Geometrically Induced Selectivity and Unidirectional Electroosmosis in Uncharged Nanopores

Selectivity towards positive and negative ions in nanopores is often associated with electroosmotic flow, the control of which is pivotal in several micro-nanofluidic technologies. Selectivity is traditionally understood to be a consequence of surface charges that alter the ion distribution in the pore lumen. Here we present a purely geometrical mechanism to induce ionic selectivity and electroosmotic flow in uncharged nanopores and we tested it via molecular dynamics simulations. Our approach exploits the accumulation of charges, driven by an external electric field, in a coaxial cavity that decorates the membrane close to the pore entrance. The selectivity was shown to depend on the applied voltage and results to be completely inverted when reverting the voltage. The simultaneous inversion of ionic selectivity and electric field direction causes a unidirectional electroosmotic flow. We developed a quantitatively accurate theoretical model for designing pore geometry to achieve the desired electroosmotic velocity. Finally, we demonstrate that unidirectional electroosmosis also occurs for a biological pore whose structure presents a coaxial cavity surrounding the pore constriction. The capability to induce ion selectivity without altering the pore lumen shape or the surface charge paves the way to a more flexible design of selective membranes

Nautical Heritage, il censimento del patrimonio galleggiante

Recensione del progetto di ricerca pubblicato nel volume "Per un Portale del Nautical Heritage" (Morozzo, 2018) a cura di Paolo Maccione per il we magazine "Barche d'Epoca e Classiche" (www.barchedepocaeclassiche.it), febbraio 2018, sezione beni culturali

INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS & CONGRESSES. CNM 2016, 2\ub0 CONVEGNO NAZIONE CULTURA NAVALE E MARITTIMA

Saggio critico sul convegno nazionale CNM 2016 organizzato in collaborazione fra il Dottorato ADD, Atena e il Dipartimento Architettura e Design dell'Universit\ue0 di Genova

Synthesis and characterisation of a new benzamide-containing nitrobenzoxadiazole as a GSTP1-1 inhibitor endowed with high stability to metabolic hydrolysis

The antitumor agent 6-((7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)thio)hexan-1-ol (1) is a potent inhibitor of GSTP1-1, a glutathione S-transferase capable of inhibiting apoptosis by binding to JNK1 and TRAF2. We recently demonstrated that, unlike its parent compound, the benzoyl ester of 1 (compound 3) exhibits negligible reactivity towards GSH, and has a different mode of interaction with GSTP1-1. Unfortunately, 3 is susceptible to rapid metabolic hydrolysis. In an effort to improve the metabolic stability of 3, its ester group has been replaced by an amide, leading to N-(6-((7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)thio)hexyl)benzamide (4). Unlike 3, compound 4 was stable to human liver microsomal carboxylesterases, but retained the ability to disrupt the interaction between GSTP1-1 and TRAF2 regardless of GSH levels. Moreover, 4 exhibited both a higher stability in the presence of GSH and a greater cytotoxicity towards cultured A375 melanoma cells, in comparison with 1 and its analog 2. These findings suggest that 4 deserves further preclinical testing

HIDDEN HERITAGE

Poster convegno: Presentazione Progetto di ricerca finalizzato a rendere accessibili quei ‘patrimoni’ o quei ‘bacini culturali’ tangibili e intangibili attualmente sottostimati e invisibili alla collettività. Hidden Heritage che rientrano a pieno titolo nelle categorie protette dalla legislazione italiana ma che non sono, in realtà, riconosciuti come tali perché poco noti o difficilmente esperibili. L’intento del progetto è quello di fornire un prodotto-servizio (replicabile e adattabile) che, veicolato tramite le diverse competenze del design (web, interazione, servizio, prodotto ed evento, comunicazione, nautica, etc.), possa rendere questi ‘bacini culturali’ noti e fruibili. In tal senso il digitale consente un’accessibilità remota facilitata e strategica nel favorire la conoscenza del patrimonio stesso e nel riconnettere l’utenza ad una successiva esperienza diretta e reale del bene

Hydrophobically gated memristive nanopores for neuromorphic applications

Signal transmission in the brain relies on voltage-gated ion channels, which exhibit the electrical behaviour of memristors, resistors with memory. State-of-the-art technologies currently employ semiconductor-based neuromorphic approaches, which have already demonstrated their efficacy in machine learning systems. However, these approaches still cannot match performance achieved by biological neurons in terms of energy efficiency and size. In this study, we utilise molecular dynamics simulations, continuum models, and electrophysiological experiments to propose and realise a bioinspired hydrophobically gated memristive nanopore. Our findings indicate that hydrophobic gating enables memory through an electrowetting mechanism, and we establish simple design rules accordingly. Through the engineering of a biological nanopore, we successfully replicate the characteristic hysteresis cycles of a memristor and construct a synaptic device capable of learning and forgetting. This advancement offers a promising pathway for the realization of nanoscale, cost- and energy-effective, and adaptable bioinspired memristors.</p