Water-Soluble Star Polymer as a Potential Photoactivated Nanotool for Lysozyme Degradation.

The development of nanotools for chemical sensing and macromolecular modifications is a new challenge in the biomedical field, with emphasis on artificial peptidases designed to cleave peptide bonds at specific sites. In this landscape, metal porphyrins are attractive due to their ability to form stable complexes with amino acids and to generate reactive oxygen species when irradiated by light of appropriate wavelengths. The issues of hydrophobic behavior and aggregation in aqueous environments of porphyrins can be solved by using its PEGylated derivatives.

Solar light mediated anthracene abatement in aerated aqueous media using a thermoplastic nanocomposite photocatalyst.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most widespread xenobiotic pollutants in water and their abatement usually involves expensive and energy-consuming treatments. In this work, anthracene (AN) was selected as the recalcitrant model of PAHs and its solar light-stimulated heterogeneous photocatalytic abatement in aerated aqueous media was investigated using a new TiO derived thermoplastic nanocomposite in thin film form. The results were also compared with the benchmark TiO photocatalyst in slurry form.

Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities.

Among different depollution methods, photocatalysis activated by solar light is promising for terrestrial outdoor applications. However, its use in underground structures and/or microgravity environments (e.g.

Porphyrin-Based Supramolecular Flags in the Thermal Gradients' Wind: What Breaks the Symmetry, How and Why.

The Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking (SSB) phenomenon is a natural event in which a system changes its symmetric state, apparently reasonless, in an asymmetrical one. Nevertheless, this occurrence could be hiding unknown inductive forces. An intriguing investigation pathway uses supramolecular aggregates of suitable achiral porphyrins, useful to mimic the natural light-harvesting systems (as chlorophyll).

Silver Nanoparticles Decorated with PEGylated Porphyrins as Potential Theranostic and Sensing Agents.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stand out over other metal nanoparticles thanks to their peculiar bactericidal and spectroscopic properties. Tunability of the AgNPs chemical-physical properties could be provided through their organic covalent coating. On the other hand, PEGylated porphyrin derivatives are versatile heteromacrocycles investigated for uses in the biomedical field as cytotoxic and tracking agents, but also as sensors.

TiO-Based Nanocomposites Thin Film Having Boosted Photocatalytic Activity for Xenobiotics Water Pollution Remediation.

Photocatalytic remediation represents a potential sustainable solution to the abatement of xenobiotic pollutants released within the water environment. Aeroxide P25 titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are well-known as one of the most efficient photocatalysts in several applications, and have also been investigated in water remediation as suspended powder. Recently, their application in the form of thin films has been revealed as a potential alternative to avoid time-consuming filtration processes.

Design of naturally inspired jellyfish-shaped cyclopolylactides to manage osteosarcoma cancer stem cells fate.

We report the synthesis, characterization and biological profile of new bis-triazoled cyclopolylactides (c-PLA, c-PLA-FA, c-PLA-Rhod) obtained by an optimized combination of ROP and click chemistry reactions. Cyclo-PLA having a number average molecular weight of 6000 g mol and a polydispersity index of 1.52 was synthetized by click ring-closure of well-defined α,ω-heterodifunctional linear precursors, followed by quaternarization of N-triazole nodes, and subsequent CuAAC with azido-folate and azido-rhodamine yielding jellyfish-shaped c-PLA-FA and c-PLA-Rhod.