Ph.D. candidate in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche , 40th cycle (2024-2027)
Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT)
Profile
PhD
Research topic
We will analyze how the illumination of gold nanostars can be leveraged to modulate the activity and fidelity of viral RNA polymerases
Tutors
Research interests
Biography
During my MSc, which was entirely conducted in English, I studied a wide range of topics including Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, Bioimaging, Robotics, and Computer Interfaces for Biological Systems. I gained experience with various programming languages (MATLAB, C++, Assembler) and CFD software tools (COMSOL, ANSYS).
I completed four months of hands-on laboratory work, focusing on cell culture and analysis of healthy and adenocarcinoma fibroblasts as well as human epithelium. Additionally, I worked on the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles. I participated in several group projects, such as analyzing drug-induced hepatotoxicity through COMSOL-based modeling of the human digestive system, and investigating cardiac hypertrophy and its regression due to pressure overload.
I also collaborated with a nephrologist at the Policlinico of Naples, where I proposed a novel drug delivery system using chitosan nanoparticles based on recent literature findings.
My MSc thesis was carried out at Swansea University in Wales and was published in Computers in Biology and Medicine in February 2025. The research involved a CFD analysis of how gradual porosity affects the internal microfluidic environment across different scaffold geometries.