Main lines of research
- Study of the relationships between structure, dynamics and function of proteins of biomedical or biotechnological interest (e.g.: hemoglobin and other oxygen-transporting molecules, green fluorescent proteins and enzymes), for biosensor applications, enzyme replacement therapy, formulation of blood substitutes, design and validation of inhibitors.
- Surface Chemistry modification, e.g., conjugation with extrinsic spectroscopic probes or with polymers. Experimental evaluation of the interaction between proteins and natural or synthetic ligands.
- Microspectrophotometric studies on single crystals or proteins immobilized in polymer matrices.
- Study of membrane and/or cytoskeleton damage by ionizing radiation (x-rays and protons), using advanced microscopy techniques (STORM, confocal, AFM).
- Development of methods for the utilization of G-quadruplex like structures as potassium bio-sensors by systematic measurements of the folding of oligonucleotide sequences in G-quadruplex like structures induced by the presence of potassium.
Techniques, methodologies and related instrumentation provided:
1) Optical spectroscopy and microscopy
- Fluorescence and anisotropy measurements of static and time-resolved fluorescence on proteins and other biological molecules (phase modulation fluorometer for static and time-resolved fluorescence).
- uv-vis absorption spectroscopy measurements, on proteins and oligonucleotides.
- Fluorescence and routine measurements on human tumor and non-tumor cell cultures, with inverted light microscope equipped with incubator.
2) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (some researchers in the unit have access to laboratories and instrumentation of the former Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, located at the University Campus on Langhirano Street)
- Static and time-resolved UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements (uv-visible spectrophotometer, apparatus for stopped-flow spectroscopy)
- Microspectrophotometric measurements (uv-visible microspectrophotometer)
- Fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy measurements (fluorometer for static fluorescence)
- Hematochemical assays and blood-chromocytometric measurements
- One- and two-dimensional electrophoresis
- Analytical and preparative chromatographic separations
3) Preparation and testing of biological samples
- Growth and maintenance of cell cultures
- Preparation of samples for atomic force microscopy, STORM (STocastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy), fluorescence, confocal and two-photon microscopy.
- Viability testing and dose-effect curves.
4) Dental materials
- Measurement of polymerization-induced dimensional change in composites by scanning method of a laser light beam.
- Characterization of metal alloys and polysiloxanes used in orthodontics and restorative dentistry by hardness and mechanical measurements.
Main instrumentation: durometer, He-Ne laser, prototypes for measurements of moments and of elasticity of metal wires, instrumentation for detailed reproducibility measurements of elastic materials.
5) Biomechanics-electromechanics
- Design and fabrication of prototypes for research.
6) Magnetism
- Measurements of electronic paramagnetic resonance and static magnetism (X-band EPR spectrometer, Digital Teslameter).
7) Mössbauer Spectroscopy
- Mössbauer spectroscopy of iron in organic compounds and in solid inorganic matrices (spectrometer for Mössbauer measurements in transmission with cryostat for measurements in temperature ranging from 77 K to 300 K).
Keywords
Biophysics, Medical Physics, Health Physics, Spectroscopy, Radiation
