1984 Degree in Pharmacy and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Bologna- Alma Mater Studiorum (Italy)
1984-1989 Education Grant in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Bologna
1990 Researcher in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Bologna Pharmaceutical-Technological-Applicative Research Area
1991 Associated Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Bologna Pharmaceutical-Technological-Applicative Research Area
2001 Qualification as Full Professor in the Pharmaceutical-Technological-Applicative Research Area
2005 Full Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Bologna Pharmaceutical-Technological-Applicative Research Area
Teaching Activity
Pharmaceutical Technology
Nanocarriers for Biotechnology Drugs
Applied Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Chemistry of Drug Targeting and Release
Scientific Activity
Development of micellar carriers for hydrophobic antitumor drugs.
The carriers are prepared from polyvinyl alcohols, polysaccharides, polypeptides by partial substitution of the polymeric backbones with hydrophilic and lipophilic substituents.
Objective: 1) high entrapment of the hydrophobic drugs in the hydrophobic inner core of the micellar carriers to increase drug aqueous solubility and consequently enhance drug bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy 2) enhanced accumulation of the drug-carrier system in the tumor tissues by modulation of the carrier dimensions for extravasation or linkage of targeting moieties on the carrier surface.
Development of thermodynamically unstable self-assembling systems targeting the thermodynamic instability of the cancer cell membranes
Preparation and evaluation of self-assembling macromolecules able to provide thermodynamically unstable structures prevalently interacting with the tumor cell membranes, characterized by increased fluidity (and thus thermodynamic instability) with respect to the normal cell membranes. The interaction is expected to induce structural membrane modifications triggering apoptosis.
Development of nanogels targeting the surface hydrogel layer of cancer cells.
Nanogels of oligosaccharides, polypeptides or cross linked polyvinylalcohol targeting the microviscosity of the cancer cell surface hydrogel layer. The nanogel structure is based on cross linkage of hydrophilic polymers or core packaging of amphiphilic macromolecules. A suitable regulation of the nanogel viscosity may target the systems to the surface of the cancer cells where the glycocalyx modifications also modify the viscosity of the surface hydrogel layer with respect to the normal cells.
Development of self-assembling polycations for gene delivery
Polycations based on chitosans, and polyvinyl alcohol substituted with choline or nicotinic acid are prepared and evaluated as carriers for gene delivery.
