Collaborations with IIT Departments at the Central Research Lab in Genova (a selection)
Nanochemistry: ultrafast spectroscopy of hybrid nanostructures; two-photon, confocal and super resolution microscopy of quantum rods; synthesis and biofunctionalization of plasmonic nanorods and functionalization of conductive nanofibers with gold nanorods; in-solution assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles; mechanical studies of individual branched nanocrystals and of their films/assemblies; fabrication of stencil masks; new probes for super resolution optical microscopy.
Nanostructures: European project Single Molecule Detection, on the development of new devices and methodology for obtaining single molecule sensitivity on a nanometer spatial scale; fabrication of stencil masks; nanolenses; European project Nanoantennas.
Neuroscience and Brain Technologies: interaction of CdS/CdSe nanoparticles and nanorods with neural networks; confocal and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy; optical nanoscopy; in vitro study of nanorods-nanoparticles interactions with neurons; distribution of α-synuclein at the neuronal membrane surface (NBT funded project by TELETHON grant); stiffness of human cell nuclei (NBT funded project by TELETHON grant); production of 2D/3D lab-on-a-chip patterned nanodevices for stimulus and recording of 3D neuronal networks; atomic and photonic force microscope from nano- to pico-Newton.
Pattern Analysis & Computer Vision: 3D localization and visualization in super-resolution images; non-linear point spread function estimation from images; automatic calibration for IML-SPIM 3D localization; information extraction and visualization from spectroscopy maps.
Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences: microfabrication activities on flexible epicortical microelectrode array; nanocomposite blends for light ligaments; silicon on diamond interfaces.
Drug Discovery and Development: molecular simulations on photochromic molecule structural properties; kinetic constants (K_off release rate) related to drug-protein interactions using AFM/STED, SERS and molecular dynamics.
Collaborations with IIT Centers:
Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies@Unisalento (Lecce): Growth of highly oriented AlN on polyimide polymer for piezoelectric MEMS; titanium dioxide nanoparticles homogeneous dispersion in acrylate polymer mixture by UV irradiation with short pulsed laser; Magnetic Force Microscopy on magnetic nanocomposites; waveguides for efficient Dye-Sensitized-Solar-Cell; micro needles array for sub-cutaneous drug delivery; superhydrophobic surfaces.
Center for Space Human Robotics@Polito (Torino): Ultra-thin piezoelectric nanowires into mesoporous matrices as array of distributed pressure sensors.
Center for Micro Bio Robotics@SSSA (Pisa): Effect of the internalization of barium titanate nanoparticles on rat mesenchymal stem cells.
Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST (Pisa): Electronic spectroscopy on Graphene/SiC; new probes for super resolution fluorescence microscopy.
