The Smart Bio-Interfaces group focuses on the development and exploitation of physically-active nanoparticles and nanostructured materials, able to provide appropriate instructive cues to cells and tissues.

The remote control of cellular functions through smart nanomaterials represents a bio-manipulation approach with unprecedented potential applications in many fields of medicine, ranging from cancer therapy to tissue engineering. By actively responding to external stimuli, smart nanomaterials act as real nanotransducers able to mediate and/or convert different forms of energy into both physical and chemical cues, fostering specific cell behaviors. A new paradigm is proposed for nanomedicine, in order to exploit the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials as active devices rather than as passive structural units or carriers for medications.

In this view, we are focused on three main research topics:

• Cellular stimulation through piezoelectric, magnetic, redox-active and optically-active nanoparticles
• Multi-functional drug delivery systems
• Biology in altered gravity conditions, and nanotechnological countermeasures in space medicine

We are based at the Center for Materials Interfaces, thus taking fully advantage of its chemical, biological, and microfabrication facilities, including clean rooms (class 1000 and class 10000), chemical laboratories, and BSL2 biological laboratories. More specifically, we can rely on equipment for:

• Nanomaterials production. EmulsiFlex-C5 (Avestin); Sorvall LYNX 4000 Superspeed Centrifuge (ThermoFisher); Fisherbrand Q125 Sonicator (Fisher Scientific)
• Imaging. Helios NanoLab 600i FIB/SEM/STEM equipped with X-ray microanalysis (FEI); C2s confocal microscope (Nikon); Eclipse Ti-E fluorescence microscope (Nikon); Raman confocal microscope LabRAM (Horiba)
• Characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer IRAffinity-1 (Shimadzu); HPLC 1260 Infinity (Agilent Technologies); Differential scanning calorimeter DSC-1 STARe System (Mettler Toledo); Zetasizer Nano ZS90 (Malvern); LAMBDA 45 spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer); Cary Eclipse fluorescence spectrophotometer (Agilent Technologies); VICTOR X3 plate reader (Perkin Elmer); Nanodrop 2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo)
• Biological analyses. CytoFLEX Flow Cytofluorimeter (Beckman Coulter); QIAcube (Qiagen); CFX Connect real-time PCR detection system (BioRad); PowerPac Basic + Mini-PROTEAN Tetra Cell (electrophoresis system, BioRad); iBlot gel transfer system (Invitrogen); ChemiDoc Western blot Imager (Bio-Rad)
• Physical stimuli application. Magnetherm (NanoTherics); RLTMDL-808-500 NIR laser (Roithner Lasertechnik); Sonoporation Gene Transfection System SonoPore KTAC-4000 (Sonidel); Random positioning machine RPM 2.0 (Airbus)

• Prof. Shinji Takeoka, Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan)
• Prof. Suzuki Madoka, Osaka University (Osaka, Japan)
• Prof. Satoshi Arai, Kanazawa University (Kanazawa, Japan)
• Prof. Elisa Mele, Loughborough University (Loughborough, UK)
• Prof. Gozde Ince, Sabanci University (Istanbul, Turkey)
• Prof. Filippo Maria Santorelli, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris (Pisa, Italy)
• Dr. Francesca Maltecca, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (Milano, Italy)
• Prof. Alessandra Salvetti, University of Pisa (Pisa, Italy)
• Prof. Manuela Teresa Raimondi, Polytechnic University of Milano (Milano, Italy)
• Prof. Valentina Cauda, Polytechnic University of Torino (Torino, Italy)
• Dr. Andrea Petretto, Gaslini Hospital (Genova, Italy)
• Dr. Pietro Fiaschi, San Martino Hospital (Genova, Italy)
• Dr. Alessandro Donati, Kayser Italia (Livorno, Italy)

Kidaria Bioscience is an IIT start-up incorporated on May 31st, 2022, aiming at exploiting natural extracts with remarkable antioxidant properties for cosmetic and nutraceutical applications.