3D MICROSIZED PROTEIN AMYLOID PARTICULATES AS EFFECTIVE BIOADSORBERS FOR Pb2+ IONS

The production of new cost-effective biocompatible sorbent sustainable materials, with natural origins, able to remove heavy metals from water resources is nowadays highly desirable in order to reduce pollution and increase clean water availability. In this context, self-assembled protein materials with highly ordered amyloid structures, stabilised by H-bonds, seems to have a great potential as natural platform for a broader development of highly-tunable structures. By suitably varying solution conditions it is possible to tune aggregate size, surface area and morphologies as well as their physicochemical (hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, swelling/deswelling properties) and mechanical proper…

Lipid Nanocarriers-Loaded Nanocomposite as a Suitable Platform to Release Antibacterial and Antioxidant Agents for Immediate Dental Implant Placement…

2021

Immediate implant placement is a single-stage restorative approach for missing teeth widely used to overcome the ridge remodeling process occurring after dental extractions. The success of this procedure relies on opportune osseointegration in the surrounding tissues. To support this process, a multifunctional nanocomposite, to be applied in the fresh post-extraction socket, was here designed, prepared, and characterized. This formulation consists of quercetin (QRC)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) entrapped in a chitosan-based solid matrix containing ciprofloxacin (CPX). QRC-NLCs were prepared by homogenization followed by high-frequency sonication, and thereafter this dispersio…

First Characterization of Novel Silicon Carbide Detectors with Ultra-High Dose Rate Electron Beams for FLASH Radiotherapy

2023

Ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) beams for FLASH radiotherapy present significant dosimetric challenges. Although novel approaches for decreasing or correcting ion recombination in ionization chambers are being proposed, applicability of ionimetric dosimetry to UHDR beams is still under investigation. Solid-state sensors have been recently investigated as a valuable alternative for real-time measurements, especially for relative dosimetry and beam monitoring. Among them, Silicon Carbide (SiC) represents a very promising candidate, compromising between the maturity of Silicon and the robustness of diamond. Its features allow for large area sensors and high electric fields, required to avoid ion r…

Quality evaluation of extra-virgin olive oils from Sicilian genotypes grown in a high-density system

2019

Studying the sensory profile and chemical composition of monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) is important to define and manage their quality and uniqueness. Chemical and sensory traits of olive oils from 14 minor Sicilian olive genotypes in comparison with oils from six major Sicilian and three international cultivars were analysed. Oils were extracted in 2015 from fruit of the 23 genotypes grown in an experimental orchard at a planting density of 1140 trees ha−1. Fatty acid composition, phenol composition, carotenoid content and antioxidant power were determined and analysed using univariate and multivariate procedures, in particular Nocellara Etnea along with carotenoid, phenol c…