Synergy of Nanotopography and Electrical Conductivity of PEDOT/PSS for Enhanced Neuronal Development.

Biomaterials able to promote neuronal development and neurite outgrowth are highly desired in neural tissue engineering for the repair of damaged or disrupted neural tissue and restoring the axonal connection. For this purpose, the use of either electroactive or micro- and nanostructured materials has been separately investigated. Here, the use of a nanomodulated conductive poly(3,4-ethylendioxithiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) substrate that exhibits instructive topographical and electrical cues at the same time was investigated for the first time. In particular, thin films featuring grooves with sizes comparable with those of neuronal neurites (NanoPEDOT) were fabricated by electrochemical polymerization of PEDOT/PSS on a nanomodulated polycarbonate template. The ability of NanoPEDOT to support neuronal development and direct neurite outgrowth was demonstrated by assessing cell viability and proliferation, expression of neuronal markers, average neurite length, and direction of neuroblastoma N2A cells induced to differentiate on this novel support. In addition to the beneficial effect of the nanogrooved topography, a 30% increase was shown in the average length of neurites when differentiating cells were subjected to an electrical stimulation of a few microamperes for 6 h. The results reported here suggest a favorable effect on the neuronal development of the synergistic combination of nanotopography and electrical stimulation, supporting the use of NanoPEDOT in neural tissue engineering to promote physical and functional reconnection of impaired neural networks.

Organic Electrochemical Transistor Aptasensor for Interleukin-6 Detection.

We demonstrate an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) biosensor for the detection of interleukin 6 (IL6), an important biomarker associated with various pathological processes, including chronic inflammation, inflammaging, cancer, and severe COVID-19 infection. The biosensor is functionalized with oligonucleotide aptamers engineered to bind specifically IL6. We developed an easy functionalization strategy based on gold nanoparticles deposited onto a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) gate electrode for the subsequent electrodeposition of thiolated aptamers. During this functionalization step, the reduction of sulfide bonds allows for simultaneous deposition of a blocking agent. A detection range from picomolar to nanomolar concentrations for IL6 was achieved, and the selectivity of the device was assessed against Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), another cytokine involved in the inflammatory processes.

Magnetic separation and concentration of Aß 1-42 molecules dispersed at the threshold concentration for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in clinically-relevant volumes of sample.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and loss of autonomy in the elderly, implying a progressive cognitive decline and limitation of social activities. The progressive aging of the population is expected to exacerbate this problem in the next decades. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop quantitative diagnostic methodologies to assess the onset the disease and its progression especially in the initial phases. RESULTS: Here we describe a novel technology to extract one of the most important molecular biomarkers of AD (Aß1-42) from a clinically-relevant volume - 100 µl - therein dispersed in a range of concentrations critical for AD early diagnosis. We demonstrate that it is possible to immunocapture Aß1-42 on 20 nm wide magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with hyperbranced KVLFF aptamers. Then, it is possible to transport them through microfluidic environments to a detection system where virtually all (~ 90%) the Aß1-42 molecules are concentrated in a dense plug of ca.50 nl. The technology is based on magnetic actuation by permanent magnets, specifically designed to generate high gradient magnetic fields. These fields, applied through submillimeter-wide channels, can concentrate, and confine magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into a droplet with an optimized shape that maximizes the probability of capturing highly diluted molecular biomarkers. These advancements are expected to provide efficient protocols for the concentration and manipulation of molecular biomarkers from clinical samples, enhancing the accuracy and the sensitivity of diagnostic technologies. CONCLUSIONS: This easy to automate technology allows an efficient separation of AD molecular biomarkers from volumes of biological solutions complying with the current clinical protocols and, ultimately, leads to accurate measurements of biomarkers. The technology paves a new way for a quantitative AD diagnosis at the earliest stage and it is also adaptable for the biomarker analysis of other pathologies.

Versatile magnetic configuration for the control and manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

The control and manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SP-MNP) is a significant challenge and has become increasingly important in various fields, especially in biomedical research. Yet, most of applications rely on relatively large nanoparticles, 50 nm or higher, mainly due to the fact that the magnetic control of smaller MNPs is often hampered by the thermally induced Brownian motion. Here we present a magnetic device able to manipulate remotely in microfluidic environment SP-MNPs smaller than 10 nm. The device is based on a specifically tailored configuration of movable permanent magnets. The experiments performed in 500 µm capillary have shown the ability to concentrate the SP-MNPs into regions characterized by different shapes and sizes ranging from 100 to 200 µm. The results are explained by straightforward calculations and comparison between magnetic and thermal energies. We provide then a comprehensive description of the magnetic field intensity and its spatial distribution for the confinement and motion of magnetic nanoparticles for a wide range of sizes. We believe this description could be used to establish accurate and quantitative magnetic protocols not only for biomedical applications, but also for environment, food, security, and other areas.

Label free detection of miRNA-21 with electrolyte gated organic field effect transistors (EGOFETs).

We report a dual gate/common channel organic transistor architecture designed for quantifying the concentration of one of the strands of miRNA-21 in solution. The device allows one to measure the differential response between two gate electrodes, viz. one sensing and one reference, both immersed in the electrolyte above the transistor channel. Hybridization with oligonucleotide in the picomolar regime induces a sizable reduction of the current flowing through the transistor channel. The device signal is reported at various gate voltages, showing maximum sensitivity in the sublinear regime, with a limit of detection as low as 35 pM. We describe the dose curves with an analytical function derived from a thermodynamic model of the reaction equilibria relevant in our experiment and device configuration, and we show that the apparent Hill dependence on analyte concentration, whose exponent lies between 0.5 and 1, emerges from the interplay of the different equilibria. The binding free energy characteristic of the hybridization on the device surface is found to be approximately 20% lower with respect to the reaction in solution, hinting to partially inhibiting effect of the surface and presence of competing reactions. Impedance spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) performed on the same oligonucleotide pair were correlated to the electronic current transduced by the EGOFET, and confirmed the selectivity of the biorecognition probe covalently bound on the gold surface.

Label-free immunodetection of α-synuclein by using a microfluidics coplanar electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistor.

The aggregation of α-synuclein is a critical event in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, such as Parkinson or Alzheimer. Here, we present a label-free sensor based on an Electrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistor (EGOFET) integrated with microfluidics that allows for the detection of amounts of α-synuclein in the range from 0.25 pM to 25 nM. The lower limit of detection (LOD) measures the potential of our integrated device as a tool for prognostics and diagnostics. In our device, the gate electrode is the effective sensing element as it is functionalised with anti-(α-synuclein) antibodies using a dual strategy: i) an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer activated by glutaraldehyde, and ii) the His-tagged recombinant protein G. In both approaches, comparable sensitivity values were achieved, featuring very low LOD values at the sub-pM level. The microfluidics engineering is central to achieve a controlled functionalisation of the gate electrode and avoid contamination or physisorption on the organic semiconductor. The demonstrated sensing architecture, being a disposable stand-alone chip, can be operated as a point-of-care test, but also it might represent a promising label-free tool to explore in-vitro protein aggregation that takes place during the progression of neurodegenerative illnesses.

Harnessing Selectivity and Sensitivity in Electronic Biosensing: A Novel Lab-on-Chip Multigate Organic Transistor.

Electrolyte gated organic transistors can operate as powerful ultrasensitive biosensors, and efforts are currently devoted to devising strategies for reducing the contribution of hardly avoidable, nonspecific interactions to their response, to ultimately harness selectivity in the detection process. We report a novel lab-on-a-chip device integrating a multigate electrolyte gated organic field-effect transistor (EGOFET) with a 6.5 µL microfluidics set up capable to provide an assessment of both the response reproducibility, by enabling measurement in triplicate, and of the device selectivity through the presence of an internal reference electrode. As proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the efficient operation of our pentacene based EGOFET sensing platform through the quantification of tumor necrosis factor alpha with a detection limit as low as 3 pM. Sensing of inflammatory cytokines, which also include TNFα, is of the outmost importance for monitoring a large number of diseases. The multiplexable organic electronic lab-on-chip provides a statistically solid, reliable, and selective response on microliters sample volumes on the minutes time scale, thus matching the relevant key-performance indicators required in point-of-care diagnostics.

Fluid Mixing for Low-Power 'Digital Microfluidics' Using Electroactive Molecular Monolayers.

A switchable electrode, which relies on an indium-tin oxide conductive substrate coated with a self-assembled monolayer terminated with an anthraquinone group (AQ), is reported as an electrowetting system. AQ electrochemical features confer the capability of yielding a significant modulation of surface wettability as high as 26° when its redox state is switched. Hence, an array of planar electrodes for droplets actuation is fabricated and integrated in a microfluidic device to perform mixing and dispensing on sub-nanoliter scale. Vehiculation of cells across microfluidic compartments is made possible by taking full advantage of surface electrowetting in culture medium.

Asymmetric Injection in Organic Transistors via Direct SAM Functionalization of Source and Drain Electrodes.

The fabrication of organic optoelectronic devices integrating asymmetric electrodes enables optimal charge injection/extraction at each individual metal/semiconductor interface. This is key for applications in devices such as solar cells, light-emitting transistors, photodetectors, inverters, and sensors. Here, we describe a new method for the asymmetric functionalization of gold electrodes with different thiolated molecules as a viable route to obtain two electrodes with drastically different work function values. The process involves an ad hoc design of electrode geometry and the use of a polymeric mask to protect one electrode during the first functionalization step. Photoelectron yield ambient spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry were used to characterize the energetic properties and the composition of the asymmetrically functionalized electrodes. Finally, we used poly(3-hexylthiophene)-based organic thin-film transistors to show that the asymmetric electronic response stems from the different electronic structures of the functionalized electrodes.

Amorphous Aggregation of Amyloid Beta 1-40 Peptide in Confined Space.

The amorphous aggregation of Aß1-40 peptide is addressed by using micromolding in capillaries. Both the morphology and the size of the aggregates are modulated by changing the contact angle of the sub-micrometric channel walls. Upon decreasing the hydrophilicity of the channels, the aggregates change their morphology from small aligned drops to discontinuous lines, thereby keeping their amorphous structure. Aß1-40 fibrils are observed at high contact angles.

Care and neurorehabilitation in the disorder of consciousness: a model in progress.

The operational model and strategies developed at the Institute S. Anna-RAN to be applied in the care and neurorehabilitation of subjects with disorders of consciousness (DOC) are described. The institute units are sequentially organized to guarantee appropriate care and provide rehabilitation programs adapted to the patients' clinical condition and individual's needs at each phase of evolution during treatment in a fast turnover rate. Patients eligible of home care are monitored remotely. Transferring advanced technology to a stage of regular operation is the main mission. Responsiveness and the time windows characterized by better residual responsiveness are identified and the spontaneous/induced changes in the autonomic system functional state and biological parameters are monitored both in dedicated sessions and by means of an ambient intelligence platform acquiring large databases from traditional and innovative sensors and interfaced with knowledge management and knowledge discovery systems. Diagnosis of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimal conscious state and early prognosis are in accordance with the current criteria. Over one thousand patients with DOC have been admitted and treated in the years 1998-2013. The model application has progressively shortened the time of hospitalization and reduced costs at unchanged quality of services.

Neural cell alignment by patterning gradients of the extracellular matrix protein laminin.

Anisotropic orientation and accurate positioning of neural cells is achieved by patterning stripes of the extracellular matrix protein laminin on the surface of polystyrene tissue culture dishes by micromoulding in capillaries (MIMICs). Laminin concentration decreases from the entrance of the channels in contact with the reservoir towards the end. Immunofluorescence analysis of laminin shows a decreasing gradient of concentration along the longitudinal direction of the stripes. The explanation is the superposition of diffusion and convection of the solute, the former dominating at length scales near the entrance (characteristic length around 50 µm), the latter further away (length scale in excess of 900 µm). These length scales are independent of the channel width explored from about 15 to 45 µm. Neural cells are randomly seeded and selectively adhere to the pattern, leaving the unpatterned areas depleted even upon 6 days of incubation. Cell alignment was assessed by the orientation of the long axis of the 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained nuclei. Samples on patterned the laminin area exhibit a large orientational order parameter. As control, cells on the unpatterned laminin film exhibit no preferential orientation. This implies that the anisotropy of laminin stripes is an effective chemical stimulus for cell recruiting and alignment.

Multibranched Frozen Elephant Trunk with Left Subclavian Artery Cannulation.

Patients with aortic pathology involving the ascending aorta, the arch, and the descending aorta present a complex surgical challenge. A one-step hybrid procedure with ascending aorta repair, arch debranching, and frozen elephant trunk is reported in five patients. Left subclavian artery side graft cannulation is used to perfuse the spinal cord during circulatory arrest time.

Micro- and nanopatterning by lithographically controlled wetting.

This protocol describes how to perform lithographically controlled wetting (LCW). LCW enables large-area patterning of microstructures and nanostructures of soluble materials, either organic or inorganic, including biological compounds in buffer solutions or compounds for cell guidance. LCW exploits the capillary forces of menisci established under the protrusions of a stamp placed in contact with a liquid film. In the space confined by each meniscus, the self-organization of the deposited solute yields highly ordered structures that replicate the motif of the stamp protrusions. The method does not require any particular infrastructure and can be accomplished by using simple tools such as compact discs or microscopy grids. Compared with other printing methods, LCW is universal for soluble materials, as it does not require chemical binding or other specific interactions between the solute and the surface. A process cycle takes from 2 to 36 h to be completed, depending on the choice of materials.

Conductive sub-micrometric wires of platinum-carbonyl clusters fabricated by soft-lithography.

Conductive wires of sub-micrometer width made from platinum-carbonyl clusters have been fabricated by solution-infilling of microchannels as in microinject molding in capillaries (MIMIC). The process is driven by the liquid surface tension within the micrometric channels followed by the precipitation of the solute. Orientation of supramolecular crystalline domains is imparted by the solution confinement combined with unidirectional flow. The wires exhibit ohmic conductivity with a value of 0.2 S/cm that increases, after thermal decomposition of the platinum-carbonyl cluster precursor to Pt, to 35 S/cm.

Parallel-local anodic oxidation of silicon surfaces by soft stamps.

We investigate the fabrication of nanometric patterns on silicon surfaces by using the parallel-local anodic oxidation technique with soft stamps. This method yields silicon oxide nanostructures 15 nm high, namely at least five times higher than the nanostructures made with local anodic oxidation using atomic force microscopy, and thanks to the size of the stamp enables one to pattern the surface across a centimetre length scale. To implement this technique, we built a machine to bring the metallized polydimethylsiloxane stamp in contact with the silicon surface, subsequently inserted in a sealed chamber with controlled relative humidity. The oxide nanostructures are fabricated when a bias voltage of 36 V is applied between the stamp and the silicon for 2 min, with a relative humidity of 90%. The flexibility of the stamp enables a homogeneous conformal contact with the silicon surface, resulting in an excellent reproducibility of the process. Moreover, by means of two subsequent oxidations with the same stamp and just rotating the sample, we are able to fabricate complex nanostructures. Finally, a detailed study of the oxidation mechanism, also using a finite element analysis, has been performed to understand the underlying mechanism.

Mitral valve annuloplasty with a semirigid annuloplasty band in ischemic mitral regurgitation: early results.

OBJECTIVE: A trigone-to-trigone semirigid annuloplasty band (C-G Future Band, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) was introduced in 2001 for mitral valve repair. We report our early clinical and echocardiographic results with this new device to correct ischemic mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2004, among 216 patients operated on for mitral regurgitation, 107 patients had a C-G Future Band annuloplasty and 85 consecutive patients (72.6% male; mean age 66.9 +/- 8.6 years) received this annuloplasty band to correct ischemic mitral regurgitation. Mean follow-up was 14.3 +/- 9.8 months (range 0.2-37 months). Clinical and echocardiographic assessment was accomplished preoperatively, postoperatively, at 6 and 12 months, and at two years. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 3.7% (three in-hospital deaths), whereas overall survival at two years was 88.7 +/- 4.2%. Immediately after repair, echocardiographic mitral regurgitation was dramatically reduced (2.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001); ejection fraction increased from 43.8 +/- 11% preoperatively to 44.8 +/- 12% postoperatively (P = 0.007). At the time of follow-up, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was significantly improved (mean preoperative NYHA class 2.04 +/- 0.9 vs. mean postoperative NYHA class 1.25 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001). No patient experienced thromboembolic events and no late mitral valve reoperation occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Early and mid-term mitral valve function is satisfactory with trigone-to-trigone semirigid band annuloplasty, with excellent repair durability immediately after the operation and at two years. Moreover, after annuloplasty repair, an improvement in clinical functional status is obtained. A wider use of this semirigid annuloplasty band can be recommended.

Right gastroepiploic artery graft: long-term clinical follow-up in 271 patients--experience of a single center.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We present our experience in the use of right gastroepiploic artery (rGEA). Long-term clinical results are reported. METHODS: From April 1994 to June 2005, 271 patients (257 males, mean age 56.2 +/- 7.1) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of rGEA. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively collected and clinical results and survival were examined. The end points of follow-up were death and recurrence of cardiac events such as angina and myocardial infarction (MI). The mean follow-up was 8.2 +/- 2.9 years. RESULTS: Left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 0.20 to 0.68 (mean 0.55 +/- 0.7). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 96.8 +/- 15.8 minutes and the mean cross-clamping time was 69.7 +/- 14.2 minutes. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.3 +/- 0.7 (range 2 to 5). Early mortality was 2.6% and postoperative MI occurred in three patients. There were 21 (7.9%) late deaths and three of them (1.2%) were cardiac related. Actuarial 10-year-survival of all deaths, including in-hospital death, was 70.8%+/- 9.9%. No abdominal complications occurred during or after rGEA harvesting. Seven patients have been suffering of recurrence of angina. Angiography was performed only on those patients with recurrent angina. CONCLUSION: The rGEA can be considered as a valid arterial conduit, relatively easy to harvest, safe to use with low perioperative risks, and good mid- and long-term results. The low early and late rate mortality and the satisfactory clinical results are good reasons for using routinely this conduit in selected patients.