research
Selective targeting in biological systems
Selective targeting in biological systems
The selective targeting of few specific cells among vast and extremely diverse populations is a key step in the development of effective nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery. Targets can be diseased eukaryotic cells, to be distinguished from their healthy counterparts, or pathogenic bacteria often coexisting with beneficial strains, e.g. in gut bacterial flora. A simple approach to selective targeting consists of functionalizing the carriers with a single ligand that binds strongly to a single receptor only found on target cells. However, there are 200 different cell types in the human body and more than 10,000 different microbial species (mostly bacteria), and most of these can exist in a variety of physiological states. The fact that each cell can express many different surface receptors makes it extremely difficult to identify a receptor that is only present on the target cells.
The selective targeting of few specific cells among vast and extremely diverse populations is a key step in the development of effective nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery. Targets can be diseased eukaryotic cells, to be distinguished from their healthy counterparts, or pathogenic bacteria often coexisting with beneficial strains, e.g. in gut bacterial flora. A simple approach to selective targeting consists of functionalizing the carriers with a single ligand that binds strongly to a single receptor only found on target cells. However, there are 200 different cell types in the human body and more than 10,000 different microbial species (mostly bacteria), and most of these can exist in a variety of physiological states. The fact that each cell can express many different surface receptors makes it extremely difficult to identify a receptor that is only present on the target cells.
Invisible plastics
Invisible plastics
Amorphous fluorinated polymers have a refractive index really close to that of water. For this reason, they are totally invisible when dispered into a water sample: they neither diffuse nor reflect light. But, when a thin molecular layer adsorbes onto their surfaces, the optical signal increases, enabling the optical detection of these molecules. On these bases, in the past years, my lab developed different kinds of biosensors based on phantom nano-particles and on planar surfaces.
Amorphous fluorinated polymers have a refractive index really close to that of water. For this reason, they are totally invisible when dispered into a water sample: they neither diffuse nor reflect light. But, when a thin molecular layer adsorbes onto their surfaces, the optical signal increases, enabling the optical detection of these molecules. On these bases, in the past years, my lab developed different kinds of biosensors based on phantom nano-particles and on planar surfaces.
Suggested readings:
Suggested readings:
Molecular spontaneous adsorption
Molecular spontaneous adsorption
This amorphous fluorinated plastic is highly hydrophobic. For this reason, all the molecules that have a hydrophobic part, like surfactants, can spontaneously adsorb on the plastic interfaces, without any kind of surface functionalization. I study how surfactants self assemble onto the plastic surfaces, depending on the charges, buffer and pH condition, with particular attention to their adsorption dynamics.
This amorphous fluorinated plastic is highly hydrophobic. For this reason, all the molecules that have a hydrophobic part, like surfactants, can spontaneously adsorb on the plastic interfaces, without any kind of surface functionalization. I study how surfactants self assemble onto the plastic surfaces, depending on the charges, buffer and pH condition, with particular attention to their adsorption dynamics.
Micro-porous membranes
Micro-porous membranes
Thanks to the collaboration with Solvay Specialty Polymers of Bollate (MI), I realized for the first time invisible micro-porous membranes. The optical response on these materials depends on their internal structure and morphology. This kind of material has been embedded into a microfluidic chip, so that it is possible, at the same time,to detect surfactants molecule and remove them from water samples.
Thanks to the collaboration with Solvay Specialty Polymers of Bollate (MI), I realized for the first time invisible micro-porous membranes. The optical response on these materials depends on their internal structure and morphology. This kind of material has been embedded into a microfluidic chip, so that it is possible, at the same time,to detect surfactants molecule and remove them from water samples.
Phantom colloids
Phantom colloids
To realize invisible micro-particles we start from an emulsion with the fast-mini kit of SPG technologies: fluorinated micro droplets are formed into water and then photopolymerised using UV radiation. Quite mono-dispersed particles are obtained in the range of 0.4-100 microns.
To realize invisible micro-particles we start from an emulsion with the fast-mini kit of SPG technologies: fluorinated micro droplets are formed into water and then photopolymerised using UV radiation. Quite mono-dispersed particles are obtained in the range of 0.4-100 microns.
