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Ronchi C, Galli C, Tullii G, Marzuoli C, Mazzola M, Malferrari M, Crasto S, Rapino S, Di Pasquale E, Antognazza MR. Nongenetic Optical Modulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Cardiomyocytes Function in the Red Spectral Range. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2304303. [PMID: 37948328 PMCID: PMC10797444 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Optical stimulation in the red/near infrared range recently gained increasing interest, as a not-invasive tool to control cardiac cell activity and repair in disease conditions. Translation of this approach to therapy is hampered by scarce efficacy and selectivity. The use of smart biocompatible materials, capable to act as local, NIR-sensitive interfaces with cardiac cells, may represent a valuable solution, capable to overcome these limitations. In this work, a far red-responsive conjugated polymer, namely poly[2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl]] (PCPDTBT) is proposed for the realization of photoactive interfaces with cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-CMs). Optical excitation of the polymer turns into effective ionic and electrical modulation of hPSC-CMs, in particular by fastening Ca2+ dynamics, inducing action potential shortening, accelerating the spontaneous beating frequency. The involvement in the phototransduction pathway of Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA) and Na+ /Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is proven by pharmacological assays and is correlated with physical/chemical processes occurring at the polymer surface upon photoexcitation. Very interestingly, an antiarrhythmogenic effect, unequivocally triggered by polymer photoexcitation, is also observed. Overall, red-light excitation of conjugated polymers may represent an unprecedented opportunity for fine control of hPSC-CMs functionality and can be considered as a perspective, noninvasive approach to treat arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Ronchi
- Center for Nano Science and TechnologyIstituto Italiano di TecnologiaMilano20133Italy
| | - Camilla Galli
- Humanitas Cardio CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalVia Manzoni 56RozzanoMilan20089Italy
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and TechnologyIstituto Italiano di TecnologiaMilano20133Italy
| | - Camilla Marzuoli
- Center for Nano Science and TechnologyIstituto Italiano di TecnologiaMilano20133Italy
- Politecnico di MilanoPhysics Dept.P.zza L. Da Vinci 32Milano20133Italy
| | - Marta Mazzola
- Humanitas Cardio CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalVia Manzoni 56RozzanoMilan20089Italy
| | - Marco Malferrari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bologna‘‘Giacomo Ciamician,’’via Francesco Selmi 2Bologna40126Italy
| | - Silvia Crasto
- Humanitas Cardio CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalVia Manzoni 56RozzanoMilan20089Italy
| | - Stefania Rapino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bologna‘‘Giacomo Ciamician,’’via Francesco Selmi 2Bologna40126Italy
| | - Elisa Di Pasquale
- Humanitas Cardio CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalVia Manzoni 56RozzanoMilan20089Italy
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB)UOS of Milan—National Research Council of Italy (CNR)Milan20138Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and TechnologyIstituto Italiano di TecnologiaMilano20133Italy
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2
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Tullii G, Gutierrez-Fernandez E, Ronchi C, Bellacanzone C, Bondi L, Criado-Gonzalez M, Lagonegro P, Moccia F, Cramer T, Mecerreyes D, Martín J, Antognazza MR. Bimodal modulation of in vitro angiogenesis with photoactive polymer nanoparticles. Nanoscale 2023; 15:18716-18726. [PMID: 37953671 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02743k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a fundamental process in biology, given the pivotal role played by blood vessels in providing oxygen and nutrients to tissues, thus ensuring cell survival. Moreover, it is critical in many life-threatening pathologies, like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In this context, conventional treatments of pathological angiogenesis suffer from several limitations, including low bioavailability, limited spatial and temporal resolution, lack of specificity and possible side effects. Recently, innovative strategies have been explored to overcome these drawbacks based on the use of exogenous nano-sized materials and the treatment of the endothelial tissue with optical or electrical stimuli. Here, conjugated polymer-based nanoparticles are proposed as exogenous photo-actuators, thus combining the advantages offered by nanotechnology with those typical of optical stimulation. Light excitation can achieve high spatial and temporal resolution, while permitting minimal invasiveness. Interestingly, the possibility to either enhance (≈+30%) or reduce (up to -65%) the angiogenic capability of model endothelial cells is demonstrated, by employing different polymer beads, depending on the material type and the presence/absence of the light stimulus. In vitro results reported here represent a valuable proof of principle of the reliability and efficacy of the proposed approach and should be considered as a promising step towards a paradigm shift in therapeutic angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Edgar Gutierrez-Fernandez
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Carlotta Ronchi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Christian Bellacanzone
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Luca Bondi
- DiFA University of Bologna, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 6/2 Bologna, 40127, Italy
| | - Miryam Criado-Gonzalez
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Paola Lagonegro
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Tobias Cramer
- DiFA University of Bologna, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 6/2 Bologna, 40127, Italy
| | - David Mecerreyes
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jaime Martín
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Universidade da Coruña, Campus Industrial de Ferrol, CITENI, Campus Esteiro S/N, 15403 Ferrol, Spain
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
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Criado-Gonzalez M, Bondi L, Marzuoli C, Gutierrez-Fernandez E, Tullii G, Ronchi C, Gabirondo E, Sardon H, Rapino S, Malferrari M, Cramer T, Antognazza MR, Mecerreyes D. Semiconducting Polymer Nanoporous Thin Films as a Tool to Regulate Intracellular ROS Balance in Endothelial Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023. [PMID: 37467460 PMCID: PMC10401575 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c06633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The design of soft and nanometer-scale photoelectrodes able to stimulate and promote the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is searched for redox medicine applications. In this work, we show semiconducting polymer porous thin films with an enhanced photoelectrochemical generation of ROS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). To achieve that aim, we synthesized graft copolymers, made of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and degradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) segments, P3HT-g-PLA. In a second step, the hydrolysis of sacrificial PLA leads to nanometer-scale porous P3HT thin films. The pore sizes in the nm regime (220-1200 nm) were controlled by the copolymer composition and the structural arrangement of the copolymers during the film formation, as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The porous P3HT thin films showed enhanced photofaradaic behavior, generating a higher concentration of ROS in comparison to non-porous P3HT films, as determined by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) measurements. The exogenous ROS production was able to modulate the intracellular ROS concentration in HUVECs at non-toxic levels, thus affecting the physiological functions of cells. Results presented in this work provide an important step forward in the development of new tools for precise, on-demand, and non-invasive modulation of intracellular ROS species and may be potentially extended to many other physiological or pathological cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miryam Criado-Gonzalez
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Luca Bondi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Marzuoli
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Edgar Gutierrez-Fernandez
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- XMaS/BM28-ESRF, 71 Avenue Des Martyrs, F-38043 Grenoble Cedex, France
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlotta Ronchi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Gabirondo
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Haritz Sardon
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Stefania Rapino
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Malferrari
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Tobias Cramer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy
| | - David Mecerreyes
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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Sharova AS, Modena F, Luzio A, Melloni F, Cataldi P, Viola F, Lamanna L, Zorn NF, Sassi M, Ronchi C, Zaumseil J, Beverina L, Antognazza MR, Caironi M. Chitosan-gated organic transistors printed on ethyl cellulose as a versatile platform for edible electronics and bioelectronics. Nanoscale 2023. [PMID: 37334549 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01051a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Edible electronics is an emerging research field targeting electronic devices that can be safely ingested and directly digested or metabolized by the human body. As such, it paves the way to a whole new family of applications, ranging from ingestible medical devices and biosensors to smart labelling for food quality monitoring and anti-counterfeiting. Being a newborn research field, many challenges need to be addressed to realize fully edible electronic components. In particular, an extended library of edible electronic materials is required, with suitable electronic properties depending on the target device and compatible with large-area printing processes, to allow scalable and cost-effective manufacturing. In this work, we propose a platform for future low-voltage edible transistors and circuits that comprises an edible chitosan gating medium and inkjet-printed inert gold electrodes, compatible with low thermal budget edible substrates, such as ethylcellulose. We report the compatibility of the platform, characterized by critical channel features as low as 10 μm, with different inkjet-printed carbon-based semiconductors, including biocompatible polymers present in the picogram range per device. A complementary organic inverter is also demonstrated with the same platform as a proof-of-principle logic gate. The presented results offer a promising approach to future low-voltage edible active circuitry, as well as a testbed for non-toxic printable semiconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina S Sharova
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Modena
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Luzio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Filippo Melloni
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Cataldi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Viola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Lamanna
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Nicolas F Zorn
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mauro Sassi
- Department of Materials Science, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, via Cozzi, 55, 20125, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlotta Ronchi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Jana Zaumseil
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luca Beverina
- Department of Materials Science, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, via Cozzi, 55, 20125, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
| | - Mario Caironi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Raffaele Rubattino, 81, 20134 Milano, Italy.
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5
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Negri S, Faris P, Tullii G, Vismara M, Lodola F, Guidetti G, Rosti V, Antognazza MR, Moccia F. Optical stimulation of endothelial colony forming cells plated on light-sensitive conjugated polymers induces a TRPV1-mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Vascul Pharmacol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2022.107062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Onorato G, Fardella F, Lewinska A, Gobbo F, Tommasini G, Wnuk M, Tino A, Moros M, Antognazza MR, Tortiglione C. Optical Control of Tissue Regeneration through Photostimulation of Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200366. [PMID: 35861262 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Next generation bioengineering strives to identify crucial cues that trigger regeneration of damaged tissues, and to control the cells that execute these programs with biomaterials and devices. Molecular and biophysical mechanisms driving embryogenesis may inspire novel tools to reactivate developmental programs in situ. Here nanoparticles based on conjugated polymers are employed for optical control of regenerating tissues by using an animal with unlimited regenerative potential, the polyp Hydra, as in vivo model, and human keratinocytes as an in vitro model to investigate skin repair. By integrating animal, cellular, molecular, and biochemical approaches, nanoparticles based on poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) are shown able to enhance regeneration kinetics, stem cell proliferation, and biomolecule oxidation levels. Opposite outputs are obtained with PCPDTBT-NPs (Poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b;3,4-b'] dithiophene)-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)], causing a beneficial effect on Hydra regeneration but not on the migratory capability of keratinocytes. These results suggest that the artificial modulation of the redox potential in injured tissues may represent a powerful modality to control their regenerative potential. Importantly, the possibility to fine-tuning materials' photocatalytic efficiency may enable a biphasic modulation over a wide dynamic range, which can be exploited to augment the tissue regenerative capacity or inhibit the unlimited potential of cancerous cells in pathological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Onorato
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti "E. Caianiello", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy.,Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Via Pietro Castellino 111, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Fardella
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti "E. Caianiello", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy.,Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, C/Mariano Esquillor 15, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Anna Lewinska
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, Rzeszow, 35-310, Poland
| | - Federico Gobbo
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy.,Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Fisica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Tommasini
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti "E. Caianiello", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy.,Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, C/Mariano Esquillor 15, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Maciej Wnuk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, Rzeszow, 35-310, Poland
| | - Angela Tino
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti "E. Caianiello", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy
| | - Maria Moros
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, C/Mariano Esquillor 15, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Claudia Tortiglione
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti "E. Caianiello", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy
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7
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Abdel Aziz I, Maver L, Giannasi C, Niada S, Brini AT, Antognazza MR. Polythiophene-mediated light modulation of membrane potential and calcium signalling in human adipose-derived stem/stromal cells. J Mater Chem C Mater 2022; 10:9823-9833. [PMID: 36277082 PMCID: PMC9487879 DOI: 10.1039/d2tc01426b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering has been strongly fostered both by the investigation of crucial cues, able to trigger the regeneration of damaged tissues, and by the development of ad hoc functional materials, capable of selectively (re-)activating relevant physiological pathways. In parallel to the successful realization of biochemical cues and the optimization of delivery protocols, the use of biophysical stimuli has been emerging as an alternative, highly effective strategy. Techniques based on electrical, magnetic and mechanical stimulation have been reported to efficiently direct differentiation of stem cells and modulate cell physiology at different developmental stages. In this framework, the use of optical stimulation represents a valuable approach, possibly overcoming current limitations of chemical cues, like limited spatial and temporal resolution and poor control over the extracellular environment. Surprisingly, the effects of light on the physiological properties (light toxicity, cell membrane potential, and cell ionic trafficking) of undifferentiated cells, as well as on their differentiation pathways, were investigated to a very limited extent and rarely quantified in a systematic way. In this work, we aim at clarifying the effects of optical excitation on the physiological behaviour of undifferentiated human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC), cultured on top of a light-sensitive conjugated polymer, region-regular poly-3-hexyl-thiophene (P3HT). Interestingly, we observe statistically significant modulation of the cell membrane potential, as well as noticeable effects on intracellular calcium signalling, triggered by P3HT excitation upon green light stimuli. Possible mechanisms involved in the signal transduction pathways are considered and critically discussed. The capability to modulate the physiological response of hASC upon photoexcitation, in a highly controlled and selective manner, provides a promptly available and non invasive diagnostic tool, thus contributing to the understanding of the complex machinery behind stem cells and material interfaces. Moreover, it may open the route to novel techniques to drive the differentiation path with unprecedented versatility and operational easiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Abdel Aziz
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Leonardo Maver
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Chiara Giannasi
- University of Milan, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Via Vanvitelli 32 20129 Milano Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via Galeazzi 4 20161 Milano Italy
| | - Stefania Niada
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via Galeazzi 4 20161 Milano Italy
| | - Anna T Brini
- University of Milan, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Via Vanvitelli 32 20129 Milano Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via Galeazzi 4 20161 Milano Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
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8
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Negri S, Faris P, Tullii G, Vismara M, Pellegata AF, Lodola F, Guidetti G, Rosti V, Antognazza MR, Moccia F. Conjugated polymers mediate intracellular Ca 2+ signals in circulating endothelial colony forming cells through the reactive oxygen species-dependent activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). Cell Calcium 2021; 101:102502. [PMID: 34896699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) represent the most suitable cellular substrate to induce revascularization of ischemic tissues. Recently, optical excitation of the light-sensitive conjugated polymer, regioregular Poly (3-hexyl-thiophene), rr-P3HT, was found to stimulate ECFC proliferation and tube formation by activating the non-selective cation channel, Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). Herein, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach, ranging from intracellular Ca2+ imaging to pharmacological manipulation and genetic suppression of TRPV1 expression, to investigate the effects of photoexcitation on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in circulating ECFCs plated on rr-P3HT thin films. Polymer-mediated optical excitation induced a long-lasting increase in [Ca2+]i that could display an oscillatory pattern at shorter light stimuli. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation revealed that the Ca2+ response to light was triggered by extracellular Ca2+ entry through TRPV1, whose activation required the production of reactive oxygen species at the interface between rr-P3HT and the cell membrane. Light-induced TRPV1-mediated Ca2+ entry was able to evoke intracellular Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, followed by store-operated Ca2+ entry on the plasma membrane. These data show that TRPV1 may serve as a decoder at the interface between rr-P3HT thin films and ECFCs to translate optical excitation in pro-angiogenic Ca2+ signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Negri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Pawan Faris
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Mauro Vismara
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro F Pellegata
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gianni Guidetti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Vittorio Rosti
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Advanced Diagnosis, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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9
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Milos F, Tullii G, Gobbo F, Lodola F, Galeotti F, Verpelli C, Mayer D, Maybeck V, Offenhäusser A, Antognazza MR. High Aspect Ratio and Light-Sensitive Micropillars Based on a Semiconducting Polymer Optically Regulate Neuronal Growth. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:23438-23451. [PMID: 33983012 PMCID: PMC8161421 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c03537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Many nano- and microstructured devices capable of promoting neuronal growth and network formation have been previously investigated. In certain cases, topographical cues have been successfully complemented with external bias, by employing electrically conducting scaffolds. However, the use of optical stimulation with topographical cues was rarely addressed in this context, and the development of light-addressable platforms for modulating and guiding cellular growth and proliferation remains almost completely unexplored. Here, we develop high aspect ratio micropillars based on a prototype semiconducting polymer, regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), as an optically active, three-dimensional platform for embryonic cortical neurons. P3HT micropillars provide a mechanically compliant environment and allow a close contact with neuronal cells. The combined action of nano/microtopography and visible light excitation leads to effective optical modulation of neuronal growth and orientation. Embryonic neurons cultured on polymer pillars show a clear polarization effect and, upon exposure to optical excitation, a significant increase in both neurite and axon length. The biocompatible, microstructured, and light-sensitive platform developed here opens up the opportunity to optically regulate neuronal growth in a wireless, repeatable, and spatio-temporally controlled manner without genetic modification. This approach may be extended to other cell models, thus uncovering interesting applications of photonic devices in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frano Milos
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- RWTH
University Aachen, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbo
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Physics
Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Lodola
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Galeotti
- Istituto
di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche G. Natta (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Verpelli
- Istituto
di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Dirk Mayer
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Vanessa Maybeck
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Andreas Offenhäusser
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- RWTH
University Aachen, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 20133 Milano, Italy
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10
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Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Such a widespread diffusion makes the conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels a primary medical and economic burden. It, therefore, becomes mandatory to identify effective treatments that can alleviate this global problem. Among the different solutions brought to the attention of the medical-scientific community, therapeutic angiogenesis is one of the most promising. However, this approach, which aims to treat cardiovascular diseases by generating new blood vessels in ischemic tissues, has so far led to inadequate results due to several issues. In this perspective, we will discuss cutting-edge approaches and future perspectives to alleviate the potentially lethal impact of cardiovascular diseases. We will focus on the consolidated role of resident endothelial progenitor cells, particularly endothelial colony forming cells, as suitable candidates for cell-based therapy demonstrating the importance of targeting intracellular Ca2+ signaling to boost their regenerative outcome. Moreover, we will elucidate the advantages of physical stimuli over traditional approaches. In particular, we will critically discuss recent results obtained by using optical stimulation, as a novel strategy to drive endothelial colony forming cells fate and its potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Moccia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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11
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Negri S, Faris P, Rosti V, Antognazza MR, Lodola F, Moccia F. Endothelial TRPV1 as an Emerging Molecular Target to Promote Therapeutic Angiogenesis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061341. [PMID: 32471282 PMCID: PMC7349285 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic angiogenesis represents an emerging strategy to treat ischemic diseases by stimulating blood vessel growth to rescue local blood perfusion. Therefore, injured microvasculature may be repaired by stimulating resident endothelial cells or circulating endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) or by autologous cell-based therapy. Endothelial Ca2+ signals represent a crucial player in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis; indeed, several angiogenic stimuli induce neovessel formation through an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Several members of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel superfamily are expressed and mediate Ca2+-dependent functions in vascular endothelial cells and in ECFCs, the only known truly endothelial precursor. TRP Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a polymodal cation channel, is emerging as an important player in endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and tubulogenesis, through the integration of several chemical stimuli. Herein, we first summarize TRPV1 structure and gating mechanisms. Next, we illustrate the physiological roles of TRPV1 in vascular endothelium, focusing our attention on how endothelial TRPV1 promotes angiogenesis. In particular, we describe a recent strategy to stimulate TRPV1-mediated pro-angiogenic activity in ECFCs, in the presence of a photosensitive conjugated polymer. Taken together, these observations suggest that TRPV1 represents a useful target in the treatment of ischemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Negri
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.N.); (P.F.)
| | - Pawan Faris
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.N.); (P.F.)
| | - Vittorio Rosti
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Advanced Diagnosis, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy; (M.R.A.); (F.L.)
| | - Francesco Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy; (M.R.A.); (F.L.)
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.N.); (P.F.)
- Correspondence:
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12
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Abdel Aziz I, Malferrari M, Roggiani F, Tullii G, Rapino S, Antognazza MR. Light-Triggered Electron Transfer between a Conjugated Polymer and Cytochrome C for Optical Modulation of Redox Signaling. iScience 2020; 23:101091. [PMID: 32438318 PMCID: PMC7240120 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein reduction/oxidation processes trigger and finely regulate a myriad of physiological and pathological cellular functions. Many biochemical and biophysical stimuli have been recently explored to precisely and effectively modulate intracellular redox signaling, due to the considerable therapeutic potential. Here, we propose a first step toward an approach based on visible light excitation of a thiophene-based semiconducting polymer (P3HT), demonstrating the realization of a hybrid interface with the Cytochrome c protein (CytC), in an extracellular environment. By means of scanning electrochemical microscopy and spectro-electrochemistry measurements, we demonstrate that, upon optical stimulation, a functional interaction between P3HT and CytC is established. Polymer optical excitation locally triggers photoelectrochemical reactions, leading to modulation of CytC redox activity, either through an intermediate step, involving reactive oxygen species formation, or via a direct photoreduction process. Both processes are triggered by light, thus allowing excellent spatiotemporal resolution, paving the way to precise modulation of protein redox signaling. Conjugated polymers and light modulate the redox state of cytochrome c protein Phototransduction processes are clarified by electrochemical microscopy The approach opens the way to selective optical triggering of protein redox state
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Abdel Aziz
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy; Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Malferrari
- Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Roggiani
- Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy; Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Rapino
- Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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13
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Tullii G, Donini S, Bossio C, Lodola F, Pasini M, Parisini E, Galeotti F, Antognazza MR. Micro- and Nanopatterned Silk Substrates for Antifouling Applications. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:5437-5446. [PMID: 31917532 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b18187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A major problem of current biomedical implants is the bacterial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation, which seriously affects their functioning and can lead to serious post-surgical complications. Intensive efforts have been directed toward the development of novel technologies that can prevent bacterial colonization while requiring minimal antibiotics doses. To this end, biocompatible materials with intrinsic antifouling capabilities are in high demand. Silk fibroin, widely employed in biotechnology, represents an interesting candidate. Here, we employ a soft-lithography approach to realize micro- and nanostructured silk fibroin substrates, with different geometries. We show that patterned silk film substrates support mammal cells (HEK-293) adhesion and proliferation, and at the same time, they intrinsically display remarkable antifouling properties. We employ Escherichia coli as representative Gram-negative bacteria, and we observe an up to 66% decrease in the number of bacteria that adhere to patterned silk surfaces as compared to control, flat silk samples. The mechanism leading to the inhibition of biofilm formation critically depends on the microstructure geometry, involving both a steric and a hydrophobic effect. We also couple silk fibroin patterned films to a biocompatible, optically responsive organic semiconductor, and we verify that the antifouling properties are very well preserved. The technology described here is of interest for the next generation of biomedical implants, involving the use of materials with enhanced antibacterial capability, easy processability, high biocompatibility, and prompt availability for coupling with photoimaging and photodetection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
- Department of Physics , Politecnico di Milano , Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - S Donini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - C Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - F Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - M Pasini
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - E Parisini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - F Galeotti
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - M R Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
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14
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Lodola F, Rosti V, Tullii G, Desii A, Tapella L, Catarsi P, Lim D, Moccia F, Rosa Antognazza M. Conjugated Polymers Optically Regulate the Fate of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells. Biophys J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.2649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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15
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Ganzer L, Zappia S, Russo M, Ferretti AM, Vohra V, Diterlizzi M, Antognazza MR, Destri S, Virgili T. Ultrafast spectroscopy on water-processable PCBM: rod-coil block copolymer nanoparticles. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:26583-26591. [PMID: 33201972 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp05478j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Using ultrafast spectroscopy, we investigate the photophysics of water-processable nanoparticles composed of a block copolymer electron donor and a fullerene derivative electron acceptor. The block copolymers are based on a poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] rod, which is covalently linked with 2 or 100 hydrophilic coil units. In both samples the photogenerated excitons in the blend nanoparticles migrate in tens of ps to a donor/acceptor interface to be separated into free charges. However, transient absorption spectroscopy indicates that increasing the coil length from 2 to 100 units results in the formation of long living charge transfer states which reduce the charge generation efficiency. Our results shed light on the impact of rod-coil copolymer coil length on the blend nanoparticle morphology and provide essential information for the design of amphiphilic rod-coil block copolymers to increase the photovoltaic performances of water-processable organic solar cell active layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Ganzer
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
| | - Stefania Zappia
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Mattia Russo
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Ferretti
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20138, Italy
| | - Varun Vohra
- Department of Engineering Science, the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-858, Japan
| | - Marianna Diterlizzi
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Destri
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Tersilla Virgili
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
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16
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Scuratti F, Bonacchini GE, Bossio C, Salazar-Rios JM, Talsma W, Loi MA, Antognazza MR, Caironi M. Real-Time Monitoring of Cellular Cultures with Electrolyte-Gated Carbon Nanotube Transistors. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019; 11:37966-37972. [PMID: 31532607 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b11383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based biosensors constitute a fundamental tool in biotechnology, and their relevance has greatly increased in recent years as a result of a surging demand for reduced animal testing and for high-throughput and cost-effective in vitro screening platforms dedicated to environmental and biomedical diagnostics, drug development, and toxicology. In this context, electrochemical/electronic cell-based biosensors represent a promising class of devices that enable long-term and real-time monitoring of cell physiology in a noninvasive and label-free fashion, with a remarkable potential for process automation and parallelization. Common limitations of this class of devices at large include the need for substrate surface modification strategies to ensure cell adhesion and immobilization, limited compatibility with complementary optical cell-probing techniques, and the need for frequency-dependent measurements, which rely on elaborated equivalent electrical circuit models for data analysis and interpretation. We hereby demonstrate the monitoring of cell adhesion and detachment through the time-dependent variations in the quasi-static characteristic current curves of a highly stable electrolyte-gated transistor, based on an optically transparent network of printable polymer-wrapped semiconducting carbon-nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scuratti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3 , 20133 Milano , Italy
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering , Politecnico di Milano , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32 , 20133 Milano , Italy
| | - Giorgio E Bonacchini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3 , 20133 Milano , Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3 , 20133 Milano , Italy
| | - Jorge M Salazar-Rios
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Wytse Talsma
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Maria A Loi
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3 , 20133 Milano , Italy
| | - Mario Caironi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3 , 20133 Milano , Italy
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17
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Tullii G, Giona F, Lodola F, Bonfadini S, Bossio C, Varo S, Desii A, Criante L, Sala C, Pasini M, Verpelli C, Galeotti F, Antognazza MR. High-Aspect-Ratio Semiconducting Polymer Pillars for 3D Cell Cultures. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019; 11:28125-28137. [PMID: 31356041 PMCID: PMC6943816 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b08822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid interfaces between living cells and nano/microstructured scaffolds have huge application potential in biotechnology, spanning from regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to localized drug delivery and from biosensing and tissue engineering to neural computing. However, 3D architectures based on semiconducting polymers, endowed with responsivity to visible light, have never been considered. Here, we apply for the first time a push-coating technique to realize high aspect ratio polymeric pillars, based on polythiophene, showing optimal biocompatibility and allowing for the realization of soft, 3D cell cultures of both primary neurons and cell line models. HEK-293 cells cultured on top of polymer pillars display a remarkable change in the cell morphology and a sizable enhancement of the membrane capacitance due to the cell membrane thinning in correspondence to the pillars' top surface, without negatively affecting cell proliferation. Electrophysiology properties and synapse number of primary neurons are also very well preserved. In perspective, high aspect ratio semiconducting polymer pillars may find interesting applications as soft, photoactive elements for cell activity sensing and modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Tullii
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Lodola
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvio Bonfadini
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Varo
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luigino Criante
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Sala
- CNR Neuroscience
Institute, Milan 20129, Italy
| | - Mariacecilia Pasini
- Istituto
per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio
Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAC-CNR), Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Galeotti
- Istituto
per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio
Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAC-CNR), Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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18
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Antognazza MR, Abdel Aziz I, Lodola F. Use of Exogenous and Endogenous Photomediators as Efficient ROS Modulation Tools: Results and Perspectives for Therapeutic Purposes. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019; 2019:2867516. [PMID: 31049131 PMCID: PMC6462332 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2867516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play an essential dual role in living systems. Healthy levels of ROS modulate several signaling pathways, but at the same time, when they exceed normal physiological amounts, they work in the opposite direction, playing pivotal functions in the pathophysiology of multiple severe medical conditions (i.e., cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and aging). Therefore, the research for methods to detect their levels via light-sensitive fluorescent probes has been extensively studied over the years. However, this is not the only link between light and ROS. In fact, the modulation of ROS mediated by light has been exploited already for a long time. In this review, we report the state of the art, as well as recent developments, in the field of photostimulation of oxidative stress, from photobiomodulation (PBM) mediated by naturally expressed light-sensitive proteins to the most recent optogenetic approaches, and finally, we describe the main methods of exogenous stimulation, in particular highlighting the new insights based on optically driven ROS modulation mediated by polymeric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Abdel Aziz
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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19
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Bellani S, Antognazza MR, Bonaccorso F. Carbon-Based Photocathode Materials for Solar Hydrogen Production. Adv Mater 2019; 31:e1801446. [PMID: 30221413 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen is considered a promising environmentally friendly energy carrier for replacing traditional fossil fuels. In this context, photoelectrochemical cells effectively convert solar energy directly to H2 fuel by water photoelectrolysis, thereby monolitically combining the functions of both light harvesting and electrolysis. In such devices, photocathodes and photoanodes carry out the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Here, the focus is on photocathodes for HER, traditionally based on metal oxides, III-V group and II-VI group semiconductors, silicon, and copper-based chalcogenides as photoactive material. Recently, carbon-based materials have emerged as reliable alternatives to the aforementioned materials. A perspective on carbon-based photocathodes is provided here, critically analyzing recent research progress and outlining the major guidelines for the development of efficient and stable photocathode architectures. In particular, the functional role of charge-selective and protective layers, which enhance both the efficiency and the durability of the photocathodes, is discussed. An in-depth evaluation of the state-of-the-art fabrication of photocathodes through scalable, high-troughput, cost-effective methods is presented. The major aspects on the development of light-trapping nanostructured architectures are also addressed. Finally, the key challenges on future research directions in terms of potential performance and manufacturability of photocathodes are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Bellani
- Graphene Labs, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bonaccorso
- Graphene Labs, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
- BeDimensional Srl, via Albisola 121, 16163, Genova, Italy
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20
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Mezzetti A, Fumagalli F, Alfano A, Iadicicco D, Antognazza MR, di Fonzo F. Stable hybrid organic/inorganic photocathodes for hydrogen evolution with amorphous WO 3 hole selective contacts. Faraday Discuss 2018; 198:433-448. [PMID: 28272631 DOI: 10.1039/c6fd00216a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical H2 production through hybrid organic/inorganic interfaces exploits the capability of polymeric absorbers to drive photo-induced electron transfer to an electrocatalyst in a water environment. Photoelectrode architectures based on solution-processed organic semiconductors are now emerging as low-cost alternatives to crystalline inorganic semiconductors based on Si, oxides and III-V alloys. In this work, we demonstrate that the stability of a hybrid organic/inorganic photocathode, employing a P3HT:PCBM blend as photoactive material, can be considerably improved by introducing an electrochemically stable WO3 hole selective layer, paired with a TiO2 electron selective layer. This hybrid photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent of 2.48 mA cm-2 at 0 VRHE, +0.56 VRHE onset potential and a state-of the art operational activity of more than 10 hours. This work gives the perspective that photoelectrodes based on organic semiconductors, coupled with proper inorganic selective contacts, represent a sound new option for the efficient and durable photoelectrochemical conversion of solar energy into fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Mezzetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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21
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Bossio C, Abdel Aziz I, Tullii G, Zucchetti E, Debellis D, Zangoli M, Di Maria F, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR. Photocatalytic Activity of Polymer Nanoparticles Modulates Intracellular Calcium Dynamics and Reactive Oxygen Species in HEK-293 Cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:114. [PMID: 30211158 PMCID: PMC6119808 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical modulation of living cells activity by light-absorbing exogenous materials is gaining increasing interest, due to the possibility both to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution with a minimally invasive and reversible technique and to avoid the need of viral transfection with light-sensitive proteins. In this context, conjugated polymers represent ideal candidates for photo-transduction, due to their excellent optoelectronic and biocompatibility properties. In this work, we demonstrate that organic polymer nanoparticles, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) conjugated polymer, establish a functional interaction with an in vitro cell model (Human Embryonic Kidney cells, HEK-293). They display photocatalytic activity in aqueous environment and, once internalized within the cell cytosol, efficiently generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon visible light excitation, without affecting cell viability. Interestingly, light-activated ROS generation deterministically triggers modulation of intracellular calcium ion flux, successfully controlled at the single cell level. In perspective, the capability of polymer NPs to produce ROS and to modulate Ca2+ dynamics by illumination on-demand, at non-toxic levels, may open the path to the study of biological processes with a gene-less approach and unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution, as well as to the development of new biotechnology tools for cell optical modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Abdel Aziz
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Zucchetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Doriana Debellis
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Mattia Zangoli
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, CNR-ISOF, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Maria
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, CNR-ISOF, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
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22
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Ghadirzadeh A, Fumagalli F, Mezzetti A, Bellani S, Meda L, Antognazza MR, Di Fonzo F. A Three-Dimensional Architecture for Hydrogen-Evolving, Host/Guest, Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Photocathodes Based on Nanolamellar MoO3
Scaffolds. CHEMPHOTOCHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/cptc.201700159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ghadirzadeh
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Sun-Air Research Institute; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; Azadi Square 9177948974 Mashhad Iran
| | - Francesco Fumagalli
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Alessandro Mezzetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Department of Energy; Politecnico di Milano; Via Lambruschini 4 2156 Milano Italy
| | - Sebastiano Bellani
- Graphene Labs; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy
| | - Laura Meda
- Istituto ENI Donegani; ENI S.p.a.; Via G. Fauser 4 28100 Novara Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Fabio Di Fonzo
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
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23
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Lodola F, Martino N, Tullii G, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR. Conjugated polymers mediate effective activation of the Mammalian Ion Channel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8477. [PMID: 28814817 PMCID: PMC5559550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08541-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective and rapid regulation of ionic channels is pivotal to the understanding of physiological processes and has a crucial impact in developing novel therapeutic strategies. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are emerging as essential cellular switches that allow animals to respond to their environment. In particular, the Vanilloid Receptor 1 (TRPV1), besides being involved in the body temperature regulation and in the response to pain, has important roles in several neuronal functions, as cytoskeleton dynamics, injured neurons regeneration, synaptic plasticity. Currently available tools to modulate TRPV1 activity suffer from limited spatial selectivity, do not allow for temporally precise control, and are usually not reversible, thus limiting their application potential. The use of optical excitation would allow for overcoming all these limitations. Here, we propose a novel strategy, based on the use of light-sensitive, conjugated polymers. We demonstrate that illumination of a polymer thin film leads to reliable, robust and temporally precise control of TRPV1 channels. Interestingly, the activation of the channel is due to the combination of two different, locally confined effects, namely the release of thermal energy from the polymer surface and the variation of the local ionic concentration at the cell/polymer interface, both mediated by the polymer photoexcitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, IIT@PoliMi, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - N Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, IIT@PoliMi, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - G Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, IIT@PoliMi, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - G Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, IIT@PoliMi, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - M R Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, IIT@PoliMi, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy.
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24
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Rojas HC, Bellani S, Sarduy EA, Fumagalli F, Mayer MT, Schreier M, Grätzel M, Di Fonzo F, Antognazza MR. All Solution-Processed, Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Photocathode for Hydrogen Evolution. ACS Omega 2017; 2:3424-3431. [PMID: 31457664 PMCID: PMC6640976 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the efficient, stable, and scalable conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels represents a great scientific, economic, and ethical challenge. Amongst the available candidate technologies, photoelectrochemical water-splitting potentially has the most promising technoeconomic trade-off between cost and efficiency. However, research on semiconductors and photoelectrode architectures suitable for H2 evolution has focused mainly on the use of fabrication techniques and inorganic materials that are not easily scalable. Here, we report for the first time an all solution-processed approach for the fabrication of hybrid organic/inorganic photocathodes based on organic semiconductor bulk heterojunctions that exhibit promising photoelectrochemical performance. The sequential deposition of inorganic material, charge-selective contacts, visible-light sensitive organic polymers, and earth-abundant, nonprecious catalyst by spin coating leads to state-of-the-art photoelectrochemical parameters, comprising a high onset potential [+0.602 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)] and a positive maximum power point (+0.222 V vs RHE), a photocurrent density as high as 5.25 mA/cm2 at 0 V versus RHE, an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency at 0 V versus RHE of above 35%, and 100% faradaic efficiency for hydrogen production. The demonstrated all solution-processed hybrid photoelectrodes represent an eligible candidate for the scalable and low-cost solar-to-H2 conversion technology that embodies the feasibility requirements for large area, plant-scale applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansel Comas Rojas
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Instituto
Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas (INSTEC), Salvador Allende y Luaces, AP6163 Havana, Cuba
| | - Sebastiano Bellani
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Graphene
Labs, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Eduardo Aluicio Sarduy
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Instituto
Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas (INSTEC), Salvador Allende y Luaces, AP6163 Havana, Cuba
| | - Francesco Fumagalli
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Matthew T. Mayer
- Laboratory
of Photonics and Interfaces, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Schreier
- Laboratory
of Photonics and Interfaces, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Grätzel
- Laboratory
of Photonics and Interfaces, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Di Fonzo
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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25
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Maya-Vetencourt JF, Ghezzi D, Antognazza MR, Colombo E, Mete M, Feyen P, Desii A, Buschiazzo A, Di Paolo M, Di Marco S, Ticconi F, Emionite L, Shmal D, Marini C, Donelli I, Freddi G, Maccarone R, Bisti S, Sambuceti G, Pertile G, Lanzani G, Benfenati F. A fully organic retinal prosthesis restores vision in a rat model of degenerative blindness. Nat Mater 2017; 16:681-689. [PMID: 28250420 PMCID: PMC5446789 DOI: 10.1038/nmat4874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina is one of the major causes of adult blindness in humans. Unfortunately, no effective clinical treatments exist for the majority of retinal degenerative disorders. Here we report on the fabrication and functional validation of a fully organic prosthesis for long-term in vivo subretinal implantation in the eye of Royal College of Surgeons rats, a widely recognized model of retinitis pigmentosa. Electrophysiological and behavioural analyses reveal a prosthesis-dependent recovery of light sensitivity and visual acuity that persists up to 6-10 months after surgery. The rescue of the visual function is accompanied by an increase in the basal metabolic activity of the primary visual cortex, as demonstrated by positron emission tomography imaging. Our results highlight the possibility of developing a new generation of fully organic, highly biocompatible and functionally autonomous photovoltaic prostheses for subretinal implants to treat degenerative blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mete
- Ophthalmology Department, Sacro Cuore Hospital - Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Paul Feyen
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Ambra Buschiazzo
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mattia Di Paolo
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Flavia Ticconi
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Emionite
- Animal Facility, National Institute Cancer Research, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Dmytro Shmal
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cecilia Marini
- Institute of Molecular Bio-imaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Milan (GE section), Italy
| | | | | | - Rita Maccarone
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Silvia Bisti
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Gianmario Sambuceti
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Grazia Pertile
- Ophthalmology Department, Sacro Cuore Hospital - Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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26
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Porrazzo R, Luzio A, Bellani S, Bonacchini GE, Noh YY, Kim YH, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR, Caironi M. Water-Gated n-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Complementary Integrated Circuits Operating in an Aqueous Environment. ACS Omega 2017; 2:1-10. [PMID: 28180187 PMCID: PMC5286459 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6b00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The first demonstration of an n-type water-gated organic field-effect transistor (WGOFET) is here reported, along with simple water-gated complementary integrated circuits, in the form of inverting logic gates. For the n-type WGOFET active layer, high-electron-affinity organic semiconductors, including naphthalene diimide co-polymers and a soluble fullerene derivative, have been compared, with the latter enabling a high electric double layer capacitance in the range of 1 μF cm-2 in full accumulation and a mobility-capacitance product of 7 × 10-3 μF/V s. Short-term stability measurements indicate promising cycling robustness, despite operating the device in an environment typically considered harsh, especially for electron-transporting organic molecules. This work paves the way toward advanced circuitry design for signal conditioning and actuation in an aqueous environment and opens new perspectives in the implementation of active bio-organic interfaces for biosensing and neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Porrazzo
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Luzio
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Bellani
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ernesto Bonacchini
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Yong-Young Noh
- Department
of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk
University, 30 pildong-ro
1-gil, jung-gu, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hi Kim
- Department
of Chemistry, Gyeongsang National University
and Research Institute of for Green Energy Convergence Technology
(RIGET), Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Caironi
- Center
for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milan, Italy
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27
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Tortiglione C, Antognazza MR, Tino A, Bossio C, Marchesano V, Bauduin A, Zangoli M, Morata SV, Lanzani G. Semiconducting polymers are light nanotransducers in eyeless animals. Sci Adv 2017; 3:e1601699. [PMID: 28138549 PMCID: PMC5266477 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Current implant technology uses electrical signals at the electrode-neural interface. This rather invasive approach presents important issues in terms of performance, tolerability, and overall safety of the implants. Inducing light sensitivity in living organisms is an alternative method that provides groundbreaking opportunities in neuroscience. Optogenetics is a spectacular demonstration of this, yet is limited by the viral transfection of exogenous genetic material. We propose a nongenetic approach toward light control of biological functions in living animals. We show that nanoparticles based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) can be internalized in eyeless freshwater polyps and are fully biocompatible. Under light, the nanoparticles modify the light response of the animals, at two different levels: (i) they enhance the contraction events of the animal body, and (ii) they change the transcriptional activation of the opsin3-like gene. This suggests the establishment of a seamless and biomimetic interface between the living organism and the polymer nanoparticles that behave as light nanotransducers, coping with or amplifying the function of primitive photoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tortiglione
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti “Eduardo Caianiello,” Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Angela Tino
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti “Eduardo Caianiello,” Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Marchesano
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti “Eduardo Caianiello,” Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Bauduin
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti “Eduardo Caianiello,” Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Mattia Zangoli
- Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Susana Vaquero Morata
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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28
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Zucchetti E, Zangoli M, Bargigia I, Bossio C, Di Maria F, Barbarella G, D'Andrea C, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanoparticles for biophotonics: study of the mutual interaction with living cells. J Mater Chem B 2017; 5:565-574. [DOI: 10.1039/c6tb02047j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanoparticles interfacing with living cells: a new tool for biophotonics applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Zucchetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Mattia Zangoli
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity
- CNR-ISOF
- 40129 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Ilaria Bargigia
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
| | - Francesca Di Maria
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity
- CNR-ISOF
- 40129 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Giovanna Barbarella
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity
- CNR-ISOF
- 40129 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Cosimo D'Andrea
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
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Antognazza MR, Di Paolo M, Ghezzi D, Mete M, Di Marco S, Maya-Vetencourt JF, Maccarone R, Desii A, Di Fonzo F, Bramini M, Russo A, Laudato L, Donelli I, Cilli M, Freddi G, Pertile G, Lanzani G, Bisti S, Benfenati F. Characterization of a Polymer-Based, Fully Organic Prosthesis for Implantation into the Subretinal Space of the Rat. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:2271-82. [PMID: 27240295 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201600318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Replacement strategies arise as promising approaches in case of inherited retinal dystrophies leading to blindness. A fully organic retinal prosthesis made of conjugated polymers layered onto a silk fibroin substrate is engineered. First, the biophysical and surface properties are characterized; then, the long-term biocompatibility is assessed after implantation of the organic device in the subretinal space of 3-months-old rats for a period of five months. The results indicate a good stability of the subretinal implants over time, with preservation of the physical properties of the polymeric layer and a tight contact with the outer retina. Immunoinflammatory markers detect only a modest tissue reaction to the surgical insult and the foreign body that peaks shortly after surgery and progressively decreases with time to normal levels at five months after implantation. Importantly, the integrity of the polymeric layer in direct contact with the retinal tissue is preserved after five months of implantation. The recovery of the foreign-body tissue reaction is also associated with a normal b-wave in the electroretinographic response. The results demonstrate that the device implanted in nondystrophic eyes is well tolerated, highly biocompatible, and suitable as retinal prosthesis in case of photoreceptor degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via G. Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Mattia Di Paolo
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science; University of L'Aquila; Via Vetoio, Coppito 2 67100 L'Aquila Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Largo Giovanna Benzi 10 16132 Genova Italy
| | - Maurizio Mete
- Unità Operativa di Oculistica, Ospedale Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria; Via don A. Sempreboni 5; 37024 Negrar (Verona) Italy
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science; University of L'Aquila; Via Vetoio, Coppito 2 67100 L'Aquila Italy
| | - José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Largo Giovanna Benzi 10 16132 Genova Italy
| | - Rita Maccarone
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science; University of L'Aquila; Via Vetoio, Coppito 2 67100 L'Aquila Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via G. Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Fabio Di Fonzo
- Center for Nano Science and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via G. Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Mattia Bramini
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Largo Giovanna Benzi 10 16132 Genova Italy
| | - Angela Russo
- Unità Operativa di Oculistica, Ospedale Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria; Via don A. Sempreboni 5; 37024 Negrar (Verona) Italy
| | - Lucia Laudato
- Center for Nano Science and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via G. Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Ilaria Donelli
- Innovhub-SSI; Silk Division; Via Giuseppe Colombo 83 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Michele Cilli
- Animal Facility; IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro; Largo Giovanna Benzi 10 16132 Genova Italy
| | - Giuliano Freddi
- Innovhub-SSI; Silk Division; Via Giuseppe Colombo 83 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Grazia Pertile
- Unità Operativa di Oculistica, Ospedale Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria; Via don A. Sempreboni 5; 37024 Negrar (Verona) Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via G. Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Silvia Bisti
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science; University of L'Aquila; Via Vetoio, Coppito 2 67100 L'Aquila Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology; Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Largo Giovanna Benzi 10 16132 Genova Italy
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30
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Colombo E, Feyen P, Antognazza MR, Lanzani G, Benfenati F. Nanoparticles: A Challenging Vehicle for Neural Stimulation. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:105. [PMID: 27047327 PMCID: PMC4803724 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurostimulation represents a powerful and well-established tool for the treatment of several diseases affecting the central nervous system. Although, effective in reducing the symptoms or the progression of brain disorders, the poor accessibility of the deepest areas of the brain currently hampers the possibility of a more specific and controlled therapeutic stimulation, depending on invasive surgical approaches and long-term stability, and biocompatibility issues. The massive research of the last decades on nanomaterials and nanoscale devices favored the development of new tools to address the limitations of the available neurostimulation approaches. This mini-review focuses on the employment of nanoparticles for the modulation of the electrophysiological activity of neuronal networks and the related transduction mechanisms underlying the nanostructure-neuron interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy
| | - Paul Feyen
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Milan, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaMilan, Italy; Department of Physics, Politecnico di MilanoMilan, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenova, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine, Università di GenovaGenova, Italy
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31
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Feyen P, Colombo E, Endeman D, Nova M, Laudato L, Martino N, Antognazza MR, Lanzani G, Benfenati F, Ghezzi D. Light-evoked hyperpolarization and silencing of neurons by conjugated polymers. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22718. [PMID: 26940513 PMCID: PMC4778138 DOI: 10.1038/srep22718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to control and modulate the action potential firing in neurons represents a powerful tool for neuroscience research and clinical applications. While neuronal excitation has been achieved with many tools, including electrical and optical stimulation, hyperpolarization and neuronal inhibition are typically obtained through patch-clamp or optogenetic manipulations. Here we report the use of conjugated polymer films interfaced with neurons for inducing a light-mediated inhibition of their electrical activity. We show that prolonged illumination of the interface triggers a sustained hyperpolarization of the neuronal membrane that significantly reduces both spontaneous and evoked action potential firing. We demonstrate that the polymeric interface can be activated by either visible or infrared light and is capable of modulating neuronal activity in brain slices and explanted retinas. These findings prove the ability of conjugated polymers to tune neuronal firing and suggest their potential application for the in-vivo modulation of neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Feyen
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Duco Endeman
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Mattia Nova
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Lucia Laudato
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
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Abstract
Hybrid interfaces between organic semiconductors and living tissues represent a new tool for in-vitro and in-vivo applications. In particular, conjugated polymers display several optimal properties as substrates for biological systems, such as good biocompatibility, excellent mechanical properties, cheap and easy processing technology, and possibility of deposition on light, thin and flexible substrates. These materials have been employed for cellular interfaces like neural probes, transistors for excitation and recording of neural activity, biosensors and actuators for drug release. Recent experiments have also demonstrated the possibility to use conjugated polymers for all-optical modulation of the electrical activity of cells. Several in-vitro study cases have been reported, including primary neuronal networks, astrocytes and secondary line cells. Moreover, signal photo-transduction mediated by organic polymers has been shown to restore light sensitivity in degenerated retinas, suggesting that these devices may be used for artificial retinal prosthesis in the future. All in all, light sensitive conjugated polymers represent a new approach for optical modulation of cellular activity. In this work, all the steps required to fabricate a bio-polymer interface for optical excitation of living cells are described. The function of the active interface is to transduce the light stimulus into a modulation of the cell membrane potential. As a study case, useful for in-vitro studies, a polythiophene thin film is used as the functional, light absorbing layer, and Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK-293) cells are employed as the biological component of the interface. Practical examples of successful control of the cell membrane potential upon stimulation with light pulses of different duration are provided. In particular, it is shown that both depolarizing and hyperpolarizing effects on the cell membrane can be achieved depending on the duration of the light stimulus. The reported protocol is of general validity and can be straightforwardly extended to other biological preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
| | | | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano
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33
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Vaquero S, Bossio C, Bellani S, Martino N, Zucchetti E, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR. Conjugated polymers for the optical control of the electrical activity of living cells. J Mater Chem B 2016; 4:5272-5283. [DOI: 10.1039/c6tb01129b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Different conjugated polymers are proposed as bio-optical interfaces. Selected polymers are capable to sustain thermal sterilization but provide different optical coupling with living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Vaquero
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
| | - Sebastiano Bellani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Elena Zucchetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology
- IIT@PoliMi
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
- Politecnico di Milano
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34
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Antognazza MR, Martino N, Ghezzi D, Feyen P, Colombo E, Endeman D, Benfenati F, Lanzani G. Shedding Light on Living Cells. Adv Mater 2015; 27:7662-7669. [PMID: 25469452 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201403513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An overview of the optical methods available to modulate the cellular activity in cell cultures and biological tissues is presented, with a focus on the use of exogenous functional materials that absorb electromagnetic radiation and transduce it into a secondary stimulus for cell excitation, with high temporal and spatial resolution. Both organic and inorganic materials are critically evaluated, for in vitro and in vivo applications. Finally, as a direct practical application of optical-stimulation techniques, the most recent results in the realization of artificial visual implants are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Paul Feyen
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Duco Endeman
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
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35
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Martino N, Feyen P, Porro M, Bossio C, Zucchetti E, Ghezzi D, Benfenati F, Lanzani G, Antognazza MR. Photothermal cellular stimulation in functional bio-polymer interfaces. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8911. [PMID: 25753132 PMCID: PMC4354102 DOI: 10.1038/srep08911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid interfaces between organic semiconductors and living tissues represent a new tool for in-vitro and in-vivo applications, bearing a huge potential, from basic researches to clinical applications. In particular, light sensitive conjugated polymers can be exploited as a new approach for optical modulation of cellular activity. In this work we focus on light-induced changes in the membrane potential of Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK-293) cells grown on top of a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film. On top of a capacitive charging of the polymer interface, we identify and fully characterize two concomitant mechanisms, leading to membrane depolarization and hyperpolarisation, both mediated by a thermal effect. Our results can be usefully exploited in the creation of a new platform for light-controlled cell manipulation, with possible applications in neuroscience and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Paul Feyen
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Matteo Porro
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Matematica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Zucchetti
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip.to di Fisica, P.zza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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36
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Martino N, Fazzi D, Sciascia C, Luzio A, Antognazza MR, Caironi M. Mapping orientational order of charge-probed domains in a semiconducting polymer. ACS Nano 2014; 8:5968-78. [PMID: 24815931 DOI: 10.1021/nn5011182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Structure-property relationships are of fundamental importance to develop quantitative models describing charge transport in organic semiconductor based electronic devices, which are among the best candidates for future portable and lightweight electronic applications. While microstructural investigations, such as those based on X-rays, electron microscopy, or polarized optical probes, provide necessary information for the rationalization of transport in macromolecular solids, a general model predicting how charge accommodates within structural maps is not yet available. Therefore, techniques capable of directly monitoring how charge is distributed when injected into a polymer film and how it correlates to structural domains can help fill this gap. Supported by density functional theory calculations, here we show that polarized charge modulation microscopy (p-CMM) can unambiguously and selectively map the orientational order of the only conjugated segments that are probed by mobile charge in the few nanometer thick accumulation layer of a high-mobility polymer-based field-effect transistor . Depending on the specific solvent-induced microstructure within the accumulation layer, we show that p-CMM can image charge-probed domains that extend from submicrometer to tens of micrometers size, with markedly different degrees of alignment. Wider and more ordered p-CMM domains are associated with improved carrier mobility, as extracted from device characteristics. This observation evidences the unprecedented opportunity to correlate, directly in a working device, electronic properties with structural information on those conjugated segments involved in charge transport at the buried semiconductor-dielectric interface of a field-effect device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via G. Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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37
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Benfenati V, Martino N, Antognazza MR, Pistone A, Toffanin S, Ferroni S, Lanzani G, Muccini M. Organic Polymers: Photostimulation of Whole-Cell Conductance in Primary Rat Neocortical Astrocytes Mediated by Organic Semiconducting Thin Films (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 3/2014). Adv Healthc Mater 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201470013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Benfenati
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF); Via Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Fisica; Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Assunta Pistone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF); Via Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Stefano Toffanin
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN); Via P. Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Stefano Ferroni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology; University of Bologna; Via S. Donato, 19/2 40127 Bologna Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Fisica; Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Michele Muccini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN); Via P. Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
- E. T. C. s.r.l.; via P. Gobetti 101 I-40129 Bologna Italy
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38
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Benfenati V, Martino N, Antognazza MR, Pistone A, Toffanin S, Ferroni S, Lanzani G, Muccini M. Photostimulation of whole-cell conductance in primary rat neocortical astrocytes mediated by organic semiconducting thin films. Adv Healthc Mater 2014; 3:392-9. [PMID: 23966220 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201300179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Astroglial ion channels are fundamental molecular targets in the study of brain physiology and pathophysiology. Novel tools and devices intended for stimulation and control of astrocytes ion channel activity are therefore highly desirable. The study of the interactions between astrocytes and biomaterials is also essential to control and minimize reactive astrogliosis, in view of the development of implantable functional devices. Here, the growth of rat primary neocortical astrocytes on the top of a light sensitive, organic polymer film is reported; by means of patch-clamp analyses, the effect of the visible light stimulation on membrane conductance is then determined. Photoexcitation of the active material causes a significant depolarization of the astroglial resting membrane potential: the effect is associated to an increase in whole-cell conductance at negative potentials. The magnitude of the evoked inward current density is proportional to the illumination intensity. Biophysical and pharmacological characterization suggests that the ion channel mediating the photo-transduction mechanism is a chloride channel, the ClC-2 channel. These results open interesting perspectives for the selective manipulation of astrocyte bioelectrical activity by non-invasive, label-free, organic-based, photostimulation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Benfenati
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF); Via Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Fisica; Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Assunta Pistone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF); Via Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Stefano Toffanin
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN); Via P. Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
| | - Stefano Ferroni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology; University of Bologna; Via S. Donato, 19/2 40127 Bologna Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Via Pascoli 70/3 20133 Milano Italy
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Fisica; Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Michele Muccini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN); Via P. Gobetti 101 40129 Bologna Italy
- E. T. C. s.r.l.; via P. Gobetti 101 I-40129 Bologna Italy
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Ghezzi D, Antognazza MR, Maccarone R, Bellani S, Lanzarini E, Martino N, Mete M, Pertile G, Bisti S, Lanzani G, Benfenati F. A polymer optoelectronic interface restores light sensitivity in blind rat retinas. Nat Photonics 2013; 7:400-406. [PMID: 27158258 PMCID: PMC4855023 DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2013.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Interfacing organic electronics with biological substrates offers new possibilities for biotechnology due to the beneficial properties exhibited by organic conducting polymers. These polymers have been used for cellular interfaces in several fashions, including cellular scaffolds, neural probes, biosensors and actuators for drug release. Recently, an organic photovoltaic blend has been exploited for neuronal stimulation via a photo-excitation process. Here, we document the use of a single-component organic film of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) to trigger neuronal firing upon illumination. Moreover, we demonstrate that this bio-organic interface restored light sensitivity in explants of rat retinas with light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. These findings suggest that all-organic devices may play an important future role in sub-retinal prosthetic implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ghezzi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - Rita Maccarone
- Dipartimento di Tecnologie Biomediche, Università dell’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Bellani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - Erica Lanzarini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Martino
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mete
- UO Oculistica, Ospedale S. Cuore-Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Grazia Pertile
- UO Oculistica, Ospedale S. Cuore-Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Silvia Bisti
- Dipartimento di Tecnologie Biomediche, Università dell’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
- Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to G.L. and F.B. and
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to G.L. and F.B. and
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Sciascia C, Martino N, Schuettfort T, Watts B, Grancini G, Antognazza MR, Zavelani-Rossi M, McNeill CR, Caironi M. Sub-micrometer charge modulation microscopy of a high mobility polymeric n-channel field-effect transistor. Adv Mater 2011; 23:5086-90. [PMID: 21989683 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201102410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2011] [Revised: 08/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Calogero Sciascia
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Ghezzi D, Antognazza MR, Dal Maschio M, Lanzarini E, Benfenati F, Lanzani G. A hybrid bioorganic interface for neuronal photoactivation. Nat Commun 2011; 2:166. [PMID: 21266966 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A key issue in the realization of retinal prosthetic devices is reliable transduction of information carried by light into specific patterns of electrical activity in visual information processing networks. Soft organic materials can be used to couple artificial sensors with neuronal tissues. Here, we interface a network of primary neurons with an organic blend. We show that primary neurons can be successfully grown onto the polymer layer without affecting the optoelectronic properties of the active material or the biological functionality of neuronal network. Moreover, action potentials can be triggered in a temporally reliable and spatially selective manner with short pulses of visible light. Our results may lead to new neuronal communication and photo manipulation techniques, thus paving way to the development of artificial retinas and other neuroprosthetic interfaces based on organic photodetectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ghezzi
- 1] Department of Neuroscience and BrainTechnologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy. [2]
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Antognazza MR, Scotognella F, Miszta K, Dorfs D, Zanella M, Zavelani-Rossi M, Manna L, Lanzani G, Tassone F. Steady-state photoinduced absorption of CdSe/CdS octapod shaped nanocrystals. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2011; 13:15326-30. [DOI: 10.1039/c1cp21402k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Antognazza MR, Lüer L, Polli D, Christensen RL, Schrock RR, Lanzani G, Cerullo G. Ultrafast excited state relaxation in long-chain polyenes. Chem Phys 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2010.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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