Metals Significance in Applied Sciences: From Biological Systems to Inorganic Materials

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 12844

Special Issue Editors

Department of Pharmacy – Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Interests: medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry; green chemistry; chromatography; analytical chemistry; food chemistry; synthesis; neurodegenerative diseases; Alzheimer’s disease
Department of Chemistry, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Interests: analytical chemistry; archaeometry; ceramics; cultural heritage; spectroscopy techniques; statistical treatments
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, metals have received considerable in from scientists in many fields, thanks to their important function in everyday life. Their significance in biological systems is widely studied: in fact, their homeostasis is fundamental for the proper operation of our body and can influence physiological and pathological conditions.

In particular, several classes of chelators have fascinated researchers in the pharmacological and medicinal chemistry areas: numerous promising molecules are now objects of great interest for the future treatments of neurodegenerative diseases but also in targeting drugs for anticancer innovative therapies. In addition, the possibility to use chelators in diagnostic tests as well as the role of metals as key factors in numerous enzyme’s works appears crucial.

On the other hand, enclosed metals in one definition, especially in the case of inorganic materials, can be both constraining and worthless. Our aim is to open up to all fields in chemistry and materials science strongly connected with metals: from metallic polymers and high-tech devices to metals environmental monitoring and their discriminant value in statistical treatment, as well as to conservation science and cultural heritage.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions exploring the study of metals in different research areas, such as medicinal, organic, and inorganic chemistry in a variety of applications. Contributions can focus on the involvement of metals in biological systems, on metals as catalysts, and on the study of metals in the environment and cultural heritage. Short communications and reviews are also welcomed.

Dr. Luca Piemontese
Dr. Lorena Carla Giannossa
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • metals
  • chelators
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • bio-metals
  • catalysts
  • environment
  • pollutants
  • metals data treatments
  • statistical methods
  • metals in cultural heritage

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 8048 KiB  
Article
Chlorophytum comosum: A Bio-Indicator for Assessing the Accumulation of Heavy Metals Present in The Aerosol Particulate Matter (PM)
by Paola Fermo, Simona Masiero, Mario Rosa, Giovanna Labella and Valeria Comite
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4348; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11104348 - 11 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2696
Abstract
The present research focuses on the use of Chlorophytum comosum as a bio-indicator able to accumulate, through its leaves, heavy metals present in the aerosol particulate matter (PM) in the city of Milan (Italy). For this purpose, some specimens were exposed in selected [...] Read more.
The present research focuses on the use of Chlorophytum comosum as a bio-indicator able to accumulate, through its leaves, heavy metals present in the aerosol particulate matter (PM) in the city of Milan (Italy). For this purpose, some specimens were exposed in selected sites at the Milan University Campus for increasing periods (7, 30, 60, 128 and 165 days). The collected leaves were then analyzed to quantify Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). The leaves’ surfaces were also examined by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Chlorophytum comosum has proved to be a good system for studying the accumulation of heavy metals. The metals present with the higher concentration were Zn and Mn followed by Cd and Cr while Co, Ni and Pb were present in lower concentration. Although the sites investigated are not very far from each other, differences in the concentration of the heavy metals analyzed were found. Furthermore, in the monitoring period considered (July 2018–December 2018) the plant was a good proxy for tracking the concentration of zinc in Milan’s PM. Full article
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14 pages, 2136 KiB  
Article
Sequential Extraction Analysis of Arsenic in Soil Samples Collected in an Agricultural Area of Brindisi, Apulia (Italy), in the Proximity of a Coal-Burning Power Plant
by Danilo Migoni, Paride Papadia, Francesco Cannito and Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(5), 2115; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11052115 - 27 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1941
Abstract
In order to evaluate the local environmental risk deriving from coal transport and burning, 30 soil samples were collected along the coal conveyor belt and around the coal-burning power plant Federico II of Brindisi (Apulia, southern Italy). Since soil pollution of metals and [...] Read more.
In order to evaluate the local environmental risk deriving from coal transport and burning, 30 soil samples were collected along the coal conveyor belt and around the coal-burning power plant Federico II of Brindisi (Apulia, southern Italy). Since soil pollution of metals and metalloids is measured not only by their total concentration but also by evaluating their mobility and availability, arsenic sequential extraction, leaching test and speciation analysis were performed. The analytical results showed that the most abundant As amount was contained in the final residue of the sequential extraction procedure, the so-called occluded As, embedded in rock formations such as sulphides. Moreover speciation chemical analysis showed that As(V) was by far the most abundant species, whereas As(III), which represents the most soluble and available species, was only a very small fraction. No arsenic organic species were detected in the soil samples. Full article
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Review

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16 pages, 5567 KiB  
Review
The Distinctive Role of Chemical Composition in Archaeometry. The Case of Apulian Red Figure Pottery
by Lorena Carla Giannossa, Tiziana Forleo and Annarosa Mangone
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 3073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11073073 - 30 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Correlation of the scientific approach to the archaeological investigation and vice versa is considered, for at least the past 30 years, as the best strategy to answer questions in cultural heritage. Many archaeological queries have merged archaeological and scientific studies and have been [...] Read more.
Correlation of the scientific approach to the archaeological investigation and vice versa is considered, for at least the past 30 years, as the best strategy to answer questions in cultural heritage. Many archaeological queries have merged archaeological and scientific studies and have been carried out with a multidisciplinary approach that uses complementary analytical techniques. Here, we focused our efforts on outlining the strong relevance of elemental composition in chemistry and mineralogical investigations to answer important archaeological questions in the case of Apulian red figure pottery. This ceramic class is the most important quantitative handcraft production group of figured pottery in Magna Grecia and the most widespread and commercialized production from the third quarter of the fifth century to the end of the next century. The results obtained indicate that, by exploring chemical elements in the ceramic mixture, it is possible to extract information about provenance, manufacturing processes, originality and restoration techniques. Full article
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16 pages, 2458 KiB  
Review
Importance of Biometals as Targets in Medicinal Chemistry: An Overview about the Role of Zinc (II) Chelating Agents
by Rosalba Leuci, Leonardo Brunetti, Antonio Laghezza, Fulvio Loiodice, Paolo Tortorella and Luca Piemontese
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(12), 4118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10124118 - 15 Jun 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4770
Abstract
Zinc (II) is an important biometal in human physiology. Moreover, in the last two decades, it was deeply studied for its involvement in several pathological states. In particular, the regulation of its concentration in synaptic clefts can be fundamental for the treatment of [...] Read more.
Zinc (II) is an important biometal in human physiology. Moreover, in the last two decades, it was deeply studied for its involvement in several pathological states. In particular, the regulation of its concentration in synaptic clefts can be fundamental for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Zinc (II) is also a constituent of metalloenzymes (i.e., matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs, and carbonic anhydrases, CAs) with catalytic function; therefore, it can be an important target for the inhibition of these proteins, frequently involved in cancer onset. This review is focused on the significance of zinc (II) chelating agents in past and future medicinal chemistry research, and on the importance of selectivity in order to revamp the possibility of their use in therapy, often hindered by possible side effects. Full article
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