Giancarlo Fini

Bio: Giancarlo Fini is an academic researcher from University of Bologna. The author has contributed to research in topics: Raman spectroscopy & Avidin. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 60 publications receiving 1325 citations.

Evidence for short-range orientation effects in dipolar aprotic liquids from vibrational spectroscopy. Part 1.—Ethylene and propylene carbonates

Abstract: The CO stretching frequency of liquid ethylene and propylene carbonates is higher in the infrared than in the Raman spectrum. The difference amounts to 13 cm–1 for ethylene carbonate at 313 K. This effect is explained as the consequence of a coupling between the transition dipoles of neighbouring molecules, which is made possible by some degree of alignment of molecular dipoles due to the high dipole moment of these molecules (about 16 × 10–30 C m). A study of dilution and temperature effects confirms this interpretation.

Applications of Raman spectroscopy to pharmacy

Abstract: This paper gives a summary of this special issue on ‘Pharmaceutical Applications of Raman Spectroscopy’. It summarizes the papers collected and introduces the possible applications of classical Raman spectroscopy (macro and micro) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to the identification of pharmacologically active substances, their qualitative and quantitative analysis, characterization of crystalline forms and structure determination. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Local order and vibrational coupling in solutions of polar molecules

Abstract: The separation between the isotropic and the anisotropic component of some Raman bands of polar molecules is studied as a function of concentration in different solvents. It is found that it depends linearly on the ratio between the volume fraction and the static dielectric constant of the solution, and becomes zero at a finite concentration. It is suggested that this concentration threshold is related to the relaxation time of the vibrational energy. An explanation is proposed for the observed dependence on the dielectric constant.

Evidence for short-range orientation effects in dipolar aprotic liquids from vibrational spectroscopy. Part 2.—Carbonyl compounds

Abstract: In the Raman spectrum of pure liquids, the anisotropic component of the CO stretching band falls at a higher frequency than the isotropic component In the same liquids the infra-red band maximum appears at almost the same frequency as the Raman anisotropic component In some cases the infra-red band may be resolved into two components, the stronger coinciding with the anisotropic, the weaker with the isotropic Raman band These effects disappear with dilution and are reduced with increasing temperatureThis behaviour is explained in terms of a model which assumes that dipolar aprotic liquids are composed of clusters of molecules oriented in an (at least partially) ordered way

Surface enhanced vibrational spectroscopy

Abstract: The nature and properties of surface-enhanced vibrational spectra of molecules adsorbed on surfaces that can enhance the absorption and the emission of electromagnetic radiation are discussed. Examples of surface-enhanced resonant Raman scattering, surface-enhanced Raman scattering in the near-infrared and surface-enhanced infrared are given. The rough surfaces used are metal island films coated with a nanometric organic film using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique or deposited by vacuum evaporation.

Physiology and Pathophysiology of Carnosine

Abstract: Carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) was discovered in 1900 as an abundant non-protein nitrogen-containing compound of meat. The dipeptide is not only found in skeletal muscle, but also in other excitable tissues. Most animals, except humans, also possess a methylated variant of carnosine, either anserine or ophidine/balenine, collectively called the histidine-containing dipeptides. This review aims to decipher the physiological roles of carnosine, based on its biochemical properties. The latter include pH-buffering, metal-ion chelation, and antioxidant capacity as well as the capacity to protect against formation of advanced glycation and lipoxidation end-products. For these reasons, the therapeutic potential of carnosine supplementation has been tested in numerous diseases in which ischemic or oxidative stress are involved. For several pathologies, such as diabetes and its complications, ocular disease, aging, and neurological disorders, promising preclinical and clinical results have been obtained. Also the pathophysiological relevance of serum carnosinase, the enzyme actively degrading carnosine into l-histidine and β-alanine, is discussed. The carnosine system has evolved as a pluripotent solution to a number of homeostatic challenges. l-Histidine, and more specifically its imidazole moiety, appears to be the prime bioactive component, whereas β-alanine is mainly regulating the synthesis of the dipeptide. This paper summarizes a century of scientific exploration on the (patho)physiological role of carnosine and related compounds. However, far more experiments in the fields of physiology and related disciplines (biology, pharmacology, genetics, molecular biology, etc.) are required to gain a full understanding of the function and applications of this intriguing molecule.

Liposomal Nanocapsules in Food Science and Agriculture

Abstract: Liposomes, spherical bilayer vesicles from dispersion of polar lipids in aqueous solvents, have been widely studied for their ability to act as drug delivery vehicles by shielding reactive or sensitive compounds prior to release. Liposome entrapment has been shown to stabilize encapsulated, bioactive materials against a range of environmental and chemical changes, including enzymatic and chemical modification, as well as buffering against extreme pH, temperature, and ionic strength changes. Liposomes have been especially useful to researchers in studies of various physiological processes as models of biological membranes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Industrial applications include encapsulation of pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, cosmetics, anti-cancer and gene therapy drugs. In the food industry, liposomes have been used to deliver food flavors and nutrients and more recently have been investigated for their ability to incorporate food antimicrobials that could aid in the protection of food products against growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. In this review we briefly introduce key physicochemical properties of liposomes and review competing methods for liposome production. A survey of non-agricultural and food applications of liposomes are given. Finally, a detailed up-to-date summary of the emerging usage of liposomes in the food industry as delivery vehicles of nutrients, nutraceuticals, food additives, and food antimicrobials is provided.