Short CV

2000-present Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology (CHIM09)

2015-present Rector Delegate for technology Transfer in the Life Sciences

1991: Degree summa cum laude in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Padova
1991-1994: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova (Supervisor: F.M. Veronese)
1995-1997: Post-Doc Dept of membrane and Biophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (Supervisor: Meir Wilchek)
1997-1998: Head of Chemistry Lab, Integrated Technology Corporation, Perugia
1999-2001- Visiting Scientist, Mount Sinai Medical School, New York, NY

  Courses

• Medical Device Technologies, Pharmacy (FA), 6CFU, 48h (Class).
• Preparation and control of Pharmaceutical and cosmetics products, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and technology (CTF), 6 CFU, 40h class + 15h laboratory.

Margherita Morpurgo in Syllabus

  Office hours

Any day, upon appointment (please contact via e-mail).

 

  Availability for Thesis Projects

Drug delivery: nano and microparticle based functional systems for enhaced drug delivery solutions- from dec 2016

  Scientific Activities

The Avidin Nucleic Acids NanoASemblies (ANANAS) Platform

This platform was invented and developed in our laboratory. The ANANAS are soft biocompatible and biodegradabole poly-avidin nanoparticles (NP) obtained through a proprietary.
Nature-guided process of assembly, which guarantees stoichiometric composition and performance reproducibility. They are biocompatible polymers of avidin with superior performance, applicable in both drug delivery and immunodiagnostics. The NPs are multifunctionalizable in one pot reactions, they have colloidal stability in physiological buffer which permits several applications in nanomedicine. The ANANAS technology is patented worldwide and the lab is involved in investigating its use in different biomedical applications.[1-4]. 

1. Casarin E, et al (2016) Plos One.
2. Buda A et al (2015)  International Journal of Nanomedicine 10: 399-408.
3. Bigini P et al (2014). ACS Nano 8: 175-187.
4. Morpurgo M, et al Analytical Chemistry 84: 3433-3439.

 

Sol-Gel Silica for the Stabilization and controlled release of bioactive compounds

Sol-gel silica is an inorganic polymer with high potentials in biomedicine. It is easy to produce from low cost precursors and it is highly versatile so that materials useful for multiple applications can be envisaged. Depending on the polymerising conditions, dry or wet silica based polymers with nano- meso- o micro-porosity are obtained. Depending on porosity, internal organization and composition, sol-gel silica based materials capable of improving the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs or matrices for the sustained release of highly soluble and unstable drugs have been described. The material is well tolerated, it is degraded into silicic acid (a compound that is abundant in mineral water) and it is then eliminated through the kidneys. Among the biomedical applications investigated in the lab are the controlled release of low molecular weight, polymer and protein and nucleic acid based drugs.[5-8] 

5. Brigo L, et al. (2016) Materials Science & Engineering C 59: 585–593.
6. Morpurgo M, et al  (2011) In: Morris RE, editor. The Sol-Gel Process: Uniformity, Polymers & Applications. Hauppauge-NY: Nova Science. pp. 703-720.
7. Cini R, al. (2007). Inorganic chemistry 46: 79-92.
8. Teoli D, et al  (2006). Journal of Controlled Release 116: 295-303.

  Technical expertise

• Protein and Polymer chemistry
• Bioconjugation, Sol-gel silica synthesis
• Organic/Inorganic Micro/Nano-particle Synthesis, Manipulation and Physico-chemical characterization
• Immunoassay Development and Validation
• Fine Surface Functionalization for Biosensing
• Phage Display

  Positions available

A post-doc (or post-grad) fellowship is available starting from Spring 2016 to work on the project “ Development of a nanoparticle-based pharmacological approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”, (Project CODE: RF-2013-02356221) in collaboration with the Mario Negri Institute (Milan). 

  Publications

1. Casarin, E., L. Lucchese, S. Facchin, S. Grazioli, N. Realdon, E. Brocchi, M. Morpurgo and S. Nardelli (2016). "A new ELISA using the ANANAS technology showing high sensitivity to diagnose of the bovine Rhinotracheitis Diagnosis from individual sera to pooled milk." Plos One 11(1). (IF, 3,234, Q1)

2. Buda, A., S. Facchin, E. Dassie, E. Casarin, M. A. Jepson, H. Neumann, G. Hatem, S. Realdon, R. D'Inca, G. C. Sturniolo and M. Morpurgo (2015). "Detection of a fluorescent-labeled avidin-nucleic acid nanoassembly by confocal laser endomicroscopy in the microvasculature of chronically inflamed intestinal mucosa." International Journal of Nanomedicine 10: 399-408. (IF, 4.383, Q1)

3. Bigini, P., S. Previdi, E. Casarin, D. Silvestri, M. B. Violatto, S. Facchin, L. Sitia, A. Rosato, G. Zuccolotto, N. Realdon, F. Fiordaliso, M. Salmona and M. Morpurgo (2014). "In Vivo Fate of Avidin-Nucleic Acid Nanoassemblies as Multifunctional Diagnostic Tools." Acs Nano 8(1): 175-187. IF 12.023 (Q1)

4. Sonato, A, Ruffato, G., Zacco, G., Silvestri, D., Natali, M., Carli, M., Giallongo, G., Granozzi, G., Morpurgo, M., Romanato, F., Enhanced sensitivity azimuthally controlled grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance applied to the calibration of thiol-poly(ethylene oxide) grafting. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical   Published:  5/2013 ( ISSN:  0925-4005), 181, 559 –566 (IF 3.898) (Q1)

5. Morpurgo M, Facchin S, Pignatto M, Silvestri D, Casarin E, Realdon N. Characterization of multifunctional nanosystems based on the avidin-nucleic acid interaction as signal enhancers in immuno-detection. Anal Chem. 2012 Apr 3;84(7):3433-9. doi: 10.1021/ac300276u. Epub 2012 Mar 14. (IF 5.856) (Q1)

  Complete list of publications

Margherita Morpurgo in Padua Research Archive IRIS (Institutional Research Information System) 

  Patents

Title	number	country	status
Nanoassembled Complexes Of Nucleic Acids, Avidin And Biotinylated Compounds For Use As Carriers For Intracellular Delivery	WO 2015/011675 A1	EUROPE	Patent Application, Published: Jan 29, 2015
Complessi Nanoassemblati Di Acidi Nucleici, Avidina E Composti Biotinilati Per Uso Come Vettori Per Il Trasporto Intracellulare	IT PD20130210 A1	ITALY	Patent Application Published: Jan 27, 2015
Nanoassembled Complexes Of Nucleic Acids, Avidin And Polymers, Use And Preparation Thereof	US 8486639 B2	US	Granted Patent, Published: Jul 16, 2013
Nanoassembled Complexes Of Nucleic Acids, Avidin And Polymers, And Preparation Thereof	EP 2173904 B1	EUROPE	Granted Patent, Published: Oct 10, 2012
A Single-step Platform For On-chip Integration Of Bio-molecules	EP 1833987 B1	EUROPE	Granted Patent,  Published: Aug 8, 2012
Microfluidic Devices And Methods Of Generating And Using Same	IL 200001 D0	ISRAEL	Patent Application,m Published: Apr 15, 2010
Complessi Nanoassemblati Di Acidi Nucleici, Avidina E Polimeri, Loro Uso E Preparazione	IT PD20070223 A1	ITALY	Patent Application, Published:  Dec 30, 2008
Habaylated Avidin And Uses Thereof	IL 143019 A	ISRAEL	Patent Application, Published: Jun 5, 2008
Sol-gel Derived Silica Polymers For The Sustained Release Of Proteins	EP 2004727 A1	EUROPE	Patent Application, Published: Dec 24, 2008
Sol-gel Derived Silica Polymers For The Sustained Release Of Proteins	IT MI20060734 A1	ITALY	Patent Application, Published: Oct 13, 2007
Avidin Derivatives And Uses Thereof	US 7217575 B2	US	Granted Patent, Published: May 15, 2007
Avidin Derivatives And Uses Thereof	US 6632929 B1	US	Granted Patent, Published: Oct 14, 2003
Azobenzene Derivatives As Labeling Agents And Intermediates Thereof	US 6602987 B1	US	Granted Patent, Published: Aug 5, 2003

  Research projects and Funds

• 2016-2019 Development of a nanoparticle-based pharmacological approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”, (Italian Ministry of Health, Progetto di Ricerca  Sanitaria, Project CODE: RF-2013-02356221) in collaboration with the Mario Negri Institute (Milan). RUC,36 months, 80.000 Euros (OPEN)
• 2012-2015 Novel multiplexing and signal-amplification strategies for the development of advanced diagnostic platforms for animal health and food safety control (Italian Ministry of Health, Progetto di Ricerca  Sanitaria Project Code:RF-2010-2318002) in collaboration with IZSLER and IZSVe, RUC,36 months, 17.000 Euros (OPEN)
• 2011-2012 Sviluppo e applicazione di Metodiche Immunoenzimatiche ad Alta Sensibilità per il monitoraggio di contaminanti chimici negli Alimenti (“MIASA”) (Veneto Region, FSE 2007/2013 - ASSE CAPITALE UMANO –Assegni di ricerca, Code 2105/1/12/1739/2011), PI, 12 months, 24.000Euro (CLOSED)
• 2013-2014 Sviluppo di sistemi per la rilevazione ad alta sensibilità di contaminanti ambientali e alimentari attraverso l'ausilio delle nanoparticelle di poliavidina ANANAS (Veneto Region, FSE 2007/2013 - ASSE CAPITALE UMANO –Assegni di ricerca, Code 2105/101/26/1148/2013), PI, 12 months, 24.000 Euro (CLOSED)
• 2009-2011 Novel strategies for High sensitivity immunodetection of low molecular weight compounds, University of Padova, Assegni di ricerca 2009, PI, 24 months, 36.500 Euros (CLOSED)
• 2008-2011 PLAsmonic nano-Textured materials and architectures FOR enhanced Molecular Sensing, University of Padova, Strategic Project 2008, RUC, 36 months, 255.742 Euros (CLOSED)
• Nanoparticelle di poliavidina autoassemblata come nuovi strumenti diagnostici e terapeutici University of Padova, Progetti di Ateneo 2007, PI, 36 months, 61.500 Euros (CLOSED)
• “Gel di silice secondo la modalità sol-gel per l’intrappolamento ed il rilascio controllato di proteine ad uso terapeutico”. Private fundingby BIO-Ker,S.r.l.PI., 36 months, 40.000 Euros
• 2006 - 2012: Polymer and nanoparticle based solutions for drug delivery and diagnostics, Ex 60% Projects, University of Padova, PI,30.000 Euros
• 2003-2004- Sintesi e caratterizzazione chimico fisica di composti inorganici a base di silice contenenti molecole bioattive. MIUR, PRIN  CODE 2004032118_002  P, 24months, 24.000 Euros (CLOSED)