Magnetic Analysis of MgFe Hydrotalcites as Powder and Dispersed in Thin Films within a Keratin Matrix.

Hydrotalcites (HTlcs) are a class of nanostructured layered materials that may be employed in a variety of applications, from green to bio technologies. In this paper, we report an investigation on HTlcs made of Mg and Fe, recently employed to improve the growth in vitro of osteoblasts within a keratin sponge. We carried out an analysis of powder materials and of HTlcs dispersed in keratin and spin-coated on a Si/SiO2 substrate at different temperatures. A magnetic study of the powders was carried out with a Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System equipped with a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The data gathered prove that these HTlcs are fully paramagnetic, and keratin showed a very small magnetic response. Optical and Atomic Force Microscopy analyses of the thin films provide a detailed picture of clusters randomly dispersed in the films with various dimensions. The magnetic properties of these films were characterized using the Nano Magneto Optical Kerr Effect (NanoMOKE) down to 7.5 K. The data collected show that the local magnetic properties can be mapped with a micrometric resolution distinguishing HTlc regions from keratin ones. This approach opens new perspectives in the characterization of these composite materials.

Pomegranate Peel Powder: In Vitro Efficacy and Application to Contaminated Liquid Foods.

In this study the recycling of pomegranate peel powder (PPP) was proposed. In particular, the use of powder loaded in a silk fibroin polymeric matrix to create an active pad was tested. For the sake of comparison, the powder alone was also analysed. Both powder and active pad efficacy was assessed in two different food systems, soymilk (rich in proteins), preliminarily contaminated with Pseudomonas spp. and yeasts, and apple juice (rich in carbohydrates), preliminarily contaminated with Alyciclobacillus acidoterrestris. Three different concentrations of powder alone and powder in the pad were tested (5%, 7.5% and 10% w/v) in both types of beverages. To assess a possible dependence of the efficacy on the powder granulometry, different powder sizes were preliminarily analysed on Pseudomonas spp. and yeasts using an in vitro test. PPP was effective on both Pseudomonas spp. and yeasts. No significant differences appeared among the tested granulometries and therefore in the subsequent tests powder with an average diameter of 250 µm was used. Results recorded with soymilk and apple juice were different. When applied to the soymilk, the activity of PPP in the pad was less effective than that recorded when the powder was directly added to the beverage. With the two highest powder concentrations directly added to food, more than four log cycle reductions in Pseudomonas spp. and yeast cells were recorded, compared to soymilk without any powder. Compared to the control sample, all the soymilk samples either with PPP or with the active pad showed a delayed microbial and fungal growth. When applied to apple juice, both powder and pad were effective at completely inhibiting the proliferation of A. acidoterrestris (<102 CFU/g).

Immobilization of Alendronate on Zirconium Phosphate Nanoplatelets.

Different amounts of sodium-alendronate (ALN) were loaded into layered zirconium phosphates of alpha and gamma type (αZP and γZP) by means of topotactic exchange reactions of phosphate with ALN. In order to extend the exchange process to the less accessible interlayer regions, ALN solutions were contacted with colloidal dispersions of the layered solids previously exfoliated in single sheets by means of intercalation reaction of propylamine (for αZP) or acetone (for γZP). The ALN loading degree was determined by liquid P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and it was reported as ALN/Zr molar ratios (Rs). The maximum R obtained for γZP was 0.34, while αZP was able to load a higher amount of ALN, reaching Rs equal to 1. The synthesized compounds were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The way the grafted organo-phosphonate groups were bonded to the layers of the host structure was suggested. The effect of ZP derivatives was assessed on cell proliferation, and the results showed that after 7 days of incubation, none of the samples showed a decrease in cell proliferation.

Decoding Natural Astrocyte Rhythms: Dynamic Actin Waves Result from Environmental Sensing by Primary Rodent Astrocytes.

Astrocytes are key regulators of brain homeostasis, equilibrating ion, water, and neurotransmitter concentrations and maintaining essential conditions for proper cognitive function. Recently, it has been shown that the excitability of the actin cytoskeleton manifests in second-scale dynamic fluctuations and acts as a sensor of chemophysical environmental cues. However, it is not known whether the cytoskeleton is excitable in astrocytes and how the homeostatic function of astrocytes is linked to the dynamics of the cytoskeleton. Here it is shown that homeostatic regulation involves the excitable dynamics of actin in certain subcellular regions of astrocytes, especially near the cell boundary. The results further indicate that actin dynamics concentrate into "hotspot" regions that selectively respond to certain chemophysical stimuli, specifically the homeostatic challenges of ion or water concentration increases. Substrate topography makes the actin dynamics of astrocytes weaker. Super-resolution images demonstrate that surface topography is also associated with the predominant perpendicular alignment of actin filaments near the cell boundary, whereas flat substrates result in an actin cortex mainly parallel to the cell boundary. Additionally, coculture with neurons increases both the probability of actin dynamics and the strength of hotspots. The excitable systems character of actin thus makes astrocytes direct participants in neural cell network dynamics.

Eco-Sustainable Silk Fibroin/Pomegranate Peel Extract Film as an Innovative Green Material for Skin Repair.

Skin disorders are widespread around the world, affecting people of all ages, and oxidative stress represents one of the main causes of alteration in the normal physiological parameters of skin cells. In this work, we combined a natural protein, fibroin, with antioxidant compounds extracted in water from pomegranate waste. We demonstrate the effective and facile fabrication of bioactive and eco-sustainable films of potential interest for skin repair. The blended films are visually transparent (around 90%); flexible; stable in physiological conditions and in the presence of trypsin for 12 days; able to release the bioactive compounds in a controlled manner; based on Fickian diffusion; and biocompatible towards the main skin cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production tests demonstrated the high capacity of our films to reduce the oxidative stress induced in cells, which is responsible for various skin diseases.

Keratin/Polylactic acid/graphene oxide composite nanofibers for drug delivery.

In this work keratin/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) 50/50 wt blend nanofibers with different loadings of graphene-oxide (GO) were prepared by electrospinning and tested as delivery systems of Rhodamine Blue (RhB), selected as a model of a drug. The effect of GO on the electrospinnability and drug release mechanism and kinetics was investigated. Rheological measurements carried out on the blend solutions revealed unsatisfactory compatibility between keratin and PLA under quiet condition. Accordingly, poor interfacial adhesion between the two phases was observed by SEM analysis of a film prepared by solution casting. On the contrary, keratin chains seem to rearrange under the flux conditions of the electrospinning process thus promoting better interfacial interactions between the two polymers, thereby enhancing their miscibility, which resulted in homogeneous and defect-free nanofibers. The loading of GO into the keratin/PLA solution contributes to increase its viscosity, its shear thinning behavior, and its conductivity. Accordingly, thinner and more homogeneous nanofibers resulted from solutions with a relatively high conductivity coupled with a pronounced shear thinning behavior. FTIR and DSC analyses have underlined, that while the PLA/GO interfacial interactions significantly compete with the PLA/keratin ones, there are no significant effects of GO on the structural organization of keratin in blend with the PLA. However, GO offers several advantages from the application point of view by slightly improving the mechanical properties of the electrospun mats and by slowing down the release of the model drug through the reduction of the matrix swelling.

Bioactive Keratin and Fibroin Nanoparticles: An Overview of Their Preparation Strategies.

In recent years, several studies have focused their attention on the preparation of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers of potential interest in the biomedical field, ranging from drug delivery systems to imaging and diagnosis. In this regard, natural biomolecules-such as proteins-represent an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers or inorganic materials, thanks to their numerous advantages, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Among the most interesting proteins, keratin extracted from wool and feathers, as well as fibroin extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons, possess all of the abovementioned features required for biomedical applications. In the present review, we therefore aim to give an overview of the most important and efficient methodologies for obtaining drug-loaded keratin and fibroin nanoparticles, and of their potential for biomedical applications.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Antibacterial Properties of Silver-Functionalized Low-Dimensional Layered Zirconium Phosphonates.

New insoluble layered zirconium phosphate carboxyaminophosphonates (ZPs), with the general formula Zr2(PO4)H5[(O3PCH2)2N(CH2)nCOO]2·mH2O (n = 3, 4, and 5), have been prepared and characterized. The crystal structure for n = 3 and 4 samples was determined ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data. The structure for n = 3 was monoclinic in space group C2/c with the following unit cell parameters: a = 34.346(1) Å, b = 8.4930(2) Å, c = 9.0401(2) Å, and ß = 97.15(1)°. The structure for n = 4 was triclinic in space group P1̅ with the following unit cell parameters: a = 17.9803(9) Å, b = 8.6066(4) Å, c = 9.0478(3) Å, α = 90.466(3)°, ß = 94.910(4)°, and γ = 99.552(4)°. The two structures had the same connectivity as Zr phosphate glycine diphosphonate (n = 1), as previously reported. By intercalation of short amines, these layered compounds were exfoliated in single lamella or packets of a few lamellae, which formed colloidal dispersions in water. After a thorough characterization, the dispersed lamellae were functionalized with Ag nanoparticles, which were grown in situ on the surface of exfoliated lamellae. Finally, their antimicrobial activity was tested on several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. All of these systems were found to be active against the four pathogens most frequently isolated from orthopedic prosthetic infections and often causative of nosocomial infections. Interestingly, they were found to express powerful inhibitory activity even against bacterial strains exhibiting a relevant profile of antibiotic resistance such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 700699.

Silk Fibroin and Pomegranate By-Products to Develop Sustainable Active Pad for Food Packaging Applications.

In this study, a bio-based polymeric system loaded with fruit by-products was developed. It was based on silk fibroin produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori and pomegranate peel powder, selected as active agent. The weight ratio between fibroin and pomegranate powder was 30:70. Pads also contained 20% w/w of glycerol vs. fibroin to induce water insolubility. Control systems, consisting of only fibroin and glycerol, were produced as reference. Both control and active systems were characterized for structural and morphological characterization (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and optical microscope), antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity against two foodborne spoilage microorganisms. Results demonstrate that under investigated conditions, an active system was obtained. The pad showed a good water stability, with weight loss of about 28% due to the release of the active agent and not to the fibroin loss. In addition, this edible system has interesting antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In particular, the pad based on fibroin with pomegranate peel recorded an antioxidant activity of the same order of magnitude of that of vitamin C, which is one of the most well-known antioxidant compounds. As regards the antimicrobial properties, results underlined that pomegranate peel in the pad allowed maintaining microbial concentration around the same initial level (104 CFU/mL) for more than 70 h of monitoring, compared to the control system where viable cell concentration increased very rapidly up to 108 CFU/mL.

Cell Volume Regulation Mechanisms in Differentiated Astrocytes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The ability of astrocytes to control extracellular volume homeostasis is critical for brain function and pathology. Uncovering the mechanisms of cell volume regulation by astrocytes will be important for identifying novel therapeutic targets for neurological conditions, such as those characterized by imbalances to hydro saline challenges (as in edema) or by altered cell volume regulation (as in glioma). One major challenge in studying the astroglial membrane channels involved in volume homeostasis in cell culture model systems is that the expression patterns of these membrane channels do not resemble those observed in vivo. In our previous study, we demonstrated that rat primary astrocytes grown on nanostructured interfaces based on hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlc) in vitro are differentiated and display molecular and functional properties of in vivo astrocytes, such as the functional expression of inwardly rectifying K+ channel (Kir 4.1) and Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) at the astrocytic microdomain. Here, we take advantage of the properties of differentiated primary astrocytes in vitro to provide an insight into the mechanism underpinning astrocytic cell volume regulation and its correlation with the expression and function of AQP4, Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4(TRPV4), and Volume Regulated Anion Channel (VRAC). METHODS: The calcein quenching method was used to study water transport and cell volume regulation. Calcium imaging and electrophysiology (patch-clamp) were used for functional analyses of calcium dynamics and chloride currents. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to analyse the expression and localization of the channel proteins of interest. RESULTS: We found that the increase in water permeability, previously observed in differentiated astrocytes, occurs simultaneously with more efficient regulatory volume increase and regulatory volume decrease. Accordingly, the magnitude of the hypotonic induced intracellular calcium response, typically mediated by TRPV4, as well as the hypotonic induced VRAC current, was almost twice as high in differentiated astrocytes. Interestingly, while we confirmed increased AQP4 expression in the membrane of differentiated astrocytes, the expression of the channels TRPV4 and Leucine-Rich Repeats-Containing 8-A (LRRC8-A) were comparable between differentiated and non-differentiated astrocytes. CONCLUSION: The reported results indicate that AQP4 up-regulation observed in differentiated astrocytes might promote higher sensitivity of the cell to osmotic changes, resulting in increased magnitude of calcium signaling and faster kinetics of the RVD and RVI processes. The implications for cell physiology and the mechanisms underlying astrocytic interaction with nanostructured interfaces are discussed.

Effects of the Blending Ratio on the Design of Keratin/Poly(butylene succinate) Nanofibers for Drug Delivery Applications.

In recent years there has been a growing interest in the use of proteins as biocompatible and environmentally friendly biomolecules for the design of wound healing and drug delivery systems. Keratin is a fascinating protein, obtainable from several keratinous biomasses such as wool, hair or nails, with intrinsic bioactive properties including stimulatory effects on wound repair and excellent carrier capability. In this work keratin/poly(butylene succinate) blend solutions with functional properties tunable by manipulating the polymer blending ratios were prepared by using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol as common solvent. Afterwards, these solutions doped with rhodamine B (RhB), were electrospun into blend mats and the drug release mechanism and kinetics as a function of blend composition was studied, in order to understand the potential of such membranes as drug delivery systems. The electrophoresis analysis carried out on keratin revealed that the solvent used does not degrade the protein. Moreover, all the blend solutions showed a non-Newtonian behavior, among which the Keratin/PBS 70/30 and 30/70 ones showed an amplified orientation ability of the polymer chains when subjected to a shear stress. Therefore, the resulting nanofibers showed thinner mean diameters and narrower diameter distributions compared to the Keratin/PBS 50/50 blend solution. The thermal stability and the mechanical properties of the blend electrospun mats improved by increasing the PBS content. Finally, the RhB release rate increased by increasing the keratin content of the mats and the drug diffused as drug-protein complex.

Effect of Chemically Engineered Au/Ag Nanorods on the Optical and Mechanical Properties of Keratin Based Films.

In this work we report the preparation and characterization of free-standing keratin-based films containing Au/Ag nanorods. The effect of nanorods surface chemistry on the optical and mechanical properties of keratin composite films is fully investigated. Colloid nanorods confer to the keratin films interesting color effects due to plasmonic absorptions of the metal nanostructures. The presence of metal NRs induces also substantial change in the protein fluorescence emission. In particular, the relative contribution of the ordered-protein aggregates emission is enhanced by the presence of cysteine and thus strictly related to the surface chemistry of nanorods. The presence of more packed supramolecular structures in the films containing metal nanorods (in particular cysteine modified ones) is confirmed by ATR measurements. In addition, the films containing nanorods show a higher Young's modulus compared to keratin alone and again the effect is more pronounced for cysteine modified nanorods. Collectively, the reported results indicate the optical and mechanical properties of keratin composites films are related to a common property and can be tuned simultaneously, paving the way to the optimization and improvement of their performances and enhancing the exploitation of keratin composites in highly technological optoelectronic applications.

Stimulation of water and calcium dynamics in astrocytes with pulsed infrared light.

Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that govern the homeostatic regulation of the brain through ions and water transport, and Ca2+ -mediated signaling. As they are tightly integrated into neural networks, label-free tools that can modulate cell function are needed to evaluate the role of astrocytes in brain physiology and dysfunction. Using live-cell fluorescence imaging, pharmacology, electrophysiology, and genetic manipulation, we show that pulsed infrared light can modulate astrocyte function through changes in intracellular Ca2+ and water dynamics, providing unique mechanistic insight into the effect of pulsed infrared laser light on astroglial cells. Water transport is activated and, IP3 R, TRPA1, TRPV4, and Aquaporin-4 are all involved in shaping the dynamics of infrared pulse-evoked intracellular calcium signal. These results demonstrate that astrocyte function can be modulated with infrared light. We expect that targeted control over calcium dynamics and water transport will help to study the crucial role of astrocytes in edema, ischemia, glioma progression, stroke, and epilepsy.

Keratin/Hydrotalcites Hybrid Sponges as Promising Adsorbents for Cationic and Anionic Dyes.

In this work, keratin sponges were prepared by freeze-drying method and tested for adsorption of Azure A and Methyl Orange dyes. The obtained materials showed a porosity of 99.92% and a mean pore size dimension of about 91 µm. The use of oxidized sucrose with a heating treatment at 150°C was demonstrated to be a useful crosslinking procedure alternative to the conventional glutaraldehyde. Keratin sponges showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.063 and of 0.037 mmol/g for Azure A and Methyl Orange, respectively. The absorption of the cationic dye Azure A onto keratin sponges was better described by Freundlich model while the isotherm adsorption of the anionic Methyl Orange was found to correlate with both Langmuir and Freundlich models. The mean free energies evaluated by using the D-R model indicated a physisorption of Methyl Orange and a chemisorptions of Azure A onto keratin sponges. Finally, the functionalization of keratin sponges with Zn Al hydrotalcites nanoparticles did not affect the adsorption performances of the adsorbent toward the cationic dye Azure A, while it improved those toward the anionic Methyl Orange, increasing the related removal efficiencies from 43 to 96%. Collectively, the reported data indicates that the combination of keratin with hydrotalcites nanoparticles is a good strategy to obtain more functional adsorbent materials of potential interest for water treatment and purification.

Zirconium Carboxyaminophosphonate Nanosheets as Support for Ag Nanoparticles.

A layered insoluble inorganic-organic solid, namely zirconium phosphate glycine-N,N-bismethylphosphonate, was used to prepare dispersions of nanosheets to support active metals such as metallic silver nanoparticles and zinc ions. Zr phosphate-phosphonate microcrystals were first exfoliated with methylamine to produce a stable colloidal dispersion and then the methylamine was removed by treatment with hydrochloric acid. The obtained colloidal dispersion of Zr phosphate-phosphonate nanosheets was used to immobilize silver or zinc cations, via ion exchange, with the acidic protons of the sheets. The layered matrix showed a great affinity for the metal cations up taking all the added cations. The treatment of the dispersions containing silver ions with ethanol yielded metal silver nanoparticles grafted on the surface of the layered host. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis transmission electron microscopy, and selected samples were submitted to antimicrobial tests. The nanocomposites based on Ag nanoparticles showed good bactericidal properties against the bacterial reference strain Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis).

Polydopamine Nanoparticle-Coated Polysulfone Porous Granules as Adsorbents for Water Remediation.

Water purification technologies possibly based on eco-sustainable, low cost, and multifunctional materials are being intensively pursued to resolve the current water scarcity and pollution. In this scenario, polysulfone hollow porous granules (PS-HPGs) prepared from scraps of the industrial production of polysulfone hollow fiber membranes were recently introduced as adsorbents and filtration materials for water and air treatment. Here, we report the functionalization of PS-HPGs with polydopamine (PD) nanoparticles for the preparation of a new versatile and efficient adsorbent material, namely, PSPD-HPGs. The in situ growth of PD under mild alkaline oxidative polymerization allowed us to stably graft PD on polysulfone granules. Enhanced removal efficiency of ofloxacin, an antibiotic drug, with an improvement up to 70% with respect to the pristine PS-HPGs, and removal of Zn(II) and Ni(II) were also observed after PD modification. Remarkably, removal of Cu(II) ions with an efficiency up to 80% was observed for PSPD-HPGs, whereas no adsorption was found for the PD-free precursor. Collectively, these data show that modification with a biocompatible polymer such as PD provides a simple and valuable tool to enlarge the field of application of polysulfone hollow granules for water remediation from both organic and metal cation contaminants.

Nano-hybrid electrospun non-woven mats made of wool keratin and hydrotalcites as potential bio-active wound dressings.

In this work, nano-hybrid electrospun non-woven mats made of wool keratin combined with diclofenac loaded hydrotalcites (HTD) were prepared and characterized as potential drug delivery systems and scaffolds for fibroblast cell growth. Nano-hybrid electrospun non-woven mats showed a good adaptability to wet skin, effortlessly conforming to the three-dimensional topography of the tissue. Nanosized HTD exercised an overall reinforcing action on the electrospun non-woven mats since the nanohybrid samples displayed a reduced swelling ratio and a slower degradation profile compared to keratin-based nanofiber non-woven mats containing free diclofenac, without negative effects on drug release. The cell viability test indicated a decreased toxicity of the drug when loaded into nanofibers and confirmed the biocompatibility of keratin/HTD electrospun non-woven mats; moreover, a controlled diclofenac release within the first 24 hours does not compromise the fibroblast cell growth in a significant manner.

Unprecedented Behavior of (9 R)-9-Hydroxystearic Acid-Loaded Keratin Nanoparticles on Cancer Cell Cycle.

Histone deacetylases, HDACs, have been demonstrated to play a critical role in epigenetic signaling and were found to be overexpressed in several type of cancers; therefore, they represent valuable targets for anticancer therapy. 9-Hydroxystearic acid has been shown to bind the catalytic site of HDAC1, inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and activation of the p21WAF1 gene, thus promoting cell growth inhibition and differentiation in many cancer cells. Despite the ( R) enantiomer of 9-hydroxystearic acid (9R) displaying a promising in vitro growth-inhibitory effect on the HT29 cell line, its scarce water solubility and micromolar activity require novel solutions for improving its efficacy and bioavailability. In this work, we describe the synthesis and in vitro biological profiling of 9R keratin nanoparticles (9R@ker) obtained through an in-water drug-induced aggregation process. The anticancer activity of 9R@ker was investigated in the HT29 cell line; the results indicate an increased fluidity of cell membrane and a higher intracellular ROS formation, resulting in an unexpected S phase cell cycle arrest (25% increase as compared to the control) induced by 9R@ker with respect to free 9R and an induction of cell death.

Molecular beacon-decorated polymethylmethacrylate core-shell fluorescent nanoparticles for the detection of survivin mRNA in human cancer cells.

One of the main goals of nanomedicine in cancer is the development of effective drug delivery systems, primarily nanoparticles. Survivin, an overexpressed anti-apoptotic protein in cancer, represents a pharmacological target for therapy and a Molecular Beacon (MB) specific for survivin mRNA is available. In this study, the ability of polymethylmethacrylate nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) to promote survivin MB uptake in human A549 cells was investigated. Fluorescent and positively charged core PMMA-NPs of nearly 60nm, obtained through an emulsion co-polymerization reaction, and the MB alone were evaluated in solution, for their analytical characterization; then, the MB specificity and functionality were verified after adsorption onto the PMMA-NPs. The carrier ability of PMMA-NPs in A549 was examined by confocal microscopy. With the optimized protocol, a hardly detectable fluorescent signal was obtained after incubation of the cells with the MB alone (fluorescent spots per cell of 1.90±0.40 with a mean area of 1.04±0.20µm2), while bright fluorescent spots inside the cells were evident by using the MB loaded onto the PMMA-NPs. (27.50±2.30 fluorescent spots per cell with a mean area of 2.35±0.16µm2). These results demonstrate the ability of the PMMA-NPs to promote the survivin-MB internalization, suggesting that this complex might represent a promising strategy for intracellular sensing and for the reduction of cancer cell proliferation.

A Nanoscale Interface Promoting Molecular and Functional Differentiation of Neural Cells.

Potassium channels and aquaporins expressed by astrocytes are key players in the maintenance of cerebral homeostasis and in brain pathophysiologies. One major challenge in the study of astrocyte membrane channels in vitro, is that their expression pattern does not resemble the one observed in vivo. Nanostructured interfaces represent a significant resource to control the cellular behaviour and functionalities at micro and nanoscale as well as to generate novel and more reliable models to study astrocytes in vitro. However, the potential of nanotechnologies in the manipulation of astrocytes ion channels and aquaporins has never been previously reported. Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlc) are layered materials with increasing potential as biocompatible nanoscale interface. Here, we evaluate the effect of the interaction of HTlc nanoparticles films with primary rat neocortical astrocytes. We show that HTlc films are biocompatible and do not promote gliotic reaction, while favouring astrocytes differentiation by induction of F-actin fibre alignment and vinculin polarization. Western Blot, Immunofluorescence and patch-clamp revealed that differentiation was accompanied by molecular and functional up-regulation of both inward rectifying potassium channel Kir 4.1 and aquaporin 4, AQP4. The reported results pave the way to engineering novel in vitro models to study astrocytes in a in vivo like condition.