TY  - JOUR
AU  - De Tommasi, Edoardo
AU  - Rea, Ilaria
AU  - Ferrara, Maria Antonietta
AU  - De Stefano, Luca
AU  - De Stefano, Mario
AU  - Al-Handal, Adil Y.
AU  - Stamenković, Marija
AU  - Wulff, Angela
PY  - 2024
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6625
AB  - Ordered, quasi-ordered, and even disordered nanostructures can be identified as constituent components of several protists, plants and animals, making possible an efficient manipulation of light for intra- and inter- species communication, camouflage, or for the enhancement of primary production. Diatoms are ubiquitous unicellular microalgae inhabiting all the aquatic environments on Earth. They developed, through tens of millions of years of evolution, ultrastructured silica cell walls, the frustules, able to handle optical radiation through multiple diffractive, refractive, and wave-guiding processes, possibly at the basis of their high photosynthetic efficiency. In this study, we employed a range of imaging, spectroscopic and numerical techniques (including transmission imaging, digital holography, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and numerical simulations based on wide-angle beam propagation method) to identify and describe different mechanisms by which Pleurosigma strigosum frustules can modulate optical radiation of different spectral content. Finally, we correlated the optical response of the frustule to the interaction with light in living, individual cells within their aquatic environment following various irradiation treatments. The obtained results demonstrate the favorable transmission of photosynthetic active radiation inside the cell compared to potentially detrimental ultraviolet radiation.
PB  - Springer Nature
T2  - Scientific Reports
T1  - Multiple-pathways light modulation in Pleurosigma strigosum bi-raphid diatom
VL  - 14
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-024-56206-y
SP  - 6476
ER  - 

@article{
author = "De Tommasi, Edoardo and Rea, Ilaria and Ferrara, Maria Antonietta and De Stefano, Luca and De Stefano, Mario and Al-Handal, Adil Y. and Stamenković, Marija and Wulff, Angela",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Ordered, quasi-ordered, and even disordered nanostructures can be identified as constituent components of several protists, plants and animals, making possible an efficient manipulation of light for intra- and inter- species communication, camouflage, or for the enhancement of primary production. Diatoms are ubiquitous unicellular microalgae inhabiting all the aquatic environments on Earth. They developed, through tens of millions of years of evolution, ultrastructured silica cell walls, the frustules, able to handle optical radiation through multiple diffractive, refractive, and wave-guiding processes, possibly at the basis of their high photosynthetic efficiency. In this study, we employed a range of imaging, spectroscopic and numerical techniques (including transmission imaging, digital holography, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and numerical simulations based on wide-angle beam propagation method) to identify and describe different mechanisms by which Pleurosigma strigosum frustules can modulate optical radiation of different spectral content. Finally, we correlated the optical response of the frustule to the interaction with light in living, individual cells within their aquatic environment following various irradiation treatments. The obtained results demonstrate the favorable transmission of photosynthetic active radiation inside the cell compared to potentially detrimental ultraviolet radiation.",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
title = "Multiple-pathways light modulation in Pleurosigma strigosum bi-raphid diatom",
volume = "14",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-024-56206-y",
pages = "6476"
}

De Tommasi, E., Rea, I., Ferrara, M. A., De Stefano, L., De Stefano, M., Al-Handal, A. Y., Stamenković, M.,& Wulff, A.. (2024). Multiple-pathways light modulation in Pleurosigma strigosum bi-raphid diatom. in Scientific Reports
Springer Nature., 14, 6476.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56206-y

De Tommasi E, Rea I, Ferrara MA, De Stefano L, De Stefano M, Al-Handal AY, Stamenković M, Wulff A. Multiple-pathways light modulation in Pleurosigma strigosum bi-raphid diatom. in Scientific Reports. 2024;14:6476.
doi:10.1038/s41598-024-56206-y .

De Tommasi, Edoardo, Rea, Ilaria, Ferrara, Maria Antonietta, De Stefano, Luca, De Stefano, Mario, Al-Handal, Adil Y., Stamenković, Marija, Wulff, Angela, "Multiple-pathways light modulation in Pleurosigma strigosum bi-raphid diatom" in Scientific Reports, 14 (2024):6476,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56206-y . .

TY  - CONF
AU  - De Tommasi, Edoardo
AU  - Rea, Ilaria
AU  - Ferrara, Maria Antonietta
AU  - De Stefano, Luca
AU  - De Stefano, Mario
AU  - Al- Handal, Adil Yousif
AU  - Stamenković, Marija
AU  - Wulff, Angela
PY  - 2021
UR  - https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/abs/2021/09/contents/contents.html
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6798
AB  - Marine and freshwater diatoms contribute massively to global primary production with significant
effects on carbon, oxygen, and silica cycles. Diatoms are enclosed in a micro- and nano- patterned silica shell,
the frustule, whose functions comprise mechanical stability, sorting of nutrients from harmful agents, and, as
recently shown in several studies, optimization of light harvesting. In the present work several numerical and
experimental techniques including wide-angle beam propagation method, transmission imaging, digital
holography, fluorescence imaging, and photoluminescence spectroscopy have been exploited to study the
interaction of light with both bare frustules and living cells of the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella, in
different spectral ranges and with particular focus on UV radiation due to its potential detrimental effects on
living organisms. C. pulchella is characterized indeed by a noticeable tolerance towards UV irradiation despite
the lack of specific UV-absorbing compounds. The main aim of this work is to shed light onto the possible
mechanisms by which the frustule is able to protect the living cell versus exposure to short-wavelength optical
radiation.
PB  - Paris: EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences
C3  - The European Optical Society Annual Meeting: EOSAM; 2021 Sep 3-17; Rome, Italy
T1  - Underwater light manipulation by the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella: basic principles and functional meaning
VL  - 255
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6798
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "De Tommasi, Edoardo and Rea, Ilaria and Ferrara, Maria Antonietta and De Stefano, Luca and De Stefano, Mario and Al- Handal, Adil Yousif and Stamenković, Marija and Wulff, Angela",
year = "2021",
abstract = "Marine and freshwater diatoms contribute massively to global primary production with significant
effects on carbon, oxygen, and silica cycles. Diatoms are enclosed in a micro- and nano- patterned silica shell,
the frustule, whose functions comprise mechanical stability, sorting of nutrients from harmful agents, and, as
recently shown in several studies, optimization of light harvesting. In the present work several numerical and
experimental techniques including wide-angle beam propagation method, transmission imaging, digital
holography, fluorescence imaging, and photoluminescence spectroscopy have been exploited to study the
interaction of light with both bare frustules and living cells of the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella, in
different spectral ranges and with particular focus on UV radiation due to its potential detrimental effects on
living organisms. C. pulchella is characterized indeed by a noticeable tolerance towards UV irradiation despite
the lack of specific UV-absorbing compounds. The main aim of this work is to shed light onto the possible
mechanisms by which the frustule is able to protect the living cell versus exposure to short-wavelength optical
radiation.",
publisher = "Paris: EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences",
journal = "The European Optical Society Annual Meeting: EOSAM; 2021 Sep 3-17; Rome, Italy",
title = "Underwater light manipulation by the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella: basic principles and functional meaning",
volume = "255",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6798"
}

De Tommasi, E., Rea, I., Ferrara, M. A., De Stefano, L., De Stefano, M., Al- Handal, A. Y., Stamenković, M.,& Wulff, A.. (2021). Underwater light manipulation by the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella: basic principles and functional meaning. in The European Optical Society Annual Meeting: EOSAM; 2021 Sep 3-17; Rome, Italy
Paris: EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences., 255.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6798

De Tommasi E, Rea I, Ferrara MA, De Stefano L, De Stefano M, Al- Handal AY, Stamenković M, Wulff A. Underwater light manipulation by the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella: basic principles and functional meaning. in The European Optical Society Annual Meeting: EOSAM; 2021 Sep 3-17; Rome, Italy. 2021;255.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6798 .

De Tommasi, Edoardo, Rea, Ilaria, Ferrara, Maria Antonietta, De Stefano, Luca, De Stefano, Mario, Al- Handal, Adil Yousif, Stamenković, Marija, Wulff, Angela, "Underwater light manipulation by the benthic diatom Ctenophora pulchella: basic principles and functional meaning" in The European Optical Society Annual Meeting: EOSAM; 2021 Sep 3-17; Rome, Italy, 255 (2021),
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6798 .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - De Tommasi, Edoardo
AU  - Rea, Ilaria
AU  - Ferrara, Maria Antonietta
AU  - De Stefano, Luca
AU  - De Stefano, Mario
AU  - Al-Handal, Adil Y.
AU  - Stamenković, Marija
AU  - Wulff, Angela
PY  - 2021
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/11/2855
UR  - https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4652
AB  - Several species of diatoms, unicellular microalgae which constitute the main component of phytoplankton, are characterized by an impressive photosynthetic efficiency while presenting a noticeable tolerance versus exposure to detrimental UV radiation (UVR). In particular, the growth rate of the araphid diatom Ctenophora pulchella is not significantly affected by harsh treatments with UVR, even in absence of detectable, specific UV-absorbing pigments and even if it is not able to avoid high UV exposure by motility. In this work we applied a multi-disciplinary approach involving numerical computation, photonics, and biological parameters in order to investigate the possible role of the frustule, micro- and nano-patterned silica shell which encloses the cell, in the ability of C. pulchella to efficiently collect photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and to simultaneously screen the protoplasm from UVR. The characterization of the photonic properties of the frustule has been accompanied by in vivo experiments conducted in water in order to investigate its function as optical coupler between light and plastids.
PB  - Basel: MDPI
T2  - Nanomaterials
T1  - Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening
IS  - 11
VL  - 11
DO  - 10.3390/nano11112855
SP  - 2855
ER  - 

@article{
author = "De Tommasi, Edoardo and Rea, Ilaria and Ferrara, Maria Antonietta and De Stefano, Luca and De Stefano, Mario and Al-Handal, Adil Y. and Stamenković, Marija and Wulff, Angela",
year = "2021",
abstract = "Several species of diatoms, unicellular microalgae which constitute the main component of phytoplankton, are characterized by an impressive photosynthetic efficiency while presenting a noticeable tolerance versus exposure to detrimental UV radiation (UVR). In particular, the growth rate of the araphid diatom Ctenophora pulchella is not significantly affected by harsh treatments with UVR, even in absence of detectable, specific UV-absorbing pigments and even if it is not able to avoid high UV exposure by motility. In this work we applied a multi-disciplinary approach involving numerical computation, photonics, and biological parameters in order to investigate the possible role of the frustule, micro- and nano-patterned silica shell which encloses the cell, in the ability of C. pulchella to efficiently collect photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and to simultaneously screen the protoplasm from UVR. The characterization of the photonic properties of the frustule has been accompanied by in vivo experiments conducted in water in order to investigate its function as optical coupler between light and plastids.",
publisher = "Basel: MDPI",
journal = "Nanomaterials",
title = "Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening",
number = "11",
volume = "11",
doi = "10.3390/nano11112855",
pages = "2855"
}

De Tommasi, E., Rea, I., Ferrara, M. A., De Stefano, L., De Stefano, M., Al-Handal, A. Y., Stamenković, M.,& Wulff, A.. (2021). Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening. in Nanomaterials
Basel: MDPI., 11(11), 2855.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112855

De Tommasi E, Rea I, Ferrara MA, De Stefano L, De Stefano M, Al-Handal AY, Stamenković M, Wulff A. Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening. in Nanomaterials. 2021;11(11):2855.
doi:10.3390/nano11112855 .

De Tommasi, Edoardo, Rea, Ilaria, Ferrara, Maria Antonietta, De Stefano, Luca, De Stefano, Mario, Al-Handal, Adil Y., Stamenković, Marija, Wulff, Angela, "Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening" in Nanomaterials, 11, no. 11 (2021):2855,
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112855 . .