Foto del docente

Maria Letizia Focarete

Full Professor

Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician"

Academic discipline: CHIM/04 Industrial Chemistry

Research

Keywords: nanofibers polymers tissue eengineering structure-properties relationship polymers Biomaterials Electrospinning Bio-resorbable polymers

The academic research interests are focused on polymeric materials and related processing technologies for advanced biomedical and energy applications. Specific research activities and know-how include: (i) the study of structure-property relationships in natural and synthetic polymers, copolymers and polymer blends to design new materials with physical properties aimed to specific applications; (ii) molecular, structural, morphological, and thermo-mechanical characterization of macromolecular systems; (iii) surface functionalization and surface characterization of polymeric materials mainly pointing at biomedical applications; (iv) use of the electrospinning technology to produce innovative nanostructures with a focus on the interaction between cold atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasmas and the electrospinning process.

The study of polymer structure-properties relationships is a fundamental aspect in the design of new materials with physical properties aimed to specific applications.

A research line of great interest regards the use of bio-resorbable polymers, both commercial and 'ad-hoc' synthesized, in order to obtain degradable temporary scaffolds for cell growth. Scaffold functionality can be improved through the addition and/or modification with bioactive molecules. Such research line is among the interest of research.

Another research line regards design of the electrospinning process of polymeric solutions in controlled conditions. Electrospinning technology allows the production of nanofibrous mats from solutions of different polymers. The accurate control of experimental parameters allows to obtain polymer fibers with diameters ranging from nano-to micrometers with optimized morphology. The obtained materials may find applications in the filtration sector and in the tissue engineering field. As regards the latter, electrospinning technology is attacting increasing attention because artificial scaffolds made of nanofibers are believed to be an ideal support for cell growth. In fact, they provide a biomimetic environment, dimensional similar to that of the extracellular matrix which is present in the biological tissues. Other research lines regard: (1) Functional materials - For energy storage: research is focused on the development of gelled electrospun membranes for safe, high-rate and high-energy polymeric lithium-ion batteries;  - For water treatment: research is carried on within the EU-project NEFELE (Nano- Electrospun Filter for Efficient Liberation & Encapsulation of acticides for water treatment in transportation applications). (2) Structural nanofibre-reinforced polymeric composites: research is focused on the development of high-performance engineered composite materials.

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