Polarimetric techniques for determining morphology and optical features of High Refractive Index dielectric nanoparticles size

The spectral evolution of the degree of linear polarization (PL) at a scattering angle of 90º is studied numerically for high refractive index (HRI) dielectric spherical nanoparticles. The behaviour of PL(90º) is analyzed as a function of the refractive index of the surrounding medium and the particle radius. We focus on the spectral region where both electric and magnetic resonances of order not higher than two are located for various semiconductor materials with low absorption. The spectral behavior of PL(90º) has only a small, linear dependence on nanoparticle size R. This weak dependence makes it experimentally feasible to perform real-time retrievals of both the refractive index of the external medium and the NP size R. From an industrial point of view, pure materials are nonrealistic, since they can only be provided under certain conditions. For this reason, we also study the effect of contaminants on the resonances of silicon NPs by considering the spectral evolution of PL(90º).This research was supported by MICINN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project FIS2013-45854-P)

A novel lipase-catalyzed method for preparing ELR-based bioconjugates

Producción CientíficaHerein we present a novel one-pot method for the chemical modification of elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) in a mild and efficient manner involving enzymatic catalysis with Candida antarctica lipase B. The introduction of different functionalities into such ELRs could open up new possibilities for the development of advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine and, specifically, for controlled drug delivery given their additional ability to respond to stimuli other than pH or temperature, such as glucose concentration or electromagnetic radiation. Candida antarctica lipase B immobilized on a macroporous acrylic resin (Novozym 435) was used to enzymatically couple different aminated substrates to a recombinamer containing carboxylic groups along its amino acid chain by way of an amidation reaction. A preliminary study of the kinetics of this amidation in response to different reaction conditions, such as solvent, temperature or reagent ratio, was carried out using a phenylazobenzene derivative (azo-NH2) as a model. The optimal amidation conditions were used to couple other amine reagents, such as phenylboronic acid (FB-NH2) or polyethylene glycol (PEG-NH2), thus allowing us to obtain photoresponsive, glucose-responsive or PEGylated ELRs that could potentially be useful as sensors in devices for controlled drug delivery.2019-11-112019-11-11European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Comisión Europea (proyectos NMP-2014-646075, HEALTH-F4-2011-278557, PITN-GA-2012-317306 y MSCA-ITN-2014-642687),Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Projects MAT2015-68901-R, MAT2016-79435-R and MAT2016-78903-R)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA244U13 y VA313U14)CIBER-BBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III a través de la Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Novozymes

Using linear polarization for sensing and monitoring nanoparticle purity

We analyze the effect of contaminants on the quadrupolar magnetic, dipolar electric and dipolar magnetic resonances of silicon nanoparticles (NPs) by considering the spectral evolution of the linear polarization degree at right angle scattering configuration, PL(90º). From an optical point of view, a decrease in the purity of silicon nanoparticles due to the presence of contaminants impacts the NP effective refractive index. We study this effect for a silicon nanosphere of radius 200 nm embedded in different media. The weakness of the resonances induced on the PL(90º) spectrum because of the lack of purity can be used to quantify the contamination of the material. In addition, it is shown that Kerker conditions also suffer from a spectral shift, which is quantified as a function of material purity.This research was supported by MICINN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project FIS2013-45854-P)

The impact of type 2 immunity and allergic diseases in atherosclerosis.

Allergic diseases are allergen-induced immunological disorders characterized by the development of type 2 immunity and IgE responses. The prevalence of allergic diseases has been on the rise alike cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affects arteries of different organs such as the heart, the kidney and the brain. The underlying cause of CVD is often atherosclerosis, a disease distinguished by endothelial dysfunction, fibrofatty material accumulation in the intima of the artery wall, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and Th1 inflammation. The opposed T-cell identity of allergy and atherosclerosis implies an atheroprotective role for Th2 cells by counteracting Th1 responses. Yet, the clinical association between allergic disease and CVD argues against it. Within, we review different phases of allergic pathology, basic immunological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and the clinical association between allergic diseases (particularly asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and food allergy) and CVD. Then, we discuss putative atherogenic mechanisms of type 2 immunity and allergic inflammation including acute allergic reactions (IgE, IgG1, mast cells, macrophages and allergic mediators such as vasoactive components, growth factors and those derived from the complement, contact and coagulation systems) and late phase inflammation (Th2 cells, eosinophils, type 2 innate-like lymphoid cells, alarmins, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13 and IL-17).Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence, Grant/Award Number: CEX2020-001041- S; Pro CNIC Foundation; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; Ministry of Science and Innovation, Grant/ Award Number: PID2019-110369RB- I00; European Commission, Grant/Award Number: ERC-CoG 819775 and H2020-HEALTH 945118; Spanish Ministry of Universities; Ayudas Margarita Salas para la Formación de Jóvenes Doctores—Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Grant/ Award Number: CA1/RSUE/2021–00577; Formación de Profesorado Universitario, Grant/Award Number: FPU16/03953; Sociedad Española de Alergología e Inmunología Clínica (SEAIC), Grant/ Award Number: BECA20A9; New Frontiers in Research Fund, Grant/ Award Number: NFRFE-2019- 00083; The Nutricia Research Foundation, Grant/Award Number: NRF-2021- 13; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Number: PI21/00158, PI21/01126, CP20/00043, PI18/01467, PI19/00044, RD16/0006/0015 and RD21/0002/0008; Severo Ochoa Program, Grant/Award Number: AEI/SEV-2017- 0712S

Procedimiento de fabricación de tejidos fosforescentes de larga duración y tejidos obtenidos a partir del mismo

La invención describe un nuevo procedimiento para la fabricación de tejidos fosforescentes de larga duración, y de prendas que comprenden dicho tejido para su uso en los ámbitos tales como el de la seguridad, doméstico, deportivo, sanitario, profesional, etc. El procedimiento comprende (i) preparar una composición para tinción que comprende un pigmento de aluminato de estroncio dopado con europio y disprosio, (ii) recubrir un tejido de partida con dicha composición mediante rasqueta al aire o cilindro, (iii) secado y (iv) polimerizado. Los tejidos así obtenidos presentan propiedades fosforescentes de larga duración y una alta resistencia al lavado, manteniendo las especificaciones de fábrica del tejido de partida con respecto a sus propiedades mecánicas, de comodidad, de transpirabilidad y/o sus propiedades de alta visibilidad, en su caso.Solicitud: 201430741 (20.05.2014)Nº de Pub. de Solicitud: ES2551759A1 (23.11.2015)Nº de Patente: ES2551759B1 (09.09.2016

The impact of type 2 immunity and allergic diseases in atherosclerosis.

Allergic diseases are allergen-induced immunological disorders characterized by the development of type 2 immunity and IgE responses. The prevalence of allergic diseases has been on the rise alike cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affects arteries of different organs such as the heart, the kidney and the brain. The underlying cause of CVD is often atherosclerosis, a disease distinguished by endothelial dysfunction, fibrofatty material accumulation in the intima of the artery wall, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and Th1 inflammation. The opposed T-cell identity of allergy and atherosclerosis implies an atheroprotective role for Th2 cells by counteracting Th1 responses. Yet, the clinical association between allergic disease and CVD argues against it. Within, we review different phases of allergic pathology, basic immunological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and the clinical association between allergic diseases (particularly asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and food allergy) and CVD. Then, we discuss putative atherogenic mechanisms of type 2 immunity and allergic inflammation including acute allergic reactions (IgE, IgG1, mast cells, macrophages and allergic mediators such as vasoactive components, growth factors and those derived from the complement, contact and coagulation systems) and late phase inflammation (Th2 cells, eosinophils, type 2 innate-like lymphoid cells, alarmins, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13 and IL-17).N