Granular structure of self-assembled PAA/PAH and PSS/PAH nascent films imaged in situ by LC-AFM

Liquid cell atomic force microscopy (LC-AFM) is used to image self-assembled polyelectrolyte films eliminating any drying effects on the film structure. Weak/weak and strong/weak polyelectrolyte films are formed by the alternated deposition of poly(acrylic acid) [PAA]/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) [PAH], and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) [PSS]/PAH, respectively, forming a granular surface structure. Number and area of grains (GN, GA) are used to characterize the surface of these films during their build up process. We show that hydrophilic PAA increases GA and decreases GN, while these parameters follow an opposite behavior with PSS. In both cases, GA and GN always have a simple inverse relationship, and then grain surface coverage (GS=GNGA) is nearly constant and independent of polyelectrolyte nature and the substrates used here, but also in the published data as well. The drying of the weak/weak film was also imaged after natural and forced solvent evaporation, and the surface structure is strongly affected, although the GS values keep roughly the same value found for wet films. The set of these results indicates that GS may be considered as a constant parameter during the build-up for the self-nascent assembled polyelectrolytes. The granular structure is still maintained after glucose oxidase adsorption on these films with comparable GS values.     

Impedance measurements of self-assembled lipid bilayer membranes on the tip of an electrode

Supported lipid membranes were self-assembled on the tip of a freshly cleaved silver wire, in the presence of an appropriate polarization voltage, to facilitate, during the membrane formation, the organization of the lipids into an ordered structure. Radiowave impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out to provide information on the relaxation properties of the system. We have measured the conductometric and dielectric properties of bilayers built up of different lipids [dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), linoleic acid (LIN)] in a wide frequency range (from 10(3) to 10(6) Hz) and in electrolyte solutions of different ionic strengths, in the presence of uni-univalent (KCl) and di-univalent (CaCl(2), MgCl(2), ZnCl(2)) electrolytes. This made it possible to measure the influence of different cations and different lipid compositions on the membrane properties. In particular, we have found a different capacitive behaviour of the supported lipid bilayer membrane (s-BLM) structure in the presence of different counterions in the electrolyte solution. This peculiarity offers the opportunity for the preparation of a variety of biosensors with diverse applications in membrane biophysics, biochemistry and biotechnology.     

Thermal analysis of cyclodextrins and their inclusion compounds

This review examines the literature concerning the thermal properties of natural and semisynthetic cyclodextrins and their inclusion compounds. Particular emphasis is given to recent results of investigations by thermal methods of the hydrated forms of cyclodextrins. The limitations and advantages of the applications of thermal analyses concerning water- and drug-cyclodextrin interactions are also discussed.     

De curvatura superficierum quaestiones

Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata (1858-1865) -     

Detection and location of cracks using loss of reciprocity in ultrasonic waves propagation

The reciprocity theorem is a general statement valid for elastic media, and it has been applied to the solution of elastic wave equations, transducers calibration, time reversal acoustics, etc. However, localized nonlinear scatterers are expected to break reciprocity even though the effect is, in several cases, negligible. Here the dependence of the reciprocity break on the presence of a localized damage and the influence of its relative position has been experimentally investigated. It will be shown that the break of reciprocity, usually considered a disadvantage, can be exploited as an imaging tool for localized cracks detection.     

New architectures for zirconium polyphosphonates with a tailor-made open-framework structure

The use of tetraphosphonic building blocks for the preparation of inorganic-organic zirconium derivatives has led to the formation of novel compounds with a modular structure. This is based on the different connection of polymeric 1D inorganic units covalently connected by organic groups. The different kinds of connections generate two different open-framework structures. These structures have been solved "ab initio" by powder X-ray diffraction data. Very likely, the dimensions of the channels inside these structures may be tuned by the right choice of the interlinking organic group.     

Synthesis of DnaK and GroEL in Escherichia coli cells exposed to different magnetic field signals

The effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF)(1 mT, 50 Hz) on the heat shock protein (HSP) synthesis in Escherichia coli were investigated. Two magnetic field signals were studied: sinusoidal (SMF) and pulsed square wave (PMF). It was found that bacteria exposed to SMF showed a significantly higher level of DnaK and GroEL proteins as compared to sham-exposed bacteria as revealed by Western blot, whereas a lower level was observed after PMF exposure. Similar results were obtained when bacterial cells were exposed to heat shock (HS) after ELF-MF exposure: again SMF and PMF resulted in an increase and in a reduction of HSP amount in comparison with sham control, respectively. In conclusion, the MF influences the synthesis of HSPs in E. coli in a way that critically depends on the signal characteristics.