical toggle switch is demonstrated based on a mutated green fluorescent protein (GFP). We have exploited molecular biology techniques to tailor the GFP molecular structure and photophysical properties and to give it optically controlled bistability between two distinct states. We present optical control of the fluorescence dynamics with two laser beams at 476 and 350 nm down to
ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works i... more ABSTRACT Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works in a synergistic way with others could potentially lead to a completely new type of tools for nanomedicine. The development of nanostructures able to release drugs directly within the target after a stimulus can drastically improve the therapeutics efficiency by reducing side effects. Gold nanoparticles offer one of the most suitable platforms for the development of modular nano-devices. On the one hand, their surface properties enable effective coating by peptides containing at least one cysteine, thus yielding stable and non-cytotoxic systems. On the other, their intriguing photophysics, characterized by the surface plasmon resonance, can be exploited for novel excitation schemes. Doxorubicin is a widely used, but toxic, cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action while minimizing its side effects, doxorubicin was covalently conjugated to 30 nm peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then it was photo-released in a controlled fashion through the cleavage of the 1,2,3-triazolic ring by a multiphoton process using 561 nm irradiation at µW power. Selective apoptosis of human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells was observed only in the irradiated 100x100 micron area in less than six minutes after the stimulus. Notably, the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin was completely inhibited for at least eight hours until its release “on demand” was externally light-triggered.
The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implemen... more The present work describes a simple chamber suitable for morphological investigations by implementing the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in controlled experiments. The novelty of our application stems from proposing an open system located in between the expensive, ultra-high-vacuum instruments and those working in air conditions, both available on the market. The former are in fact designed to obtain a detailed inspection of the samples and to develop particular geometries on them, by means of nanolithography or nanomanipulation, while the latter are designed for and used in all the situations in which the environmental conditions do not cause artifacts, problems, or formation of spurious particles on the samples during imaging. We have developed an ad hoc system based on a high-vacuum chamber (up to 10-6 Torr), which allows us to work under controlled-atmosphere conditions. The system, therefore, can be used with most of the samples which suffer from higher pressures, and exploits all the benefits arising from a controlled environment. We have equipped the chamber with an AFM and a sample-holder/mover. An external X-Y-Z motion controller, completely automated, allows the easy positioning of the sample under the sensing cantilever and the consequent relative approach. Experiments with the proposed system are presented, in which the control of environmental conditions during AFM measurements has been investigated with satisfactory results.
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Papers by Paolo Faraci
Purpose: Enhancement of the anticancer efficiency of catechin–dextran conjugate by functionalisation with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Methods: Modification of the coating shell of commercial magnetic nanoparticles (Endorem) composed of dextran with the catechin–dextran conjugate.
Results: Catechin–dextran conjugated with Endorem (Endo–Cat) increased the intracellular concentration of the drug and it induced apoptosis in 98% of pancreatic tumour cells placed under magnetic field.
Discussion: The conjugation of catechin–dextran with Endorem enhances the anticancer activity of this drug and provides a new strategy for targeted drug delivery on tumour cells driven by magnetic field.
Conclusion: The ability to spatially control the delivery of the catechin–dextran by magnetic field makes it a promising agent for further application in cancer therapy.
action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres
by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective
treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561
nm irradiation at mW power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical
applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control."
Purpose: Enhancement of the anticancer efficiency of catechin–dextran conjugate by functionalisation with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Methods: Modification of the coating shell of commercial magnetic nanoparticles (Endorem) composed of dextran with the catechin–dextran conjugate.
Results: Catechin–dextran conjugated with Endorem (Endo–Cat) increased the intracellular concentration of the drug and it induced apoptosis in 98% of pancreatic tumour cells placed under magnetic field.
Discussion: The conjugation of catechin–dextran with Endorem enhances the anticancer activity of this drug and provides a new strategy for targeted drug delivery on tumour cells driven by magnetic field.
Conclusion: The ability to spatially control the delivery of the catechin–dextran by magnetic field makes it a promising agent for further application in cancer therapy.
action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres
by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective
treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561
nm irradiation at mW power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical
applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control."