Photosynthetic reaction center/graphene bio-hybrid for low-power optoelectronics.

Photosynthetic reaction center (pRC) purified from 2.4.1 purple bacteria was deposited on a graphene carrier exfoliated from the liquid phase and layered on the surface of SiO/Si substrate for optoelectronic application.

Direct Probing of Water Adsorption on Liquid-Phase Exfoliated WS Films Formed by the Langmuir-Schaefer Technique.

Tungsten disulfide, a transition metal dichalcogenide, has numerous applications as active components in gas- and chemical-sensing devices, photovoltaic sources, photocatalyst substrates, etc. In such devices, the presence of water in the sensing environment is a factor whose role has not been well-understood. To address this problem, the probing of HO molecule adsorption on WS films supported on solid substrates has been performed in a near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) setup.

The Effect of Liquid-Phase Exfoliated Graphene Film on Neurodifferentiation of Stem Cells from Apical Papilla.

Background: Dental stem cells, which originate from the neural crest, due to their easy accessibility might be good candidates in neuro-regenerative procedures, along with graphene-based nanomaterials shown to promote neurogenesis . We aimed to explore the potential of liquid-phase exfoliated graphene (LPEG) film to stimulate the neuro-differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP).

Methods: The experimental procedure was structured as follows: (1) fabrication of graphene film; (2) isolation, cultivation and SCAP stemness characterization by flowcytometry, multilineage differentiation (osteo, chondro and adipo) and quantitative PCR (qPCR); (3) SCAP neuro-induction by cultivation on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coated with graphene film; (4) evaluation of neural differentiation by means of several microscopy techniques (light, confocal, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy), followed by neural marker gene expression analysis using qPCR.

Photosynthetic Reaction-Center/Graphene Biohybrid for Optoelectronics.

Photosynthetic reaction center proteins (RC) purified from purple bacterial strains were deposited on graphene layer prepared by liquid phase exfoliation and light-induced resistance change was measured. By measuring the temperature dependence of the resistance change of the bare and RC covered graphene and comparing with the one inactivated by protein unfolding, two effects were possible to separate. One of them is the resistance change due to temperature effect.

Raman microspectroscopy: toward a better distinction and profiling of different populations of dental stem cells.

Aim: To characterize stem cells originating from different dental tissues (apical papilla [SCAP], dental follicle [DFSC], and pulp [DPSC]) and test the capacity of Raman microspectroscopy to distinguish between the three dental stem cell types.

Methods: SCAP, DFSC, and DPSC cultures were generated from three immature wisdom teeth originating from three patients. Cell stemness was confirmed by inducing neuro-, osteo-, chondro-, and adipo-differentiaton and by mesenchymal marker expression analysis by flow-cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.