Development of structured functional materials in a green chemistry context

Development of a big data of mesothelioma that would lead to accurate and early detection: epidemiological evaluation for interventional study in individuals with mesothelioma and preclinical analysis of natural extracts with antitumour characteristics

Tissue regeneration: preclinical research and therapeutic perspectives

Continuous advancements in healthcare and the resulting increase in life expectancy have led to a rise in chronic and degenerative diseases, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Among these, tissue regeneration has emerged as a promising strategy to restore and enhance the functionality of damaged tissues, particularly in conditions affecting musculoskeletal health. Tissue regeneration encompasses diverse approaches, including the use of bioactive molecules to stimulat...

Assessment of preload dependance in critical care: new insights and techniques

Fluid administration is a cornerstone in the management of hemodynamic instability, aimed at increasing cardiac output (CO) and improving tissue perfusion. However, only half of critically ill patients experience a meaningful rise in CO after fluid loading, underscoring the importance of identifying preload responsiveness to avoid unnecessary or harmful volume expansion. Traditional fluid challenges (350–500 ml) represent treatments rather than diagnostic tools, prompting the investigation of...

Functional ingredients from food wastes: the case-study of cocoa bean shells

The valorisation of food by-products is a promising strategy for sustainability within the circular economy. Cocoa bean shells (CBSs), a by-product of the cocoa production chain, are a waste rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, dietary fibres and lipids. This thesis investigates innovative approaches to convert CBSs into functional ingredients for food and nutraceutical applications. Key findings include improving the fermentability of CBSs through enzymatic treatments, which e...

Leveraging advanced technologies to optimize in vitro biophysical stimulation experiments

This thesis investigates the impact of biophysical stimuli on bone tissue regeneration using advanced in vitro models. Chapter 1: Introduces a novel bioreactor combining fluid flow shear stress and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for 3D bone tissue culture. Computational simulations optimize the system, and preliminary experiments with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) assess the osteogenic potential of these stimuli. Chapter 2: Develops 3D-printed polylactic acid...

Novel mass-spectrometry approaches to decode molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets in rare diseases: insights into soft-tissue sarcoma, mucosal melanoma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In the present PhD thesis mass-spectrometry-based approaches were used to identify putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets for uncurable rare diseases including Soft-tissue Sarcoma (STS), Mucosal melanoma (MM) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The present work allowed the identification of novel biological insights on these diseases. The thesis is divided into three main chapters. The first study focused on soft-tissue sarcoma. Our results provided new biological information on the...

Developing a mushroom supply chain for food purposes in the European perspective: companies’ competitiveness and consumer behaviour

In the context of evolving global food systems, sustainable and health-conscious dietary practices are increasingly essential. Mushrooms and mushroom-based products have garnered attention due to their nutritional value, low resource requirements, and potential as sustainable meat alternatives. Despite their growing importance, research on the edible mushroom supply chain remains limited. This thesis investigates the mushroom industry in Italy and consumer behaviors surrounding mushrooms and ...

Long-term results of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL) MCL0208 trial of lenalidomide maintenance versus observation after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) patients

The FIL MCL0208 phase III study compared lenalidomide maintenance (LEN) for 2 years to observation (OBS) after autologous stem cell transplantation in young (age <65 years) patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma. LEN resulted in superior progression-free survival (PFS) but no overall survival (OS) benefit. The trial included a large minimal residual disease (MRD) sub-study, which was limited at early detection time points but highlighted the high prognostic value of both p...