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Al-Nuaimi DA, Rütsche D, Abukar A, Hiebert P, Zanetti D, Cesarovic N, Falk V, Werner S, Mazza E, Giampietro C. Hydrostatic pressure drives sprouting angiogenesis via adherens junction remodelling and YAP signalling. Commun Biol 2024; 7:940. [PMID: 39097636 PMCID: PMC11297954 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06604-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell physiology is governed by its unique microenvironment at the interface between blood and tissue. A major contributor to the endothelial biophysical environment is blood hydrostatic pressure, which in mechanical terms applies isotropic compressive stress on the cells. While other mechanical factors, such as shear stress and circumferential stretch, have been extensively studied, little is known about the role of hydrostatic pressure in the regulation of endothelial cell behavior. Here we show that hydrostatic pressure triggers partial and transient endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in endothelial monolayers of different vascular beds. Values mimicking microvascular pressure environments promote proliferative and migratory behavior and impair barrier properties that are characteristic of a mesenchymal transition, resulting in increased sprouting angiogenesis in 3D organotypic model systems ex vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, this response is linked to differential cadherin expression at the adherens junctions, and to an increased YAP expression, nuclear localization, and transcriptional activity. Inhibition of YAP transcriptional activity prevents pressure-induced sprouting angiogenesis. Together, this work establishes hydrostatic pressure as a key modulator of endothelial homeostasis and as a crucial component of the endothelial mechanical niche.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominic Rütsche
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Asra Abukar
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Paul Hiebert
- Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
- Centre for Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Dominik Zanetti
- Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Cesarovic
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Werner
- Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Edoardo Mazza
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland.
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland.
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2
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Pramotton FM, Cousin L, Roy T, Giampietro C, Cecchini M, Masciullo C, Ferrari A, Poulikakos D. Accelerated epithelial layer healing induced by tactile anisotropy in surface topography. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd1581. [PMID: 37027475 PMCID: PMC10081848 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add1581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian cells respond to tactile cues from topographic elements presented by the substrate. Among these, anisotropic features distributed in an ordered manner give directionality. In the extracellular matrix, this ordering is embedded in a noisy environment altering the contact guidance effect. To date, it is unclear how cells respond to topographical signals in a noisy environment. Here, using rationally designed substrates, we report morphotaxis, a guidance mechanism enabling fibroblasts and epithelial cells to move along gradients of topographic order distortion. Isolated cells and cell ensembles perform morphotaxis in response to gradients of different strength and directionality, with mature epithelia integrating variations of topographic order over hundreds of micrometers. The level of topographic order controls cell cycle progression, locally delaying or promoting cell proliferation. In mature epithelia, the combination of morphotaxis and noise-dependent distributed proliferation provides a strategy to enhance wound healing as confirmed by a mathematical model capturing key elements of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Michela Pramotton
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Lucien Cousin
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tamal Roy
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Marco Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Cecilia Masciullo
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
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3
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Exarchos V, Neuber S, Meyborg H, Giampietro C, Chala N, Moimas S, Hinkov H, Kaufmann F, Pramotton FM, Krüger K, Rodriguez Cetina Biefer H, Cesarovic N, Poulikakos D, Falk V, Emmert MY, Ferrari A, Nazari-Shafti TZ. Anisotropic topographies restore endothelial monolayer integrity and promote the proliferation of senescent endothelial cells. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:953582. [PMID: 36277782 PMCID: PMC9579341 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.953582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombogenicity remains a major issue in cardiovascular implants (CVIs). Complete surficial coverage of CVIs by a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) prior to implantation represents a promising strategy but is hampered by the overall logistical complexity and the high number of cells required. Consequently, extensive cell expansion is necessary, which may eventually lead to replicative senescence. Considering that micro-structured surfaces with anisotropic topography may promote endothelialization, we investigated the impact of gratings on the biomechanical properties and the replicative capacity of senescent ECs. After cultivation on gridded surfaces, the cells showed significant improvements in terms of adherens junction integrity, cell elongation, and orientation of the actin filaments, as well as enhanced yes-associated protein nuclear translocation and cell proliferation. Our data therefore suggest that micro-structured surfaces with anisotropic topographies may improve long-term endothelialization of CVIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Exarchos
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Neuber
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Meyborg
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland,Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute for Mechanical Systems, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nafsika Chala
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Moimas
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hristian Hinkov
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedrich Kaufmann
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca M. Pramotton
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland,Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute for Mechanical Systems, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Krüger
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hector Rodriguez Cetina Biefer
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Cardiac Surgery, City Hospital of Zürich, Site Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Cesarovic
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland,Department for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Y. Emmert
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland,Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute for Mechanical Systems, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland,Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Timo Z. Nazari-Shafti
- Cardiosurgical Research Group, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Translational Cardiovascular Regenerative Technologies Group, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy, BIH Charité (Junior) (Digital) Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Timo Z. Nazari-Shafti,
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4
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Vazquez K, Saraswathibhatla A, Notbohm J. Effect of substrate stiffness on friction in collective cell migration. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2474. [PMID: 35169196 PMCID: PMC8847350 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06504-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In collective cell migration, the motion results from forces produced by each cell and transmitted to the neighboring cells and to the substrate. Because inertia is negligible and the migration occurs over long time scales, the cell layer exhibits viscous behavior, where force and motion are connected by an apparent friction that results from the breaking and forming of adhesive bonds at the cell–cell and cell–substrate interfaces. Most theoretical models for collective migration include an apparent friction to connect force and motion, with many models making predictions that depend on the ratio of cell–cell and cell–substrate friction. However, little is known about factors that affect friction, leaving predictions of many theoretical models untested. Here, we considered how substrate stiffness and the number of adhesions affected friction at the cell–substrate interface. The experimental data were interpreted through prior theoretical models, which led to the same conclusion, that increased substrate stiffness increased the number of cell–substrate adhesions and caused increased cell–substrate friction. In turn, the friction affected the collective migration by altering the curvature at the edge of the cell layer. By revealing underlying factors affecting friction and demonstrating how friction perturbs the collective migration, this work provides experimental evidence supporting prior theoretical models and motivates the study of other ways to alter the collective migration by changing friction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Vazquez
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Jacob Notbohm
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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5
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A free-form patterning method enabling endothelialization under dynamic flow. Biomaterials 2021; 273:120816. [PMID: 33895492 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Endothelialization strategies aim at protecting the surface of cardiovascular devices upon their interaction with blood by the generation and maintenance of a mature monolayer of endothelial cells. Rational engineering of the surface micro-topography at the luminal interface provides a powerful access point to support the survival of a living endothelium under the challenging hemodynamic conditions created by the implant deployment and function. Surface structuring protocols must however be adapted to the complex, non-planar architecture of the target device precluding the use of standard lithographic approaches. Here, a novel patterning method, harnessing the condensation and evaporation of water droplets on a curing liquid elastomer, is developed to introduce arrays of microscale wells on the surface of a biocompatible silicon layer. The resulting topographies support the in vitro generation of mature human endothelia and their maintenance under dynamic changes of flow direction or magnitude, greatly outperforming identical, but flat substrates. The structuring approach is additionally demonstrated on non-planar interfaces yielding comparable topographies. The intrinsically free-form patterning is therefore compatible with a complete and stable endothelialization of complex luminal interfaces in cardiovascular implants.
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6
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Pennacchio FA, Nastały P, Poli A, Maiuri P. Tailoring Cellular Function: The Contribution of the Nucleus in Mechanotransduction. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:596746. [PMID: 33490050 PMCID: PMC7820809 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.596746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells sense a variety of different mechanochemical stimuli and promptly react to such signals by reshaping their morphology and adapting their structural organization and tensional state. Cell reactions to mechanical stimuli arising from the local microenvironment, mechanotransduction, play a crucial role in many cellular functions in both physiological and pathological conditions. To decipher this complex process, several studies have been undertaken to develop engineered materials and devices as tools to properly control cell mechanical state and evaluate cellular responses. Recent reports highlight how the nucleus serves as an important mechanosensor organelle and governs cell mechanoresponse. In this review, we will introduce the basic mechanisms linking cytoskeleton organization to the nucleus and how this reacts to mechanical properties of the cell microenvironment. We will also discuss how perturbations of nucleus-cytoskeleton connections, affecting mechanotransduction, influence health and disease. Moreover, we will present some of the main technological tools used to characterize and perturb the nuclear mechanical state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio A. Pennacchio
- FIRC (Italian Foundation for Cancer Research) Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Paulina Nastały
- FIRC (Italian Foundation for Cancer Research) Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Institute of Medical Biotechnology and Experimental Oncology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Alessandro Poli
- FIRC (Italian Foundation for Cancer Research) Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Maiuri
- FIRC (Italian Foundation for Cancer Research) Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
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7
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Tonazzini I, Masciullo C, Savi E, Sonato A, Romanato F, Cecchini M. Neuronal contact guidance and YAP signaling on ultra-small nanogratings. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3742. [PMID: 32111918 PMCID: PMC7048778 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60745-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Contact interaction of neuronal cells with extracellular nanometric features can be exploited to investigate and modulate cellular responses. By exploiting nanogratings (NGs) with linewidth from 500 nm down to 100 nm, we here study neurite contact guidance along ultra-small directional topographies. The impact of NG lateral dimension on the neuronal morphotype, neurite alignment, focal adhesion (FA) development and YAP activation is investigated in nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiating PC12 cells and in primary hippocampal neurons, by confocal and live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, and at molecular level. We demonstrate that loss of neurite guidance occurs in NGs with periodicity below 400 nm and correlates with a loss of FA lateral constriction and spatial organization. We found that YAP intracellular localization is modulated by the presence of NGs, but it is not sensitive to their periodicity. Nocodazole, a drug that can increase cell contractility, is finally tested for rescuing neurite alignment showing mild ameliorative effects. Our results provide new indications for a rational design of biocompatible scaffolds for enhancing nerve-regeneration processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Tonazzini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Cecilia Masciullo
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Eleonora Savi
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Agnese Sonato
- CNR-IOM, Area Science Park, S.S. 14, km 163.5, Basovizza, TS, Italy
| | - Filippo Romanato
- CNR-IOM, Area Science Park, S.S. 14, km 163.5, Basovizza, TS, Italy
| | - Marco Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy.
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8
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