Giulia Zampini

University of Santiago de Compostela | USC · Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biológica y Materiales Moleculares (CIQUS)

Porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high surface areas and tunable catalytic and optoelectronic properties, making them versatile candidates for applications in phototherapy, drug delivery, photocatalysis, electronics, and energy storage. However, a key challenge for industrial integration is the rapid, cost-effective production of su...

Nanoscale metal–organic frameworks (NMOFs) exhibit unique properties for drug delivery, including ultrahigh storage capabilities, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustained release of encapsulated cargo. However, due to their localized electronic states, MOFs are nonresponsive to external stimuli such as light or magnetic fields. This study...

This study addresses the fabrication of microporous plasmonic nanocomposites (NCs) by using plasmonic nanoparticles (i.e., gold bipyramids, AuB) as seeds to grow microporous shells, specifically, metal–organic frameworks (MOF) PCN‐224 of increasing thickness from 69 to 138 nm. This method is based on using a previously synthesized Zr 6 ‐oxo cluster...

Spirooxazines are well-known photochromic dyes that, upon proper illumination, convert between uncolored/colored forms. In order to take advantage of their photoswitchable properties, one strategy is represented by their encapsulation in transparent host matrices, like polymers, which may improve the performance of the material, thanks to a major p...

Photoluminescent materials are widely considered crucial elements in sustainable lighting, and they are also gaining credit in passive cooling applications in buildings. In this study, we investigate different photoluminescent pigments, connecting their emission behavior to the specific afterglow color and evaluating their potential use as passive...

The synthesis of nanosized metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) is requisite for their application as injectable drug delivery systems (DDSs) and other biorelevant purposes. Herein, we have critically examined the role of different synthetic parameters leading to the production of UiO-66 crystals smaller than 100 nm. Of note, we demonstrate the co-modu...

Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) has emerged over the past years as a powerful characterization tool that can probe important properties of advanced materials and biological samples in a label-free manner, with spatial resolutions lying in the nanoscale realm. In this work, we explore such usefulness in relationship w...

The study of chromogenic materials and systems is particularly promising for innovative, transparent building envelopes, with thermo-optical properties adaptable to surrounding environmental conditions. This work spots light on the multiple effects of photochromic glazing on the energy consumption of buildings and on the impact that such technologi...

Semiconductor nanomaterials are often proposed as photocatalysts for wastewater treatment; silica nanomaterials are still largely unexploited because their photocatalytic performances need improvements, especially under visible light. The present study is a proof-of-concept that amorphous silica colloids once submitted to the proper surface modific...

The experimental investigation of the unidirectional motion characterizing the photoisomerization of single-molecule rotary motors requires accessible lab prototypes featuring an electronic circular dichroism (ECD) signal that is sensitive to the geometrical and electronic changes occurring during an ultrafast reactive process. Here we report a com...

The biomedical translational applications of functionalized nanoparticles require comprehensive studies on their effect on human stem cells. Here, we have tested neat star-shaped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (s-MSN) and their chemically functionalized derivates; we examined nanoparticles (NPs) with similar dimensions but different surface chemis...

DNA‐stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA‐AgNCs) have promising properties for biosensing and bioimaging applications. However, in order to enhance the applicability in these fields, a detailed understanding of the interactions that occur between DNA‐AgNCs and other biomolecules is essential. In this work, the spectroscopic properties of red‐emitting...

In this work we report the preparation and characterization of free-standing keratin-based films containing Au/Ag nanorods. The effect of nanorods surface chemistry on the optical and mechanical properties of keratin composite films is fully investigated. Colloid nanorods confer to the keratin films interesting color effects due to plasmonic absorp...

Surface-modified ZnAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were prepared by reaction of AgNO3, with both ZnAlCl (LDH1) and ZnAlCO3 exchanged on the surface with chloride anions (LDH3). In this way, AgCl nanoparticles with crystalline domains ranging from 40 to 100 nm were grown on the LDH surface. An additional sample was prepared by partial reduction...

Silica nanomaterials have been proposed as promising candidates for the delivery of drugs, including purified proteins, thus a systematic investigation on the role of silica surface porosity, for optimal protein loading and release, represents an urgent need. Herein, we report the studies of the loading and releasing processes of different volume-p...

The prospect to tune the energy of emitting states through external stimuli opens the possibility to shift the energy of emitting units on demand and control the bimolecular processes they are involved in. To prove this concept, the fluorescence properties of three differently 9,10-substituted anthracene derivatives are investigated in a phase chan...

Trans-membrane proteins play important roles in the inter-cellular signaling to regulate the interactions among adjacent cells and influence cell fate. The study of the interactions between membrane proteins and nanomaterials is paramount for the design of nanomaterial-based therapies. In the present work, the fluorescence properties of the trans-m...

The use of plasmonic nanomaterials is a challenging strategy to control radiation and radiation-induced processes at nanometric scale. The localized surface plasmons of metal nanoparticles have been shown to affect...

The Cover Feature shows how the controlled assembly of gold nanoparticles strongly enhances the visible-light photosensitizing efficiency of silica–PpIX nanocomposites (PpIX=protoporphyrin IX) by boosting the production of reactive oxygen species. More information can be found in the Article by G. Zampini et al. on page 553 in Issue 12, 2017 (DOI:...

Photodynamic treatments represent a non-invasive tool to intervene in the cell cycle, only when needed, but high excitation power is an important limitation. In this work, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is covalently anchored to the surface of silica particles. The hybrid colloids are prepared with different photosensitizer loadings and characterized by...

Different silica-protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) nanocomposites have been synthesized to evaluate the dependence of singlet oxygen production and bacterial inactivation efficiency on the morphology of the nanomaterials. Modulation of the synthetic procedure allowed obtaining silica nanoparticles with different porosity which were characterized by TEM and...

The preparation of tailored nanomaterials able to support cell growth and viability is mandatory for tissue engineering applications. In the present work, silica nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel procedure and were then functionalized by condensation of amino groups and by adsorption of silver nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy...