Gabriele Giancane | Università Del Salento (original) (raw)

Papers by Gabriele Giancane

Fig. 7. Spettri Raman dei campioni.

Nanomaterials, 2021

Carbon nanomaterials are a group of materials characterized by sp2/sp3 carbon backbone which, com... more Carbon nanomaterials are a group of materials characterized by sp2/sp3 carbon backbone which, combined with surface atoms and/or chemical groups, ensures peculiar physical chemical features for a wide range of applications. Among these materials, carbon dots and carbon nanoparticles belong to carbon nanomaterials with a few nanometer dimensions. In this work, carbon nanoparticles were produced from spent coffee grounds as sustainable carbon source through a simple, cheap and eco-friendly procedure according to an oxidation process (at controlled temperature) driven by hydrogen peroxide. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy were used to assess the formation of carbon nanomaterials of about 10 nm with the typical emission and absorption properties of carbon dots and peculiar surface features. In fact, the presence of heteroatoms, i.e., phosphorus, and the carbonyl/carboxyl surface groups on carbon nanoparticles, was proposed t...

Silver nanoparticles were obtained via totally green synthesis from silver nitrate using glucose ... more Silver nanoparticles were obtained via totally green synthesis from silver nitrate using glucose as reducing agent and sucralose as capping agent. Physico-chemical characterization of AgNPs was performed by UV-Visible absorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to correlate biological/toxicological responses with AgNPs features. A detailed study of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) internalization process in human epitheloid cells of cervical cancer (HeLa) was performed versus time. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) was used in order to assess the silver concentration effectively internalized by the cells. A kinetic model was developed to interpret the results.

Langmuir, 2021

A Langmuir film of cubane-bridged bisporphyrin (H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por) at the air/water interfac... more A Langmuir film of cubane-bridged bisporphyrin (H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por) at the air/water interface was developed and characterized. The floating film was successfully employed for the chiral discrimination between Land D-histidine. The enantioselective behavior persisted after the deposition of the film on a solid support using the Langmuir− Schaefer method. Distinct absorption and reflection spectra were observed in the presence of Lor D-histidine, revealing that conformational switching was governed by the interaction between H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por and the histidine enantiomer. The mechanism of chiral selection was investigated using an ad hoc modified nulling ellipsometer, indicating the anti-conformation was dominant in the presence of L-histidine, whereas the presence of D-histidine promoted the formation of tweezer conformation.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2021

Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2021

Polyoxometalate-bis-pyrene receptors for phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) provide an i... more Polyoxometalate-bis-pyrene receptors for phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) provide an interfacial layer (IFL) material enhancing the open circuit voltage of the organic photovoltaic device of about 34% under applied bias of ±5 V.

Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2021

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2021

Abstract A simple and cheap filter paper-based SERS substrate has been developed for the sensing ... more Abstract A simple and cheap filter paper-based SERS substrate has been developed for the sensing of tetracycline (TC) traces. In fact, antibiotics could represent a danger for environment and human health and TC is, in detail, one of the most wide-spread antibiotics entering the food chain and as water contaminant. According to this aim, Ag nanodisks (AgNDs) synthesis procedure was designed for tailoring the plasmonic peak position and, so, the SERS effect. Synthetized AgNDs were then used to simply decorate the surface of common filter paper, chosen because of its biocompatible, porosity and cheapness features. The obtained substrates based on filter paper and AgNDs allow the fast and easy analysis of aqueous solution containing first methylene blue used as standard and then TC samples. Fixed volume (20 μL) of TC solutions at different concentrations was simply dropped on the SERS support. The SERS spectrum was acquired before the complete water evaporation allowing TC detection down to the concentration of 10−9 M in aqueous solution. The results demonstrated that the SERS substrate obtained with the proposed facile, low-cost and relatively green fabrication process and the possibility to tune the plasmon excitation can be implemented for TC low concentration samples.

Chemosensors, 2021

Optical and magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) characterization and preliminary se... more Optical and magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) characterization and preliminary sensing test onto single- and multi-layers of two organic macrocycles have been performed; TbPc2(OC11H21)8 phthalocyanine and CoCoPo2 porphyrin were deposited by the Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) technique onto proper Au/Co/Au magneto-optical transducers. Investigations of the MOSPR properties in Kretschmann configuration by angular modulation, gives us an indication about the potential discrimination of two organic macrocycles with absorption electronic transition in and out of the propagating plasmon energy spectral range. An improved molecular vapors sensitivity increase by the MOSPR sensing probe can be demonstrated depending on the overlap between the plasmonic probe energy and the absorption electronic transitions of the macrocycles under investigation. If the interaction between the plasmon energy and molecular HOMO-LUMO transition is preserved, a variation in the complex refractive index t...

Advanced Functional Materials, 2019

Advanced Functional Materials, 2018

Stimuli-responsive materials have the potential to enable the generation of new bioinspired devic... more Stimuli-responsive materials have the potential to enable the generation of new bioinspired devices with unique physicochemical properties and cell-instructive ability. Enhancing biocompatibility while simplifying the production methodologies, as well as enabling the creation of complex constructs, i.e., via 3D (bio)printing technologies, remains key challenge in the field. Here, a novel method is presented to biofabricate cellularized anisotropic hybrid hydrogel through a mild and biocompatible process driven by multiple external stimuli: magnetic field, temperature, and light. A low-intensity magnetic field is used to align mosaic iron oxide nanoparticles (IOPs) into filaments with tunable size within a gelatin methacryloyl matrix. Cells seeded on top or embedded within the hydrogel align to the same axes of the IOPs filaments. Furthermore, in 3D, C2C12 skeletal myoblasts differentiate toward myotubes even in the absence of differentiation media. 3D printing of the nanocomposite hydrogel is achieved and creation of complex heterogeneous structures that respond to magnetic field is demonstrated. By combining the advanced, stimuli-responsive hydrogel with the architectural control provided by bioprinting technologies, 3D constructs can also be created that, although inspired by nature, express functionalities beyond those of native tissue, which have important application in soft robotics, bioactuators, and bionic devices.

Analytical chemistry, Jan 15, 2018

Conformational switching induced in ethane-bridged bisporphyrins was used as a sensitive transduc... more Conformational switching induced in ethane-bridged bisporphyrins was used as a sensitive transduction method for revealing the presence of urea dissolved in water via nonenzymatic approach. Bisporphyrins were deposited on solid quartz slides by means of the spin-coating method. Molecular conformations of Zn and Ni monometalated bis-porphyrins were influenced by water solvated urea molecules and their fluorescence emission was modulated by the urea concentration. Absorption, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies allowed the identification of supramolecular processes, which are responsible for host-guest interaction between the active layers and urea molecules. A high selectivity of the sensing mechanism was highlighted upon testing the spectroscopic responses of bis-porphyrin films to citrulline and glutamine used as interfering agents. Additionally, potential applicability was demonstrated by quantifying the urea concentration in real physiological samples proposing this new approac...

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2017

This work reports on the spectroscopic properties and gas sensing performances of cobalt bis-porp... more This work reports on the spectroscopic properties and gas sensing performances of cobalt bis-porphyrin derivative ((Co-H)Por 2) in a thin films form obtained by Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) method towards Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and an oxidizing gas in a Magneto-Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance (MO-SPR) configuration. In particular the optical and spectroscopic properties of (Co-H)Por 2 multilayers deposited onto proper Au/Co/Au magneto-plasmonic (MP) transducers were inspected in dry air conditions and after exposure to different analyte gas concentrations. The molecular organization of these thin films deposited by Langmuir-Schäfer technique has been investigated and a comparison between the MOSPR experimental data and simulation has been also reported. In order to validate our experimental results and obtain further insight into the physical mechanism of interaction between the organometallic molecules and magneto plasmonic nanostructured systems, numerical simulations based on Finite Element Method (FEM) techniques, have been performed. The optical and magneto-optical properties of these hybrid systems have been theoretically analyzed to confirm the experimental outcomes. Finally, a peculiar sensitivity of the MOSPR sensing probe in respect to investigated analytes has been recorded.

ChemistrySelect, 2017

Parabens and phenoxyethanol are chemical compounds widely used as preservatives and antimicrobial... more Parabens and phenoxyethanol are chemical compounds widely used as preservatives and antimicrobial agents in cosmetic and personal care products. The issue of their effect on human and environmental health is a particularly topical and relevant one that many national and international agencies reported about the risk from the use of such compounds. In the present paper, iron doped TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthetized and characterized by morphological and spectroscopic techniques. The proposed synthesis was designed to improve the photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures towards the two preservatives compounds when irradiated by a visible light, in order to optimize the effect of natural irradiation on the photodegradation of the two compounds. Preliminary photocatalytic tests showed that the analytes' concentration in water solutions under illumination in presence of both iron-doped TiO 2 and pure TiO 2 decreased. A sensible enhancement of photocatalysis of both propylparaben and phenoxyethanol was recorded in presence of the Fe-doped nanostructures as a consequence of the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst.

Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 2016

Two of the most known properties of ZnO were used to improve the performance of a dye-sensitized ... more Two of the most known properties of ZnO were used to improve the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a nanoadduct formed by zinc oxide and the well-known ruthenium dye N719. The wurtzite form of zinc oxide suffers from piezoelectricity and its energetic levels are very similar to those of the most used inorganic semiconductor employed in DSSCs, that is, TiO2 . We demonstrate that the synthesis of a ZnO@N719 nanoadduct does not affect the electronic communication between the inorganic semiconductor and the organic dye. The I-V characteristics in the dark and under illumination highlight a photoactivity of the ZnO@N719 active layer with values of Jsc , Voc and fill factor comparable to the data reported in the literature. When a mechanical strain is applied to the ZnO@N719 film, a piezopotential is recorded and it depends on the intensity of the applied pressure. According to the piezotronic effect, mechanical strain contributes to increase the open circuit voltage by about 14 %.

2008 IEEE Sensors, 2008

Abstract— Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) sensors have been recently attracting the attention... more Abstract— Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) sensors have been recently attracting the attention for their potential exploitation as novel sensors. Specificity and sensitivity are still open issues. Chiral discrimination is both a scientific and technological achievement in itself ...

Chem. Commun., 2014

The host–guest chemistry of the POM-tweezer drives self-assembly with carbon nanostructures in th... more The host–guest chemistry of the POM-tweezer drives self-assembly with carbon nanostructures in the nano- to micro-scale yielding 0-, 1-, and 2-D nano-hybrids.

Biomacromolecules, 2015

To determine when a paper is to be presented, check the session number in the Program Schedule or... more To determine when a paper is to be presented, check the session number in the Program Schedule or the Conference at a Glance charts. The Author presenting the paper is indicated by an asterisk.

Fig. 7. Spettri Raman dei campioni.

Nanomaterials, 2021

Carbon nanomaterials are a group of materials characterized by sp2/sp3 carbon backbone which, com... more Carbon nanomaterials are a group of materials characterized by sp2/sp3 carbon backbone which, combined with surface atoms and/or chemical groups, ensures peculiar physical chemical features for a wide range of applications. Among these materials, carbon dots and carbon nanoparticles belong to carbon nanomaterials with a few nanometer dimensions. In this work, carbon nanoparticles were produced from spent coffee grounds as sustainable carbon source through a simple, cheap and eco-friendly procedure according to an oxidation process (at controlled temperature) driven by hydrogen peroxide. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy were used to assess the formation of carbon nanomaterials of about 10 nm with the typical emission and absorption properties of carbon dots and peculiar surface features. In fact, the presence of heteroatoms, i.e., phosphorus, and the carbonyl/carboxyl surface groups on carbon nanoparticles, was proposed t...

Silver nanoparticles were obtained via totally green synthesis from silver nitrate using glucose ... more Silver nanoparticles were obtained via totally green synthesis from silver nitrate using glucose as reducing agent and sucralose as capping agent. Physico-chemical characterization of AgNPs was performed by UV-Visible absorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to correlate biological/toxicological responses with AgNPs features. A detailed study of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) internalization process in human epitheloid cells of cervical cancer (HeLa) was performed versus time. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) was used in order to assess the silver concentration effectively internalized by the cells. A kinetic model was developed to interpret the results.

Langmuir, 2021

A Langmuir film of cubane-bridged bisporphyrin (H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por) at the air/water interfac... more A Langmuir film of cubane-bridged bisporphyrin (H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por) at the air/water interface was developed and characterized. The floating film was successfully employed for the chiral discrimination between Land D-histidine. The enantioselective behavior persisted after the deposition of the film on a solid support using the Langmuir− Schaefer method. Distinct absorption and reflection spectra were observed in the presence of Lor D-histidine, revealing that conformational switching was governed by the interaction between H 2 por-cubane-H 2 por and the histidine enantiomer. The mechanism of chiral selection was investigated using an ad hoc modified nulling ellipsometer, indicating the anti-conformation was dominant in the presence of L-histidine, whereas the presence of D-histidine promoted the formation of tweezer conformation.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2021

Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2021

Polyoxometalate-bis-pyrene receptors for phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) provide an i... more Polyoxometalate-bis-pyrene receptors for phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) provide an interfacial layer (IFL) material enhancing the open circuit voltage of the organic photovoltaic device of about 34% under applied bias of ±5 V.

Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2021

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2021

Abstract A simple and cheap filter paper-based SERS substrate has been developed for the sensing ... more Abstract A simple and cheap filter paper-based SERS substrate has been developed for the sensing of tetracycline (TC) traces. In fact, antibiotics could represent a danger for environment and human health and TC is, in detail, one of the most wide-spread antibiotics entering the food chain and as water contaminant. According to this aim, Ag nanodisks (AgNDs) synthesis procedure was designed for tailoring the plasmonic peak position and, so, the SERS effect. Synthetized AgNDs were then used to simply decorate the surface of common filter paper, chosen because of its biocompatible, porosity and cheapness features. The obtained substrates based on filter paper and AgNDs allow the fast and easy analysis of aqueous solution containing first methylene blue used as standard and then TC samples. Fixed volume (20 μL) of TC solutions at different concentrations was simply dropped on the SERS support. The SERS spectrum was acquired before the complete water evaporation allowing TC detection down to the concentration of 10−9 M in aqueous solution. The results demonstrated that the SERS substrate obtained with the proposed facile, low-cost and relatively green fabrication process and the possibility to tune the plasmon excitation can be implemented for TC low concentration samples.

Chemosensors, 2021

Optical and magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) characterization and preliminary se... more Optical and magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) characterization and preliminary sensing test onto single- and multi-layers of two organic macrocycles have been performed; TbPc2(OC11H21)8 phthalocyanine and CoCoPo2 porphyrin were deposited by the Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) technique onto proper Au/Co/Au magneto-optical transducers. Investigations of the MOSPR properties in Kretschmann configuration by angular modulation, gives us an indication about the potential discrimination of two organic macrocycles with absorption electronic transition in and out of the propagating plasmon energy spectral range. An improved molecular vapors sensitivity increase by the MOSPR sensing probe can be demonstrated depending on the overlap between the plasmonic probe energy and the absorption electronic transitions of the macrocycles under investigation. If the interaction between the plasmon energy and molecular HOMO-LUMO transition is preserved, a variation in the complex refractive index t...

Advanced Functional Materials, 2019

Advanced Functional Materials, 2018

Stimuli-responsive materials have the potential to enable the generation of new bioinspired devic... more Stimuli-responsive materials have the potential to enable the generation of new bioinspired devices with unique physicochemical properties and cell-instructive ability. Enhancing biocompatibility while simplifying the production methodologies, as well as enabling the creation of complex constructs, i.e., via 3D (bio)printing technologies, remains key challenge in the field. Here, a novel method is presented to biofabricate cellularized anisotropic hybrid hydrogel through a mild and biocompatible process driven by multiple external stimuli: magnetic field, temperature, and light. A low-intensity magnetic field is used to align mosaic iron oxide nanoparticles (IOPs) into filaments with tunable size within a gelatin methacryloyl matrix. Cells seeded on top or embedded within the hydrogel align to the same axes of the IOPs filaments. Furthermore, in 3D, C2C12 skeletal myoblasts differentiate toward myotubes even in the absence of differentiation media. 3D printing of the nanocomposite hydrogel is achieved and creation of complex heterogeneous structures that respond to magnetic field is demonstrated. By combining the advanced, stimuli-responsive hydrogel with the architectural control provided by bioprinting technologies, 3D constructs can also be created that, although inspired by nature, express functionalities beyond those of native tissue, which have important application in soft robotics, bioactuators, and bionic devices.

Analytical chemistry, Jan 15, 2018

Conformational switching induced in ethane-bridged bisporphyrins was used as a sensitive transduc... more Conformational switching induced in ethane-bridged bisporphyrins was used as a sensitive transduction method for revealing the presence of urea dissolved in water via nonenzymatic approach. Bisporphyrins were deposited on solid quartz slides by means of the spin-coating method. Molecular conformations of Zn and Ni monometalated bis-porphyrins were influenced by water solvated urea molecules and their fluorescence emission was modulated by the urea concentration. Absorption, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies allowed the identification of supramolecular processes, which are responsible for host-guest interaction between the active layers and urea molecules. A high selectivity of the sensing mechanism was highlighted upon testing the spectroscopic responses of bis-porphyrin films to citrulline and glutamine used as interfering agents. Additionally, potential applicability was demonstrated by quantifying the urea concentration in real physiological samples proposing this new approac...

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2017

This work reports on the spectroscopic properties and gas sensing performances of cobalt bis-porp... more This work reports on the spectroscopic properties and gas sensing performances of cobalt bis-porphyrin derivative ((Co-H)Por 2) in a thin films form obtained by Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) method towards Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and an oxidizing gas in a Magneto-Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance (MO-SPR) configuration. In particular the optical and spectroscopic properties of (Co-H)Por 2 multilayers deposited onto proper Au/Co/Au magneto-plasmonic (MP) transducers were inspected in dry air conditions and after exposure to different analyte gas concentrations. The molecular organization of these thin films deposited by Langmuir-Schäfer technique has been investigated and a comparison between the MOSPR experimental data and simulation has been also reported. In order to validate our experimental results and obtain further insight into the physical mechanism of interaction between the organometallic molecules and magneto plasmonic nanostructured systems, numerical simulations based on Finite Element Method (FEM) techniques, have been performed. The optical and magneto-optical properties of these hybrid systems have been theoretically analyzed to confirm the experimental outcomes. Finally, a peculiar sensitivity of the MOSPR sensing probe in respect to investigated analytes has been recorded.

ChemistrySelect, 2017

Parabens and phenoxyethanol are chemical compounds widely used as preservatives and antimicrobial... more Parabens and phenoxyethanol are chemical compounds widely used as preservatives and antimicrobial agents in cosmetic and personal care products. The issue of their effect on human and environmental health is a particularly topical and relevant one that many national and international agencies reported about the risk from the use of such compounds. In the present paper, iron doped TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthetized and characterized by morphological and spectroscopic techniques. The proposed synthesis was designed to improve the photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures towards the two preservatives compounds when irradiated by a visible light, in order to optimize the effect of natural irradiation on the photodegradation of the two compounds. Preliminary photocatalytic tests showed that the analytes' concentration in water solutions under illumination in presence of both iron-doped TiO 2 and pure TiO 2 decreased. A sensible enhancement of photocatalysis of both propylparaben and phenoxyethanol was recorded in presence of the Fe-doped nanostructures as a consequence of the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst.

Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 2016

Two of the most known properties of ZnO were used to improve the performance of a dye-sensitized ... more Two of the most known properties of ZnO were used to improve the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a nanoadduct formed by zinc oxide and the well-known ruthenium dye N719. The wurtzite form of zinc oxide suffers from piezoelectricity and its energetic levels are very similar to those of the most used inorganic semiconductor employed in DSSCs, that is, TiO2 . We demonstrate that the synthesis of a ZnO@N719 nanoadduct does not affect the electronic communication between the inorganic semiconductor and the organic dye. The I-V characteristics in the dark and under illumination highlight a photoactivity of the ZnO@N719 active layer with values of Jsc , Voc and fill factor comparable to the data reported in the literature. When a mechanical strain is applied to the ZnO@N719 film, a piezopotential is recorded and it depends on the intensity of the applied pressure. According to the piezotronic effect, mechanical strain contributes to increase the open circuit voltage by about 14 %.

2008 IEEE Sensors, 2008

Abstract— Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) sensors have been recently attracting the attention... more Abstract— Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) sensors have been recently attracting the attention for their potential exploitation as novel sensors. Specificity and sensitivity are still open issues. Chiral discrimination is both a scientific and technological achievement in itself ...

Chem. Commun., 2014

The host–guest chemistry of the POM-tweezer drives self-assembly with carbon nanostructures in th... more The host–guest chemistry of the POM-tweezer drives self-assembly with carbon nanostructures in the nano- to micro-scale yielding 0-, 1-, and 2-D nano-hybrids.

Biomacromolecules, 2015

To determine when a paper is to be presented, check the session number in the Program Schedule or... more To determine when a paper is to be presented, check the session number in the Program Schedule or the Conference at a Glance charts. The Author presenting the paper is indicated by an asterisk.