print

Giovanna Fragneto

Former Goup Leader until December 2022

E-mail

fragneto(at)ill.eu

Office

336 - Science Building - 3rd floor

Phone

+33 (0)4 76 20 70 62

 

The focus of my research activities is the structural characterisation and  the study of fluctuations of model biological membranes with the aim of understanding phenomena at cell surfaces. Examples include the interaction of membranes with peptides, proteins, drugs or drug delivery systems. Systems are mainly planar and studied by neutron or x-ray reflectometry. 

  • Structure of natural and model membranes by reflectometry and diffraction: interaction of lipids with biomolecules
  • Determination of bending modulus and in-plane features of floating bilayers by grazing-incidence synchrotron radiation (coll.:  T. Charitat, J. Daillant & al.)
  • Lipid rafts mimicks structural characterisation (coll.: L. Cantù, V. Rondelli)
  • Lipid Flip-Flop (coll.: Yuri Gerelli, Lionel Porcar, Ursula Perez-Salas)
  • Deuterated Natural Lipid Extraction (coll.: H. Wacklin, J. Johuet, E. Marechal, M. Haertlein)
  • Interaction of nano particles with membranes (coll. Maccarini, Baldelli)
  • Deuterated protein/PEG interactions (coll.: E. Schneck, M. Sferrazza, A. Halperin) 
  • Liquid/liquid interfaces (coll.: E. Scoppola, O. Diat, O. Konovalov, E. Watkins, R. Campbell)
  • Flash-cooling phospholipid bilayers (coll.: M. Weik, J. Zaccai)

 

Real biological membranes have different components, including lipids, sterols and proteins, which are distributed very heterogeneously, forming domains that are involved in the transmission of signals between the inside and the outside of the cell. Current efforts are devoted to exploring systems, such as natural lipids extracted from cells, to get closer to this complex reality.

Optical, electron, and atomic force microscopies have come a long way in recent decades. However, neutron scattering gives complementary and unique information and is increasingly widely used. One of its more and more frequent applications is the study of the nanoscale structure of model membranes and their interactions with proteins or peptides participating in important cellular functions.

Protein deuteration is becoming a common technique coupled to neutrons to refine details of protein-lipid interactions and protein structure at interfaces: deuteration of other membrane components like lipids and sterols have also made steady progress in recent years. Neutron scattering at small angles has nanometer resolution and, unlike crystallographic techniques, can be used to probe membranes in physiological conditions or in-vivo and follow processes in-situ.

Recently we have shown that it is possible to prepare extracts of true natural yeast membranes and prepare with them reproducible and stable bilayers. This allowed the study of the mechanism of interaction of an antibiotic molecule like amphotericin with natural membranes containing sterol.
Work is in progress to optimize methods to produce bilayers from natural lipid extracts on soft cushions and to separate the different lipid species from the extracts.

A very topical issue in this field is also the development of reliable protocols for reconstitution of membrane proteins into model membranes. Smart measurement setups and data analysis procedures have already allowed the acquisition of precious information on membrane protein function. The coupling of scattering and MD simulations has been recently reviewed.
Interesting developments for the study of liquid-liquid interfaces with neutron reflectometry have been possible recently thanks to the possibility to strike the interface with the neutron beam from both sides of a liquid-liquid interface. For example, planar lipid bilayers were prepared and characterized both in the gel and fluid phases at a fluorocarbon-aqueous solution interface.
 
Neutron work at the liquid-liquid interface has been limited in the past by the poor transmission of neutrons through liquids, even if deuterated. The universal law of attenuation of radiation passing through matter (Beer-Lambert law) is also valid for neutron transmission. Fluorocarbons transmit neutrons well (larger penetration depth than for hydrocarbons) and are denser than water. This allows the use of bulk liquids with large enough surfaces to illuminate the sample away from the meniscus (for reflectometry measurements samples must be flat to avoid cumbersome procedures of data normalization). Partially negatively charged bilayers from POPC containing 30 mol % POPS were formed from vesicle fusion in the presence of salt from the aqueous side of the interfaces on a positively charged monolayer from 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and di-stearoylpropyl trimonium chloride (DSTAP) (7:3 mol:mol) created at the fluorocarbon-aqueous solution interface. A bilayer with good coverage was produced from which the distance of the interface varied with salt content. The interest of producing bilayers at a liquid-liquid interface lies in the possibility to have a model fluctuating between fluid media adapted for characterization at the fraction of nanometer level with ease of manipulation and possibility to determine the effect of thermodynamic parameters or interacting biomolecules. The transport across the interface should be easier than when bilayers are adjacent to a solid surface.

This and other interesting developments confirm that in the biology of the future, physics should play a major role. If we fully exploit their potential, neutrons can help unravel the secrets of life.

Collaborators, Friends and useful links

Structural features of interfacially adsorbed acyl-l-carnitines
Huayang Liu, Ke Fa, Xuzhi Hu, Zongyi Li, Li Zhang, Kun Ma, Giovanna Fragneto, Peixun Li, John R.P.Webster, Jordan T.Petkov, Robert K.Thomas, Jian Ren Lu
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 623 (2022) 368-377

Strikingly Different Roles of SARS-CoV‑2 Fusion Peptides Uncoveredby Neutron Scattering,
Andreas Santamaria, Krishna C. Batchu, Olga Matsarskaia, Sylvain F. Prévost, Daniela Russo,Francesca Natali, Tilo Seydel, Ingo Hoffmann, Valérie Laux, Michael Haertlein, Tamim A. Darwish,Robert A. Russell, Giacomo Corucci, Giovanna Fragneto, Armando Maestro, and Nathan R. Zaccai - Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144(7)

New Insights into theInteraction of Class II Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenases with Ubiquinone in Lipid Bilayers as a Function of Lipid Composition. Orozco Rodriguez, J.M.;Wacklin-Knecht, H.P.; Clifton, L.A.;Bogojevic, O.; Leung, A.; Fragneto,G.; Knecht, W. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23,2437.

Nanostructural characterization of cardiolipin-containing tethered lipid bilayers adsorbed on gold and silicon substrates for protein incorporation
Köhler S., Fragneto G., Alcaraz J.P., Nelson A., Martin D.K., Maccarini M. -Langmuir 37, 8908-8923 (2021)

Structural characterization of natural yeast phosphatidylcholine and bacterial phosphatidylglycerol lipid multilayers by neutron diffraction
Luchini A., Corucci G., Chaithanya Batchu K., Laux V., Haertlein M., Cristiglio V., Fragneto G.* -Frontiers in Chemistry 9, 628186-1-628186-11 (2021)

Lipid bilayer degradation induced by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as revealed by neutron reflectometry
Luchini A., Micciulla S., Corucci G., Batchu K.C., Santamaria A., Laux V., Darwish T., Russell R.A., Thépaut M., Bally I., Fieschi F., Fragneto G.* -Scientific Reports 11, 14867-1-14867-11 (2021)

Insertion and activation of functional Bacteriorhodopsin in a floating bilayer
Mukhina T., Gerelli Y., Hemmerle A., Koutsioubas A., Kovalev K., Teulon J.M., Pellequer J.L., Daillant J., Charitat T., Fragneto G.* - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 597, 370-382 (2021)

Neutron reflectometry study of the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions: Effects of electrolyte concentration, applied electric field, and lipid adsorption
Tummino A., Scoppola E., Fragneto G., Gutfreund P., Maestro A., Dryfe R.A.W. - Electrochimica Acta 384, 138336-1-138336-11 (2021)

Biophysical analysis of the plant-specific GIPC sphingolipids reveals multiple modes of membrane regulation
Mamode Cassim A., Navon Y., Gao Y., Decossas M., Fouillen L., Grélard A., Nagano M., Lambert O., Bahammou D., Van Delft P., Maneta-Peyret L., Simon-Plas F., Heux L., Jean B., Fragneto G., Mortimer J.C., Deleu M., Lins L., Mongrand S. - Journal of Biological Chemistry 296, 100602-1-100602-21 (2021)

Peptide discs as precursors of biologically relevant supported lipid bilayers
Luchini A., Sebastiani F., Tidemand F.G., Batchu K.C., Campana M., Fragneto G., Cárdenas M., Arleth L. - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 585, 376-385 (2021)

The antifungal mechanism of amphotericin B elucidated in ergosterol and cholesterol-containing membranes using neutron reflectometry
Delhom R., Nelson A., Laux V., Haertlein M., Knecht W., Fragneto G., Wacklin-Knecht H.P. - Nanomaterials 10,  2439-1-2438-17 (2020)

Effect of ergosterol on the interlamellar spacing of deuterated yeast phospholipid multilayers
Luchini A., Delhom R., Cristiglio V., Knecht W., Wacklin-Knecht H., Fragneto G.* - Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 227,  104873-1-104873-7 (2020)

Behavior of hydrated lipid bilayers at cryogenic temperatures
Meineke J., Weik M., Zaccaï G., Fragneto G.* - Frontiers in Chemistry 8,  455-1-455-7 (2020)

Encapsulation of graphene in the hydrophobic core of a lipid bilayer
Arjmandi-Tash H., Lima L.M.C., Belyaeva L.A., Mukhina T., Fragneto G., Kros A., Charitat T., Schneider G.F. -Langmuir 36,  14478-14482 (2020)

Not just a fluidifying effect: Omega-3 phospholipids induce formation of non-lamellar structures in biomembranes
De Santis A., Vitiello G., Appavou M.S., Scoppola E., Fragneto G., Barnsley L.C., Clifton L.A., Ottaviani M.F., Paduano L., Russo Krauss I., D'Errico G. - Soft Matter 16,  10425-10438 (2020)

Aβ beyond the AD pathology: Exploring the structural response of membranes exposed to nascent Aβ peptide
Rondelli V., Salmona M., Colombo L., Fragneto G., Fadda G.C., Cantù L., Del Favero E. - International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21,  8295-1-8295-16 (2020)

Anesthetics significantly increase the amount of intramembrane water in lipid membranes
Himbert S., Zhang L., Alsop R.J., Cristiglio V., Fragneto G., Rheinstaedter M.C. - Soft Matter 16,  9674-9682 (2020)

Interaction with human serum proteins reveals biocompatibility of phosphocholine-functionalized SPIONs and formation of albumin-decorated nanoparticles  Russo Krauss I., Picariello A., Vitiello G., De Santis A., Koutsioubas A., Houston J.E., Fragneto G., Paduano L. - Langmuir 36,  8777-8791 (2020)

Aggregated amphiphilic antimicrobial peptides embedded in bacterial membranes Gong H., Liao M., Hu X., Fa K., Phanphak S., Ciumac D., Hollowell P., Shen K., Clifton L.A., Campana M., Webster J.R.P., Fragneto G., Waigh T.A., McBain A.J., Lu J.R. - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12,  44420-44432 (2020)

The Role of Temperature and Lipid Charge on Intake/Uptake of Cationic Gold Nanoparticles into Lipid Bilayers
Lolicato, Fabio; Joly, Loic; Martinez-Seara, Hector; et al.
SMALL 2019, 15 (23) 1805046

Attractive Interaction between Fully Charged Lipid Bilayers in a Strongly Confined Geometry
Tetiana Mukhina,Arnaud Hemmerle,Valeria Rondelli,Yuri Gerelli,Giovanna Fragneto, Jean Daillant, and Thierry Charitat
J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2019, 10, 7195−7199

Neutrons and model membranes: Moving towards complexity
Giovanna Fragneto, Robin Delhom, Loïc Joly and Ernesto Scoppola
Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 2018, 38:108–121

End Point Versus Backbone Specificity Governs Characteristics of Antibody Binding to Poly(ethylene glycol) Brushes
Latza, Victoria M.; Rodriguez-Loureiro, Ignacio; Fragneto, Giovanna; Schneck, Emanuel
Langmuir 2018, 34 (46): 13946-13955

The impact of deuteration on natural and synthetic lipids: A neutron diffraction study
Luchini, Alessandra; Delhom, Robin; Deme, Bruno; …, ;G. Fragneto
Colloids and Surfaces B-Biointerfaces 2018, 168: 126-133

Directional K+ channel insertion in a single phospholipid bilayer: Neutron reflectometry and electrophysiology in the joint exploration of a model membrane functional platform
Rondelli, V.; Del Favero, E.; Brocca, P.; et al.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects 2018, 1862 (8): 1742-1750

Conformation of Single and Interacting Lipopolysaccharide Surfaces Bearing O-Side Chains
Rodriguez-Loureiro, Ignacio; Latza, Victoria M.; Fragneto, Giovanna; Schneck, Emanuel
Biophysical Journal 2018, 114 (7): 1624-1635


Controlling adsorption of albumin with hyaluronan on silica surfaces and sulfonated latex particles
Berts I., Fragneto G., Porcar L., Hellsing M.S., Rennie A.R.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2017, 504, 315-324

Neutron reflectometry elucidates protein adsorption from human blood serum onto PEG brushes
Latza V.M., Rodriguez-Loureiro I., Kiesel I., Halperin A., Fragneto G., Schneck E.
Langmuir 2017 33, 12708-12718

Nanoroughness strongly impacts lipid mobility in supported membranes
Blachon F., Harb F., Munteanu B., Piednoir A., Fulcrand R., Charitat T., Fragneto G., Pierre-Louis O., Tinland B., Rieu J.P.
Langmuir 2017, 33, 2444-2453

The intriguing journey of gH625-dendrimers
Falanga A., Lombardi L., Tarallo R., Franci G., Perillo E., Palomba L., Galdiero M., Pontoni D., Fragneto G., Weck M., Galdiero S.
RSC Advances 2017, 7, 9106-9114

Neutron Reflectometry reveals the interaction between functionalized SPIONs and the surface of lipid bilayers
Luchini A., Gerelli Y., Fragneto G., Nylander T., Palsson G., Appavou M., Paduano L.
Colloids and Surfaces B 2017, 151, 76-87

Membrane permeation versus amyloidogenicity: A multitechnique study of islet amyloid polypeptide interaction with model membranes
Martel A., Antony L., Gerelli Y., Porcar L., Fluitt A., Hoffmann K., Kiesel I., Vivaudou M., Fragneto G., de Pablo J.J.
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2017, 139, 137-148

The influence of mild acidity on lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol biosynthesis and lipid membrane physico-chemical properties in methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus
Rehal Reg P., Marbach H., Hubbard A.T.M., Sacranie Anam A., Sebastiani F., Fragneto G., Harvey R.D.
Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 2017, 206, 60-70

Neutron reflectometry yields distance-dependent structures of nanometric polymer brushes interacting across water
Rodriguez-Loureiro I., Scoppola E., Bertinetti L., Barbetta A., Fragneto G., Schneck E.
Soft Matter 2017, 13, 5767-5777

Nano-in-nano approach for enzyme immobilization based on block copolymers
Auriemma F., De Rosa C., Malafronte A., Di Girolamo R., Santillo C., Gerelli Y., Fragneto G., Barker R., Pavone V., Maglio O., Lombardi A.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9, 29318-29327

Influence of acyl chain saturation on the membrane-binding activity of a short antimicrobial peptide
Ciumac D., Campbell R.A., Clifton L.A., Xu H., Fragneto G., Lu J.R.
ACS Omega 2017,  2, 7482-7492                                        

Atom-scale depth localization of biologically important chemical elements in molecular layers
Emanuel Schneck, Ernesto Scoppola, Jakub Drnec, Cristian Mocuta, Roberto Felici, Dmitri Novikov, Giovanna Fragneto, and Jean Daillant 
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.  2016 vol. 113 no. 34, 9521–9526            

Reduction in Tension and Stiffening of Lipid Membranes in an Electric Field Revealed by X-Ray Scattering
Arnaud Hemmerle, Giovanna Fragneto, Jean Daillant, and Thierry Charitat
Phys. Rev. Lett. 2016, 116, 22810

Amyloidβ Peptides in interaction with raft-mime model membranes: a neutron reflectivity insight
Valeria Rondelli, Paola Brocca, Simona Motta, Massimo Messa, Laura Colombo, Mario Salmona, Giovanna Fragneto, Laura Cantù & Elena Del Favero
Scientific Reports 6, 20997

The component group structure of DPPC bilayers obtained by specular neutron reflectometry.
Belicka M; Gerelli Y; Kucerka N; Fragneto G.
Soft Matter 2015, 11(31): 6275-83

Nucleolipid bilayers: A quartz crystal microbalance and neutron    reflectometry study
Montis, Costanza    Gerelli, Yuri    Fragneto, Giovanna    Nylander, Tommy    Baglioni, Piero    Berti, Debora
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES 2016, 137, 203-213

Lipid polyunsaturation determines the extent of membrane structural changes induced by Amphotericin B in Pichia pastoris yeast
de Ghellinck, Alexis    Fragneto, Giovanna    Laux, Valerie    Haertlein, Michael    Jouhet, Juliette    Sferrazza, Michele    Wacklin, Hanna
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015, 1848 (10)  2317 – 2325

Neutron reflectometry from poly (ethylene-glycol) brushes binding anti-PEG antibodies: Evidence of ternary adsorption.
Emanuel Schneck, Ida Berts, Avraham Halperin, Jean Daillant, Giovanna Fragneto
Biomaterials 04/2015; 46. DOI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.12.041

Generic Role of Polymer Supports in the Fine Adjustment of Interfacial Interactions between Solid Substrates and Model Cell Membranes

Fernanda F Rossetti, Emanuel Schneck, Giovanna Fragneto, Oleg V Konovalov, Motomu Tanaka
Langmuir 03/2015; 31(15). DOI:10.1021/la504253p

Fusion of raft-like lipid bilayers operated by a membranotropic domain of the HSV-type I glycoprotein gH occurs through a cholesterol-dependent mechanism
Giuseppe Vitiello, Annarita Falanga, Ariel Alcides Petruk, Antonello Merlino, Giovanna Fragneto, Luigi Paduano, Stefania Galdiero, Gerardino D'Errico Soft Matter 02/2015; DOI:10.1039/C4SM02769H

Multi-lamellar organization of fully deuterated lipid extracts of yeast membranes
Y. Gerelli, A. de Ghellinck, J. Jouhet, V. Laux, M. Haertlein, G. Fragneto
Acta Crystallographica Section D Biological Crystallography 12/2014; 70(12):3167

Étudier la structure des membranes biologiques : l’intérêt des systèmes modèles et des neutrons
Giovanna Fragneto
Reflets de la physique 11/2014; 41:36.

Structure and Stability of Phospholipid Bilayers Hydrated by a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid / Water Solution: A Neutron Reflectometry Study.
Antonio Benedetto, Frank Heinrich, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Giovanna Fragneto, Erik B Watkins, Pietro Ballone
The journal of physical chemistry. B. 09/2014

Interaction of amphotericin B with lipid monolayers.
Fabrizia Foglia, Giovanna Fragneto, Luke Ashley Clifton, M Jayne Lawrence, David J Barlow
Langmuir 07/2014

Polymeric Smart Coating Strategy for Titanium Implants
Ida Berts, Dmitri Ossipov, Giovanna Fragneto, Andreas Frisk, Adrian R. Rennie
Advanced Engineering Materials 03/2014

A lipophilic "fully-anti" dodecamer from (5'S)-5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine
Silvia Peraccini, Michael A. Terzidis, Enrico J. Baldassarri, Giovanna Fragneto, Paolo Mariani, Stefano Masiero, Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu
Chemical Communications 01/2014

Production and Analysis of Perdeuterated Lipids from Pichia pastoris Cells.
Alexis de Ghellinck, Hubert Schaller, Valérie Laux, Michael Haertlein, Michele Sferrazza, Eric Maréchal, Hanna Wacklin, Juliette Jouhet, Giovanna Fragneto
PLoS ONE 01/2014; 9(4):e92999

Neutron Reflectometry Elucidates Density Profiles of Deuterated Proteins Adsorbed onto Surfaces Displaying Poly(ethylene glycol) Brushes: Evidence for Primary Adsorption.
Schneck, Emanuel; Schollier, Audrey; Halperin, Avraham; et al.
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids  Volume: 29   Issue: 46   Pages: 14178-87   Published: 2013

Lipid Exchange and Flip-Flop in Solid Supported Bilayers
Gerelli, Yuri; Porcar, Lionel; Lombardi, Lucia; et al.
LANGMUIR  Volume: 29   Issue: 41   Pages: 12762-12769   Published: OCT 15 2013

Editorial on the Topical Issue "Neutron Biological Physics"
Fragneto, Giovanna; Gabel, Frank
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E  Volume: 36   Issue: 7     Article Number: 81   Published: JUL 2013

A neutron reflection study of adsorbed deuterated myoglobin layers on hydrophobic surfaces
Brouette, Nicolas; Fragneto, Giovanna; Cousin, Fabrice; et al.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE  Volume: 390   Pages: 114-120   Published: JAN 15 2013

Adsorption of α-synuclein to supported lipid bilayers - positioning and role of electrostatics.
Erik Hellstrand, Marie Grey, Marie-Louise Ainalem, John F Ankner, V Trevor Forsyth, Giovanna Fragneto, Michael Haertlein, Marie-Therese Dauvergne, Hanna Nilsson, Patrik Brundin, Sara Snogerup Linse, Tommy Nylander, Emma Sparr

Tuning the density profile of surface-grafted hyaluronan and the effect of counter-ions.
Berts, Ida; Fragneto, Giovanna; Hilborn, Jons; et al.
The European physical journal. E, Soft matter  Volume: 36   Issue: 7   Pages: 9884   DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2013-13070-7   Published: 2013-Jul (Epub 2013 Jul 16)

Neutrons for rafts, rafts for neutrons.
Rondelli, V; Del Favero, E; Motta, S; et al.
The European physical journal. E, Soft matter  Volume: 36   Issue: 7   Pages: 9888   DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2013-13073-4   Published: 2013-Jul (Epub 2013 Jul 16)

Calcium mediated interaction of calf-thymus DNA with monolayers of distearoylphosphatidylcholine: a neutron and X-ray reflectivity study (pdf - 0.91 Mi)
Aleksandra P Dabkowska, Jonathan P Talbot, Leide Cavalcanti, John R P Webster, Andrew Nelson, David J Barlow, Giovanna Fragneto, Jayne Lawrence
Soft Matter 2013

Cholesterol modulates the fusogenic activity of a membranotropic domain of the FIV glycoprotein gp36 (pdf - 1.17 Mi)
Giuseppe Vitiello, Giovanna Fragneto, Ariel Alcides Petruk, Annarita Falanga, Stefania Galdiero, Anna Maria D 'ursi, Antonello Merlino, Gerardino D Errico
Soft Matter 2013

Effect of functionalized gold nanoparticles on floating lipid bilayers (pdf - 1.11 Mi)
Sabina Tatur, Marco Maccarini, Robert David Barker, Andrew Nelson, Giovanna Fragneto
LANGMUIR  Volume: 29   Issue: 22   Pages: 6606-6614   DOI: 10.1021/la401074y   Published: JUN 4 2013

Membrane insertion of sliding anchored polymer (pdf - 0.97 Mi)
Martin Bauer, Max Bernhardt, Thierry Charitat, Patrick Kekicheff, Christophe Fajolles, Giovanna Fragneto, Carlos M. Marques, Jean Daillant
Soft Matter 2013

Neutron reflectivity of supported membranes incorporating terminally anchored polymers: Protrusions vs. blisters (pdf - 382 Ki)
G. Fragneto, A. Halperin, B. Klösgen and M. Sferrazza
Eur. Phys. J. E (2013) 36: 3

Competition for space between a protein and lipid monolayers (pdf - 1.48 Mi)
Giovanna Fragneto, Stéphane Alexandre, Jean-Marc Valleton, Francis Rondelez
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 103 (2013) 416– 421

Membrane thickness and the mechanism of action of the short peptaibol trichogin GA IV (pdf - 2.14 Mi)
S Bobone, Y Gerelli, M De Zotti, G Bocchinfuso, A Farrotti, B Orioni, F Sebastiani, E Latter, J Penfold, R Senesi, F Formaggio, A Palleschi, C Toniolo, G Fragneto, L Stella
Biochimica et Biophysica acta. 03/2013; 1828(3):1013 - 1024

Neutrons and model membranes (Review) (pdf - 669 Ki)
G Fragneto
The European Physical Journal Special Topics. 03/2012; 213:327-342

Diffraction studies on natural and model lipid bilayers (pdf - 387 Ki)
F Sebastiani, R Harvey, S Khanniche, J.-B Artero, M Haertlein, G Fragneto
The European Physical Journal Special Topics. 12/2012; 213:355-365

Protein adsorption properties of OEG monolayers and dense PNIPAM brushes probed by neutron reflectivity (pdf - 477 Ki)
N Brouette, C Xue, M Haertlein, M Moulin, G Fragneto, D E Leckband, A Halperin, M Sferrazza
The European Physical Journal Special Topics. 01/2012; 213(1):343-353.

Controlling interactions in supported bilayers from weak electrostatic repulsion to high osmotic pressure (pdf - 763 Ki)
Arnaud Hemmerle, Linda Malaquin,Thierry Charitat, Sigolène Lecuyer, Giovanna Fragneto and Jean Daillant
PNAS 2012 ; published ahead of print November 19, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1211669109

Lipid Rearrangement in DSPC/DMPC Bilayers: A Neutron Reflectometry Study (pdf - 1.12 Mi)
Yuri Gerelli, Lionel Porcar, and Giovanna Fragneto
Langmuir, 2012, 28 (45), pp 15922–15928

A neutron reflection study of adsorbed deuterated myoglobin layers on hydrophobic surfaces (pdf - 496 Ki)
Nicolas Brouette, Giovanna Fragneto, Fabrice Cousin, Martine Moulin, Michael Haertlein, Michele Sferrazza
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Volume 390, Issue 1, 15 January 2013, Pages 114-120

Neutron diffraction studies of the interaction between amphotericin B and lipid-sterol model membranes (pdf - 526 Ki)
Fabrizia Foglia, M. Jayne Lawrence, Bruno Deme, Giovanna Fragneto and David Barlow
Nature SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2012) | 2 : 778 | DOI: 10.1038/srep00778

Ganglioside GM1 forces the redistribution of cholesterol in a biomimetic membrane (pdf - 777 Ki)
V. Rondelli, G. Fragneto , S. Motta, E. Del Favero, P. Brocca, S. Sonnino, L. Cantù
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1818 (2012) 2860–2867

Floating lipid bilayers: models for physics and biology (pdf - 1.84 Mi)
Giovanna Fragneto, Thierry Charitat and Jean Daillant
EBJO 2012 10.1007/s00249-012-0834-4

Co-existence of gel and fluid lipid domains in single-component phospholipid membranes (pdf - 631 Ki)
C. L. Armstrong, M. A. Barrett, L. Toppozini, N. Kucerka, Z. Yamani, J. Katsaras, G. Fragneto and M. C. Rheinstädter
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4687

Destabilization of Lipid Membranes by a Peptide Derived from Glycoprotein gp36 of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: A Combined Molecular Dynamics/Experimental Study (pdf - 3.08 Mi)
A. Merlino, G. Vitiello, M. Grimaldi, F. Sica, E. Busi, R. Basosi, A. M. D’Ursi, G. Fragneto, L. Paduano, and G. D’Errico
J. Phys. Chem. B, 2012, 116 (1), pp 401–412

Insertion properties of cholesteryl cyclodextrins in phospholipid membranes: a molecular study (pdf - 1.54 Mi)
Martin Bauer, Thierry Charitat, Christophe Fajolles, Giovanna Fragneto and Jean Daillant
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 942

Reflectivity from floating bilayers: can we keep the structural asymmetry? (pdf - 533 Ki)
Rondelli V, Fragneto G, Motta S, Del Favero E, Cantù L (2012)
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 340:012083

Co-adsorption of beta-casein and calcium phosphate nanoclusters (CPN) at hydrophilic and hydrophobic solidesolution interfaces studied by neutron re!ectometry (pdf - 770 Ki)
David Follows, Carl Holt, Robert K. Thomas, Fredrik Tiberg, Giovanna Fragneto, Tommy Nylander
Foof Hydrocolloiids (2011) 25:44, 724-733

A neutron diffraction study of purple membranes under pressure (pdf - 1.36 Mi) 
Rossand, IG; Zaccai, G; Fragneto, G
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY (2010) 66, 1232-1236

Destruction and Solubilization of Supported Phospholipid Bilayers on Silica by the Biosurfactant Surfactin (pdf - 2.46 Mi)
Hsin-Hui Shen, Robert K. Thomas, Jeffrey Penfold, and Giovanna Fragneto
Langmuir 2010, 26(10), 7334–7342

Deciphering Membrane Insertion of the Diphtheria Toxin T Domain by Specular Neutron Reflectometry and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy (pdf - 759 Ki) 
A. Chenal, L. Prongidi-Fix, A. Perier, C. Aisenbrey, G. Vernier, S. Lambotte, M. Haertlein, Dauvergne M.-T., G. Fragneto, B. Bechinger, D. Gillet, V. Forge and M. Ferrand
J. Mol. Biol. (2009) 391, 872–883

Biological Physics near Surfaces/Interfaces: a Perspective (pdf - 342 Ki)
G. Fragneto
Eur. Phys. J. E., 2009, 30 (2), p 239

Hydrated cholesterol: Phospholipid domains probed by synchrotron radiation (pdf - 811 Ki)
I. Solomonov, J. Daillant, G. Fragneto, K. Kjaer, J. S. Micha, F. Rieutord and L. Leiserowitz
Eur. Phys. J. E., 2009, 30 (2), p 215

Fibronectin adsorption studied using neutron reflectometry and complementary techniques (pdf - 519 Ki)
M. Al-Jawad, G. Fragneto, J. Liu, S. R. Chang and B. Clarkso
Eur. Phys. J. E., 2009, 30 (2), p 175

Interaction of Cationic Lipoplexes with Floating Bilayers at the Solid−Liquid Interface (pdf - 2.49 Mi)
Jonathan P. Talbot, David J. Barlow, M. Jayne Lawrence, Peter A. Timmins and Giovanna Fragneto
Langmuir, 2009, 25 (7), pp 4168–4180

Interaction of Cationic Lipid/DNA Complexes with Model Membranes As Determined by Neutron Reflectivity (pdf - 695 Ki)
P. Callow, G. Fragneto, R. Cubitt, D. J. Barlow and M. J. Lawrence
Langmuir, 2009, 25 (7), pp 4181–4189

Specular Neutron Reflectivity Studies of the Interaction of Cytochrome c with Supported Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers Doped with Phosphotidylserine (pdf - 370 Ki)
A. P. Dabkowska, G. Fragneto, A. V. Hughes, P. J. Quinn and M. J. Lawrence
Langmuir, 2009, 25 (7), pp 4203–4210

Lamellar Stacking Split by In-Membrane Clustering of Bulky Glycolipids (pdf - 846 Ki)
E. Del Favero, A. Raudino, P. Brocca, S. Motta, G. Fragneto, M. Corti and L. Cantú
Langmuir, 2009, pp 4190–4197fileadmin/users_files/media/groups/LSS/doc/Giovanna_FRAGNETO/publications/steichen_langmuir_2009.pdf

Interfacial Behavior of a Hairpin DNA Probe Immobilized on Gold Surfaces (pdf - 408 Ki)
M. Steichen, N. Brouette, C. Buess-Herman, G. Fragneto and M. Sferrazza
Langmuir, 2009, pp 4162–4167

Fluctuations and destabilization of single phospholipid bilayers (pdf - 1.59 Mi)
Charitat T., Lecuyer S. and G. Fragneto
Biointerphase, 2008, 3(2), 3-15

Adsorption of cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles on model membranes (pdf - 597 Ki)
Vandoolaeghe P., Rennie A.R., Campbell R.A., Thomas R.K., Höök F., Fragneto G., Tiberg F., Nylander T.
Soft Matter 4, 2267-2277 (2008)

Orientation-selective incorporation of transmembrane F0F1 ATP synthase complex from Micrococcus luteus in polymer-supported membranes (pdf - 877 Ki)
Tutus M., Rossetti F.F., Schneck E., Fragneto G., Förster F., Richter R., Nawroth T., Tanaka M.
Macromolecular Bioscience 8, 1034-1043 (2008)

Structural and Dynamical Studies from Biomimetic Systems: an Overview
G. Fragneto and M. Rheinstadter
C.R. Physique, 2007, 8, 865-883

Primary versus Ternary Adsorption of Proteins onto PEG Brushes (pdf - 571 Ki)
A. Halperin, G. Fragneto, A. Schollier and M. Sferrazza
Langmuir, 2007, (23) 10603 - 10617     

Distribution of reaction products in phospholipase A2 hydrolysis (pdf - 815 Ki)
H. P. Wacklin, F. Tiberg, G. Fragneto, R. K.Thomas
BBA Biomembranes, 2007, (1768) 1036 - 1049

Structure and Stability of DPPE planar bilayers (pdf - 275 Ki)
Barry Stidder, Giovanna Fragneto and Stephen J. Roser
Soft Matter, 2007, 3 (2) pp 214 - 222

Human saliva forms a complex film structure on alumina surfaces (pdf - 372 Ki)
M. Cardenas, T. Arnebrant, A. R. Rennie, G. Fragneto, R. K. Thomas and L. Lindh
Biomacromolecules, 2007, 8, pp.65-69

In-situ and neutron diffraction study of lipid membrane swelling (pdf - 335 Ki)
L.P. Cavalcanti,H. Haas, H.N. Bordallo, O. Konovalov, T. Gutberlet, G. Fragneto
Eur. Phys. J. special Topics, 2007, 141, pp.217-221

Effect of an electric field on a floating lipid bilayer: A neutron reflectivity study (pdf - 566 Ki)
S. Lecuyer, G. Fragneto, and T. Charitat
Eur. Phys. J. E, 2006, 21 pp. 153-159;    

Effect of Low Amounts of Cholesterol on the Swelling Behavior of Floating Bilayers (pdf - 191 Ki)
Barry Stidder, Giovanna Fragneto, and Stephen J. Roser
Langmuir, 2005, 21 (20) 9187 - 9193;  

Cholesterol Induced Suppression of Large Swelling of Water Layer in Phosphocholine Floating Bilayers (pdf - 296 Ki)
Barry Stidder, Giovanna Fragneto, Robert Cubitt, Arwel V. Hughes, and Stephen J. Roser
Langmuir, 2005, 21 (19) pp 8703 - 8710     

Structure and fluctuations of a single floating lipid bilayer (pdf - 421 Ki)
J. Daillant, E. Bellet-Amalric, A. Braslau, T. Charitat, G. Fragneto, F. Graner, S. Mora, F. Rieutord and B. Stidder
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2005, 102 (33): 11639 

Interaction of Cationic Lipid Vesicles with Model Cell Membranes As Determined by Neutron Reflectivity (pdf - 226 Ki)
P. Callow, G. Fragneto, R. Cubitt, D. J. Barlow, M. J. Lawrence, and P. Timmins
Langmuir, 2005; 21(17); 7912-7920   

SANS investigations of the lipidic cubic phase behaviour in course of bacteriorhodopsin crystallization (pdf - 237 Ki)
R. Efremov, G. Shiryaeva, G. Bueldt, A. Islamov, A. Kuklin, L. Yaguzhinsky, G. Fragneto-Cusani and V. Gordeliy
Journal of Crystal Growth Vol 275, Issues 1-2 , 15 Feb 2005, Pages e1453-e1459 

Composition of Supported Model Membranes Determined by Neutron Reflection (pdf - 229 Ki)
Vacklin H. P., Tiberg F., Fragneto, G., Thomas, R. K.
Langmuir 2005; 21(7); 2827-2837    

Phospholipase A2 Hydrolysis of Supported Phospholipid Bilayers: A Neutron Reflectivity and Ellipsometry Study (pdf - 249 Ki)
Vacklin H. P., Tiberg, F., Fragneto, G., Thomas, R. K.
Biochemistry 2005, 44(8), 2811-2821.

Structural Studies of the Neural-Cell-Adhesion Molecule by X-ray and Neutron Reflectivity (pdf - 224 Ki)
C. P. Johnson, G. Fragneto, O. Konovalov, V. Dubosclard, J.-F. Legrand and D. E. Leckband
Biochemistry, 2005,  44(2), 546-554  

Distorted Hexagonal Phase Studied by Neutron Diffraction: Lipid Components Demixed in a Bent Monolayer (pdf - 720 Ki)
L. Ding, T. M. Weiss, G. Fragneto, W. Liu, L. Yang and H. W. Huang
Langmuir 2005, 21, 203-210    

X-ray and neutron reflectivity study of solid-supported lipid membranes prepared by spin coating (pdf - 112 Ki)
J. Generosi, C. Castellano, D. Pozzi, A. Congiu Castellano, R. Felici, F. Natali, G. Fragneto
Journal of Applied Physics 2004, 96, 6839-6844     

Collective dynamics of lipid membranes studied by inelastic neutron scattering (pdf - 0.97 Mi)
Rheinstadter M. C., Ollinger C., Fragneto G., F. Demmel and Salditt T., Physical Review Letters, 93 (10), 108107, 2004 

Collective dynamics in phospholipid bilayers investigated by inelastic neutron scattering: exploring the dynamics of biological membranes with neutrons (pdf - 844 Ki)
Rheinstadter M. C., Ollinger C ., Fragneto G. and Salditt T., Physica B, 350, 136- 139,2004

Phospholipid bilayer formation at a bare Si-surface. A time-resolved neutron reflectivity study
Gutberlet T., Steitz R., Fragneto G. and Kloesgen B., Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 16 (26), S2469- S2476,2004    

On How Reflectivity Studies Can Help in Understanding Interactions at Cell Surfaces
Fragneto-Cusani G. in Self-Assembly, Ed. B. H. Robinson, IOS Press, The Netherlands, 2003, pp. 63-69

Swelling of phospholipid floating bilayers: The effect of chain length (pdf - 152 Ki)
Fragneto G., Charitat T., Bellet-Amalric E., Cubitt R., Graner F. - Langmuir Vol. 19 pp. 7695-7702, 2003 

Thermal fluctuations of oriented lipid membranes by nonspecular neutron reflectometry (pdf - 446 Ki)
Salditt T., Muenster C., Mennicke U., Ollinger C.,Fragneto G. - Langmuir Vol. 19 pp. 7703-7711, 2003 

Neutron and X-ray studies of lipid bilayers
Fragneto G., Bellet-Amalric E., Graner F. -  In : HEITZ F.Membrane Interacting Peptides and Proteins 81-7736-104-X Research Signpost, 2002  

Membranes at interfaces: Structure studies by AFM and time-resolved neutron reflectivity
Kloesgen B., Spangenberg T., Niehus H., Gutberlet T., Steitz R., Fragneto G. - Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters Vol. 7 pp. 240, 2002

Dewetting of solid-supported multilamellar lipid layers (pdf - 262 Ki)
Perino-Gallice L., Fragneto G., Mennicke U., Salditt T., Rieutord F. European Physical Journal E Vol. 8 pp. 275-282, 2002   

A fluid floating bilayer (pdf - 466 Ki)
Fragneto G., Charitat T., Graner F., Mecke K., Perino-Gallice L., Bellet-Amalric E. -  Europhysics Letters Vol. 53 pp. 100-106, 2001

Neutron reflectivity at the solid/liquid interface: Examples of applications in biophysics (pdf - 720 Ki)
Fragneto-Cusani G. - Journal of Physics Condensed Matter Vol. 13 pp. 4973-4989, 2001

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity studies at solid-liquid interfaces: The interaction of a peptide with model membranes
Fragneto G., Bellet-Amalric E., Charitat T., Dubos P., Graner F., Perino-Gallice L.,, Physica B Vol. 276-278 pp. 501-502, 2000   

Interaction of the third helix of antennapedia homeodomain with a deposited phospholipid bilayer: (pdf - 220 Ki)
A neutron reflectivity structural study
Fragneto G., Graner F., Charitat T., Dubos P., Bellet-Amalric E. - Langmuir Vol. 16 pp. 4581-4588, 2000 

Adsorption of proteins from aqueous solutions on hydrophobic surfaces studied by neutron reflection (pdf - 182 Ki)
Fragneto G., Su T.J., Lu J.R., Thomas R.K., Rennie A.R. - Physical Chemistry - Chemical Physics Vol. 2 pp. 5214-5221, 2000

Biology at ECNS'99
Fragneto-Cusani G. - Neutron News Vol. 11 pp. 12-13, 2000 

Adsorbed and free lipid bilayers at the solid-liquid interface viewed by specular and off-specular reflectivity
Perino-Gallice L., Bellet-Amalric E., Braslau A., Charitat T., Daillant J., Fragneto G., Graner F. -Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science Vol. 115 pp. 171-173, 2000

Adsorbed and free lipid bilayers at the solid-liquid interface (pdf - 417 Ki)
Charitat T., Bellet-Amalric E.,Fragneto G., Graner F. -   European Physical Journal B Vol. 8 pp. 583-593, 1999     

Neutron Reflection Study of Bovine b-Casein Adsorbed on OTS Self-Assembled Monolayers (pdf - 1.04 Mi)

Neutron reflectivity measurements at the oil/water interface for the study of stimuli-responsive emulsions
Protat, M.; Bodin-Thomazo, N.; Malloggi, F.; et al.
European Physical Journal E   Volume: 41   Issue: 7     Article Number: 85   Published: JUL 16 2018

Solvent Extraction: Structure of the Liquid–Liquid Interface Containing a Diamide Ligand
Ernesto Scoppola, Erik B. Watkins, Richard A. Campbell, Oleg Konovalov, Luc Girard, Jean-Francois Dufreche, Geoffroy Ferru, Giovanna Fragneto, and Olivier Diat
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 9326 –9330   

Structure of Liquid/Liquid interface during Solvent Extraction combining X-ray and Neutron reflectivity 
Ernesto Scoppola, Erik watkins,  Lionel Porcar, Richard Campbell, Oleg Konovalov, Giovanni Li Destri, Giovanna Fragneto, Olivier Diat 
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 05/2015; DOI:10.1039/C5CP01809A 

Light-emitting dendrimer film morphology: A neutron reflectivity study (pdf - 224 Ki)
S. V. Vickers, H. Barcena, K. A. Knights, R. K. Thomas, J.-C. Ribierre, S. Gambino, I. D. W. Samuel, P. L. Burn, and Giovanna Fragneto
Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 263302 (2010); doi:10.1063/1.3457438

The H-sorption behaviour of ball-milled MgH2 5 MOL.% FeF3 studied by in-situ small angle neutron scattering (pdf - 254 Ki)
Deledda S., Vennström M., Borissova A., Yavari A.R., Fragneto G. 
Reviews on Advanced Materials Science 18, 616-620 (2008)

Neutron reflectivity study of the kinetics of polymer-polymer interface formation (pdf - 171 Ki)
W. Béziel, G. Fragneto, F. Cousin and M. Sferrazza
PHYSICAL REVIEW E 2008, 78, 022801

In situ neutron diffraction analysis of the influence of geometric confinement on crystalline swelling of montmorillonite
Devineau K, Bihannic I, Michot L, Villieras F, Masrouri F, Cuisinier O, Fragneto G., Michau N
Appl. Clay Sci.  2006, 31 (1-2): 76-84

Hydration of a synthetic clay with tetrahedral charges: A multidisciplinary experimental and numerical study
Rinnert E, Carteret C, Humbert B, Fragneto-Cusani G, Ramsay JDF, Delville A, Robert JL, Bihannic I, Pelletier M, Michot LJ
J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109 (49): 23745-23759

Locating Counterions in Guanosine Quadruplexes: A Contrast-Variation Neutron Diffraction Experiment in Condensed Hexagonal Phase
Federiconi F., Ausili P., Fragneto G., Ferrero C., and Mariani P.
J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 11037-11045

Relating the physical structure and optical properties of conjugated polymers using neutron reflectivity in combination with photoluminescence spectroscopy 
Mitchell WJ, Burn PL, Thomas RK, Fragneto G. et al. 
J. Appl. Phys. 95 (5): 2391-2396 MAR 1 2004

Probing the polymer-electrode interface using neutron reflection 
Mitchell W.J., Burn P.L., Thomas R.K., Fragneto G. 
Appl. Phys. Lett. - Vol. 82 pp. 2724-2726, 2003

Neutron reflection study on soluble and insoluble poly[2-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-5-methoxy-1,4- phenylenevinylene) films
Webster G.R., Mitchell W.J., Burn P.L., Thomas R.K., Fragneto G., Markham J.P.J., Samuel I.D.W.
J. of Appl. Phys. Vol. 91 pp. 9066-9071, 2002

Interlayer structure of a clay-polymer-salt-water system 
Swenson J., Smalley M.V., Hatharasinghe H.L.M., Fragneto G.
Langmuir Vol. 17 pp. 3813-3818, 2001

Neutron Reflectivity Studies Of Aerosol-OT Monolayers Adsorbed At The  Oil/Water, Air/Water And Hydrophobic Solid/Water Interfaces 
Li Z. X., Lu J. R., Fragneto G., Thomas R. K.,Binks, B.P., Fletcher P.D.I., Penfold J. 
J. Coll. Surf. A, 1998, 135:1-3, pp. 277-281.

Neutron Reflection from Mixtures of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate and Dodecyl Betaine  Adsorbed at the Hydrophobic Solid/Aqueous Interface 
Hines J.D., Fragneto G., Thomas R.K., Garrett P.R., Rennie G., Rennie A.R. 
J. Coll. Int. Sci., 1997, Vol. 189, pp. 259-267

Structure of Monolayers of Tetraethylene Glycol Monododecyl Ether Adsorbed on Self-Assembled Monolayers on Silicon - A Neutron Reflectivity Study 
Fragneto G., Lu J. R., Mcdermott D. C., Thomas R. K., Rennie A. R., Gallagher P. D., Satija S. K
Langmuir, 1996, Vol.12, No.2, pp.477-486

A Neutron Reflectivity Study of The Adsorption of Aerosol-OT on Self-Assembled Monolayers on Silicon 
Fragneto G., Li Z. X., Thomas R. K., Rennie A. R., Penfold J. 
J. Coll. Int. Sci., 1996, Vol.178, No.2, pp.531-537

Neutron Reflection from Hexadecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide Adsorbed on Smooth and Rough Silicon Surfaces 
Fragneto G., Thomas R. K., Rennie A. R., Penfold J. 
Langmuir, 1996, Vol.12, No.25, pp 6036-6043

The Effect of Shear on the Adsorption of Non-Ionic Surfactants at the Liquid-Solid Interface
Penfold J., Staples E., Tucker I., Fragnetto G. 
Physica B, 1996, Vol.221, pp 325-330.

Variation of Surfactant Counterion and its Effect on the Structure and Properties of Aerosol-OT Based Water-In-Oil Microemulsions 
Eastoe J., Fragneto G., Robinson B. H., Towey T. F., Heenan R. K., Leng F. 
J.Chem. Soc. Far. Trans., 1992, Vol.88, No.3, pp.461-471

Small-Angle Neutron Scattering from Novel Bis-2- Ethylhexylsulphosuccinate Microemulsions Evidence for Nonspherical Structures
Eastoe J., Fragneto G., Steytler D. C., Robinson B. H., Heenan R. K. 
Physica B, 1992, Vol.180, No.PtA, pp.555-557

Reflectometry Reveals Accumulation of Surfactant Impurities at Bare Oil/Water Interfaces
Ernesto Scoppola, Samantha Micciulla, Lucas Kuhrts, Armando Maestro, Richard A. Campbell, Oleg V. Konovalov, Giovanna Fragneto, Emanuel Schneck
Molecules 2019 24(22) 4113

Current Frontiers on Liquid-Liquid Interfaces Workshop
Yuri Gerelli, Richard Campbell, Giovanna Fragneto, Ernesto Scoppola, Fabio Comin, Oleg Konovalov, and Olivier Diat
Neutron News 2016, vol. 27, issue 1, 21-22

Progress in neutron reflectometry instrumentation
Giovanna Fragneto and Alain Menelle
Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2011) 126: 105

FIGARO: The new horizontal neutron reflectometer at the ILL (pdf - 6.07 Mi)
R.A. Campbell, H.P. Wacklin, I. Sutton, R. Cubitt, and G. Fragneto
Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2011) 126: 107

Réflectivité de neutrons : exemples d’études des systèmes en matière molle (pdf - 560 Ki)
G. Fragneto
Collection SFN 11 (2010) 89–100

Scientific Highlights from FIGARO’s first year (pdf - 347 Ki)
Richard A. Campbell, Hanna P. Wacklin, Robert Cubitt & Giovanna FragnetoNeutron News 2009

New sources and instrumentation for neutrons in biology (pdf - 347 Ki)
Teixeira SCM, Zaccai G, Ankner J, et al.
Chemical Physics, 2008, 345, 2-3, 133-151

REFILL2002. Advances in the study of interfaces with neutron reflection
Cubitt R., Fragneto G., Ghosh R.E., Rennie A.R. - Langmuir Vol. 19 pp. 7685-7687, 2003

D17: The new reflectometer at the ILL (pdf - 140 Ki)
Cubitt R., Fragneto G. - Applied Physics A Vol. 74 pp. S329-S331, 2002

Neutron reflection: Principles and examples of applications (pdf - 2.38 Mi)
Cubitt R., Fragneto G. -in SCATTERING - Eds. PIKE AND SABATIER, 2001

The European Physical Journal volume 36 July 2013

Editors Giovanna Fragneto and Frank Gabel

This special issue brings together a number of original research papers focused on recent developments in biological membrane and membrane model studies by a variety of state-of-the-art biophysical methods. Neutron scattering is especially well represented.
Our knowledge of biological macromolecules and their interactions is based on the application of physical methods, ranging from classical thermodynamics to recently developed techniques for the detection and manipulation of single molecules. The role of neutron diffraction and spectroscopy techniques in improving this knowledge has been outstanding and the potential for future developments is remarkable. Many challenges remain for neutron techniques to answer the questions raised by molecular and cellullar biology. These contributions give a flavour of the progress in the field.

This issue is dedicated to the exceptional career of Joe Zaccaï in neutron biological physics with thanks for his great contribution to neutron scattering in biology. Coming originally from a background in physics, Joe Zaccaï has been working for many decades in the field of molecular and cellular biology. His important scientific contributions as well as his passionate teachings at conferences and in university courses provide an encouraging example for present and future generations of scientists that working at the interface between physics and biology can be very fruitful and rewarding if both disciplines are embraced with passion and open-mindedness.

The European Physical Journal Plus

Guest Editors: Giovanna Fragneto and Alain Menelle [published November 2011]

The last three decades have seen a flourishing of neutron reflectivity techniques for the study of layers at interfaces and they are today recognized as powerful tools for the study of a variety of systems ranging from surface chemistry to surface magnetism and solid films. For studies at interfaces neutron reflection offers many advantages with respect to traditional techniques as well as to X-ray reflection. In particular, because of the short wavelengths available, it has a resolution of a fraction of a nanometer, it is non-destructive and can be applied to buried interfaces which are not easily accessible to other techniques. In addition, it has the advantage that isotopic substitution can be used to achieve large contrasts in the scattering length density. Lateral inhomogeneities cannot be probed by specular reflection and off-specular studies become necessary.

This focus point is a collection of manuscripts covering both the upgrade of old reflectometers (see contributions on EROS at LLB by F. Cousin et al. and SPEAR at LANL by M. Dubey et al.), the design and performance of recently commissioned ones (FIGARO at ILL by R. A. Campbell et al., Inter, PolRef and OffSpec at ISIS-TS2 by J. R. P. Webster et al., SOFIA at J-PARC/MLF by N. L. Yamada et al.) as well as two methodological contributions useful for future developments of the technique like the possibility to measure inelastic scattering on a neutron reflectometer (by A. Wildes) and to do real measurements involving prism refraction to deduce the wavelength in place of choppers, opening up the possibility of sub-second kinetics studies (by R. Cubitt et al.).

  • Progress in neutron reflectometry instrumentation by Giovanna Fragneto and Alain Menelle
  • EROS II: A boosted time-of-flight reflectometer for multi-purposes applications at the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin by F. Cousin, F. Ott, F. Gibert and A. Menelle
  • SPEAR — ToF neutron reflectometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center by M. Dubey, M.S. Jablin, P. Wang, M. Mocko and J. Majewski
  • FIGARO: The new horizontal neutron reflectometer at the ILL by R.A. Campbell, H.P. Wacklin, I. Sutton, R. Cubitt and G. Fragneto
  • Reflectometry techniques on the Second Target Station at ISIS: Methods and science by J.R.P. Webster, S. Langridge, R.M. Dalgliesh and T.R. Charlton
  • Design and performance of horizontal-type neutron reflectometer SOFIA at J-PARC/MLF by N.L. Yamada, N. Torikai, K. Mitamura et al.
  • Inelastic scattering measured on a neutron reflectometer by A. R. Wildes
  • Neutron reflectometry by refractive encoding by R. Cubitt and J. Stahn

Guest editor Special Issue EPJE “Biological Physics Near Surfaces/Interfaces”, 2009, 30 (2)

James A. Forrest (Editor) , Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Giovanna Fragneto (Guest Editor), Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
A Challenging Topic
Research on the structure and dynamics of biomolecules at surfaces and interfaces has boosted in recent years. Such work involves efforts from a variety of disciplines including physics.
As a reflection of the growing importance of this area, and especially the application of physical techniques (both experimental and theoretical) EPJ E is composing a special issue on the topic of Biological Physics at Surfaces and Interfaces.

Areas of interest include:

  • Protein adsorption to surfaces (Biomaterials)
  • Effect of surfaces on structure/function
  •  Protein-nanoparticle interactions
  • Cell adhesion/friction
  • Lipid-protein interaction”

Please note:  The copyrights to these publications are held by their publishers.  The pdf files provided here are for personal use, only.  They may not be reposted on any other web site or used for any other purpose without the express permission of the appropriate publishers.

  • Member of Advisory Board/Organizing Committee of following international conferences: ECNS2019, Biophee2019, ICNS2017, ISMC2016, ECOSS2016, ECIS2016, SXNS2016, ECIS2012,    ICNS9, JDN17, SXNS10, ECNS2007, SXNS9, IUCr2005, ICM2003
  • Member of the organising committee of the HERCULES school since 2001
  • 2017 - Member of ESS Scientific Advisory Board
  • since 2011 member of the editorial board of the European Physical Journal E
  • 2016 -  Member of Advisory Board of GEM (groupe d’étude sur les membranes)
  • 2016 -  Member of D50 Scientific Advisory Committee
  • 2016 -  Co-responsible area “Caractérisation et modélisation” GDR Bio-ingénierie des interfaces
  • 2016-2018 Member of advisory board of ESS STAP on sa mple environment
  • 2014-2016 Member of advisory board of ESS STAP on reflectometry
  • 2015 – Member of SuperAdam board
  • Editor (with F. Gabel) of EPJE Topical Issue “Neutron Biological Physics” appeared in July 2013
  • Member of Proposal Review Panels at HZB, NIST and ANSTO.
  • 2009 Member of Nature Reader Panel
  • 2009 Guest Editor Special Issue of EPJE “Biological Physics near Surfaces/Interfaces” Vol 30, issue 2
  • 2011 Guest editor EPJ Plus Focus Point “Neutron Reflectometers”
  • 2011-2016 Member of SAC of Harwell Complex (UK)
  • since 2011 Member of the CNR Commission on European Large Scale Facilities
  • since 2008 Observer at ILL Scientific Council meetings
  • 2011 Member of Jury de Thèse Societé Française Neutronique
  • Member of Jury of several PhDs (in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Sweden, UK)

since 2016

Chaire Grands Instruments Européens Université Grenoble Alpes     

since 2015

Large Scale Structures Group Leader 

since 2013

Head of Soft Matter Science and Support group 

2008-2014

ILL Senior Fellow for Soft Matter 

Oct 2012

Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) obtained from the École Doctorale of Grenoble 

2006

Award of BTM Willis Prize 2006 (pdf - 562 Ki)
of the Institut of Physics and Royal Society of Chemistry
Neutron Scattering Group

2005 - 2008

FIGARO project leader
(Fluid Interfaces Grazing Angles ReflectOmeter) 
 

2004 - 2007

Co-responsible of the neutron reflectometer - D17 

Sept 1999 - Dec 2003

Responsible of the small angle diffractometer - D16
(ILL staff scientist since june 2002)
 

May 1997 - Aug 1999

EU Post-doc @ the ILL 

Apr 1996 - Apr 1997

Post-doc @ the Institut Curie - Paris (F) 

Nov 1992 - Mar 1996

DPhil studies @ the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory Oxford University (UK) 

Sep 1986 - Nov 1992

First degree studies @ the Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science, University of Napoli (I)
 

Sep 1990 - Jun 1991

Erasmus student @ the University of East Anglia Norwich (UK)



 

 

2019Bilayers at the ILL
2019Oxford-Grenoble Alpes twinning Symposium 
2018Structure and evolution of thin films and interfaces

2016

International Soft Matter Conference - ISCM2016
Grenoble, Alpexpo, 11-16 September

2016

European Conference on Surface Scattering - ECOSS2016
Grenoble, Alpexpo, 17-21 August 

 
2015"Advances in Liquid/Liquid Interfaces"
Grenoble, 21-23 October
 
2014PSCM workhop
Grenoble, 19-21 June
 
2013"Les carrières des femmes en science: vers l'equité"
Grenoble, 29 Mai
2012"Structural Dynamics and Dynamical Structures"
A Symposium in honour of Joe Zaccai's career
Grenoble, 3-5 October
2011"BILL2011 - Bilayers at the ILL"
Grenoble, 12-14 January
2009"ESRF & ILL Partnership for Soft Matter
Workshop on Scattering and Complementary Techniques"
Grenoble, 16-18 December

2008"Scattering and Imaging Studies of Soft Matter Systems Using Synchrotron Radiation and Neutrons"
Grenoble, 16-20 November

2008"Biological Physics at Large Facilities"
Grenoble, 19-23 October

www.ill.eu/news-events/past-events/2009/biological-physics-at-large-facilities/

2008"Surfaces and Interfaces in Soft Matter and Biology - the Impact and Future of Neutron Reflectivity -Symposium in Honour of Robert K. Thomas"    
2007"Biomimetics and Biomaterials" Microsymposium during ECNS2007
Lund, June
 
2006ILL Soft Matter User Meeting
Grenoble, November
2005NEUTRONS IN BIOLOGY: satellite meeting of the IUPAB/EBSA Biophysics Congress

2002Workshop REFILL2002: Progress in the study of Interfaces
Grenoble, October