Elenco corsi dottorato XLI ciclo (da a.a. 2025-26)

(Prof. G. Grasso)

Brief overview of neurodegenerative diseases: a bioinorganic point of view. Alzheimer’s disease. Parkinson disease. Prion diseases. Catabolism of aggregation-prone proteins. Aβ, α-synuclein and prion protein. Protein-metal ions binding. Chemical factors regulating the clearance of proteins by metalloproteases: oxidative stress, small molecules and metal ions. Metal ions and metalloproteases at physiological conditions and in neurodegeneration. Some of the most commonly used experimental techniques to study metal binding to proteins.

(Prof. R. D’Agata)

The course is designed to provide the skills to apply analytical techniques in clinical settings with a focus on ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results. It involves the processes of sampling, preparing, isolating, and analyzing biofluids to improve diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and prevention. Course contents:  Specimen collection, pre-analytical, analytical and biological variability, most common biological fluids, sample treatment and storage. Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of clinical assays, reference values, sensitivity and specificity (false positives and negatives), and predictive value of tests. Analytical aspects of immuno, enzyme and nucleic acid assays and detection principles. Analytical techniques employed in the analysis of blood and urine. Point of Care Testing (POC) in clinical chemistry.

(Prof. C. Satriano)

This course provides PhD students with an advanced overview of bioinspired strategies applied to the design and development of nanomaterials and functional surfaces. The focus is on applications in healthcare (e.g., medical devices, drug delivery systems, biosensors) and in sustainable environmental technologies (e.g., self-cleaning materials, water and air filtra on, nanozymes).

(Prof. G. Spoto)

Main Characteristics of Biosensors. Biomolecular Receptors. Enzymes. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). Aptamers. DNA/RNA.  Nucleic acid analogs: Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs), Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs), Morpholinos, Antibodies. Receptor Immobilization Methods: Adsorption, Encapsulation, Cross-linking, Covalent binding. Optical Transducers. Metal Nanoparticle-Based Systems: Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR), Lateral Flow Test Strips. Luminescence: Fluorescence, Chemiluminescence, Bioluminescence. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques: PCR/real time PCR, Isothermal Methods: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Rolling circle amplification (RCA), Nicking enzyme amplification assumed context (NEAA). Additional Transducers: Electroanalytical, Piezoelectric. Microfluidics: Navier-Stokes equations, Dimensionless numbers, Microfluidic devices fabrication methods. Applications: Lab-on-a-chip, Droplet Microfluidics, Digital Assays, Digital PCR

(Prof. S. Sciré)

The main purpose of this course is to discuss and compare the various catalytic technologies applied for the production of hydrogen, which is one of the main actors of the current energy transition. The first part of the course will give an overview of the current H₂ production processes focusing on the greenest ones. The applications of H₂ as fuels as well as the H₂ storage technologies will be also explored. In the second part of the course the newest photocatalytic catalytic processes (photocatalysis, photoelectro-catalysis, photothermo-catalysis) for a sustainable H₂ evolution will be analysed and compared in terms of H₂ yields obtained up to now. The used materials, the advantages and the drawbacks of the different processes will be specifically highlighted. The course intends to evaluate the role of H₂ as a key energy vector in the new economy based on the process decarbonization and the environmental sustainability. 

(Prof. V. Spampinato)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of advanced techniques for physico-chemical characterization of materials with a focus on microelectronics, nanotechnology, and bio-related applications. Students will explore methods to probe surface chemistry, functionalization, and material interfaces with high resolution and sensitivity. Emphasis will be placed on multimodal strategies combining mass spectrometry, topographical microscopy, and x-ray spectroscopy to gain holistic insights into material properties. Real-world examples will span microelectronic systems, nanomaterials, and bio interfaces, highlighting how proper physico-chemical characterization can improve their relevance and performance in innovative technological fields.

(Prof. S. Riela)

This course explores the innovative role of clay minerals as multifunctional platforms in scientific and technological contexts. It will examine the main classes of clays (montmorillonite, kaolinite, halloysite, sepiolite), focusing on their structure, surface properties, and reactivity. Special attention will be given to strategies for structural modification and chemical functionalization, including practical examples of intercalation, grafting, and encapsulation. The course will also highlight recent applications in emerging fields such as nanomedicine, controlled drug delivery, catalysis, sensing, composite materials, and environmental technologies. Case studies and critical discussion of recent literature will be included to promote an interdisciplinary perspective and applied research mindset.

 (Prof. S. Intagliata)

The goal of this course is to provide a general understanding of the multifaceted process of drug design and discovery to learn how small molecules are developed and optimized to create a safe and effective preclinical drug candidate. After a brief overview of the modern drug discovery process, we will learn the principles of drug target selection, lead identification, and hit-to-lead optimization. Specifically, compounds' molecular structure and diversity will be discussed to analyze the most relevant intermolecular interactions involved in drug-target binding and to understand the structural importance of pharmacophores. Subsequently, traditional and innovative approaches to search for a hit compound will be defined, thus the way how efficiently filtering hits to leads will be described. Finally, the course will cover methods for the structural modification of a lead compound to improve its drug-like properties, potency, and pharmacokinetic (i.e., drug adsorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination) profile. During the course, relevant case studies will be presented, and lectures will be integrated with hands-on sections and active discussion of original research articles from literature searches.

(Prof. V. Oliveri)

The aim of the course is to provide both a theoretical foundation and an overview of practical applications of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) in biomedical research. The first part will introduce the fundamental principles of DLS, including the theory of light scattering, Brownian motion, and the interpretation of correlation functions to determine particle size in solution. In the second part, the application of DLS in the biomedical field will be highlighted. In particular, the course will emphasize the role of DLS as a key analytical technique in the characterization of proteins, macromolecules, and nanoparticle-based systems. The importance of DLS in understanding size distribution, aggregation phenomena, colloidal stability, as well as biomolecular interactions will be discussed in the context of drug delivery, diagnostics, and nanomedicine.

(Prof. A. Ferlazzo)

Sensors are important for applications involving the detection of pollutants in water, soil, food, of biological markers or viruses in biological fluids. Therefore, molecular recognition is a key step in industrial, environmental, agricultural, clinical and screening applications. Electrochemical sensors are particularly attractive due to their remarkable sensitivity, selectivity, stability, reversibility, experimental simplicity and low cost. Then, they have found a wide range of important applications in the above-mentioned fields.

Specifically, this PhD course will cover the following topics: Principles and concepts useful for electrochemical sensor design; Different types of electrochemical techniques and their application in sensing; Development of point-of-care electrodes and devices; Electrode characterization, calibration curves, measurements and results; Molecular recognition in real samples for sensing and biosensing.

 (Prof. A. Gulino)

Symmetry elements and operations. Rules for the evaluation of the direct product in symmetry groups. Cubic and deviations from cubic symmetry. Franck-Condon principle. Spin-orbit coupling. Electronic configurations, quantum numbers, electronic terms and microstates. Racah parameters and Tanabe Sugano diagrams. Optical spectra of inorganic complexes. Photo-electric effect and photoelectron spectroscopy. Energy of photo- and Auger- electrons. Fermi level and temperature influence. Insulating and conductive samples. Koopman's theorem and Hartree-Fock energies. Electronic effects.

 (Prof. A. D’Urso)

Initially, the course will briefly address the first principles that are the basis of supramolecular chemistry. Subsequently, with an eye to natural systems, the student will be led to the understanding of self-assembly phenomena to allow a design of supramolecular devices. For this purpose, an overview of the applications related to biotechnology will also be presented (Sensors, Logic gates, On-off switches). Finally, particular attention will be paid to supramolecular stereochemistry, therefore to intrinsic and induced chirality and the phenomena and applications that can be generated such as chiral memory and conformational probes.

(Prof. V. Muccilli)

Natural bioactive compounds are valuable resources for drug discovery. Compared to chemically synthesized drugs, natural products are characterized by structural diversity and complexity, more chiral centers, fewer nitrogen and halogen atoms or aromatic rings, and other characteristics. However, these compounds often lack optimal drug-like properties. This course aims to gain a deep insight into natural product structures and their optimization in drug development. The program will include: A brief history of natural products in medicinal chemistry, Structural characteristics of natural products, Structure-activity relationships (SAR), Drug and prodrugs, Modification strategies of natural products with successful examples, Receptors, enzymes and drugs, Natural products in cancer chemoprevention, anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic agents, Targeting metabolic disorders with natural products and their derivatives. Several examples will be reported in cancer chemoprevention and metabolic disorders treatment.

(Prof. R. Fiorenza)

The main purpose of this course is to show how many efforts have been made in recent years on the advance of hybrid catalytic processes in order to propose efficient solutions to meet the requests of the development of green and sustainable technologies for both environmental protection and energy production, also from an economic point of view. New approaches beyond the thermal-driven heterogeneous catalysis will be discussed, exploring advantages and drawbacks of the new hybrid processes as the photo-electrocatalysis, the photo-thermocatalysis, the plasma-assisted catalysis, the sono-catalysis and the microwave-assisted catalysis. These processes will be examined both in environmental applications (water and air purification) and in energy production (solar fuels, CO₂ valorisation). Finally, an up-to-date panorama on the most suitable and sustainable materials for these applications will be presented, focusing on green and easy preparation procedures, and on non-critical materials to highlight the importance of the circular economy.

 (Prof. C. La Rosa)

The Aims of Molecular Dynamics. Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Thermodynamics. Molecular Interactions: Non-bonded Interactions, Bonding Potentials, Force Calculation. The MD Algorithm: The Verlet Algorithm, Constraints and Restrain. Time Dependence: Propagators and the Verlet Algorithm, Multiple Time-steps. Rigid Molecule Rotation and Harmonic Oscillator. Molecular Dynamics in Different Ensembles. Explicit and Implicit Solvent. Force Field: CFF and CHARMM. Program: NAMD and VMD. Molecular Dynamics and Steered Molecular Dynamics: from simulations to thermodynamic functions. Computer tutorials.

(Dr. G. Pappalardo)

A brief history of therapeutic peptides and peptidomimetics; Advances in peptide synthesis; Examples of peptides and peptidomimetics for targeting protein-protein interactions; Therapeutic peptides: preclinical stage and Clinical use. Peptide based biosensors; Theragnostic peptide conjugates.

(Prof. S. Sortino)

The aim of the course is twofold. In a first introductory part the basic principles of photochemical and photophysical processes will be provided. In a second part, the role of photochemistry as multidisciplinary science will be highlighted. In particular it will be shown the importance of the processes initiated and/or controlled by light in multifaceted applications in different fields, encompassing optoelectronics, environment, biology and medicine.

(Prof. G. Forte)

Ab initio methods: The Hartree Fock approximation. Correlation. Beyond Hartree Fock Perturbation. Theory Configuration Interaction. Basis Set: Notation. Common basis. Examples. Density Functional Theory: Basic Theory. Hierarchy of DFT exchange-correlation functionals. Dispersion Forces. Examples. Applications: Geometry optimization of inorganic complexes. Calculation bond enthalpies of hydrides. Application of IR and Raman Spectroscopy. Predicting Gibbs free energy in solution. Predicting NMR spectra. UV/Visible spectra simulations. Predicting fluorescence spectra. Study of reaction mechanisms. Application of the ONIOM method for large molecular systems.

(Prof. A. Licciardello)

Aim of the course is to provide a survey on surface mass spectrometries, namely Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), Sputtered Neutrals Mass Spectrometry (SNMS), Glow-Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GD- MS). The first part of the course will provide the necessary background of ion-matter and plasma-matter interaction. The second part of the course will deal with the application of such techniques in the study of inorganic and organic surfaces and thin films, and their impact in different fields of materials and life science.

(Prof. V. Cunsolo)

Aim of the “The Chemistry of Food” course is to provide a survey on the chemical composition of foods (macro- and micro-nutrients), the characteristics of the different components, and their influence on the food properties, of their reactivity and of the transformations they undergo during processing and storage. Furthermore, during the course the student will acquire a general knowledge of the analytical methods for the determination of food macro-components (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), with examples of food products of both animal and plant origin.