We describe an innovative experimental and computational approach to control the expression of a protein in a population of yeast cells. We designed a simple control algorithm to automatically regulate the administration of inducer molecules to the cells by comparing the actual protein expression level in the cell population with the desired expression level. We then built an automated platform based on a microfluidic device, a time-lapse microscopy apparatus, and a set of motorized syringes, all controlled by a computer. We tested the platform to force yeast cells to express a desired fixed, or time-varying, amount of a reporter protein over thousands of minutes. The computer automatically switched the type of sugar administered to the cells, its concentration and its duration, according to the control algorithm. Our approach can be used to control expression of any protein, fused to a fluorescent reporter, provided that an external molecule known to (indirectly) affect its promoter activity is available.

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We present an analysis of the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanostructured titania (TiO2) thin films produced by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition. Up to four PL bands are evidenced and analyzed, corresponding to radiative transitions ranging from the blue/violet to the near-infrared. The PL analysis was carried out on as-grown and post-growth annealed samples in both above-bandgap and below-bandgap excitation conditions, and allowed evidencing definite correlations between surface area, crystal phase and PL efficiency. An interpretation of the various PL components is proposed in terms of various electron and/or hole states, according to the different structural characteristics and crystal phase of the nanoparticles-assembled films. In particular, similarities between the PL activity of as-grown amorphous nanoparticles and crystalline anatase nanoparticles highlight the role of specific surface states, offering interesting insights into the possibility of exploiting amorphous TiO2 nanoparticles for PL-based applications in which surface states play an active role

The Hummers' method for graphite oxide (GO) preparation has been applied to graphite nanoplatelets, in order to achieve higher reaction yield and faster kinetics. Aqueous GO solutions have been used to produce uniform GO films on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate, generating graphene patterns in a controlled way (widths of a few tens of microns). The reduction of GO deposited on the polymeric substrate has been performed by using a Nd:YVO continuous-wave frequency-duplicated laser. Spectroscopic and diffractometric characterizations (FT-IR, visible-NIR, Raman, XPS, and XRD) have shown that the reduction process induced by the laser annealing technique is mainly due to dehydration of the GO layers. It has been obtained by means of a suitable laser optical apparatus, a controlled reduction of GO without damaging the substrate, and precise writing of micro-tracks that can be used as electrically and thermally conductive patterns.

A porous silicon (PSi) based microarray has been integrated with a microfluidic system, as a proof of concept device for the optical monitoring of selective label-free DNA-DNA interaction. A 4 × 4 square matrix of PSi one dimensional photonic crystals, each one of 200 μm diameter and spaced by 600 μm, has been sealed by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels circuit. The PSi optical microarray elements have been functionalized by DNA single strands after sealing: the microfluidic circuit allows to reduce significantly the biologicals and chemicals consumption, and also the incubation time with respect to a not integrated device. Theoretical calculations, based on finite element method, taking into account molecular interactions, are in good agreement with the experimental results, and the developed numerical model can be used for device optimization. The functionalization process and the interaction between DNA probe and target has been monitored by spectroscopic reflectometry for each PSi element in the microchannels.

We report on the patterning of the free surface of azo-based polymer films by means of mass migration driven by one- or two-photon absorption. A symmetric donor-acceptor-donor structured Y-shaped azochromophore is specifically synthesized to enhance two-photon absorption in the polymer. The exposure of the polymer film to a focused laser beam results in light-driven mass migration for both one- and two-photon absorptions. Features with subdiffraction resolution (250 nm) are realized and the patterning dynamics is investigated as a function of the light dose. Furthermore, functional photonic structures, such as diffraction gratings with periods ranging between 0.5 and 2.0 μm, have been realized.

We investigate the effect of oxygen (O-2) adsorption on photoluminescence properties of mixed-phase titania nanoparticle films deposited by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition, aiming to assess preliminary conclusions about the feasibility of opto-chemical sensing based on titania. We evidence that O-2 produces opposite responses in rutile and anatase photoluminescence efficiency, highlighting interesting potentialities for future double-parametric optical sensing based on titania. The results evidence an important role of lattice oxygen atoms, suggesting that the standard Schottky barrier mechanism driving the response toward gas species in most used metal-oxide sensors (e. g., tin dioxide) is not the only active mechanism in titania

We report on the patterning and reduction of graphene-oxide films by holographic lithography. Light reduction can be used to engineer low-cost graphene-based devices by performing a local conversion of insulating oxide into the conductive graphene. In this work, computer generated holograms have been exploited to realize complex graphene patterns in a single shot, differently from serial laser writing or mask-based photolithographic processes. The technique has been further improved by achieving speckle noise reduction: submicron and diffraction-limited features have been obtained. In addition we have also demonstrated that the gray-scale lithography capability can be used to obtain different reduction levels in a single exposure.