Giuseppe TRUSSO SFRAZZETTO

Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto achieved Bachelor Degree in Chemistry on 11/26/2005 with the vote of 109/110 and then the Master Degree in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry on 07/27/2007 with 110/110 cum laude from the Faculty of Sciences. FF. NN. of University of Catania, discussing the thesis titled "Design and synthesis of new macrocyclic cavitand for molecular recognition." From September to December 2007 he worked at the research laboratory of Prof. Gaetano Tomaselli in the University of Catania for the design and manufacture of new metal catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation reactions. In October 2007 he won fellowship for the PhD in Chemical Sciences (XXIII° cycle) at the University of Catania. He achieved the title of "PhD in Chemistry" on 02/10/2011 discussing thesis entitled "Design and synthesis of novel macrocyclic cavitand". From February to April 2011 was the holder of a contract of collaboration within the project PRIN 2008 "NEW METHODS FOR THE SELECTIVE AND GREEN OXIDATION OF ORGANIC SUBSTRATES KEY". In November 2011 he won a Post-doc position in the Department of Chemical Science of University of Catania to develop the field research about “MOLECULAR BASIS OF DEGENERATIVE SYNDROMES OF SENESCENTIS.

He won a research position in the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania in 2018, and from December 2021 he is Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in the same Department

He is currently a member of the PhD College in Chemical Sciences, is also the Department's contact person for Orientation, and is a member of the Quality Assurance Commission for the PhD in Chemical Sciences.

Last edit: 04/10/2025

Dr Trusso's research activity has focused on the molecular recognition of important biologically active compounds and catalysis, both in solution and in the solid state, leading to the realisation of biomimetic systems.

Recently in fact, research activity has focused on the realisation of optical sensors based on Array technology, for the detection of important analytes, both from a biological (hormones, catecholamines) and food (pathogens) point of view. In particular, this activity consists in the synthesis of fluorescent molecular probes capable of interacting non-covalently with the various analytes. This interaction leads to a change in the fluorescence of the probes, which can be detected by smartphone or solid-state optical fibre. This array system, also called an optical nose, allows the detection of analytes even in complex mixtures, such as human saliva, with high selectivity and sensitivity.

Dr Trusso's research activity is documented by more than 80 articles in international journals, many of which he is a corresponding author.