Roma, 7-April-1969.
Married: Two sons
AWARD
2017: Prize to the scientific research in “Organic Chemistry for Nanoscience” by the Società Chimica Italiana.
ACTUAL POSITION
Full Professor of “Material Organic Chemistry” , Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1993: Degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Bologna.
1993-1996: Ph.D in Chemical Science in the Department of Organic Chemistry "A. Mangini" of the University of Bologna.
1997: PhD final exam at the University “La Sapienza”, Roma (7/09/1997). Title: “Stereoselective synthesis of polifunctionalyzed building blocks through the use of chiral organometallics reagents, auxiliaries and catalyst."
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Part of the degree work (three months) has been performed in the Department of Organic Chemistry of the University of Nijmegen (The Netherlands).
During his Ph.D he spent a six months period in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory, of the Oxford University, (United Kingdom).
ACCADEMIC CARRIER
1997: CNR fellowship entitled “Progetto Strategico. Tecnologie Chimiche Innovative” working in the Department of Organic Chemistry “A. Mangini” of the University of Bologna.
1998: Researcher at the Department of Organic Chemistry “A. Mangini”, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry, Bologna.
2014: Associate Professor. Department of industrial chemistry Toso Montanari, University of Bologna.
2017: Obtained the National Scientific Habilitation (Abilitazione, ASN) in Organic Chemistry.
TEACHING ACTIVITY
Since 1998 teaching in Organic Chemistry and Materials Sciences courses including laboratories. Teacher of the Master in “Material Composite” 2015-16, 2016-17.
Tutor and teacher of the “ Collegio Superiore- Istituto Studi Avanzati (ISA)” University of Bologna 2012-2018.
MENTORING ACTIVITY
Nineteen Post-Doc fellowships, Four PhD student and around 50 Degrees among first level and second level.
EDITORIAL BOARDS
2020-onward: Editorial Board per la rivista Nanomaterials (MDPI). Section-Nanoscience.
2014-onward Associate Editor for the journal RSC Advances (Royal Society of Chemistry). Section Nanoscience.
2012-onward Member of the honorary editorial board of International Journal of Nanomedicine. (Dove Press)
SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Scopus ID number: 6603855935
ORCID-ID: 0000-0001-5765-7263
Author of 125 articles published in international journals with Impact Factor, 3 papers at educational level. Eighteen patents (WO), 7 contributions to book’s chapter as conferences proceedings and monography. Twenty-one conferences at international congresses of which 13 invited and 8 as oral communication.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Organic chemistry
The first research interest lies in the synthesis of organic molecules for medicinal chemistry applications. This target is reached through the applications of [3+2] cycloadditions of several 1,3 dipoles (nitrile oxides, nitrones, azomethine ylides) with various dipolarophiles (cyclic alpha-beta-unsaturated ketones, lactones, thiolactones and lactams); also olefins and triple bonds containing various substituents (sulfur, nitrogen, fluorine, and in general electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing groups) are dipholarophiles of interest. The target is the regio- and stereo-controlled synthesis of polifunctional heterocycles for applications in medical applications mainly for cancer treatment. Several groups in Italy and Europe are in collaboration to test the activity, on cancer cell lines, of the drugs obtained.
Nanoscience and Nanomedicine
Research is in the field of the organic chemistry for nanoscience and nanomedicine. The argument of this research is the functionalization with complex organic molecules of the surface of nanoparticles: in particular magnetic nanoparticles, silver, doped- metal oxides, magnesium and gold nanoparticles (spherical and cylindrical). The entrapment of organic molecules as commercial- or synthetized-drugs (derived from the mentioned 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition) together with the metallic nanostructures of interest into biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles is also a topic of this research. The further bioconjugation of these polymeric nanoparticles with bio-functional molecules (proteins, peptides, monoclonal antibodies and aptamers) gives nanocarriers for biomedical applications against cancer and neurological disorders. Main applications are imaging, drug delivery, phototermal ablation and therefore a Theranostic approach is the main goal.
Additive Manufacturing 3D-printing
The research group activity is focused on the optimization of innovative processing techniques with the aim of developing new organic materials for applications in the field of organic electronics, nanomedicine for industrial applications.
Processing techniques include:
• Additive Manufacturing (3D-Printing) in order to obtain new materials starting from natural pool sources, such as carbohydrates and proteins. The starting biomaterials are synthetically modified before being applied to the manufacturing. Applications are textile and organic electronics
• Bio-Ink for biomedical applications via gel-extrusion deposition. Here too, biocompatible materials are investigated: the formulations are thoroughly explored and optimized in order to obtain suitable rheology for building scaffolds eligible for Tissue Engineering
EVALUATION ACTITIVITY
Referee for the principal journals edited by ACS, Royal Chemical Society, Wiley ed Elsevier
EXTERNAL EXAMINER
- External evaluator for EU programmes. 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF). Numero di progetti valuati (IER: Individual Evaluation Reports) ten (10).
- PhD thesis: Siena (Italy, 2010, 2018, 2020), Firenze (Italy, 2011), Liverpool (United Kingdom, 2013).
- FIRB(Futuro in Ricerca): 2012 (one project) and 2013 (two projects)
- SIR(Scientific Independence of young Researchers) 2014:10 projects.
- Agency for Science, Research and Technology, Singapore (1 project, 2013).
- Internal member for a RTD-B position CHIM06 (2015).
- EXITO(Enhance Cross-disciplinary Infrastructure Training at Oregon) Pilot Project Grant Program, Portland State University (USA), one project (2016).
- Newton International Fellowships applicationThe Royal Society, Inghilterra. One project (2016).
ACCADEMIC ACTIVITIES
Delegate for the research activities of the Department and related relationship with the Pro-Rector (2013-2016).
Member of the Panel 03 (Chemical Sciences) for the evaluation of the research of the University of Bologna (2010-2016).
Coordinator of the emergency team (2010-2018).
FUND RAISING
- PRIN (Project of National Interest) 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Participant.
- COST D-12 “Enantiospecific synthesis of the carbon-heteroatom bonds”, (2001-2004). TRM Project:Design, Analysis and Computation for Catalytic Organic Reactions (Contract HPRN-CT-2001-00172). Participant.
- Seventh Framework Programme. Theme NMP-2007. NMP-2007-4.0-4. Substantial innovation in the European medical industry: development of nanotechnology-based systems for in-vivo diagnosis and therapy. Title: Integration of Novel NANOparticle based technology for THERapeutics and diagnosis of different type of cancer. Acronym: NANOTHER. For the period: October 2008-September2012. Local coordinator.
- Seventh Framework Programme Theme 4 – NMP - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies. Call identifier:FP7-NMP-2010-LARGE-4. Title: A Modular Nanosystems Platform for Advanced Cancer Management: Nano-vehicles; Tumor Targeting and Penetration Agents; Molecular Imaging, Degradome based Therapy. Acronym: Save-Me. For the period: March 2011-February 2015. Local coordinator.
- Joint Research Projects within the executive programme of scientific and technological cooperation between the italian republic and the socialist republic of Vietnam. 2014-2016. Progetti di Grande Rilevanza: Biotechnology and Medicine. Funded by MINISTERO AFFARI ESTERI (MAE). Title: Synthesis of hybrid magnetic nanocarriers for drug delivery innanomedicine. Imaging and therapy against brain tumors.
- Funded by Fondazione Dal Monte. Title: “Nanomedicine approaches for Glioblastoma treatment”. Principal Investigator.
- H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017 Funding scheme: Research and Innovation ActionsRIA. (2018-2022). Title: Novel precision technological platforms to promote non-invasive early diagnosis, eradication and prevention of cancer relapse: proof of concept in the bladder carcinoma. Acronym: EDIT. For the period: October 2018-September 2022. Local coordinator.
- AIRC: Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul cancro. Investigator Grant (IG-2019). Development of innovative drug-loaded and aptamer targeted nanosystems for treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Principal Investigator Laura Cerchia (CNR Napoli). Gennaio 2020-Dicembre 2024. Local coordinator.
