Giovanna Iucci

Thin films of iodine—polyphenylacetylene as starting materials for humidity sensors

Abstract A humidity sensor has been fabricated by using thin films of iodine-doped polyphenylacetylene. The electrical response of the sensor towards relative humidity variations is fast and reversible during long working periods. The investigated sensor is also sensitive to the vapours of other chemical substances.

Covalent surface modification of titanium oxide with different adhesive peptides: surface characterization and osteoblast-like cell adhesion.

A fundamental goal in the field of implantology is the design of innovative devices suitable for promoting implant-to-tissue integration. This result can be achieved by means of surface modifications aimed at optimizing tissue regeneration. In the framework of oral and orthopedic implantology, surface modifications concern both the optimization of titanium/titanium alloy surface roughness and the attachment of biochemical factors able to guide cellular adhesion and/or growth. This article focuses on the covalent attachment of two different adhesive peptides to rough titanium disks. The capability of biomimetic surfaces to increase osteoblast adhesion and the specificity of their biological activity due to the presence of cell adhesion signal-motif have also been investigated. In addition, surface analyses by profilometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry have been carried out to investigate the effects and modifications induced by grafting procedures.

Assessment of novel chemical strategies for covalent attachment of adhesive peptides to rough titanium surfaces: XPS analysis and biological evaluation

Bioactive molecules have been proposed to promote beneficial interactions at bone-implant interfaces for enhancing integration. The main objective of this study was to develop novel methods to functionalize oxidized titanium surfaces by the covalent immobilization of bioactive peptides, through selective reaction involving single functional groups. In the first protocol, an aminoalkylsilane was covalently linked to the Ti oxide layer, followed by covalent binding of glutaric anhydride to the free NH(2) groups. The carboxylic group of glutaric anhydride was used to condense the free N-terminal group of the side-chain protected peptide sequence. Finally, the surface was treated with trifluoroacetic acid to deprotect side-chain groups. In the second protocol, the peptide was directly anchored to the Ti oxide surface via UV activation of an arylazide peptide analogue. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirmed that modifications induced onto surface composition were in agreement with the reactions performed. The peptide density of each biomimetic surface was determined on the basis of radiolabeling and XPS derived reaction yields. The in vitro cellular response of the biomimetic surfaces was evaluated using a primary human osteoblast cell model. Cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization were examined at initial-, short-, and long-time periods. In was shown that the biomimetic surface obtained through photoprobe-marked analogue that combines an easily-performed modification provides a favorable surface for an enhanced cellular response.

Iodine-doped polyphenylacetylene thin film as a humidity sensor

Abstract Thin films of iodine-doped polyphenylacetylene (PPA) have been investigated and used as humidity sensors. Measurements of resistance variations of a PPA/I2 system, induced by relative humidity variations ranging from 10 to 90%, have been performed at constant temperatures (25 and 30 °C). The behaviour of the resistance versus relative humidity is found to be approximately exponential. Our samples show a good reversibility during humidity cycles and a relatively fast response time (a few seconds).

Self-assembling peptide-enriched electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds promote the h-osteoblast adhesion and modulate differentiation-associated gene expression

Electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) is able to support the adhesion and growth of h-osteoblasts and to delay their degradation rate to a greater extent with respect to other polyesters. The drawbacks linked to its employment in regenerative medicine arise from its hydrophobic nature and the lack of biochemical signals linked to it. This work reports on the attempt to add five different self-assembling (SA) peptides to PCL solutions before electrospinning. The hybrid scaffolds obtained had regular fibers (SEM analysis) whose diameters were similar to those of the extracellular matrix, more stable hydrophilic (contact angle measurement) surfaces, and an amorphous phase constrained by peptides (DSC analysis). They appeared to have a notable capacity to promote the h-osteoblast adhesion and differentiation process by increasing the gene expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, and osteopontin. Adding an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif to a self-assembling sequence was found to enhance cell adhesion, while the same motif condensed with a scrambled sequence did not, indicating that there is a cooperative effect between RGD and 3D architecture created by the self-assembling peptides. The study demonstrates that self-assembling peptide scaffolds are still able to promote beneficial effects on h-osteoblasts even after they have been included in electrospun polycaprolactone. The possibility of linking biochemical messages to self-assembling peptides could lead the way to a 3D decoration of fibrous scaffolds.

HIGH RESOLUTION NEXAFS SPECTROSCOPY STUDY OF GAS-PHASE PHENYLACETYLENE : EXPERIMENT AND THEORY

Abstract Gas phase near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of phenylacetylene (PA, C 6 H 5 –CCH) have been recorded at the carbon K-edge. The experimental data have been interpreted with the help of ab initio calculations: both the ionisation potentials for the C1s electrons and the theoretical C K-edge absorption spectra have been calculated for all the six inequivalent carbon atoms of PA. A good agreement is observed between experimental and theoretical data, allowing a detailed attribution of the various features in the measured spectrum.

Organic conducting polymers : synthesis, characterization and conductivity of polyethynylfluorenol

Abstract The polymerization reactions of ethynylfluorenol (EFl) in the presence of Rh(I), Pt(II), Pd(II) and WCl6 catalysts have been investigated. The polymer (PEFl) is air stable and soluble; in solution PEFl slowly releases some of the pendent groups which are converted into 9-fluorenone. Upon doping, enhancement of the conductivity up to about 10 orders of magnitude can be achieved. X.p.s. measurements performed on I2-doped PEFl suggest that I−5 is the major doping species. An interesting reversible response to relative humidity variations is found for FeCl3-doped samples.

Amorphous nonstoichiometric Ge1−x–Cx:H compounds obtained by radiolysis-chemical vapor deposition of germane/ethyne or germane/allene systems: A bonding and microstructure investigation performed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy

Hydrogenated germanium carbides have been produced by x-ray activated–chemical vapor deposition from germane/ethyne or germane/allene systems. The chemical composition and structure of the reaction products as a function of the hydrocarbon percentage in the irradiated mixture and of the solid annealing temperature have been studied and discussed. Bonding and microstructure of these alloys have been investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the solids are formed by a randomly bound network of carbon, germanium and hydrogen atoms with composition, and characteristics and properties variable with the radiolysis experimental conditions. The spectra show the presence of Ge–C bonds and a partial polymerlike character of the films with hydrogen atoms bonded both to germanium and carbon. Clustered-germanium zones dispersed in the material matrix are also evidenced. The results suggest that the conductive properties of the materials are related to the densit...

Mechanisms underlying the attachment and spreading of human osteoblasts: from transient interactions to focal adhesions on vitronectin-grafted bioactive surfaces.

The features of implant devices and the reactions of bone-derived cells to foreign surfaces determine implant success during osseointegration. In an attempt to better understand the mechanisms underlying osteoblasts attachment and spreading, in this study adhesive peptides containing the fibronectin sequence motif for integrin binding (Arg-Gly-Asp, RGD) or mapping the human vitronectin protein (HVP) were grafted on glass and titanium surfaces with or without chemically induced controlled immobilization. As shown by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, human osteoblasts develop adhesion patches only on specifically immobilized peptides. Indeed, cells quickly develop focal adhesions on RGD-grafted surfaces, while HVP peptide promotes filopodia, structures involved in cellular spreading. As indicated by immunocytochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, focal adhesions kinase activation is delayed on HVP peptides with respect to RGD while an osteogenic phenotypic response appears within 24h on osteoblasts cultured on both peptides. Cellular pathways underlying osteoblasts attachment are, however, different. As demonstrated by adhesion blocking assays, integrins are mainly involved in osteoblast adhesion to RGD peptide, while HVP selects osteoblasts for attachment through proteoglycan-mediated interactions. Thus an interfacial layer of an endosseous device grafted with specifically immobilized HVP peptide not only selects the attachment and supports differentiation of osteoblasts but also promotes cellular migration.

Investigations on the response to humidity of an interdigitated electrode structure coated with iodine doped polyphenylacetylene

The sensitivity to relative humidity of a sensor based on I2-doped polyphenylacetylene thin film membranes has been investigated. The sensor geometry allows its application in miniature devices. The response to humidity variations (20%–80%) is fast and reproducible for long times (months). The I/V characteristics suggest that ionic type conductivity is prevailing. Current intensity measurements performed on films of different thicknesses show that surface conductivity is mainly responsible for the sensors electrical response.