Papers by Alessandro Chiadò
The Analyst, 2015
We report a novel sensing method for fluorescence-labelled microRNAs (miRNAs) spotted on an all-d... more We report a novel sensing method for fluorescence-labelled microRNAs (miRNAs) spotted on an all-dielectric photonic structure. Such a photonic structure provides an enhanced excitation and a directional beaming of the emitted fluorescence, resulting in a significant improvement of the overall signal collected. As a result, the Limit of Detection (LoD) is demonstrated to decrease by a factor of about 50. A compact read-out system allows a wide-field imaging-based detection, with little or no optical alignment issues, which makes this approach particularly interesting for further development for example in microarray-type bioassays.
PLoS ONE, 2014
In this manuscript, we modulate the binding properties of estrogen receptor protein by rationally... more In this manuscript, we modulate the binding properties of estrogen receptor protein by rationally modifying the amino acid composition of its ligand binding domain. By combining sequence alignment and structural analysis of known estrogen receptor-ligand complexes with computational analysis, we were able to predict estrogen receptor mutants with altered binding properties. These predictions were experimentally confirmed by producing single point variants with up to an order of magnitude increased binding affinity towards some estrogen disrupting chemicals and reaching an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value of 2 nM for the 17a-ethinylestradiol ligand. Due to increased affinity and stability, utilizing such mutated estrogen receptor instead of the wild type as bio-recognition element would be beneficial in an assay or biosensor. Citation: Ferrero VEV, Pedotti M, Chiadò A, Simonelli L, Calzolai L, et al. (2014) Rational Modification of Estrogen Receptor by Combination of Computational and Experimental Analysis. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102658.
nt.ntnu.no
In the last decades the European countries increased the policies related to environmental pollut... more In the last decades the European countries increased the policies related to environmental pollution, in order to improve water quality and people health. To date, environmental monitoring is mainly based on spot-sampling, or on the assessment of certain biomarkers in ...
Biosensors, 2013
To date, different kinds of biosensing elements have been used effectively for environmental moni... more To date, different kinds of biosensing elements have been used effectively for environmental monitoring. Microbial cells seem to be well-suited for this task: they are cheap, adaptable to variable field conditions and give a measurable response to a broad number of chemicals. Among different pollutants, heavy metals are still a major problem for the environment. A reasonable starting point for the selection of a biorecognition element to develop a biosensor for metals could be that of a microorganism that exhibits good mechanisms to cope with metals. Pseudomonads are characterized by the secretion of siderophores (e.g., pyoverdine), low-molecular weight compounds that chelate Fe 3+ during iron starvation. Pyoverdine is easily detected by colorimetric assay, and it is suitable for simple online measurements. In this work, in order to evaluate pyoverdine as a biorecognition element for metal detection, the influence of metal ions (Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ ), but also of temperature, pH and nutrients, on microbial growth and pyoverdine regulation has been studied in P. fluorescens. Each of these variables has been shown to influence the synthesis of siderophore: for instance, the lower the temperature, the higher the production of pyoverdine. Moreover, the concentration of pyoverdine produced in the presence of metals has been compared with the maximum allowable concentrations indicated in international regulations (e.g., 98/83/EC), and a correlation that could be useful to build a colorimetric biosensor has been observed. OPEN ACCESS Biosensors 2013, 3 386
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Papers by Alessandro Chiadò