Valeria Chiono

Full Professor (L. 240)
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS)

  • Member of Interdepartmental Center PolitoBIOMed Lab - Biomedical Engineering Lab
  • Substitute member Research Ethics Committee (ARI)

Profile

Research interests

3d bioprinting
Advanced drug delivery
Antimicrobial materials
Biomimetic functionalization
Cardiac tissue engineering
In vitro models
Nanomedicine
Non-viral gene therapy
Skin tissue engineering
Tissue engineering

Biography

Valeria Chiono has a Master Degree cum laude in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy. She is currently Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Her research is aimed at the design of innovative bioengineering approaches to solve key problems in regenerative medicine and nanomedicine, and includes the development of bioactive materials and interfaces, tissue engineering, materials characterization, in vitro tissue models, drug delivery and non-viral gene therapy. One main research topic is cardiac tissue engineering. She has been the coordinator of several research projects, including STARIGEN FIRB2010 project, financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, on the preparation of biomimetic scaffolds for cardiac regeneration. In 2017 she has been granted the ERC Consolidator project BIORECAR (contract number: 772168; http://www.biorecar.polito.it/) on advanced strategies for cardiac regeneration by direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes by an injectable hydrogel releasing miRNA-loaded nanoparticles. In BIORECAR in vitro models of fibrotic human cardiac tissue are also developed for preclinical investigation. Furthermore, she manages BIORECAR Cell Laboratory at Politecnico di Torino. She is the main lecturer of the following courses at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Torino: “Engineering for regenerative medicine”, “Cell and tissue engineering” and “Laboratory of Tissues and Physiological Processes' Models”. In 2021, she has been appointed Vice-Director of Centro 3R. She is in the editorial board of journals such as Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Biomedical Materials. She is author of 122 scientific publications (H-index/citations: 31/4617 Scopus; 36/6253 Google Scholar) and 5 patents in the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering and nanomedicine.

Curriculum

Download file (123KB)

Scientific branch

IBIO-01/A - Bioengineering
(Area 0009 - Industrial and information engineering)

Research topics

  • Antimicrobial coatings based on bacterial biosurfactants or biomimetic strategies
  • Cardiac tissue engineering: design of biomimetic scaffolds for a stem cells-based therapy in cardiac regeneration
  • Design of biomimetic materials by the preparation of bioartificial blends or surface functionalization of synthetic polymer scaffolds with bioactive molecules.
  • Direct cell reprogramming applied to cardiac regeneration: preparation of nanoparticles for oligonucleotide release and injectable hydrogels for an in situ therapy of infarcted cardiac tissue.
  • Drug releasing hydrogels: preparation of hydrogels based on synthetic and/or natural polymers encapsulating drugs for a controlled and sustained release.
  • In vitro tissue models: blood brain barrier and blood vessels on a chip; engineered cardiac fibrotic tissue; healthy and pathological (mimicking chronic wounds) skin tissue
  • Non-viral gene therapy: lipid and/or polymer nanoparticles for the release of oligonucleotide agents (e.g., siRNAs and miRNAs)
  • Preparation of systems for drug release by green technologies, making use of polymers prepared by bacterial fermentation on by-products of the food industry, or derived from waste products from agricolture, and avoiding or minimizing the use of organic solvents.
View moreView less

Skills

ERC sectors

LS7_5 - Applied gene and cell therapies, regenerative medicine
PE8_13 - Industrial bioengineering
PE8_13 - Industrial bioengineering
PE8_8 - Materials engineering (biomaterials, metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, etc.)
PE8_8 - Materials engineering (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, etc.)

SDG

Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Awards and Honors

  • BioPmed Award 2014 - Gold conferred by BioPmed (2014)
  • Back Cover in Advanced Healthcare Materials conferred by Advanced Healthcare Materials - Wiley (2020)

Fellowships

View moreView less

Editorial boards

  • MICRO (2021-), Editorial board member
  • FRONTIERS IN BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE (2021-), Other editorial activities
  • FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY (2021-), Other editorial activities
  • BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS (2020-), Editorial board member
  • FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE (2020-), Other editorial activities
  • FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY (2018-), Associate Editor of magazine or editorial series
  • 4 OPEN (2018-), Editorial board member
  • BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (2016-), Director
View moreView less

Conferences

  • I Convegno Nazionale SIOoC2023 (4/5/2023-5/5/2023), Program committee
  • International Congress on Biofabrication 2022 (1/1/2022-28/9/2022), Program chair
  • III Convegno Annuale "L'era delle 3R: modelli in silico, in vitro e in vivo per promuovere la ricerca traslazionale" (30/9/2021-1/10/2021), Chairman of the organizing committee
  • XL Scuola Annuale di Bioingegneria 2021 “Biofabrication: an integrated bioengineering approach for the automated fabrication of biological structures for clinical and research applications” (13/9/2021-16/9/2021), Participation to the organizing committee
  • CANCERTO - "Nanoscience in Cancer Immunotherapy" (9/3/2021-11/3/2021), Participation to the organizing committee
  • Workshop “Biology and bioengineering tools in the treatment of H2020 age-related diseases”, Chairman of the organizing committee
  • Workshop "Engineered Biomaterials and Biomedical Devices in the Regenerative Medicine of the Nervous System" (19/11/2015-20/11/2015), Chairman of the organizing committee
  • CONGRESSO SOCIETÀ ITALIANA BIOMATERIALI 2013 (3/6/2013-5/6/2013), Participation to the organizing committee
View moreView less

Other titles

  • Membro della Giunta DIMEAS 2019-2023 (2019-)
  • Referente di Ateneo per l'Azione del PNRR: Centro Nazionale 3 "Sviluppo di terapia genica e farmaci con tecnologia a RNA" (2021-)
  • Valutazione carriere per studenti che accedono alla Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Biomedica - Politecnico di Torino (2021-)
  • Commissario per l'Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale (ASN) - Settore Concorsuale 09/G2 - Bioingegneria (2021-)
  • Tutor accademico di studenti Erasmus Incoming - Facoltà di Ingegneria Biomedica, Politecnico di Torino (2016-2021)

Research networks

Roles as evaluator or expert

  • First Call of the ADMIRE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action COFUND in Advanced Materials Research.. 2021
    TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
  • REMOTE REVIEW ERC GRANTS. 2021
    ERC - EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL - EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  • REMOTE REVIEW ERC GRANTS. 2020
    ERC - EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL - EXECUTIVE AGENCY

Non-commercial collaboration agreements

Teaching

Collegi of the PhD programmes

  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2022/2023 (39. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2021/2022 (38. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2020/2021 (37. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2019/2020 (36. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2018/2019 (35. ciclo)
    Università degli Studi di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2017/2018 (34. ciclo)
    Università degli Studi di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2016/2017 (33. ciclo)
    Università degli Studi di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2015/2016 (32. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2014/2015 (31. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
  • BIOINGEGNERIA E SCIENZE MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE, 2013/2014 (30. ciclo)
    Politecnico di TORINO
MostraNascondi collegi passati

Collegi of the degree programmes

Teachings

PhD

MostraNascondi A.A. passati

Master of Science

MostraNascondi A.A. passati

Bachelor of Science

MostraNascondi A.A. passati

Research

Research groups

Research projects

Projects funded by competitive calls

View moreView less

Projects funded by commercial contracts

Supervised PhD students

  • Martina Coletto. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (39th cycle, 2023-in progress)
  • Giovanni Paolo Stola. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (38th cycle, 2022-in progress)
    Research subject: Advanced therapies by bioengineering tools
    Bionanotechnology
    Bionanotechnology
    Bionanotechnology
  • Daniele Testore. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (37th cycle, 2021-in progress)
    Research subject: Engineered microenvironment with biomimetic cues for cardiac regeneration
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
  • Francesca Tivano. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (37th cycle, 2022-in progress)
    Research subject: Green technologies and materials for the development of eco/biocompatible systems for drug delivery
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
  • Elettra Ugliono. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (37th cycle, 2021-in progress)
    Research subject: Designing scaffolds for full-thickness esophageal replacement
    Colorectal & Digestive Surgery
    Robotic surgery
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Colorectal & Digestive Surgery
    Robotic surgery
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Colorectal & Digestive Surgery
    Robotic surgery
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
  • Letizia Nicoletti. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (36th cycle, 2020-2024)
    Thesis: NEW ADVANCED THERAPIES FOR DRUG DELIVERY IN CARDIAC REGENERATION.
    Cardiac and Vascular Surgery
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Cardiac and Vascular Surgery
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
  • Roberta Pappalardo. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (36th cycle, 2020-2024)
    Thesis: Design of injectable hydrogels and nanogels relying on Schiff-base crosslinking of custom-made poly(ether urethane)s and photo-cured methacryloyl gelatin for in situ drug delivery and biological tissue mimics
    Bionanotechnology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Bionanotechnology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Bionanotechnology
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
  • Gerardina Ruocco. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (36th cycle, 2020-2024)
    Thesis: Bioartificial scaffolds with biomimetic fibrous structure in the design of in vitro models of cardiac fibrotic and skeletal muscle tissue
    Bionanotechnology
    Cardiovascular Engineering
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Bionanotechnology
    Cardiovascular Engineering
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
  • Mattia Spedicati. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (36th cycle, 2020-2024)
    Thesis: Fused deposition modelling supporting the design of in vitro models of diseased muscular tissues
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Cardiovascular Engineering
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
    Medical Innovation and Technology
    Nanomedicine
    Bionanotechnology
    Cardiovascular Engineering
    Micro-, meso- and nanostructured materials for advanced therapies
    Materials, surfaces and biofabrication techniques for tissue engineering and advanced implants
More PhD studentsLess PhD students

Other activities and projects related to research

COORDINATION OF RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. PROJECT ERC-CoG 2017: BIORECAR (contract number: 772168) “Direct cell reprogramming therapy in myocardial regeneration through an engineered multifunctional platform integrating biochemical instructive cues” (2018-2023). www.biorecar.polito.it
2. Project BIOMODE “In Vitro Experimental Models for Biomaterials-Mediated Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System” - Compagnia di San Paolo (2017-2021). In collaboration with Prof. R.D. Kamm, Massachussets – MIT.
3. Project “Proof of concepts” Compagnia di San Paolo: “Method for the preparation of cellularised constructs based on thermosensitive hydrogels” (2017).
4. Project PAD-INJ “Smart Injectable Drug-Delivery systems for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment”- Compagnia di San Paolo (2014-2016). In collaboration with Prof. M.G. Spillantini, University of Cambridge (UK).
5. Project FIRB 2010: STARIGEN “Bioartificial materials and biomimetic scaffolds for a stem cells-based therapy for myocardial regeneration” (2012-2015). Overall budget: €1.062.600 (financed grant: € 835.620).
6. Project MITOR - Compagnia di San Paolo: NANOCAB “In Vitro Modelling of Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System by a Microfluidic Platform Mimicking the Biological Barriers” (2016-2017).
7. Project of Finalized Sanitary Research – 2008 bis, PIEDMONT REGION: “Nano-structured biomimetic coatings for regenerative medicine” (2008-2009)
8. Project of Finalized Sanitary Research – 2009, PIEDMONT REGION: “Multifunctional nano-coatings for medical devices with improved anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties” (2009-2011).

PARTICIPATION TO RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. PROJECT CRT Visco3DCell (2021-2023). Budget: € 33.000. Role: Collaborator.
2. 2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2018 - Project EVPRO (2019-2022); € 500.000. Role: Task Leader. http://www.evpro-implant.eu/
3. H2020-MSCA ITN-2014 - Project HyMedPoly (2015-2018). Role: WP Leader. https://hymedpoly.eu/
4. BANDO ATENEO-CSP 2014 PROJECT -BIOSURF (2015-2017). Role: Unit Leader.

Publications

PoliTO co-authors

Last years publications

Publications by type

Latest publications View all publications in Porto@Iris

More publicationsLess publications

Society and Enterprise

Patents and other intellectual properties