Luca Prodi | Università di Bologna (original) (raw)
Papers by Luca Prodi
New Journal of Chemistry, 2018
Pioneering the red region of emission! β-acrolein substituted Ga corroles show the longest fluore... more Pioneering the red region of emission! β-acrolein substituted Ga corroles show the longest fluorescence emission reported for monomeric corroles.
Handbook of Photochemistry, 2006
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry
Bis-squaramide receptors L1–L4 bearing a dansyl moiety were considered as fluorescent probes for ... more Bis-squaramide receptors L1–L4 bearing a dansyl moiety were considered as fluorescent probes for non steroidal antinflamatory drugs naproxene and ketoprofen.
Micro
Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as ... more Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as compared to bare NPs and appear highly promising in diagnostics and theranostics of cancer. Herein, we discuss the preparation and structural characterization of peptide-functionalized silica/PEG NPs, starting from peptide–block copolymers, prepared in turn by conjugation of the peptides to block copolymers before NP formation. This synthetic design allowed full control of density and composition of peptide surface coverage. Preliminary experiments support the low toxicity of the fluorescent peptide–NPs and their ability of cell internalization.
Molecules, 2021
The synthesis of a new RuII complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline... more The synthesis of a new RuII complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and a 2,2′-bipyridyl unit linked, via methylene bridges in its 4 and 4′ positions, to two 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) macrocycles ([Ru(phen)2L]2+) is reported. Protonation and ZnII binding by [Ru(phen)2L]2+ have been analyzed by potentiometric titration, evidencing the formation of mixed hetero-binuclear and hetero-trinuclear ZnII/RuII complexes. These complexes were tested as bis-phenol A (BPA) binders. Only the dizinc complex with [Ru(phen)2L]2+ is able to bind BPA in aqueous solution, affording a remarkably stable {Zn2[Ru(phen)2L]BPA(H−2)}4+ adduct at neutral pH, in which BPA is bound in its doubly deprotonated form to the two ZnII ions. BPA binding was found to quench the luminescence emission of the RuII(phen)2bipy core. Although the quenching effect is modest, this study demonstrates that appropriately designed dizinc complexes can be used for binding and optic...
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2020
The detection of the Cerenkov radiation (CR) is an emerging preclinical imaging technique which a... more The detection of the Cerenkov radiation (CR) is an emerging preclinical imaging technique which allows monitoring the in vivo distribution of radionuclides. Among its possible advantages, the most interesting is the simplicity and cost of the required instrumentation compared, e.g., to that required for PET scans. On the other hand, one of its main drawbacks is related to the fact that CR, presenting the most intense component in the UV-vis region, has a very low penetration in biological tissues. To address this issue, we present here multifluorophoric silica nanoparticles properly designed to efficiently absorb the CR radiation and to have a quite high fluorescence quantum yield (0.12) at 826 nm. Thanks to a highly efficient series of energy transfer processes, each nanoparticle can convert part of the CR into NIR light, increasing its detection even under 1.0-cm thickness of muscle.
ACS Omega, 2019
Silica nanostructures are widely investigated for theranostic applications since relatively mild ... more Silica nanostructures are widely investigated for theranostic applications since relatively mild and easy synthetic methods allow the fabrication of multicompartment nanoparticles (NPs) and fine modulation of their properties. Here, we report the optimization of a synthetic strategy leading to brightly fluorescent silica NPs with a high loading ability, up to 45 molecules per NP, of Sorafenib, a small molecule acting as an antiangiogenic drug. We demonstrate that these NPs can efficiently release the drug and they are able to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and migration and network formation. Their lyophilization can endow them with long shelf stability, whereas, once in solution, they show a much slower release compared to analogous micellar systems. Interestingly, Sorafenib released from Pluronic silica NPs completely prevented endothelial cell responses and postreceptor mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling ignited by vascular endothelial growth factor, one of the major players of tumor angiogenesis. Our results indicate that these theranostic systems represent a promising structure for anticancer applications since NPs alone have no cytotoxic effect on cultured endothelial cells, a cell type to which drugs and exogenous material are always in contact once delivered.
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2019
Small PEGylated silica nanoparticles are synthesized in the presence of high concentrations of or... more Small PEGylated silica nanoparticles are synthesized in the presence of high concentrations of organic solvents. This method allows for the efficient incorporation of dyes with poor solubility in water, yielding bright silica nanoparticles.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2018
Antibiotic resistance is emerging as a growing worldwide problem and finding solutions to this is... more Antibiotic resistance is emerging as a growing worldwide problem and finding solutions to this issue is becoming a new challenge for scientists. As the development of new drugs slowed down, advances in nanotechnology offer great opportunities, with the possibility of designing new systems for carrying, delivery and administration of drugs already in use. Engineered combinations of the synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic ofloxacin, rarely studied in this field, with different types of silver, mesoporous silica-based and Pluronic/silica-based nanoparticles have been explored. The nanocarriers as silver core@silica mesoporous (AgMSNPs) and dye-doped silica nanoparticles functionalized with ofloxacin were synthesized and their antibacterial properties studied against S. aureus and E. coli. The best antibacterial results were obtained for the AgMSNPs nanosystem@ofloxacin for the strain S. aureus ATCC 25923, with MIC and MBC values of 5 and 25 µg/mL, proving the efficacy and synergetic effect of the antibiotic and the Ag core of the nanoparticles.
Scientific Reports, 2018
Understanding polarity gradients inside nanomaterials is essential to capture their potential as ... more Understanding polarity gradients inside nanomaterials is essential to capture their potential as nanoreactors, catalysts or in drug delivery applications. We propose here a method to obtain detailed, quantitative information on heterogeneous polarity in multicompartment nanostructures. The method is based on a 2-steps procedure, (i) deconvolution of complex emission spectra of two solvatochromic probes followed by (ii) spectrally resolved analysis of FRET between the same solvatochromic dyes. While the first step yields a list of polarities probed in the nanomaterial suspension, the second step correlates the polarities in space. Colocalization of polarities falling within few nanometer radius is obtained via FRET, a process called here nanopolarity mapping. Here, Prodan and Nile Red are tested to map the polarity of a water-dispersable, multicompartment nanostructure, named PluS nanoparticle (NPs). PluS NPs are uniform core-shell nanoparticles with silica cores (diameter ~10 nm) an...
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Dec 14, 2016
The impact of nanotechnology on analytical science is hardly overlooked. In the search for ever-i... more The impact of nanotechnology on analytical science is hardly overlooked. In the search for ever-increasing sensitivity in biomedical sensors, nanoparticles have been playing a unique role as, for instance, ultrabright labels, and unravelling the intimate mechanisms which govern their functioning is mandatory for the design of ultrasentitive devices. Herein, we investigated the mechanism of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) in a family of core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles (DDSNs), variously doped with a Ru(bpy)3(2+) triethoxysilane derivative, and displaying homogeneous morphological, hydrodynamic, and photophysical properties. ECL experiments, performed in the presence of 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) as coreactant, showed two parallel mechanisms of ECL generation: one mechanism (I) which involves exclusively the radicals deriving from the coreactant oxidation and a second one (II) involving also the direct anodic oxidation of the Ru(II) moieties. The latter mechanism incl...
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2016
The aim of the present study was to develop nanoprobes with theranostic features, including-at th... more The aim of the present study was to develop nanoprobes with theranostic features, including-at the same time-photoacoustic, near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging, and photothermal properties, in a versatile and stable core-shell silica-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticle architecture. Materials and methods: We synthesized core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles by a one-pot direct micelles approach. Fluorescence emission and photoacoustic and photothermal properties were obtained at the same time by appropriate doping with triethoxysilane-derivatized cyanine 5.5 (Cy5.5) and cyanine 7 (Cy7) dyes. The performances of these nanoprobes were measured in vitro, using nanoparticle suspensions in phosphate-buffered saline and blood, dedicated phantoms, and after incubation with MDA-MB-231 cells. Results: We obtained core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles endowed with very high colloidal stability in water and in biological environment, with absorption and fluorescence emission in the NIR field. The presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes made it possible to reach a more reproducible and higher doping regime, producing fluorescence emission at a single excitation wavelength in two different channels, owing to the energy transfer processes within the nanoparticle. The nanoarchitecture and the presence of both Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes provided a favorable agreement between fluorescence emission and quenching, to achieve optical imaging and photoacoustic and photothermal properties. Conclusion: We obtained rationally designed nanoparticles with outstanding stability in biological environment. At appropriate doping regimes, the presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes allowed us to tune fluorescence emission in the NIR for optical imaging and to exploit quenching processes for photoacoustic and photothermal capabilities. These nanostructures are promising in vivo theranostic tools for the near future.
Faraday Discussions, 2015
Monitoring Prostate Cancer (PCa) biomarkers is an efficient way to diagnosis this disease early, ... more Monitoring Prostate Cancer (PCa) biomarkers is an efficient way to diagnosis this disease early, since it improves the therapeutic success rate and suppresses PCa patient mortality: for this reason a powerful analytical technique such as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is already used for this application, but its widespread usability is still hampered by the high cost of commercial ECL equipment. We describe an innovative approach for the selective and sensitive detection of the PCa biomarker sarcosine, obtained by a synergistic ECL-supramolecular approach, in which the free base form of sarcosine acts as co-reagent in a Ru(bpy)32+-ECL process. We used magnetic micro-beads decorated with a supramolecular tetraphosphonate cavitand (Tiiii) for the selective capture of sarcosine hydrochloride in a complex matrix like urine. Sarcosine determination was then obtained with ECL measurements thanks to the complexation properties of Tiiii, with a protocol involving simple pH changes – to dri...
Pyrazino-fused tetrarylporphyrins, Dyes and Pigments (2013), doi: 10.1016/ j.dyepig.2013.04.024. ... more Pyrazino-fused tetrarylporphyrins, Dyes and Pigments (2013), doi: 10.1016/ j.dyepig.2013.04.024. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
RSC Adv., 2014
Dye-doped near infrared-emitting silica nanoparticles (DD-NIRsiNPs) represent a valuable tool in ... more Dye-doped near infrared-emitting silica nanoparticles (DD-NIRsiNPs) represent a valuable tool in bioimaging, because they provide sufficient brightness, resistance to photobleaching and consist of hydrophilic non-toxic materials.
New Journal of Chemistry, 2000
... Luca Prodi*a, Fabrizio Bollettaa, Marco Montaltia, Nelsi Zaccheronia, Alessandro Casnati*b, F... more ... Luca Prodi*a, Fabrizio Bollettaa, Marco Montaltia, Nelsi Zaccheronia, Alessandro Casnati*b, Francesco Sansoneb and Rocco Ungarob. a ... 1, GD Andreetti, F. Ugozzoli, A. Pochini and R. Ungaro, in Inclusion Compounds, ed. JL Atwood, JED Davies and DD MacNicol, Oxford ...
Langmuir, 2014
This work was devoted to the development of a new type of lipid-based (cubosome) theranostic nano... more This work was devoted to the development of a new type of lipid-based (cubosome) theranostic nanoparticle able to simultaneously host camptothecin, a potent anticancer drug, and a squarain-based NIR-emitting fluorescent probe. Furthermore, to confer targeting abilities on these nanoparticles, they were dispersed using mixtures of Pluronic F108 and folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 in appropriate ratios. The physicochemical characterization, performed via SAXS, DLS, and cryo-TEM techniques, proved that aqueous dispersions of such cubosomes can be effectively prepared, while the photophysical characterization demonstrated that these nanoparticles may be used for in vivo imaging purposes. The superior ability of these innovative nanoparticles in targeting cancer cells was emphasized by investigating the lipid droplet alterations induced in HeLa cells upon exposure to targeted and nontargeted cubosomes.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) starting from being a laboratory curiosity has become a powerful d... more Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) starting from being a laboratory curiosity has become a powerful diagnostic technique. i In the perspective of be used in ECL-based biological assays a luminophore must meet several requirements: his ECL signal must be intense ...
New Journal of Chemistry, 2018
Pioneering the red region of emission! β-acrolein substituted Ga corroles show the longest fluore... more Pioneering the red region of emission! β-acrolein substituted Ga corroles show the longest fluorescence emission reported for monomeric corroles.
Handbook of Photochemistry, 2006
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry
Bis-squaramide receptors L1–L4 bearing a dansyl moiety were considered as fluorescent probes for ... more Bis-squaramide receptors L1–L4 bearing a dansyl moiety were considered as fluorescent probes for non steroidal antinflamatory drugs naproxene and ketoprofen.
Micro
Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as ... more Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as compared to bare NPs and appear highly promising in diagnostics and theranostics of cancer. Herein, we discuss the preparation and structural characterization of peptide-functionalized silica/PEG NPs, starting from peptide–block copolymers, prepared in turn by conjugation of the peptides to block copolymers before NP formation. This synthetic design allowed full control of density and composition of peptide surface coverage. Preliminary experiments support the low toxicity of the fluorescent peptide–NPs and their ability of cell internalization.
Molecules, 2021
The synthesis of a new RuII complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline... more The synthesis of a new RuII complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and a 2,2′-bipyridyl unit linked, via methylene bridges in its 4 and 4′ positions, to two 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) macrocycles ([Ru(phen)2L]2+) is reported. Protonation and ZnII binding by [Ru(phen)2L]2+ have been analyzed by potentiometric titration, evidencing the formation of mixed hetero-binuclear and hetero-trinuclear ZnII/RuII complexes. These complexes were tested as bis-phenol A (BPA) binders. Only the dizinc complex with [Ru(phen)2L]2+ is able to bind BPA in aqueous solution, affording a remarkably stable {Zn2[Ru(phen)2L]BPA(H−2)}4+ adduct at neutral pH, in which BPA is bound in its doubly deprotonated form to the two ZnII ions. BPA binding was found to quench the luminescence emission of the RuII(phen)2bipy core. Although the quenching effect is modest, this study demonstrates that appropriately designed dizinc complexes can be used for binding and optic...
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2020
The detection of the Cerenkov radiation (CR) is an emerging preclinical imaging technique which a... more The detection of the Cerenkov radiation (CR) is an emerging preclinical imaging technique which allows monitoring the in vivo distribution of radionuclides. Among its possible advantages, the most interesting is the simplicity and cost of the required instrumentation compared, e.g., to that required for PET scans. On the other hand, one of its main drawbacks is related to the fact that CR, presenting the most intense component in the UV-vis region, has a very low penetration in biological tissues. To address this issue, we present here multifluorophoric silica nanoparticles properly designed to efficiently absorb the CR radiation and to have a quite high fluorescence quantum yield (0.12) at 826 nm. Thanks to a highly efficient series of energy transfer processes, each nanoparticle can convert part of the CR into NIR light, increasing its detection even under 1.0-cm thickness of muscle.
ACS Omega, 2019
Silica nanostructures are widely investigated for theranostic applications since relatively mild ... more Silica nanostructures are widely investigated for theranostic applications since relatively mild and easy synthetic methods allow the fabrication of multicompartment nanoparticles (NPs) and fine modulation of their properties. Here, we report the optimization of a synthetic strategy leading to brightly fluorescent silica NPs with a high loading ability, up to 45 molecules per NP, of Sorafenib, a small molecule acting as an antiangiogenic drug. We demonstrate that these NPs can efficiently release the drug and they are able to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and migration and network formation. Their lyophilization can endow them with long shelf stability, whereas, once in solution, they show a much slower release compared to analogous micellar systems. Interestingly, Sorafenib released from Pluronic silica NPs completely prevented endothelial cell responses and postreceptor mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling ignited by vascular endothelial growth factor, one of the major players of tumor angiogenesis. Our results indicate that these theranostic systems represent a promising structure for anticancer applications since NPs alone have no cytotoxic effect on cultured endothelial cells, a cell type to which drugs and exogenous material are always in contact once delivered.
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2019
Small PEGylated silica nanoparticles are synthesized in the presence of high concentrations of or... more Small PEGylated silica nanoparticles are synthesized in the presence of high concentrations of organic solvents. This method allows for the efficient incorporation of dyes with poor solubility in water, yielding bright silica nanoparticles.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2018
Antibiotic resistance is emerging as a growing worldwide problem and finding solutions to this is... more Antibiotic resistance is emerging as a growing worldwide problem and finding solutions to this issue is becoming a new challenge for scientists. As the development of new drugs slowed down, advances in nanotechnology offer great opportunities, with the possibility of designing new systems for carrying, delivery and administration of drugs already in use. Engineered combinations of the synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic ofloxacin, rarely studied in this field, with different types of silver, mesoporous silica-based and Pluronic/silica-based nanoparticles have been explored. The nanocarriers as silver core@silica mesoporous (AgMSNPs) and dye-doped silica nanoparticles functionalized with ofloxacin were synthesized and their antibacterial properties studied against S. aureus and E. coli. The best antibacterial results were obtained for the AgMSNPs nanosystem@ofloxacin for the strain S. aureus ATCC 25923, with MIC and MBC values of 5 and 25 µg/mL, proving the efficacy and synergetic effect of the antibiotic and the Ag core of the nanoparticles.
Scientific Reports, 2018
Understanding polarity gradients inside nanomaterials is essential to capture their potential as ... more Understanding polarity gradients inside nanomaterials is essential to capture their potential as nanoreactors, catalysts or in drug delivery applications. We propose here a method to obtain detailed, quantitative information on heterogeneous polarity in multicompartment nanostructures. The method is based on a 2-steps procedure, (i) deconvolution of complex emission spectra of two solvatochromic probes followed by (ii) spectrally resolved analysis of FRET between the same solvatochromic dyes. While the first step yields a list of polarities probed in the nanomaterial suspension, the second step correlates the polarities in space. Colocalization of polarities falling within few nanometer radius is obtained via FRET, a process called here nanopolarity mapping. Here, Prodan and Nile Red are tested to map the polarity of a water-dispersable, multicompartment nanostructure, named PluS nanoparticle (NPs). PluS NPs are uniform core-shell nanoparticles with silica cores (diameter ~10 nm) an...
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Dec 14, 2016
The impact of nanotechnology on analytical science is hardly overlooked. In the search for ever-i... more The impact of nanotechnology on analytical science is hardly overlooked. In the search for ever-increasing sensitivity in biomedical sensors, nanoparticles have been playing a unique role as, for instance, ultrabright labels, and unravelling the intimate mechanisms which govern their functioning is mandatory for the design of ultrasentitive devices. Herein, we investigated the mechanism of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) in a family of core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles (DDSNs), variously doped with a Ru(bpy)3(2+) triethoxysilane derivative, and displaying homogeneous morphological, hydrodynamic, and photophysical properties. ECL experiments, performed in the presence of 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) as coreactant, showed two parallel mechanisms of ECL generation: one mechanism (I) which involves exclusively the radicals deriving from the coreactant oxidation and a second one (II) involving also the direct anodic oxidation of the Ru(II) moieties. The latter mechanism incl...
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2016
The aim of the present study was to develop nanoprobes with theranostic features, including-at th... more The aim of the present study was to develop nanoprobes with theranostic features, including-at the same time-photoacoustic, near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging, and photothermal properties, in a versatile and stable core-shell silica-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticle architecture. Materials and methods: We synthesized core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles by a one-pot direct micelles approach. Fluorescence emission and photoacoustic and photothermal properties were obtained at the same time by appropriate doping with triethoxysilane-derivatized cyanine 5.5 (Cy5.5) and cyanine 7 (Cy7) dyes. The performances of these nanoprobes were measured in vitro, using nanoparticle suspensions in phosphate-buffered saline and blood, dedicated phantoms, and after incubation with MDA-MB-231 cells. Results: We obtained core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles endowed with very high colloidal stability in water and in biological environment, with absorption and fluorescence emission in the NIR field. The presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes made it possible to reach a more reproducible and higher doping regime, producing fluorescence emission at a single excitation wavelength in two different channels, owing to the energy transfer processes within the nanoparticle. The nanoarchitecture and the presence of both Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes provided a favorable agreement between fluorescence emission and quenching, to achieve optical imaging and photoacoustic and photothermal properties. Conclusion: We obtained rationally designed nanoparticles with outstanding stability in biological environment. At appropriate doping regimes, the presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes allowed us to tune fluorescence emission in the NIR for optical imaging and to exploit quenching processes for photoacoustic and photothermal capabilities. These nanostructures are promising in vivo theranostic tools for the near future.
Faraday Discussions, 2015
Monitoring Prostate Cancer (PCa) biomarkers is an efficient way to diagnosis this disease early, ... more Monitoring Prostate Cancer (PCa) biomarkers is an efficient way to diagnosis this disease early, since it improves the therapeutic success rate and suppresses PCa patient mortality: for this reason a powerful analytical technique such as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is already used for this application, but its widespread usability is still hampered by the high cost of commercial ECL equipment. We describe an innovative approach for the selective and sensitive detection of the PCa biomarker sarcosine, obtained by a synergistic ECL-supramolecular approach, in which the free base form of sarcosine acts as co-reagent in a Ru(bpy)32+-ECL process. We used magnetic micro-beads decorated with a supramolecular tetraphosphonate cavitand (Tiiii) for the selective capture of sarcosine hydrochloride in a complex matrix like urine. Sarcosine determination was then obtained with ECL measurements thanks to the complexation properties of Tiiii, with a protocol involving simple pH changes – to dri...
Pyrazino-fused tetrarylporphyrins, Dyes and Pigments (2013), doi: 10.1016/ j.dyepig.2013.04.024. ... more Pyrazino-fused tetrarylporphyrins, Dyes and Pigments (2013), doi: 10.1016/ j.dyepig.2013.04.024. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
RSC Adv., 2014
Dye-doped near infrared-emitting silica nanoparticles (DD-NIRsiNPs) represent a valuable tool in ... more Dye-doped near infrared-emitting silica nanoparticles (DD-NIRsiNPs) represent a valuable tool in bioimaging, because they provide sufficient brightness, resistance to photobleaching and consist of hydrophilic non-toxic materials.
New Journal of Chemistry, 2000
... Luca Prodi*a, Fabrizio Bollettaa, Marco Montaltia, Nelsi Zaccheronia, Alessandro Casnati*b, F... more ... Luca Prodi*a, Fabrizio Bollettaa, Marco Montaltia, Nelsi Zaccheronia, Alessandro Casnati*b, Francesco Sansoneb and Rocco Ungarob. a ... 1, GD Andreetti, F. Ugozzoli, A. Pochini and R. Ungaro, in Inclusion Compounds, ed. JL Atwood, JED Davies and DD MacNicol, Oxford ...
Langmuir, 2014
This work was devoted to the development of a new type of lipid-based (cubosome) theranostic nano... more This work was devoted to the development of a new type of lipid-based (cubosome) theranostic nanoparticle able to simultaneously host camptothecin, a potent anticancer drug, and a squarain-based NIR-emitting fluorescent probe. Furthermore, to confer targeting abilities on these nanoparticles, they were dispersed using mixtures of Pluronic F108 and folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 in appropriate ratios. The physicochemical characterization, performed via SAXS, DLS, and cryo-TEM techniques, proved that aqueous dispersions of such cubosomes can be effectively prepared, while the photophysical characterization demonstrated that these nanoparticles may be used for in vivo imaging purposes. The superior ability of these innovative nanoparticles in targeting cancer cells was emphasized by investigating the lipid droplet alterations induced in HeLa cells upon exposure to targeted and nontargeted cubosomes.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) starting from being a laboratory curiosity has become a powerful d... more Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) starting from being a laboratory curiosity has become a powerful diagnostic technique. i In the perspective of be used in ECL-based biological assays a luminophore must meet several requirements: his ECL signal must be intense ...