Strong coupling between excitons in organic semiconductors and Bloch Surface Waves

We report on the strong coupling between the Bloch surface wave supported by an inorganic multilayer structure and $J$-aggregate excitons in an organic semiconductor. The dispersion curves of the resulting polariton modes are investigated by means of angle-resolved attenuated total reflection as well as photoluminescence experiments. The measured Rabi splitting is 290 meV. These results are in good agreement with those obtained from our theoretical model

A bistren cryptand with a remote thioether function: Cu(ii) complexation in solution and on the surface of gold nanostars

A di-copper(ii) complex is formed in a bis-tren cage featuring a thioether function, capable of grafting on a monolayer of gold nanostars

Prussian Blue Nanoparticles as a Versatile Photothermal Tool

Prussian blue (PB) is a coordination polymer studied since the early 18th century, historically known as a pigment. PB can be prepared in colloidal form with a straightforward synthesis. It has a strong charge-transfer absorption centered at ~700 nm, with a large tail in the Near-IR range. Irradiation of this band results in thermal relaxation and can be exploited to generate a local hyperthermia by irradiating in the so-called bio-transparent Near-IR window. PB nanoparticles are fully biocompatible (PB has already been approved by FDA) and biodegradable, this making them ideal candidates for in vivo use. While papers based on the imaging, drug-delivery and absorbing properties of PB nanoparticles have appeared and have been reviewed in the past decades, a very recent interest is flourishing with the use of PB nanoparticles as photothermal agents in biomedical applications. This review summarizes the syntheses and the optical features of PB nanoparticles in relation to their photothermal use and describes the state of the art of PB nanoparticles as photothermal agents, also in combination with diagnostic techniques

Special Issue on Nano-Systems for Antimicrobial Therapy

Antibacterial materials and surfaces designed and built using the toolbox of nanotechnology are becoming the object of an increasingly boosting interest, responding to the pan-drug resistant bacteria emergency [...

Prussian Blue and Its Analogs as Novel Nanostructured Antibacterial Materials

Prussian blue is an ancient artificial pigment. Its biocompatibility and the possibility of synthesizing it in nanometric size stimulated the interest of the scientific community. Many uses of Prussian blue nanoparticles have been reported in the field of nanomedicine. More recently, interest into the potential application of Prussian blue nanoparticles as antibacterial agents has spread. Literature regarding Prussian blue and its analogs as antibacterial materials is still limited, but the number of papers has grown quickly over the last 2–3 years

The pH controlled uptake/release of citrate by a tri-copper(II) complex

The pH controlled movement of three copper ions inside a carefully designed receptor allows the recognition and uptake/ release of citrate in aqueous solution in a manner that can be followed visuall

Prussian blue nanoparticles as a versatile photothermal tool

Prussian blue (PB) is a coordination polymer studied since the early 18th century, historically known as a pigment. PB can be prepared in colloidal form with a straightforward synthesis. It has a strong charge-transfer absorption centered at ~700 nm, with a large tail in the Near-IR range. Irradiation of this band results in thermal relaxation and can be exploited to generate a local hyperthermia by irradiating in the so-called bio-transparent Near-IR window. PB nanoparticles are fully biocompatible (PB has already been approved by FDA) and biodegradable, this making them ideal candidates for in vivo use. While papers based on the imaging, drug-delivery and absorbing properties of PB nanoparticles have appeared and have been reviewed in the past decades, a very recent interest is flourishing with the use of PB nanoparticles as photothermal agents in biomedical applications. This review summarizes the syntheses and the optical features of PB nanoparticles in relation to their photothermal use and describes the state of the art of PB nanoparticles as photothermal agents, also in combination with diagnostic techniques

Controlled uptake-release of the citrate anion in a system capable of pH driven triple Cu2+ translocation

Triple cation translocation is controlled by pH in a tripodal ligand. The movement of the cations induces the uptake/release of a citrate anion from the multicomponent recepto

Methods for glass surface coating with functional Self Assembled Monolayers

A modified approach is presented to efficiently coat flat galss surfaces with function molecules. An optical method to check the efficiency of the coating is also presente

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Silver Nanoparticles: From Intrinsic to Switchable Inorganic Antibacterial Surfaces

The layer-by-layer technique allows to graft molecular monolayers on bulk surfaces that, in turn, allow to graft monolayers of metal nanoparticles. This microreview focuses on the preparation of such materials featuring a monolayer of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and their use as antimicrobial surfaces against both planktonic bacteria and biofilms. The role of Ag+ release and of direct cell/AgNP contact in the antibacterial action will be stressed as a function of the adhesive molecular layer, of the AgNP dimension and shape, of their surface density, and of the molecular overcoating. While these surfaces display an intrinsic antibacterial action, a further evolution will also be reviewed, in which additional photothermal antibacterial action can be switched on demand, using near-IR radiation and non-spherical AgNP or a combination of AgNP with non-spherical AuNP. The intrinsic and switchable photothermal action of these surfaces will be unraveled, and their synergistic effect stresse