A5007160215- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Helicobacter pylori-related gastroenterology studies
- Click Chemistry and Applications
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Building materials and conservation
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
University of Bologna
2017-2024
Azienda USL di Bologna
2024
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
2021-2022
National Institutes of Health
2021-2022
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a promising therapeutic modality for cancer. Here we used an orthogonal nanoarchitectonics approach (genetic/chemical) to engineer M13 bacteriophages as targeted vectors efficient photodynamic killing of cancer cells. was genetically refactored display on the phage tip peptide (SYPIPDT) able bind epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The M13EGFR phages demonstrated EGFR-targeted tropism and were internalized by A431 cells, that overexpress EGFR. Using...
The combination of photodynamic therapy with chemotherapy (photochemotherapy, PCT) can lead to additive or synergistic antitumor effects. Usually, two different molecules, a photosensitizer (PS) and chemotherapeutic drug are used in PCT. Doxorubicin is one the most successful drugs. Despite its high efficacy, factors limit clinical use: severe side effects development chemoresistance. chromophore, able absorb light visible range, making it potential PS. Here, we exploited intrinsic...
Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents an emerging strategy to treat various malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CC), the third most common type. This work presents engineered M13 phage retargeted towards CC cells through pentavalent display of a disulfide-constrained peptide nonamer. The nanovector was conjugated with photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB), and photodynamic anticancer effects resulting -RB bioconjugate were investigated on cells. We show that upon irradiation is...
Abstract Nickel homeostasis is important for pathogenic and ureolytic bacteria, which use this metal ion as enzymatic cofactor. For example, in the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori an optimal balance between nickel uptake incorporation metallo-enzymes fundamental colonization of host. also used cofactor to modulate DNA binding NikR regulator, controls transcription genes involved trafficking or infection many bacteria. Accordingly, there much interest a systematic characterization...
Vaginal microbiota dominated by lactobacilli protects women from sexually transmitted infection, in particular HIV-1. This protection is, part, mediated Lactobacillus-released extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here, we investigated whether EVs derived other Gram-positive bacteria also present healthy vaginas, Staphylococcus aureus, Gardnerella vaginalis, Enterococcus faecium, and faecalis, can affect vaginal HIV-1 infection. We found that released these protect human cervico-vaginal tissues ex...
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widespread and lethal disease. Relapses of the disease metastasis are very common in instances CRC, so adjuvant therapies have crucial role its treatment. Systemic toxic effects development resistance during therapy limit long-term efficacy existing therapeutic approaches. Consequently, search for alternative strategies necessary. Photothermal (PTT) represents an innovative treatment with great potential. Here, we synthesize branched gold nanoparticles (BGNPs) as...
Growing antibiotic resistance has encouraged the revival of phage-inspired antimicrobial approaches. On other hand, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered a very promising research domain for protection against infectious diseases. Yet, few efforts have been made to combine advantages both approaches in modular, retargetable platform. Here, we foster M13 bacteriophage as multifunctional scaffold, enabling selective killing bacteria. We took advantage well-defined molecular biology...
Temoporfin (mTHPC) is approved in Europe for the photodynamic treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Although it has a promising profile, its lipophilic character hampers full exploitation potential due to high tendency aggregation reduced ROS generation that compromise therapy (PDT) efficacy. Moreover, clinical administration, mTHPC requires presence ethanol propylene glycol as solvents, often causing adverse effects site injection. In this paper we explored efficiency...
Impaired intestinal barrier function is a major feature of Crohn's disease (CD), leading to exacerbated inflammation in response the microbiota. In this context, translocation bacteriophages (phages) and their effects on host have been little investigated. We used phage fluorescence imaging coupled with ex-vivo in-vitro models that mimic physiological inflammatory conditions found phages can translocate across without disrupting its integrity. Although rate epithelium depended morphology...
Iron homeostasis is a critical process for living organisms because this metal an essential co-factor fundamental biochemical activities, like energy production and detoxification, albeit its excess quickly leads to cell intoxication. The protein Fur (ferric uptake regulator) controls iron in bacteria by switching from apo- holo-form as function of the cytoplasmic level ferrous ions, thereby modulating gene expression. Helicobacter pylori HpFur has rare ability operate transcriptional...
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), because of their dual plasmonic and catalytic functionalities, are among the most promising nanomaterials for development therapeutic diagnostic tools severe diseases such as cancer neurodegeneration. Bacteriophages, massively present in human biofluids, emerging revolutionary biotechnological they can be engineered to display multiple specific binding moieties, providing effective targeting ability, high stability, low cost, sustainable production. Coupling AuNPs...
Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and fullerene (C60) are among the most used photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Through combination of chemical photophysical properties Ce6 C60, in principle, we can obtain an "ideal" photosensitizer that is able to bypass limitations two molecules alone, i.e., low cellular uptake scarce solubility absorption red region C60. Here, synthesized characterized a Ce6-C60 dyad. The UV-Vis spectrum dyad showed typical bands both Ce6, while quenching fluorescence...
The vaginal microbiota, normally characterized by lactobacilli presence, is crucial for health. Members belonging to L. crispatus and gasseri species exert protective functions against pathogens, although a total comprehension of factors that influence their dominance in healthy women still lacking. Here we investigated the complete genome sequence comprehensive phenotypic profile strain BC5 BC12, two strains featured anti-bacterial anti-viral activities. Phenotype microarray (PM) results...
Photogeneration of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) finds applications in fields as different nanomedicine, art preservation, air and water depollution surface decontamination. Here we present photocatalytic nanoparticles (NP) that are active only at acidic pH while they do not show relevant ROS photo-generation neutral pH. This dual responsivity (to light pH) is achieved by stabilizing the TiO2 NP with a specific organic shell during synthesis it peculiar core shell-structure, demonstrated...
Abstract Thiophene‐based nanoparticles (TNPs) are promising therapeutic and imaging agents. Here, using an innovative phage‐templated synthesis, a strategy able to bypass the current limitations of TNPs in nanomedicine applications is proposed. The phage capsid decorated with oligothiophene derivatives, transforming virus 1D‐thiophene nanoparticle (1D‐TNP). A precise control shape/size obtained exploiting well‐defined morphology refactored filamentous M13 phage, engineered by display...
Thiophene-based materials (TMs) have emerged as promising candidates in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizers agents owing to their remarkable electron transport properties, which facilitate efficient energy transfer processes crucial for PDT. In detail, TMs exhibit favourable optical characteristics, making them suitable absorption and conversion light into reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby inducing cytotoxic effects targeted cells. Recent studies explored natural...