• CFS (CHIMICA FISICA SPERIMENTALE)

Research:

Characterization of biological model membranes and their interactions with peptides and proteins

Characterization of nanosystems: nanoparticles and nanostructured materials.

Production and characterization of biological nanovehicles

Chemistry for cultural heritage

Formulation and characterization of colloidal systems

Structural and thermodynamic characterization of biological macromolecules in solution

Structural characterization of biological macromolecules and their complexes with ligands and drugs

Characterization of biological model membranes and their interactions with peptides and proteins

Biological model membranes are produced (for example with the thin layer method) and characterized by means of spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (with the spin label approach), as well as calorimetric and neutron scattering ones (neutron reflectivity), in terms of structural, dynamic, and functional properties. Their interaction with peptides and proteins is also investigated from a thermodynamic point of view through the same combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. 

Characterization of nanosystems: nanoparticles and nanostructured materials.

Synthesis of nanoparticles (metal and metal oxide NPs, surfactant-based NPs) and their characterization by means of spectroscopic (UV-Vis, IR, Fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy) and light and neutron scattering techniques. Characterization of different nanostructured materials by means of IR and Raman microscopy. 

Production and characterization of biological nanovehicles

Production of biological nanovehicles by encapsulation of drugs into auto-assembling proteins and/or lipids and their characterization by means of spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, CD, EPR), light scattering technique (DLS, ELS) and X-ray crystallography.  

Chemistry for cultural heritage

Archeometric research activity focuses on the developement of physico-chemical protocols on works of art for addressing hystorical and technolgical questions, in collaborations with archaeologists and Museums.

Formulation and characterization of colloidal systems

Formulation and structural and functional characterization of colloidal systems, mainly based on surfactants and polymers, in the presence of salts, cosolvents and additives, for industrial applications, by means of light and neutron scattering techniques, spectroscopic techniques, polariscopy and microscopy.

Structural and thermodynamic characterization of biological macromolecules in solution

Characterization of biological macromolecules, proteins and nucleic acids, by analysis of: a) structure and stability via spectroscopic (CD, UV-visible and fluorescence), electrophoretic and calorimetric (DSC, ITC) techniques. Thermodynamic characterization of biological macromolecules in solution and development of thermodynamic models for interpretation of experimental data of thermal and chemical denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids.

Structural characterization of biological macromolecules and their complexes with ligands and drugs

Structural characterization by means of X-ray crystallography of biological macromolecules (nucleic acids and proteins) free and in complex with ligand and drug (metal-complexes, small molecules, other biomacromolecules, etc.). Support of spectroscopic techniques and Raman microspectroscopy to investigate binding, stability of the complexes and induced structural changes. A molecular dynamics simulation approach is also used to analyze the conformational flexibility of these systems.