The "One Health and Citizen Science" (OHCS) project aims to provide an integrated intervention model useful for characterising the state of environmental quality, assessing population exposure to pollutants, investigating the association between environmental risk factors and health outcomes, and measuring the impacts associated with contamination and remediation scenarios. In pursuing this objective, the activation of participatory pathways and the use of risk communication strategies are envisaged.Within the OHCS project, training and discussion meetings were planned on a number of issues deemed central.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConsidering the increase in patients who suffer from osteoporosis and the bone defects that occur in these patients, bone tissue regeneration is a promising option to solve this problem. To achieve a synergistic effect between the synthesis of a proper structure and bioactive/pharmaceutical activity, ions with a physiological effect can be added to silica structures, such as Ca, thanks to its bioactive behavior, and Ga for its antibacterial and anticancer action. In this work, the synthesis of large pore mesoporous silica (LPMS), potential bioactive glasses containing Ca and Ga, has been studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe constantly increasing demand of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) made them to be part of the so-called "critical elements" indispensable for the energy transition. The monopoly of only a few countries, the so-called balance problem between demand and natural abundance, and the need to limit the environmental costs of their mining, stress the necessity of a recycling policy of these elements. Different methods have been tested for REEs recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synthesis of a scaffold that can accommodate big molecules with a pharmaceutical role is important to shield them and maintain their biological activity. In this field, silica particles with large pores (LPMS) are innovative supports. Large pores allow for the loading of bioactive molecules inside the structure and contemporarily their stabilization and protection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, its genesis and progression are caused by homeostatic errors, and reactive oxygen species play a major role in promoting aberrant cancer homeostasis. In this scenario, curcumin could be an interesting candidate due to its versatile antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and anti-infection properties. Nonetheless, the major problem related to its use is its poor oral bioavailability, which can be overcome by encapsulating it into small particles, such as hydrogel beads containing mesoporous silica.
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