A colorimetric sensor based on nanoparticles was developed for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Nanoparticles were made using small sheets of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silver nitrate. The optical properties of the solution were characterized by spectrophotometer using the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. The shape and size of the nanoparticles were obtained using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Silver-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles solution (AgNP-PMMA) proved to be particularly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide compared to other analytes. This sensor provided a quick, practical and easy tool to detect hydrogen peroxide.

Proton therapy represents a groundbreaking advancement in cancer radiotherapy, leveraging the unique spatial energy distribution of protons to deliver precise, high-dose radiation to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. Despite its clinical success, proton therapy faces challenges in optimizing its therapeutic precision and efficacy. Recent research has highlighted the potential of gold nanoparticles to enhance proton therapy outcomes. Due to their high atomic number and favorable biological properties, gold nanoparticles act as radiosensitizers by amplifying the generation of secondary electrons and reactive oxygen species upon proton irradiation. This enhances DNA damage in tumor cells while preserving healthy tissues. Additionally, functionalization of gold nanoparticles with tumor-targeting ligands offers improved precision, making proton therapy more effective against a broader range of cancers. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of gold nanoparticle radiosensitization, preclinical evidence, and the technological hurdles that must be addressed to integrate this promising approach into clinical practice, aiming to advance the efficacy and accessibility of proton therapy in cancer therapy.

This paper reports the analyses carried out on the medieval copper alloy door (1111–1118 AD) of the mausoleum of Boemondo d’Altavilla in Canosa di Puglia (Southern Italy). The studied door is the smallest medieval bronze door extant in Italy and, unlike the other Byzantine doors, was most probably made in Canosa di Puglia and not in Constantinople. Analyses were performed to assess the chemical composition of the alloy patinas using a portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) instrument designed at the University of Salento. The experimental results suggested that the two door leaves have the same chemical composition, even if they appear different in both style and size. Furthermore, the alloy used for the door is different from the other previously-analyzed Byzantine bronze doors. The obtained results can be used in the future to compare the chemical composition of other Byzantine doors in order to better understand the manufacture of these precious artifacts.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as promising antimicrobial agents due to their unique properties and broad-spectrum antimicrobial action. However, their interaction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the bloodstream can lead to their oxidation, thereby reducing their antimicrobial effectiveness and potentially posing threats to human health. This study presents a novel approach to enhance the oxidation resistance of AgNPs by integrating them with carbon dots (CDs) to form an AgNPs/CDs hybrid system. CDs, with their exceptional biocompatibility and functionalized surface, can interact with AgNPs to provide a protective layer. Our green synthesis method employed microwave-assisted techniques using only three reagents: silver nitrate, L-tryptophan, and glucose. The characterization of the hybrid system was conducted using Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy (UV/Vis), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High Resolution TEM (HRTEM), and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed a red shift in the absorption peak of the hybrid system compared to pure AgNPs, confirming the interaction between CDs and AgNPs. TEM and HRTEM analyses, supported by the PASAD plug-in and Image Pro‐Plus software, respectively, elucidated the structural arrangement and interaction of these nanoparticles. Additionally, FEA computations using FreeFEM software platform forecasted the resonant wavelengths.

This work describes experimental results concerning the chemical composition of the alloy patina and inlays from the medieval copper alloy door of the cathedral of Troia (southern Italy), dating back to 1127 CE. The analyses were conducted in situ with no sampling or sample preparation required, using a portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) instrument. The compositional results show that the two door leaves were made using a binary alloy of copper and lead, while the nails, lion protomes, and handles have a different chemical composition. Moreover, the analyses revealed uniform concentrations of chlorine, probably due to cleaning treatments during the restoration. It is important to emphasise that the obtained results are the only ones related to this valuable masterpiece analysed.

The doped Ag-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature using a solution of titanium isopropoxide and silver nitrate as precursors. The inclusion of Ag in the nanocrystalline TiO2 lattice was systematically analyzed both from a morphological and a structural point of view. Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, electronic diffraction and X-rays allow us to testify that the dopant Ag does not modify the nanocrystalline anatase tetragonal structure of the nanoparticles, but causes a small distortion of the structure. UV-VIS spectroscopy allowed to analyze the optical properties of the obtained nanoparticles. Kubelka Munk's model allowed the interpretation of diffuse reflectance spectra. We have obtained a very different system from the hetero-system Ag-TiO2 described in the literature, but it shows an interesting photochromic behaviour. Ag-doped TiO2 nanoparticles darken and whiten under UV light and visible light, respectively, in a very fast way. A simple kinetic model has been used to process experimental data and describe the observed photochromic process and to determine the darkening and whitening constants.