Publications by authors named "Benedetta Del Secco"

Photocatalytic air purifiers based on nano-titanium dioxide (TiO ) visible light activation provide an efficient solution for removing and degrading contaminants in air. The potential detachment of TiO particles from the air purifier to indoor air could cause a safety concern. A TiO release potential was measured for one commercially available photocatalytic air purifier "Gearbox Wivactive" to ensure a successful implementation of the photocatalytic air purifying technology.

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Spray coatings' emissions impact to the environmental and occupational exposure were studied in a pilot-plant. Concentrations were measured inside the spray chamber and at the work room in Near-Field (NF) and Far-Field (FF) and mass flows were analyzed using a mechanistic model. The coating was performed in a ventilated chamber by spraying titanium dioxide doped with nitrogen (TiON) and silver capped by hydroxyethylcellulose (Ag-HEC) nanoparticles (NPs).

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Industrial spray coating processes are known to produce excellent coatings on large surfaces and are thus often used for in-line production. However, they could be one of the most critical sources of worker exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs). A monitoring campaign at the Witek s.

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The use of colloid supported lipid bilayers (CSLBs) for assembling colloidal structures has been of recent interest. Here, we use multi-component lipid bilayer membranes formed around anisotropic colloids and show that the curvature anisotropy of the colloids drives a sorting of the lipids in the membrane along the colloids. We then exploit this curvature-sensitive lipid sorting to create "shape-anisotropic patchy colloids" - specifically, we use colloids with six rods sticking out of a central cubic core, "hexapods", for this purpose and demonstrate that membrane patches self-assemble at the tip of each of the six colloidal rods.

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An automatic lab-scaled spray-coating machine was used to deposit Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on textile to create antibacterial fabric. The spray process was monitored for the dual purpose of (1) optimizing the process by maximizing silver deposition and minimizing fluid waste, thereby reducing suspension consumption and (2) assessing AgNPs release. Monitoring measurements were carried out at two locations: inside and outside the spray chamber (far field).

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In this paper, we demonstrate the realization process of a pragmatic approach on developing a template for capturing field monitoring data in nanomanufacturing processes. The template serves the fundamental principles which make data scientifically Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR principles), as well as encouraging individuals to reuse it. In our case, the data shepherds' (the guider of data) template creation workflow consists of the following steps: (1) Identify relevant stakeholders, (2) Distribute questionnaires to capture a general description of the data to be generated, (3) Understand the needs and requirements of each stakeholder, (4) Interactive simple communication with the stakeholders for variables/descriptors selection, and (5) Design of the template and annotation of descriptors.

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The structure-properties relationship in a series of carbonyl rhenium(I) complexes based on substituted terpyridine ligands of general formula [Re(κN-Rtpy)(CO)L] is explored by both experimental and theoretical methods. In these compounds, the terpyridine ligands adopt both bidentate (κN) and terdentate (κN) coordination modes associated with three or two carbonyls, respectively. Conversion from the κN to the κN coordination mode leads to large changes in the absorption spectra and oxidation potentials due to destabilization of the HOMO level of each complex.

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Silica nanoparticles (NPs) are versatile nanomaterials, which are safe with respect to biomedical applications, and therefore are highly investigated. The advantages of NPs include their ease of preparation, inexpensive starting materials and the possibility of functionalization or loading with various doping agents. However, the solubility of the doping agent(s) imposes constraints on the choice of the reaction system and hence limits the range of molecules that can be included in the interior of NPs.

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Antibiotic resistance is emerging as a growing worldwide problem and finding solutions to this issue is becoming a new challenge for scientists. As the development of new drugs slowed down, advances in nanotechnology offer great opportunities, with the possibility of designing new systems for carrying, delivery and administration of drugs already in use. Engineered combinations of the synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic ofloxacin, rarely studied in this field, with different types of silver, mesoporous silica-based and Pluronic/silica-based nanoparticles have been explored.

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Metal nanoparticles are reported to be toxic due to the generation of free radicals at their surface. Relatively inert thiol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been reported to induce radical formation in the presence of hydroperoxides, which would conflict with their potential use as inert scaffolds for the design of novel nano-antioxidants. With the aim of clarifying this aspect, we investigated the pro-oxidant activity of dodecanethiol-capped AuNPs (∼5 nm diameter), prepared through the Brust-Schiffrin synthesis, by oxygen-uptake kinetic studies.

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Some hybrid foldamers of various length, all containing the (4R,5S)-4-carboxy-5-methyloxazolidin-2-one (d-Oxd) moiety alternating with an l-amino acid (l-Val, l-Lys, or l-Ala), were prepared in order to study their preferred conformations and to evaluate their biological activity. Surprisingly, only the longer oligomers containing l-Ala fold into well-established helices, whereas all the other oligomers give partially unfolded turn structures. Nevertheless, they all show good biocompatibility, with no detrimental effects up to 64 μm.

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Several parameters have a critical importance for the stabilization of either polyproline I (PPI) or polyproline II (PPII) helices in a hydrophobic environment. Among them, it was found out that the concentration is crucial as polyprolines at 3 mM concentration stably fold in PPII helices, that are organized in aggregates stable even after several days and are detectable by dynamic light scattering analysis. In more diluted concentration the same molecules stably fold in PPI helices, and no aggregates are found.

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