Glyco-functionalized dinuclear rhenium(i) complexes for cell imaging

The design, synthesis and photophysical characterization of four new luminescent glycosylated luminophores based on dinuclear rhenium complexes, namely Glyco-Re, are described. The derivatives have the general formula [Re2(\u3bc-Cl)2(CO)6(\u3bc-pydz-R)] (R-pydz = functionalized 1,2-pyridazine), where a sugar residue (R) is covalently bound to the pyridazine ligand in the \u3b2 position. Different synthetic pathways have been investigated including the so-called neo-glycorandomization procedure, affording stereoselectively glyco-conjugates containing glucose and maltose in a \u3b2 anomeric configuration. A multivalent dinuclear rhenium glycodendron bearing three glucose units is also synthesized. All the Glyco-Re conjugates are comprehensively characterized and their photophysical properties and cellular internalization experiments on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells are reported. The results show that such Glyco-Re complexes display interesting bio-imaging properties, i.e. high cell permeability, organelle selectivity, low cytotoxicity and fast internalization. These findings make the presented Glyco-Re derivatives efficient phosphorescent probes suitable for cell imaging applicatio

Clinical Application of Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound

Musculoskeletal ultrasound involves the study of many superficial targets, especially in the hands, wrists, and feet. Many of these areas are within the first 3 cm of the skin surface and are ideal targets for ultra-high-frequency ultrasound. The high spatial resolution and the superb image quality achievable allow foreseeing a wider use of this novel technique, which has the potential to bring innovation to diagnostic imaging

Punctured Two-Dimensional Sheets for Harvesting Blue Energy

The challenges of global climate change and the world’s growing demand for energy have brought the need for new renewable energy sources to the top of the international community’s agenda. We have known for many centuries that energy is released upon mixing seawater and freshwater, yet it was just a few decades ago that it became clear how this energy can be converted into electricity instead of heat. As a result, the blue energy rush has raised and set new strategies in different science and technology sectors, leading to the construction of a new generation of plants and other technological investments. Among many approaches, pressure-retarded osmosis has emerged as a promising method to collect the largest amount of produced blue energy. In this Perspective, we highlight the advances in the development of ultrathin membranes based on two-dimensional materials. We discuss the most relevant synthetic methods devised to generate atomically thin membranes for pressure-retarded osmosis and retarded electrodialysis applications, and we provide some critical views on the greatest challenges in this thrilling research area

Solvent-Driven Supramolecular Wrapping of Self-Assembled Structures

Self-assembly relies on the ability of smaller and discrete entities to spontaneously arrange into more organized systems by means of the structure-encoded information. Herein, we show that the design of the media can play a role even more important than the chemical design. The media not only determines the self-assembly pathway at a single-component level, but in a very narrow solvent composition, a supramolecular homo-aggregate can be non-covalently wrapped by a second component that possesses a different crystal lattice. Such a process has been followed in real time by confocal microscopy thanks to the different emission colors of the aggregates formed by two isolated PtII complexes. This coating is reversible and controlled by the media composition. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations based on coarse-grained (CG) models allowed the understanding of the properties displayed by the different aggregates. Such findings could result in a new method to construct hierarchical supramolecular structures

Solvent-Driven Supramolecular Wrapping of Self-Assembled Structures

Self‐assembly relies on the ability of smaller and discrete entities to spontaneously arrange into more organized systems by means of the structure‐encoded information. Herein, we show that the design of the media can play a role even more important than the chemical design. The media not only determines the self‐assembly pathway at a single‐component level, but in a very narrow solvent composition, a supramolecular homo‐aggregate can be non‐covalently wrapped by a second component that possesses a different crystal lattice. Such a process has been followed in real time by confocal microscopy thanks to the different emission colors of the aggregates formed by two isolated PtII complexes. This coating is reversible and controlled by the media composition. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and molecular simulations based on coarse‐grained (CG) models allowed the understanding of the properties displayed by the different aggregates. Such findings could result in a new method to construct hierarchical supramolecular structures

Multi-modal imaging of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a clinical condition characterized by progressive limitation of active and passive mobility of the glenohumeral joint, generally associated with high levels of pain. Although the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is based mainly on clinical examination, different imaging modalities including arthrography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and magnetic resonance arthrography may help to confirm the diagnosis, detecting a number of findings such as capsular and coracohumeral ligament thickening, poor capsular distension, extracapsular contrast leakage, and synovial hypertrophy and scar tissue formation at the rotator interval. Ultrasound can also be used to guide intra- and periarticular procedures for treating patients with adhesive capsulitis

Chemical sensing with 2D materials

During the last decade, two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have attracted great attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties, which make them appealing platforms for diverse applications in opto-electronic devices, energy generation and storage, and sensing. Among their various extraordinary properties, 2DMs possess high surface area-to-volume ratios and ultra-high surface sensitivity to the environment, which are key characteristics for applications in chemical sensing. Furthermore, 2DMs’ superior electrical and optical properties, combined with their excellent mechanical characteristics such as robustness and flexibility, make these materials ideal components for the fabrication of a new generation of high-performance chemical sensors. Depending on the specific device, 2DMs can be tailored to interact with various chemical species at the non-covalent level, making them powerful platforms for fabricating devices exhibiting a high sensitivity towards detection of various analytes including gases, ions and small biomolecules. Here, we will review the most enlightening recent advances in the field of chemical sensors based on atomically-thin 2DMs and we will discuss the opportunities and the challenges towards the realization of novel hybrid materials and sensing devices

Patient-specific Instrumentation Affects Rotational Alignment of the Femoral Component in Total Knee Arthroplasty : A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate whether patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) improve the accuracy of femoral component rotational alignment with respect to conventionally-implanted total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomized to receive a TKA implanted with PSI or conventional instrumentation. Implant orientation was compared on Computed Tomography (CT). Surgical time, recuts, and component size variations from planning were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative Oxford knee score and visual analogue scale were compared to assess clinical outcomes. Results: Femoral components implanted with patient-specific instrumentation were aligned with greater external rotation than those implanted with conventional instrumentation (P = 0.022). No significant differences were found in surgical times, number of recuts, and clinical outcomes. Surgeon modifications from the planned size were necessary in 58% of PSI cases. Conclusion: Femoral components implanted with PSI had greater external rotation than with conventional instrumentation. Surgeons must carefully evaluate component sizes when using PSI, both in planning and during surgery

Direct Patterning of Organic Functional Polymers through Conventional Photolithography and Noninvasive Cross-Link Agents

A new technique for direct patterning of functional organic polymers using commercial photolithography setups with a minimal loss of the materials' performances is reported. This result is achieved through novel cross-link agents made by boron- and fluorine-containing heterocycles that can react between themselves upon UV- and white-light exposure

Repair versus shaving of partial-thickness articular-sided tears of the upper subscapularis tendon : a prospective randomized controlled trial

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether treating partial-thickness articular-sided tears of the upper subscapularis (ssC) tendon with a dedicated suture anchor would result in an internal rotation strength improvement compared with simple shaving of the ssC tendon and footprint. Methods: Twenty-six patients with a limited ssC tendon tear (equal or inferior to the most superior centimeter) in association with a posterosuperior cuff lesion were prospectively randomized to two treatments: repair with a dedicated suture anchor versus shaving of the tendon and footprint. the patients also underwent long head of the biceps (LHB) treatment and posterosuperior cuff tear repair. in each patient the following parameters were measured both preoperatively and at a minimum follow-up of 2.5 years: strength in internal rotation in the bear-hug testing position (using a digital tensiometer), DAsH score and Constant scores. MRi assessment of tendon healing was performed at the final follow-up. Results: Twenty of the 26 patients (76%) were reviewed after a mean follow-up time of 42 months: 11 patients had undergone ssC tendon repair and nine simple shaving. At final follow-up no significant differences were found between the repaired and shaving group in strength in internal rotation (9.5 \ub1 3.8 kg versus 10.3\ub15.4 kg; p=0.7). the DAsH score and Constant score also failed to show significant differences between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in ssC tendon healing rate was observed on MRi evaluation. Conclusions: Partial-thickness articular-sided tear of the upper ssC tendon in association with a posterosuperior rotator cuff repair and LHB treatment, when limited to the superior centimeter of the ssC tendon, shows a comparable performance in terms of strength in internal rotation either after simple shaving or a tendon-to-bone repair. Level of evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study