New thiophene monolayer-protected copper nanoparticles: synthesis and chemical-physical characterization

For the first time copper 3-(6-mercaptohexyl)thiophene-protected nanoparticles (Cu T6SH) have been synthesized by a one-phase system, utilizing anNaBH4/LiCl mixture in diglyme as the reducing reagent and avoiding water medium dissolving copper salts. The prepared nanoclusters, characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), have shown a constant spherical morphology with a size dimension of 5-6 nm in diameter. After their synthesis, no morphological evolution and irreversible aggregation process has been observed after a storage inCH2Cl2at low temperature for a period up to six months long. Cu T6SH nanoparticles have been investigated by UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopes to characterize the alkylthiophenes monolayer conformations and the particles optoelectronic properties. The UV-Vis reveals the lack of the surface plasmonic band, previously observed in Cu-nanosized clusters at about 556–570 nm, and shows a wide-band centered at 293 nm, probably due to the high-conformational surface ordering of thiophene rings on the Cu core. The results highlight the importance of the modifications ported to the well-known one-phase synthetic reactions to obtain a clear lack, even after a storage of six months, of any irreversible aggregation that has always characterized chain thiophene-protected metallic nanoparticles

Surface enamel remineralization: biomimetic apatite nanocrystals and fluoride ions different effects

A new method for altered enamel surface remineralization has been proposed. To this aim carbonate-hydroxyapatite nanocrystals which mimic for composition, structure, nanodimensions, and morphology dentine apatite crystals and resemble closely natural apatite chemical-physical properties have been used. The results underline the differences induced by the use of fluoride ions and hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in contrasting the mechanical abrasions and acid attacks to which tooth enamel is exposed. Fluoride ions generate a surface modification of the natural enamel apatite crystals increasing their crystallinity degree and relative mechanical and acid resistance. On the other hand, the remineralization produced by carbonate-hydroxyapatite consists in a deposition of a new apatitic mineral into the eroded enamel surface scratches. A new biomimetic mineral coating, which progressively fills and shadows surface scratches, covers and safeguards the enamel structure by contrasting the acid and bacteria attacks

COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome in the early pandemic experience in Lombardia (Italy)

Objective To estimate the incidence and describe clinical characteristics and outcome of GBS in COVID-19 patients (COVID19-GBS) in one of the most hit regions during the frst pandemic wave, Lombardia. Methods Adult patients admitted to 20 Neurological Units between 1/3–30/4/2020 with COVID19-GBS were included as part of a multi-center study organized by the Italian society of Hospital Neuroscience (SNO). Results Thirty-eight COVID19-GBS patients had a mean age of 60.7 years and male frequency of 86.8%. CSF albuminocytological dissociation was detected in 71.4%, and PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in 19 tested patients. Based on neurophysiology, 81.8% of patients had a diagnosis of AIDP, 12.1% of AMSAN, and 6.1% of AMAN. The course was favorable in 76.3% of patients, stable in 10.5%, while 13.2% worsened, of which 3 died. The estimated occurrence rate in Lombardia ranges from 0.5 to 0.05 GBS cases per 1000 COVID-19 infections depending on whether you consider positive cases or estimated seropositive cases. When we compared GBS cases with the pre-pandemic period, we found a reduction of cases from 165 to 135 cases in the 2-month study period in Lombardia. Conclusions We detected an increased incidence of GBS in COVID-19 patients which can refect a higher risk of GBS in COVID-19 patients and a reduction of GBS events during the pandemic period possibly due to a lower spread of more common respiratory infectious diseases determined by an increased use of preventive measures

Collagen Biomimetic Nanofibers reconstituted by a Novel Electrospinning Method

Collagen nanofibers mats have been obtained using a novel electrospinning method in water solution in the absence of organic solvents. The reconstituted collagen electrospun fibers exhibit pysico-chemical properties very close to the natural ones; their structure, morphology, thermal stability and mechanical behaviour allow to consider them really biomimetic. These properties make them particularly suitable for biomedical applications

Spectroscopic characterization of Fe-doped synthetic chrysotile by EPR, DRS and magnetic susceptibility measurements

Fe-doped synthetic geomimetic chrysotile nanocrystals represent a reference standard to investigate the health hazard associated with asbestos fibers and constitute interesting inorganic nanotubes for specific technological applications in light harvesting systems, optoelectronics and photonics. As the fiber toxicity is catalyzed by iron ions in specific crystallographic sites and the mechanical behaviour of synthetic chrysotile nanotubes is strongly affected by the iron doping extent, the characterization of Fe substitution to Mg and/or Si sites in the chrysotile structure appears highly important. By EPR, DRS spectroscopic analyses and magnetic investigations, Mg and/or Si ion replacement by Fe3+ in a synthetic geomimetic chrysotile structure has been investigated. The results highlight that, as a function of the Fe doping extent and of the Fe doping process, iron can replace both Mg and Si sites. The contemporary iron substitution into the octahedral and tetrahedral sheets is associated with the presence of both of isolated Fe3+ centres in high-spin 3d5 configuration (S = 5/2, 6A1( 6S)) in Oh and Td symmetry and of intra-lattice clustered species. Increasing the Fe doping extent increases the concentration of aggregated species, while magnetic susceptibility confirms a paramagnetic anisotropy. The results allow to define the opportunity of using or not metallic Fe during the synthesis to obtain doped chrysotile nanocrystals with tailored morphological and structural properties suitable as a reference to study asbestos toxicity and apt to prepare new inorganic nanotubes and quantum wires for innovative technological applications