57 research outputs found

    Functional Dyes in Polymeric 3D Printing: Applications and Perspectives

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    Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is considered among the key- technologies for the next industrial revolution, with considerable effects on production processes, economy, and society. In this context, the most relevant part of the market consists of polymeric 3D printing. The 3D printable liquids are composed of various components, among them dyes are usually underrated because they are introduced merely for aesthetical reasons or to enhance the objects’ resolution. In recent years, the capability of specific dyes to go beyond conventional use and to confer functional properties to 3D printed objects has become an emerging research area. Modifying elastic moduli upon light irradiation, inducing optical and emitting properties in the matrices or conferring temperature responsivity are just few examples of innovative stimuli-responsive materials that can be produced by combining well-designed dyes with the appropriate 3DP printed matrices. In this Review, we discuss and critically analyze the most relevant recent results achieved in the use of smart dyes in the synthesis of stimuli responsive 3D printed polymers

    ZnO Tetrapods for Label-Free Optical Biosensing: Physicochemical Characterization and Functionalization Strategies

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    In this study, we fabricated three different ZnO tetrapodal nanostructures (ZnO-Ts) by a combustion process and studied their physicochemical properties by different techniques to evaluate their potentiality for label-free biosensing purposes. Then, we explored the chemical reactivity of ZnO-Ts by quantifying the available functional hydroxyl groups (–OH) on the transducer surface necessary for biosensor development. The best ZnO-T sample was chemically modified and bioconjugated with biotin as a model bioprobe by a multi-step procedure based on silanization and carbodiimide chemistry. The results demonstrated that the ZnO-Ts could be easily and efficiently biomodified, and sensing experiments based on the streptavidin target detection confirmed these structures’ suitability for biosensing applications
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