Giuseppe Forte

Emissive and electrochemically active Cu ²⁺ coordinated l -proline-derived carbon-nanodots were synthesized for specific and enhanced non-enzymatic detection of tyrosine.

Rapid and controlled synthesis of polypeptides remains a challenge due to trade‐offs between reaction rate, precision and practicality. We present a new class of compounds that enable fast and controlled Ring‐Opening Polymerization (ROP) of N ‐carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) under ambient, open‐vessel conditions. N ‐heterocyclic azamacrocycles allow for polymerization of γ‐benzyl‐ L ‐glutamate (BLG), sarcosine (SAR), and ε ‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐ L ‐lysine N ‐carboxyanhydride (ZLYS) with dispersities as low as Đ ≈1.1 for both low and high targeted degrees of polymerization (DP _T ∼20 to 1000). Degree of methylation of the macrocycle modulates their final role in ROP‐NCA: the fully N ‐methylated azamacrocycle N ₁₄ Me ₃ acts predominantly as an external rate‐enhancing catalyst under the tested external nucleophile conditions, while partially methylated N ₁₄ Me ₁ analogue exhibits dual initiator‐catalyst (IniCat) behavior. Kinetic studies and DFT calculations support cooperative participation of the azamacrocyclic scaffold and identify plausible accelerated amine mechanism via monomer activation (AAMMA)‐related pathways involving secondary‐sphere stabilization of reactive species. The combined results indicate a dynamically evolving system in which the relative contributions of individual interactions may depend on monomer structure, reaction environment and chain growth, highlighting azamacrocycles as tunable platforms for facile precision polypeptide synthesis.

Rapid and controlled synthesis of polypeptides remains a challenge due to trade‐offs between reaction rate, precision and practicality. We present a new class of compounds that enable fast and controlled Ring‐Opening Polymerization (ROP) of N ‐carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) under ambient, open‐vessel conditions. N ‐heterocyclic azamacrocycles allow for polymerization of γ‐benzyl‐ L ‐glutamate (BLG), sarcosine (SAR), and ε ‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐ L ‐lysine N ‐carboxyanhydride (ZLYS) with dispersities as low as Đ ≈1.1 for both low and high targeted degrees of polymerization (DP _T ∼20 to 1000). Degree of methylation of the macrocycle modulates their final role in ROP‐NCA: the fully N ‐methylated azamacrocycle N ₁₄ Me ₃ acts predominantly as an external rate‐enhancing catalyst under the tested external nucleophile conditions, while partially methylated N ₁₄ Me ₁ analogue exhibits dual initiator‐catalyst (IniCat) behavior. Kinetic studies and DFT calculations support cooperative participation of the azamacrocyclic scaffold and identify plausible accelerated amine mechanism via monomer activation (AAMMA)‐related pathways involving secondary‐sphere stabilization of reactive species. The combined results indicate a dynamically evolving system in which the relative contributions of individual interactions may depend on monomer structure, reaction environment and chain growth, highlighting azamacrocycles as tunable platforms for facile precision polypeptide synthesis.

A multi-emissive supramolecular system composed of C-nanodots, derived from β-cyclodextrin units, and Nile Red (NR) hosted in the cyclodextrin cavities (Cdots-βCD/NR) for specific and enhanced non-enzymatic phenylalanine recognition.

Pendant-arm modification of polyoxaaza macrocycles directs supramolecular architectures of 1+1 and 2+2 lanthanide complexes and efficient luminescent thermometric behaviour of Dy ³⁺ and Nd ³⁺ assemblies.

The first example of O -demethylation carried out under mild conditions using Cu( ii )-based system.

Carbon nanodots (CDs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials that have recently attracted significant attention for applications in personalized diagnosis, therapy and theragnostics.

Thermoresponsive CDs–agar–PNM nanocomposites integrate photothermal carbon dots and PNIPAM–agarose shells, exhibiting tunable LCST behavior, efficient light heating, and temperature-controlled curcumin release for biomedical applications.

Lanthanide–azobenzene macrocyclic complexes show contraction-tuned UV and/or Vis photoswitching and a unique glass-surface trigger for cis -to- trans re-isomerization. Nd ³⁺ and Yb ³⁺ assemblies function as dual Vis/NIR luminescent thermometers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the scientific community to develop new weapons against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The study of its mutations is important to understand how it interacts with human receptors and how to prevent a future pandemic. In this study, four mutations of the Omega variant, along with those from the SARS-CoV-1 and MERS variants, were analyzed in complex with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In silico studies were carried out to demonstrate that these mutations affect the interaction with the compounds under investigation. The ligands studied are heterocyclic compounds previously considered as potential inhibitors. Our results show that these compounds interact well with the spike protein and provide insights into how mutations, especially in the RBD region, can lead to perturbations in ligand–protein interactions.