Andrea Mattarei
 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova Current Position: Associate Professor SSD CHIM/08 Teaching Advanced methodologies in Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology degree, 62 hours, 6 CFU Contacts |
Short CV
2023 - Present: Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences,University of Padova.
2020 - 2023: Researcher (RTDB) of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences,University of Padova.
2017 – 2020: Researcher (RTDA) of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences,University of Padova.
2016: Senior research fellow at the Department of Biology,University ofPadova, in the group of Prof. I. Szabò.
2014 – 2016: Senior research fellow atthe Department of Chemical Sciences,University ofPadova, in the group of Prof. C. Paradisi.
2013: Visiting researcher at theInstitute ofOrganic Chemistry of theUniversity ofRegensburg.
2012 – 2014: Researcher attheInstitute ofNeuroscience of the National Council of Research (CNR).
2011 – 2012: Post-doctoral fellow at theInstitute ofNeuroscience of the National Council of Research (CNR) in the group of Dr. M. Zoratti.
2011: PhD in Molecular Sciences, University of Padova, Italy. Thesis Title: “Development of derivatives of natural polyphenols for pharmacological applications”. Advisor: Prof. Cristina Paradisi.
2010: Visiting scientist at theUniversity ofIllinois atChicago, at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy. Supervisor: Prof. Alan P. Kozikowski.
2008 – 2010: Graduate student in the Graduate School of Molecular Sciences at the Department of Chemical Sciences,University ofPadova. Supervisor: Prof. C. Paradisi.
2007: Master degree in Industrial Chemistry,University of Padova,Italy. Final grade 110/110.
2001: High School Degree. Industrial chemistry school ITIS “Buonarroti”,Trento,Italy. Final grade 100/100.
Teaching
Office hours
Please contact via email for appointment
Availability for Thesis Projects
- Synthesis and characterization of targeted fluorescent probes for bioimaging
- Synthesis of mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents
- Synthesis of new modulators of myosin super-relaxed state to contrast obesity and associated diseases
Research
Scientific Activities
Dr. Mattarei’s research interests are in the field of medicinal and bioorganic chemistry with a special focus on the design, synthesis and testing of new compounds for biomedical applications. A major line of research aims at developing a pharmacology of natural bioactive compounds by targeting them to specific cellular and body compartments (mitochondria, fat and muscle tissue) and by using the prodrug approach to improve oral bioavailability.
Since 2012 Dr. Mattarei has been taking part in a collaborative project involving the group of Prof. Ildikò Szabò (Dept. of Biology, University of Padova) dealing with the design, synthesis and testing of new derivatives of psoralene and clofazimine, compounds with a promising antitumoral activity ascribed to the inhibition of a potassium channel (Cancer Cell, In press).
Strong scientific interactions with the CNR Institute of Neuroscience and the Department of Biomedical Sciences have developed into collaborative projects dealing with: the design and synthesis of new fluorescent mitochondrial K+ and Ca2+ probes; the synthesis of selective inhibitors of endosomal trafficking exploited by multiple toxins and viruses; the synthesis of triazine-piperazine-triazine analogues, α-helic mimetics for use as pharmacological chaperones; the development of novel inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase based on organoselenium compounds; the synthesis of mitochondriotropic derivatives of pinacidil, a known activator of K(ATP) channel; the synthesis of mitochondriotropic photosensitizers for the study of reactive oxygen species in biochemical processes in mitochondria.
Dr. Mattarei is also collaborating with researchers at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences on the development of cell-penetration enhancers with dendritic architecture for decoration of lyposomes to achieve controlled release of anticancer agents.
Technical expertise
Organic Synthesis
Chromatography
1D and 2D NMR Spectroscopy
Mass Spectrometry
IR Spectroscopy
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Publications
- Leanza, L., Romio, M., Becker, K.A., Azzolini, M., Trentin, L., Managò, A., Venturini, E., Zaccagnino, A., Mattarei, A., Carraretto, L., Urbani, A., Kadow, S., Biasutto, L., Martini, V., Severin, F., Peruzzo, R., Trimarco, V., Egberts, J.H., Hauser, C., Visentin, A., Semenzato, G., Kalthoff, H., Zoratti, M., Gulbins, E., Paradisi, C., and Szabò, I. Direct pharmacological targeting of a mitochondrial ion channel selectively kills tumor cells in vivo. Cancer Cell. 31(4), 516 (2017)
- Azzolini, M.*, Mattarei, A.*, La Spina, M., Fanin, M., Chiodarelli, G., Romio, M., Paradisi, C., Biasutto, L. New natural amino acid-bearing prodrugs boost pterostilbene's oral pharmacokinetic and distribution profile. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 115, 149-158, (2017).
- Mattarei, A.*, #, Azzolini, M.*, La Spina, M., Zoratti, M., Paradisi, C., Biasutto, L. Amino acid carbamates as prodrugs of resveratrol. Scientific Reports. 5, 15216 (2015).
- Azarnia Tehran, D., Zanetti, G., Leka, O., Caccin, P., Lista, F., Binz, T., Shone, C.C., Rossetto, O., Montecucco, C., Paradisi, C., Mattarei, A.#, Pirazzini, M.# A novel inhibitor prevents the peripheral neuroparalysis of botulinum neurotoxins. Scientific Reports. 5, 17513 (2015).
- Azzolini, M.*, Mattarei, A.*, La Spina, M., Marotta, E., Zoratti, M., Cristina, P., Biasutto, L. Synthesis and evaluation as prodrugs of hydrophilic carbamate ester analogs of resveratrol. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 12(9), 2441-3454 (2015).
* First authorship shared - # Corresponding author
Research projects and Funds
- “Sviluppo di una farmacologia dei polifenoli”, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, CARIPARO – Progetti di Eccellenza. PI: Dr. Mario Zoratti, IN-CNR. (2010)
- “Induction of apoptosis via mitochondrial Kv1.3 potassium channel as a therapeutic perspective”, AIRC – Investigator Grant. PI: Prof. Ildiko Szabò, Department of Biology, UniPD. (2011)
- “Meccanismi mitocondriali della cancerogenesi”, Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca, MIUR – Progetti PRIN. PI: Prof. Paolo Bernardi, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UniPD. (2013)
- “New anti-cancer agents targeting a mitochondrial potassium channel: in vivo studies”, AIRC – Investigator Grant. PI: Prof. Ildiko Szabò, Department of Biology, UniPD. (2014)
