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Zizzari A, Arima V. Glass Microdroplet Generator for Lipid-Based Double Emulsion Production. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:500. [PMID: 38675311 PMCID: PMC11052113 DOI: 10.3390/mi15040500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidics offers a highly controlled and reproducible route to synthesize lipid vesicles. In recent years, several microfluidic approaches have been introduced for this purpose, but double emulsions, such as Water-in-Oil-in-Water (W/O/W) droplets, are preferable to produce giant vesicles that are able to maximize material encapsulation. Flow focusing (FF) is a technique used to generate double emulsion droplets with high monodispersity, a controllable size, and good robustness. Many researchers use polydimethylsiloxane as a substrate material to fabricate microdroplet generators, but it has some limitations due to its hydrophobicity, incompatibility with organic solvents, and the molecular adsorption on the microchannel walls. Thus, specific surface modification and functionalization steps, which are uncomfortable to perform in closed microchannels, are required to overcome these shortcomings. Here, we propose glass as a material to produce a chip with a six-inlet junction geometry. The peculiar geometry and the glass physicochemical properties allow for W/O/W droplet formation without introducing microchannel wall functionalization and using a variety of reagents and organic solvents. The robust glass chip can be easily cleaned and used repeatedly, bringing advantages in terms of cost and reproducibility in emulsion preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
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Tone CM, Zizzari A, Spina L, Bianco M, De Santo MP, Arima V, Barberi RC, Ciuchi F. Sunset Yellow Confined in Curved Geometry: A Microfluidic Approach. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:6134-6141. [PMID: 37072936 PMCID: PMC10157883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) in confined environments is an interesting research field that still awaits exploration, with multiple key variables to be uncovered and understood. Microfluidics is a highly versatile technique that allows us to confine LCLCs in micrometric spheres. As microscale networks offer distinct interplays between the surface effects, geometric confinement, and viscosity parameters, rich and unique interactions emerging at the LCLC-microfluidic channel interfaces are expected. Here, we report on the behavior of pure and chiral doped nematic Sunset Yellow (SSY) chromonic microdroplets produced through a microfluidic flow-focusing device. The continuous production of SSY microdroplets with controllable size gives the possibility to systematically study their topological textures as the function of their diameters. Indeed, doped SSY microdroplets produced via microfluidics, show topologies that are typical of common chiral thermotropic liquid crystals. Furthermore, few droplets exhibit a peculiar texture never observed for chiral chromonic liquid crystals. Finally, the achieved precise control of the produced LCLC microdroplets is a crucial step for technological applications in biosensing and anticounterfeiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Maria Tone
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenza Spina
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Penelope De Santo
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Valentina Arima
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristoforo Barberi
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Federica Ciuchi
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
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Sitkov N, Zimina T, Kolobov A, Sevostyanov E, Trushlyakova V, Luchinin V, Krasichkov A, Markelov O, Galagudza M, Kaplun D. Study of the Fabrication Technology of Hybrid Microfluidic Biochips for Label-Free Detection of Proteins. MICROMACHINES 2021; 13:mi13010020. [PMID: 35056185 PMCID: PMC8779695 DOI: 10.3390/mi13010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
A study of the peculiarities and a comparative analysis of the technologies used for the fabrication of elements of novel hybrid microfluidic biochips for express biomedical analysis have been carried out. The biochips were designed with an incorporated microfluidic system, which enabled an accumulation of the target compounds in a biological fluid to be achieved, thus increasing the biochip system's sensitivity and even implementing a label-free design of the detection unit. The multilevel process of manufacturing a microfluidic system of a given topology for label-free fluorometric detection of protein structures is presented. The technological process included the chemical modification of the working surface of glass substrates by silanization using (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS), formation of the microchannels, for which SU-8 technologies and a last generation dry film photoresist were studied and compared. The solid-state phosphor layers were deposited using three methods: drop application; airbrushing; and mechanical spraying onto the adhesive surface. The processes of sealing the system, installing input ports, and packaging using micro-assembly technologies are described. The technological process has been optimized and the biochip was implemented and tested. The presented system can be used to design novel high-performance diagnostic tools that implement the function of express detection of protein markers of diseases and create low-power multimodal, highly intelligent portable analytical decision-making systems in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Sitkov
- Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Z.); (E.S.); (V.T.); (V.L.)
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Tatiana Zimina
- Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Z.); (E.S.); (V.T.); (V.L.)
| | - Alexey Kolobov
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, 197110 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Evgeny Sevostyanov
- Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Z.); (E.S.); (V.T.); (V.L.)
| | - Valentina Trushlyakova
- Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Z.); (E.S.); (V.T.); (V.L.)
| | - Viktor Luchinin
- Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Z.); (E.S.); (V.T.); (V.L.)
| | - Alexander Krasichkov
- Radio Engineering Systems Department, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Oleg Markelov
- Centre for Digital Telecommunication Technologies, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 5 Professor Popov Street, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | | | - Dmitry Kaplun
- Department of Automation and Control Processes, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (D.K.)
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Perrone E, Cesaria M, Zizzari A, Bianco M, Ferrara F, Raia L, Guarino V, Cuscunà M, Mazzeo M, Gigli G, Moroni L, Arima V. Potential of CO 2-laser processing of quartz for fast prototyping of microfluidic reactors and templates for 3D cell assembly over large scale. Mater Today Bio 2021; 12:100163. [PMID: 34901818 PMCID: PMC8637645 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2)-laser processing of glasses is a versatile maskless writing technique to engrave micro-structures with flexible control on shape and size. In this study, we present the fabrication of hundreds of microns quartz micro-channels and micro-holes by pulsed CO2-laser ablation with a focus on the great potential of the technique in microfluidics and biomedical applications. After discussing the impact of the laser processing parameters on the design process, we illustrate specific applications. First, we demonstrate the use of a serpentine microfluidic reactor prepared by combining CO2-laser ablation and post-ablation wet etching to remove surface features stemming from laser-texturing that are undesirable for channel sealing. Then, cyclic olefin copolymer micro-pillars are fabricated using laser-processed micro-holes as molds with high detail replication. The hundreds of microns conical and square pyramidal shaped pillars are used as templates to drive 3D cell assembly. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells are found to assemble in a compact and wrapping way around the micro-pillars forming a tight junction network. These applications are interesting for both Lab-on-a-Chip and Organ-on-a-Chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Perrone
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maura Cesaria
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Ferrara
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- STMicroelectronics S.r.l, Lecce, Italy
| | - Lillo Raia
- STMicroelectronics S.r.l, Agrate Brianza, Monza Brianza, Italy
| | - Vita Guarino
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Massimo Cuscunà
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Marco Mazzeo
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- University of Salento, Department of Mathematics and Physics “E. De Giorgi”, Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
- Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, department of complex tissue regeneration, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Valentina Arima
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
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Zizzari A, Carbone L, Cesaria M, Bianco M, Perrone E, Rendina F, Arima V. Continuous flow scalable production of injectable size-monodisperse nanoliposomes in easy-fabrication milli-fluidic reactors. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.116481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Aranguren A, Torres CE, Muñoz-Camargo C, Osma JF, Cruz JC. Synthesis of Nanoscale Liposomes via Low-Cost Microfluidic Systems. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11121050. [PMID: 33260732 PMCID: PMC7760644 DOI: 10.3390/mi11121050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe the manufacture of low-cost microfluidic systems to produce nanoscale liposomes with highly uniform size distributions (i.e., low polydispersity indexes (PDI)) and acceptable colloidal stability. This was achieved by exploiting a Y-junction device followed by a serpentine micromixer geometry to facilitate the diffusion between the mixing phases (i.e., continuous and dispersed) via advective processes. Two different geometries were studied. In the first one, the microchannels were engraved with a laser cutting machine on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) sheet and covered with another PMMA sheet to form a two-layer device. In the second one, microchannels were not engraved but through-hole cut on a PMMA sheet and encased by a top and a bottom PMMA sheet to form a three-layer device. The devices were tested out by putting in contact lipids dissolved in alcohol as the dispersed phase and water as the continuous phase to self-assemble the liposomes. By fixing the total flow rate (TFR) and varying the flow rate ratio (FRR), we obtained most liposomes with average hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 188 ± 61 to 1312 ± 373 nm and 0.30 ± 0.09 PDI values. Such liposomes were obtained by changing the FRR from 5:1 to 2:1. Our results approached those obtained by conventional bulk synthesis methods such as a thin hydration bilayer and freeze-thaw, which produced liposomes with diameters ranging from 200 ± 38 to 250 ± 38 nm and 0.30 ± 0.05 PDI values. The produced liposomes might find several potential applications in the biomedical field, particularly in encapsulation and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Aranguren
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá DC 111711, Colombia;
| | - Carlos E. Torres
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá DC 111711, Colombia; (C.E.T.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - Carolina Muñoz-Camargo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá DC 111711, Colombia; (C.E.T.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - Johann F. Osma
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá DC 111711, Colombia;
- Correspondence: (J.F.O.); (J.C.C.)
| | - Juan C. Cruz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá DC 111711, Colombia; (C.E.T.); (C.M.-C.)
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Correspondence: (J.F.O.); (J.C.C.)
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Zacheo A, Bizzarro L, Blasi L, Piccirillo C, Cardone A, Gigli G, Ragusa A, Quarta A. Lipid-Based Nanovesicles for Simultaneous Intracellular Delivery of Hydrophobic, Hydrophilic, and Amphiphilic Species. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:690. [PMID: 32719782 PMCID: PMC7350901 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanovesicles (NVs) are the first nanoformulation that entered the clinical use in oncology for the treatment of solid tumors. They are indeed versatile systems which can be loaded with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules, for both imaging and drug delivery, and with high biocompatibility, and limited immunogenicity. In the present work, NVs with a lipid composition resembling that of natural vesicles were prepared using the ultrasonication method. The NVs were successfully loaded with fluorophores molecules (DOP-F-DS and a fluorescent protein), inorganic nanoparticles (quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles), and anti-cancer drugs (SN-38 and doxorubicin). The encapsulation of such different molecules showed the versatility of the developed systems. The size of the vesicles varied from 100 up to 300 nm depending on the type of loaded species, which were accommodated either into the lipid bilayer or into the aqueous core according to their hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature. Viability assays were performed on cellular models of breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Results showed that NVs with encapsulated both drugs simultaneously led to a significant reduction of the cellular activity (up to 22%) compared to the free drugs or to the NVs encapsulated with only one drug. Lipidomic analysis suggested that the mechanism of action of the drugs is the same, whether they are free or encapsulated, but administration of the drugs by means of nanovesicles is more efficient in inducing cellular damage, likely because of a quicker internalization and a sustained release. This study confirms the versatility and the potential of lipid NVs for cancer treatment, as well as the validity of the ultrasound preparation method for their preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Zacheo
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Luca Bizzarro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari (DISB), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Laura Blasi
- CNR, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Lecce, Italy
| | - Clara Piccirillo
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonio Cardone
- Institute of Chemistry of OrganoMetallic Compounds-ICCOM, Italian National Council of Research-CNR, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Mathematics and Physics E. de Giorgi, University of Salento, Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
| | - Andrea Ragusa
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Quarta
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy
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Zizzari A, Bianco M, Carbone L, Perrone E, Amato F, Maruccio G, Rendina F, Arima V. Continuous-Flow Production of Injectable Liposomes via a Microfluidic Approach. MATERIALS 2017; 10:ma10121411. [PMID: 29232873 PMCID: PMC5744346 DOI: 10.3390/ma10121411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Injectable liposomes are characterized by a suitable size and unique lipid mixtures, which require time-consuming and nonstraightforward production processes. The complexity of the manufacturing methods may affect liposome solubility, the phase transition temperatures of the membranes, the average particle size, and the associated particle size distribution, with a possible impact on the drug encapsulation and release. By leveraging the precise steady-state control over the mixing of miscible liquids and a highly efficient heat transfer, microfluidic technology has proved to be an effective and direct methodology to produce liposomes. This approach results particularly efficient in reducing the number of the sizing steps, when compared to standard industrial methods. Here, Microfluidic Hydrodynamic Focusing chips were produced and used to form liposomes upon tuning experimental parameters such as lipids concentration and Flow-Rate-Ratios (FRRs). Although modelling evidenced the dependence of the laminar flow on the geometric constraints and the FRR conditions, for the specific formulation investigated in this study, the lipids concentration was identified as the primary factor influencing the size of the liposomes and their polydispersity index. This was attributed to a predominance of the bending elasticity modulus over the vesiculation index in the lipid mixture used. Eventually, liposomes of injectable size were produced using microfluidic one-pot synthesis in continuous flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
- Department of Mathematics and Physics "E. De Giorgi", University of Salento, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Luigi Carbone
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Perrone
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Francesco Amato
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Maruccio
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
- Department of Mathematics and Physics "E. De Giorgi", University of Salento, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Filippo Rendina
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson, via C. Janssen, Borgo S. Michele, 04100 Latina, Italy.
| | - Valentina Arima
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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