He did his Master's Degree in Manufacturing and Material Engineering in 2011, from University Technology Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia.
Currently, he's PhD Student in "BIOENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS " in the Scanning Probe Microscopy group of Nanophysics Department at the Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy.
His current research interests in the field of Nanotechnology deal with dental composites, Anodic Porous Alumina fabrication and its application in different areas.
Anodic porous alumina (APA) is a nanostructured form of aluminum oxide that has already proven to be biocompatible and thus is potentially useful for permanent implants in orthopedics and dentistry. Label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing based on gold (Au) coated APA substrate has also been reported, with both thick (>10 um) and thin (500-100 nm) or ultrathin (<50 nm) forms of APA (TAPA, tAPA and utAPA, respectively). We aim at a novel combination of APA as both a SERS sensor surface and a cell seeding substrate, additionally endowed with drug delivery capabilities of the pores. Initially, loading and subsequent elution of test pharmaceutical molecules (e.g. Diclofenac) or active nanoparticles (e.g. antibacterial silver or remineralizing hydroxyapatite) will be tested. Means of triggering the release or at least modulating its rate, by control of either the medium (temperature, pH, etc) or a sealing layer on top (e.g. lipid bilayer or polymer film) will be explored. The presence of loaded drugs/mNPs and its release can will be verified by optical techniques based on fluorescence labeling or by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Indirectly, their effect can be assessed by SERS on different types of living cells cultured on the bioactive Au-tAPA substrates (e.g. osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and even neurons). Alternative metals would also be investigated in the future (mainly titanium).
Another anodic oxide that may find applications in dentistry is that of titanium, the metal of which most permanent implants inserted in the bone are made. The anodization treatment is additive and can be combined with traditional micro-roughening (etching, sandblasting). Dental companies (Sweden&Martina, Nobel Biocare) have already patented anodization applied on their endosseous implants. However much room exists in improvement, in both aspects of surface pattern (texture, amplitude) and in functionalization of the surface to make it bioactive.
L’Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) è una fondazione di diritto privato - cfr. determinazione Corte dei Conti 23/2015 “IIT è una fondazione da inquadrare fra gli organismi di diritto pubblico con la scelta di un modello di organizzazione di diritto privato per rispondere all’esigenza di assicurare procedure più snelle nella selezione non solo nell’ambito nazionale dei collaboratori, scienziati e ricercatori ”.
IIT è sotto la vigilanza del Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca e del Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze ed è stato istituito con la Legge 326/2003. La Fondazione ha l'obiettivo di promuovere l'eccellenza nella ricerca di base e in quella applicata e di favorire lo sviluppo del sistema economico nazionale. La costruzione dei laboratori iniziata nel 2006 si è conclusa nel 2009.
Lo staff complessivo di IIT conta circa 1440 persone. L’area scientifica è rappresentata da circa l’85% del personale. Il 45% dei ricercatori proviene dall’estero: di questi, il 29% è costituito da stranieri provenienti da oltre 50 Paesi e il 16% da italiani rientrati. Oggi il personale scientifico è composto da circa 60 principal investigators, circa 110 ricercatori e tecnologi di staff, circa 350 post doc, circa 500 studenti di dottorato e borsisti, circa 130 tecnici. Oltre 330 posti su 1400 creati su fondi esterni. Età media 34 anni. 41% donne / 59 % uomini.
Nel 2015 IIT ha ricevuto finanziamenti pubblici per circa 96 milioni di euro (80% del budget), conseguendo fondi esterni per 22 milioni di euro (20% budget) provenienti da 18 progetti europei, 17 finanziamenti da istituzioni nazionali e internazionali, circa 60 progetti industriali
La produzione di IIT ad oggi vanta circa 6990 pubblicazioni, oltre 130 finanziamenti Europei e 11 ERC, più di 350 domande di brevetto attive, oltre 12 start up costituite e altrettante in fase di lancio. Dal 2009 l’attività scientifica è stata ulteriormente rafforzata con la creazione di dieci centri di ricerca nel territorio nazionale (a Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) e internazionale (MIT ed Harvard negli USA) che, unitamente al Laboratorio Centrale di Genova, sviluppano i programmi di ricerca del piano scientifico 2015-2017.
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is a public research institute that adopts the organizational model of a private law foundation. IIT is overseen by Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca and Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze (the Italian Ministries of Education, Economy and Finance). The Institute was set up according to Italian law 326/2003 with the objective of promoting excellence in basic and applied research andfostering Italy’s economic development. Construction of the Laboratories started in 2006 and finished in 2009.
IIT has an overall staff of about 1,440 people. The scientific staff covers about 85% of the total. Out of 45% of researchers coming from abroad 29% are foreigners coming from more than 50 countries and 16% are returned Italians. The scientific staff currently consists of approximately 60 Principal Investigators, 110 researchers and technologists, 350 post-docs and 500 PhD students and grant holders and 130 technicians. External funding has allowed the creation of more than 330 positions . The average age is 34 and the gender balance proportion is 41% female against 59% male.
In 2015 IIT received 96 million euros in public funding (accounting for 80% of its budget) and obtained 22 million euros in external funding (accounting for 20% of its budget). External funding comes from 18 European Projects, other 17 national and international competitive projects and approximately 60 industrial projects.
So far IIT accounts for: about 6990 publications, more than 130 European grants and 11 ERC grants, more than 350 patents or patent applications, 12 up start-ups and as many which are about to be launched. The Institute’s scientific activity has been further strengthened since 2009 with the establishment of 11 research nodes throughout Italy (Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) and abroad (MIT and Harvard University, USA), which, along with the Genoa-based Central Lab, implement the research programs included in the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan.
