ACOUSTIC LEVITATION SAMPLE-ENVIRONMENT DEVICE FOR BIOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS

The thesis work is mainly focused on issues concerning an acoustic levitation sample-environment device for biophysical applications and the employment of a portable neutron source for biophysical and electronic applications. Sample preparation and sample-container interaction are critical components for many research investigations. In fact, on the one hand, the reactions between the sample and its container can limit accessibility conditions; on the other hand, heterogeneous container nucleation limits the capacities of “supercooled” liquids or to make over-saturated solutions. In this context, acoustic levitation can be employed for sample preparation as in the case of high concentrated mixtures, starting from solutions. The aim is to characterize and clarify the physical-chemical mechanisms involved in the formulation processes, the vectorization processes, the stability of the formulations against the stress factors, the associated effects in the presence of bio-protector matrices, characterized by different values of kinematic and thermodynamic fragility, without neglecting the theoretical processes that underlie the acoustic levitation. In this regard, a physical-mathematical model was implemented to study the drying process of a single droplet of solution placed inside a levitator. The aim was to investigate the physical phenomena involved in this process and thus contribute to the general understanding of the drying process in an ultrasonic levitator. The second thesis section deals with the employ of a portable neutron source, for neutrons activation and detection, is mainly addressed to biophysical and electronic applications. More in detail, the MP320 neutron generator of Thermo Scientific was employed in conjunction with a PINS-GMX Ortec solid-state photon detector, made with high purity n-type germanium, which allows the entire external contact from implanted ions, for INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis) investigations. Various simulations have been made with MCNP (Montecarlo N-Particles software) and a special shield has been designed to perform indoor measurements. Main applications of the source, in addition to the aforementioned, are closely related to the other research topics covered such as the field of biomedical, biology, anthropology, nutritional sciences, environmental, history and archaeology, ecology, environmental sciences, materials sciences and as a reference for materials.