Carrier capability of halloysite nanotubes for the intracellular delivery of antisense PNA targeting mRNA of neuroglobin gene

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a DNA mimic that shows good stability against nucleases and proteases, forming strongly recognized complementary strands of DNA and RNA. However, due to its feeble ability to cross the cellular membrane, PNA activity and its targeting gene action is limited. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are a natural and low-cost aluminosilicate clay. Because of their peculiar ability to cross cellular membrane, HNTs represent a valuable candidate for delivering genetic materials into cells. Herein, two differently charged 12-mer PNAs capable of recognizing as molecular target a 12-mer DNA molecule mimicking a purine-rich tract of neuroglobin were synthetized and loaded onto HNTs by electrostatic attraction interactions. After characterization, the kinetic release was also assessed in media mimicking physiological conditions. Resonance light scattering measurements assessed their ability to bind complementary single-stranded DNA. Furthermore, their intracellular delivery was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy on living MCF-7 cells incubated with fluorescence isothiocyanate (FITC)-PNA and HNTs labeled with a probe. The nanomaterials were found to cross cellular membrane and cell nuclei efficiently. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the HNTs/PNA can reduce the level of neuroglobin gene expression, as shown by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis.This research received funds from the European Union NextGenerationEU [IR0000010 “ELIXIRxNextGenIT”, PNRR MUR-M4C2—Investimento 3.1, CUP UNINA: B53C22001800006] and [CN00000041 “National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology”, National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4, CUP UNINA: E63C22000940007], EUROSTART (MUR FONDI PNR D.M. 737/2021, CUP UNIPA: B79J21038330001) and PRIN 2022 PNRR “P2022YJZ5F -PE5"

The Matter of Future Heritage

In 2018, for the first time, the University of Bologna’s Board of PhD in Architecture and Design Culture assigned second-year PhD students the task of developing and managing an international conference and publishing its works. The organisers of the first edition of this initiative – Giacomo Corda, Pamela Lama, Viviana Lorenzo, Sara Maldina, Lia Marchi, Martina Massari and Giulia Custodi – have chosen to leverage the solid relationship between the Department of Architecture and the Municipality of Bologna to publish a call having to do with the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, in which the Municipality was involved. The theme chosen for the call, The Matter of Future Heritage, set itself the ambitious goal of questioning the future of a field of research – Cultural Heritage (CH) – that is constantly being  redefined. A work that was made particularly complex in Europe by the development of the H2020 programme, where the topic entered, surprisingly, not as a protagonist but rather as an articulation of other subjects that in the vision of the programme seemed evidently more urgent and, one might say, dominant. The resulting tensions have been considerable and with both negative and positive implications, all the more evident if we refer to the issues that are closest to us namely the city and the landscape

Analisi dell'erosione di fondo in materiale coesivo

Dottorato di Ricerca in Ingegneria Idraulica per l’Ambiente e il Territorio, Ciclo XXII, a.a.2009Università degli Studi della Calabri

Validation of ground technologies for future Q/V band satellite systems: The QV - LIFT project

With the aim of supporting satellite Terabit connectivity, the future generations of High Throughput Systems - HTS rely on the exploitation of Q/V band frequencies. These frequency bands offer the possibility to have larger bandwidth availability with respect to Ka-band systems, freeing the portion of the Ka frequency band that is currently allocated to feeder links and offering bigger portion of spectrum for specific services, such as the aeronautical in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) services. The design of a Ground Segment for Q/V band satellite communications presents however several technological challenges. The design of antennas, power amplifiers with high efficiency and Low Noise receivers are critical, nevertheless they are fundamental to support high data rate transmissions. Furthermore, to counteract atmospheric impairments, a system able to implement and manage a handover mechanism between gateways is also needed. A Ground Segment for Q/V band high throughput system has been conceived in the project 'Q/V band earth segment LInk for Future high Throughput space systems' (QV-LIFT), funded by the European Commission in the framework of the Horizon 2020 program. The consolidation of crucial technologies for new generation satellite communications is addressed, with the objective to ensure space accessibility to Europe and, in particular, to foster technology readiness of European industries in space related sectors. This paper provides the description of key hardware and software developments for next generation HTS systems operating in Q/V band, based on core technologies for both ground and user segments currently under development for the QV-LIFT project. The system test architecture which will be used to validate the developed technology and functionalities is also presented, together with the overview of the project status and validation plan

Metodo per la preparazione di nanocompositi antibatterici

La presente invenzione riguarda un materiale polimerico con proprietà antibatteriche e antifungine, detto materiale polimerico avente adeso sulla sua superficie un nanomateriale costituito da nanotubi di allosite (HNTs) antimicrobici. Un tale materiale polimerico antimicrobico/antifungino viene preparato attraverso l’applicazione di un metodo procedurale semplice ed economico. Oltre che l’evidente applicazione in campo biomedicale, le caratteristiche metodologiche di questa invenzione ne consentono la diffusione in vari ambiti applicativi comuni, come ad esempio l’active food packaging. Il trattamento proposto prevede 10 l’introduzione di una modifica solo superficiale del PVC e può quindi essere verosimilmente integrato in un processo produttivo come ultima fase di trattamento senza alterare gli stadi di processo precedenti

Life-Threatening Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Idhiopatic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Successful Selective Splenic Artery Embolization

Selective splenic artery embolization (SSAE) is a nonsurgical intervention characterized by the transcatheter occlusion of the splenic artery and/or its branch vessels using metallic coils or other embolic devices. It has been applied for the management of splenic trauma, hypersplenism with portal hypertension, hereditary spherocytosis, thalassemia and splenic hemangioma. We hereby describe a case of a patient affected by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and warm auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) both resistant to immunosuppressive and biological therapies, not eligible for a surgical intervention because of her critical conditions. She underwent SSAE and achieved a hematologic complete response within a few days without complications. SSAE is a minimally invasive procedure to date not considered a standard option in the management of AIHA and ITP. However, following the progressive improvement of the techniques, its indications have been extended, with a reduction in morbidity and mortality compared to splenectomy in patients with critical clinical conditions. SSAE was a lifesaving therapeutic approach for our patient and it may represent a real alternative for the treatment of resistant AIHA and ITP patients not eligible for splenectomy

Seasonal Variation in Raw Milk VOC Profile within Intensive Feeding Systems

The study aimed to assess the seasonal variation in raw milk volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from three indoor feeding systems based on maize silage (n = 31), silages/hay (n = 19) or hay (n = 16). After headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), VOC profiles were determined by gas chromatography (GC). Chemical and VOC (log10 transformations of the peak areas) data were submitted to a two-way ANOVA to assess the feeding system (FS) and season (S) effects; an interactive principal component analysis (iPCA) was also performed. The interaction FS × S was never significant. The FS showed the highest (p p p < 0.05) in urea and 2-pentanol and methyl aldehydes. The iPCA confirmed a seasonal spatial separation. Carboxylic acids might generate from incomplete esterification in the mammary gland and/or milk lipolytic activity, while aldehydes seemed to be correlated with endogenous lipid or amino acid oxidation and/or feed transfer. The outcomes suggested that VOCs could be an operative support to trace raw milk for further mild processing

Neuropathology of the Basal Ganglia in SNCA Transgenic Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease: Involvement of Parvalbuminergic Interneurons and Glial-Derived Neurotropic Factor

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein, encoded by the SNCA gene. The main neuropathological hallmark of PD is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons leading to striatal dopamine depletion. Trophic support by a neurotrophin called glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is also lacking in PD. We performed immunohistochemical studies to investigate neuropathological changes in the basal ganglia of a rat transgenic model of PD overexpressing alfa-synuclein. We observed that neuronal loss also occurs in the dorsolateral part of the striatum in the advanced stages of the disease. Moreover, along with the degeneration of the medium spiny projection neurons, we found a dramatic loss of parvalbumin interneurons. A marked decrease in GDNF, which is produced by parvalbumin interneurons, was observed in the striatum and in the substantia nigra of these animals. This confirmed the involvement of the striatum in the pathophysiology of PD and the importance of GDNF in maintaining the health of the substantia nigra