Our Research

Biointerface

dn27286-1_1200

The molecular interactions that control cell fate occur at the nanoscale and nanomaterials can be engineered to modulate the biochemical and biophysical signals presented at those lenghtscales in space and time.
We are developing a set of platforms and tools to study the interaction of nanomaterials with subcellular components, in order to engineer functional biointerfaces.

Precision Medicine

project_1

Precision medicine aims to provide tailored  treatments through an improved understanding of each individual molecular profile. We are developing a nanotechnology platform for rapid, minimally invasive and reliable molecular profiling of diseases, to overcome current shortcomings that limit the clinical adoption of precision medicine. 

Tissue Engineering

project_2

Engineering tissues ultimately rely on precisely guiding the fate of cells in vivo to recapitulate architecture and function. The inability to accurately and precisely determine cell fate in vivo is a major hurdle in regenerative medicine.We are developing nanotechnology approaches to precisely control cell behaviour in vivo with high space and time resolution.

Learn More

Our Publications

Biointerface

Biodegradable Nanoneedles for Localized Delivery of Nanoparticles in Vivo: Exploring the Biointerface


Chiappini et al. ACS Nano 2015.

Dissecting the biointerface over time elucidated the dynamics of cell association and nanoneedle biodegradation, showing rapid interfacing leading to cytosolic payload delivery within less than 30 minutes in vitro. The rapid and simple application of nanoneedles in vivo to the surface of tissues with different architectures invariably resulted in the localized delivery of quantum dots to the superficial cells and their prolonged retention. Read More.

Precision Medicine

Mapping Local Cytosolic Enzymatic Activity in Human Esophageal Mucosa with Porous Silicon Nanoneedles


Chiappini et al. Advanced Materials 2015.
Porous silicon nanoneedles can map Cathepsin B activity across normal and tumor human esophageal mucosa. Assembling a peptide-based Cathepsin B cleavable sensor over a large array of nano­needles allows the discrimination of cancer cells from healthy ones in mixed culture. The same sensor applied to tissue can map Cathepsin B activity with high resolution across the tumor margin area of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Read More.

Tissue Engineering

Biodegradable silicon nanoneedles delivering nucleic acids intracellularly induce localized in vivo neovascularization


Chiappini et al. Nature Materials 2015

Porous silicon nanoneedles efficiently puncture cell monolayers, delivering biomolecules into cells both in vitro and in vivoRead More.

Screen Shot 2016-08-02 at 17.11.49

Learn More