Research
Research Topics
Glycomimetics for Immunotherapy and Tumour Theraputic Vaccine Development
In terms of morbidity and mortality prevention, vaccines have been the greatest triumph of medicine and glycoconjugate vaccines are among the safest and most successful vaccines developed in the past 30 years. Glyco-vaccines for cancer immunotherapy have solid rational and are considered of great impact on public health. Novel mimetics of MUC1-glyco antigens Tn and STn have been developed in our lab. They are stable in vivo and nicely recognized by native receptors. Vaccine candidates based on these antigens are under evaluation to treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), and aggressive cancer, non-responsive to currently used therapies.
Synthetic Receptors for Carbohydrates
Beyond physiological roles, biomolecular recognition of glycans triggers several pathological pathways, such as those associated with cancer development and metastasis, and those related to bacteria- and virus-to-host interactions. Synthetic receptors for carbohydrates are a class of artificial molecules designed for the biomimetic recognition of biologically relevant saccharides. Our advances in this field of supramolecular chemistry have recently led to molecules capable of interfering with carbohydrate-mediated processes in several biological contexts, opening the way to further applications including saccharide sensing and imaging, carbohydrate-based transport and purification, and the development of carbohydrate-targeted drug delivery systems.
Small Molecules for Biological Targets
TRPs antagonists
Transient Receptor Potential Channels are a group of ion channels mediating a variety of sensation including pain. Lipoyl-based antagonists developed in our group, showed unprecedented activity in several contexts including reverting oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain and in the treatment of orofacial pain.
MMPs inhibitors
Matrix metalloproteins (MMPs) are a family of metallo ezymes physiologically spread all over the body. Under pathological conditions they are overexpressed and promote or mediate a plethora of diseases. In the last decades, hundreds of MMPs inhibitors have been developed and initially proposed as antitumoral drugs but without success. A new family of nanomolar MMPs inhibitors have been developed in the group. They are water soluble, atoxic and suitable for topic applications. Recently, they have further been investigated for the development of bioactive materials.
Nanostructures & Proteins Bioconjugation for Multivalent Saccharidic Epitopes' Presentation
The multivalent presentation of saccharidic epitopes/antigens is of paramount importance for an effective receptors' recognition or stimulation of the immune system. In house prepared nanofibers, nanovescicles and proteins (native or mutants) can efficiently be glycosilated and are excellent carrier-scaffolds to address specific receptors and lectins of biological relevan.
Design & Synthesis of Glyco-conjugates to Hamper Microbial Infections
The rapid development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem and the World Health Organization expects more deaths from infections than from cancer in 2050 if current trends continue. New classes of anti-infectives must urgently be developed but to avoid to trigger new resistances, other concepts must be pursued. Hampering host-pathogen recognition/binding and therefore infection, might be a good approach. Glyco-conjugates are excellent molecular tools to reach this goal.
Ongoing Projects
IG21 -Glycosyl Membrane Vesicles to Develop Therapeutic Vaccines Against Triple Negative Breast Cancer
PRIN2017 (2017XZ2ZBK)
Bioinspired development of glycomimetics tuning the Siglec-Sialylated glycan axis
PRIN2020 (2020XNFH9R)
Targeting baCteriAl cell eNvelope of Nocosomial paThogens to ESKAPE resistance - CANNOT-ESKAPE
ENSCC - European Network on the Supramolecular Chemistry of Carbohydrates
PNR
MERMEID - Targeting the Immunometabolioc Role of MerTK in the Microenvironment of Intrahepatic Cholangio carcinoma
GlycoNoVi - Understanding the Role of Glycans in Human Norovirus Infection: a Key to Unlock New Therapies
PRIN2022 (2022MY7AZT)
Dynamic multifunctional hydrogels for glioblastoma therapy (DINGO)
PRIN2022 (20222BLNZS)
Patho-blockers, a new option to counter-act antimicrobial resistance
Collaborations
University of Siena; IIA Institute (CNR); Univerisity of Milano Bicocca; University of Pavia; University of Piemonte Orientale; Giotto Biotech; INGM, Milano; Fondazione TLS, Siena;
University of Grenoble-Alpes & CNRS of Grenoble (France); BioMAGUNE (Spain); University of Bristol (UK); University of Sevilla (Spain); University of Montpellier (France); Universidad NOVA, Lisbon (Portugal); University of Berne (Switzerland); ICENI (UK); Univeristy of Iraklio, Crete (Greece); University of Aveiro (Portugal); University of Orléans (France);