February 2021 - to date
Research Contract for European project H2020 - MAGNIFY: “From nano to MAcro: a GrouNdbreakIng actuation technology For robotic sYstems” at the Laboratory of Electrochemistry of Materials for Energetics at the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” – University of Bologna
Supervisor: Prof. Catia Arbizzani and Prof. Maria Letizia Focarete
Research activity: Study and development of nano-structured materials with nanofibrous morphology capable of reacting to an electrical stimulus.
March - Dicember 2020
Graduate research at the Polymer Science and Biomaterials research group of the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” - University of Bologna
Thesis: “Preparation and optimization of silk fibroin electrospun scaffold for the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissue”
Supervisor: Prof.ssa Maria Letizia Focarete
Co-Supervisors: Prof.ssa Barbara Roda, Dott.ssa Anna Liguori, Dott. Francesco Grassi
Final mark: 110/110 cum laude
Research activity: Develop and optimization of nanostructured electrospun scaffolds based on silk fibroin and loaded with a biomolecule able to release hydrogen sulfide. The aim of the project was obtaining a device able to both support and induce the regeneration of damaged musculoskeletal tissues and actuate an anti-inflammatory action. The H2S-releasing tests were optimized and carried out in collaboration with the analytical group, while the biological tests were developed in collaboration with the RAMSES Laboratory.
The chemical-physical characterization was achieved by using: Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Infrared Spectroscopy with Fourier Transformation (FT-IR/ATR).
September - March 2018
Trainee at the Photochemistry group of the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” – University of Bologna
Thesis: “Functionalization of hyaluronic acid with rhodamine B and characterization.”
Supervisor: Prof.ssa Nelsi Zaccheroni
Co-supervisor: Dott. Damiano Genovese
Final mark: 108/110
Research activity: Functionalization of hyaluronic acid with a fluorophore, rhodamine B, in order to study the changes of the protein when placed in different environmental conditions (pH, temperature, solvents). The aim of the project was developed a system for in vivo uses for the recognition of pathological protein aggregates on the cell surface, based on the different morphology assumed by hyaluronic acid.
Characterization techniques used: Spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, Z potential, Dinamic Light Scattering (DLS), Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC), Circular dichroism spectroscopy
June - July 2012
Training internship at the Istituto zooprofilattico sperimentale of Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna (IZLER) of Forlì
Activity: Laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases of domestic and wild animals, microbiological analyzes on food of animal origin and not. In particular, sowing and trapping on cultural media, preparation of serological tests using the ELISA technique, preparation of all phases of the PCR reaction.
