We implement a machine learning classification of similar proteins by PCA mixed with multipeak fitting on SERS spectra for effective discrimination based on valid biological differences.

In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been recognized as a physical therapy in wound management. Despite several published research papers, the mechanism underlying photobiomodulation is still not completely understood. The investigation about application of blue light to improve wound healing is a relatively new research area. Tests in selected patients evidenced a stimulation of the healing process in superficial and chronic wounds treated with a blue LED light emitting at 420 nm; a study in animal model pointed out a faster healing process in superficial wound, with an important role of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Here, we present a study aiming at evidencing the effects of blue light on the proliferation and metabolism in fibroblasts from healthy skin and keratinocytes. Different light doses (3.43, 6.87, 13.7, 20.6, 30.9 and 41.2 J/cm${}^2$) were used to treat the cells, evidencing inhibitory and stimulatory effects following a biphasic dose behavior. Electrophysiology was used to investigate the effects on membrane currents: healthy fibroblasts and keratinocytes showed no significant differences between treated and not treated cells. Raman spectroscopy revealed the mitochondrial Cytochrome C (Cyt C) oxidase dependence on blue light irradiation: a significant decrease in peak intensity of healthy fibroblast was evidenced, while it is less pronounced in keratinocytes. In conclusion, we observed that the blue LED light can be used to modulate metabolism and proliferation of human fibroblasts, and the effects in wound healing are particularly evident when studying the fibroblasts and keratinocytes co-cultures.

In the rapidly emerging field of layered two-dimensional functional materials, black phosphorus, the P-counterpart of graphene, is a potential candidate for various applications, e.g., nanoscale optoelectronics, rechargeable ion batteries, electrocatalysts, thermoelectrics, solar cells, and sensors. Black phosphorus has shown superior chemical sensing performance; in particular, it is selective for the detection of NO₂, an environmental toxic gas, for which black phosphorus has highlighted high sensitivity at a ppb level. In this work, by applying a multiscale characterization approach, we demonstrated a stability and functionality improvement of nickel-decorated black phosphorus films for gas sensing prepared by a simple, reproducible, and affordable deposition technique. Furthermore, we studied the electrical behavior of these films once implemented as functional layers in gas sensors by exposing them to different gaseous compounds and under different relative humidity conditions. Finally, the influence on sensing performance of nickel nanoparticle dimensions and concentration correlated to the decoration technique and film thickness was investigated.

The aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein (αS) into amyloid fibrils is associated with a range of highly debilitating neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease. Although the structural properties of mature amyloids of αS are currently understood, the nature of transient protofilaments and fibrils that appear during αS aggregation remains elusive. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and biophysical methods, we here characterized intermediate amyloid fibrils of αS forming during the aggregation from liquid-like spherical condensates to mature amyloids adopting the structure of pathologically observed aggregates. These transient amyloid intermediates, which induce significant levels of cytotoxicity when incubated with neuronal cells, were found to be stabilized by a small core in an antiparallel β-sheet conformation, with a disordered N-terminal region of the protein remaining available to mediate membrane binding. In contrast, mature amyloids that subsequently appear during the aggregation showed different structural and biological properties, including low levels of cytotoxicity, a rearranged structured core embedding also the N-terminal region, and a reduced propensity to interact with the membrane. The characterization of these two fibrillar forms of αS, and the use of antibodies and designed mutants, enabled us to clarify the role of critical structural elements endowing intermediate amyloid species with the ability to interact with membranes and induce cytotoxicity.