CNR-Nanotec

CNR-Nanotec is a newly constituted research unit of the Italian National Research Council (CNR). It is an interdisciplinary research organization with facilities distributed over four locations where over 200 researchers with expertise in physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and engineering are involved. Particular emphasis is given to technology transfer and innovation, through a policy of strong interaction with the industry, also exploiting venture capital funds, and by encouraging and supporting the creation of start-ups and spin-offs. The Soft and Living Matter Laboratory (S.Li.M. Lab) in Rome is the CNR NANOTEC research Unit at Sapienza University. CNR researchers and university research associates mainly focus on the experimental and theoretical study of soft matter, structuring surfaces for environmental applications, functional organic devices, aging dynamics in complex fluids, statistical mechanics of disordered and glassy systems, photonics in random media, bone tissue and cell engineering, bio-fluids, active matter, quantitative biology, cellular metabolism, neurodegerative diseases, biomarkers for early detection of pathologies, cultural heritage. Many are the techniques developed and applied to these research lines in the labs in Rome and at European synchrotron in Grenoble. X-ray tomography and diffraction, atomic force microscopy, confocal and holographic 3D microscopy on the imaging field, as well as soft lithography, two photon lithography, holographic optical trapping and microfluidics in the fabrication and manipulation framework from the nano- to the meso-scale.

Dr. Alessia Cedola, the fellow's supervisor, is the head of the TOMALab group (Tomography for Medical Applications) group, which main research area is the progress and application of modern x-ray physics concepts to biomedical sciences and cultural heritage, exploiting the well established experience in X-ray optics and X-ray imaging.

A new paper containing the latest results of combined nano-X-ray Diffraction (nXRD) and nano-X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy data has been published. The results of the new measurements, which were performed on single asbestos bodies using synchrotron radiation, demonstrated that these latter are mainly composed by a co-presence of two iron oxyhydroxides (ferrihydrite and goethite). The result is in line with the formation mechanism of the asbestos bodies: when the alveolar macrophages attempt fibers phagocytosis the start depositing ferritin, which contains ferrihydrite, on asbestos. Ferrhydrite is a metastable biomineral that can evolve to goethite at acidic pH (4 - 5). The phagolysosomes contained in the macrophages have pH values in the same range (4 - 5). Therefore, a reasonable scenario is that the acidic pH induces the transfrmation of ferrihydrite to goethite. More researches are needed to generalize the proposed mechanism.

April 5-11, 2018

A talk on advanced synchrotron-based tomography techniques applied to biological samples was given by the fellow at the International School of Nanomedicine (3rd Course: “Nanofluidics, Nanoimaging and Nanomanipulation”, held in Erice (Italy) the 5-11 of April. The course focuses on the state-of-the-art techniques and advanced biophysical methods related to Nanomedicin. Results of phase-contrast and fluorescence tomographic data acquired at the European synchrotron were presented as a case study during the talk. More at Dissemination.

An experiment was performed at the nano-imaging beamline (ID16A) at the European synchrotron in Grenoble (ESRF). This experiment was the continuation of an experiment done about one year before that was aimed to the acquisition of fluorescence and phase contrast tomographic data on asbestos bodies in human lung tissues. The continuation was necessary to acquire more data on a larger set of samples. The experiment drawn the attention of the press staff of the ESRF and the fellow and his collaborators have been interviewed during the experiment. The press release can be found at this link.

A lecture on advanced synchrotron-based tomography techniques was given by the fellow at the European Mineralogical Union (EMU) School that took place in Modena (Italy) in June 19-23. The school focused on the crystallographic and physical-chemical properties of mineral fibres, and on their biologocal interaction and toxicity. During the lecture, preliminary results of phase-contrast and fluorescence tomographic data acquired at the European synchrotron were presented. More at Dissemination.

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