Laboratory of NanoBioScience and NanoBioTecnology

research activity

Under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Samorì, the research activity of the laboratory is focused on the following three main topics.

DNA-based nano-architectures

Connecting the nano- to the macro-world by tailor-made DNA-based architectures. The self-assembling of these DNA nanostructures is directed by the structural codes that drive the DNA molecular recognition processes in the cell (1). The main challenge is now to master and to increase the level of complexity and precision in the construction of either static (2) or dynamic (3) DNA-based architectures towards applications to surface nanopattering, nanoelectronics, DNA-computing, signal-enhancement in sensors (see below), etc.

Nanobiological DNA- and protein sensors

Protein-sensors for early detection of cancer biomarkers

DNA-sensors for bio-terrorism and environmental assays.

The electronic/electrochemical read-out (4,5) is coupled to signal enhancement methodologies based on nanotechnological approaches.

Single-molecule methodologies for biology and polymer physics

Single molecule imaging and nano-mechanics to study:

• folding and mis-folding of proteins (6) involved in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases;
• mechanisms and engineering in the nano-scale of bio/non-bio interactions and adhesions (7);
• the transduction of a mechanical signal into a biochemical function (8,9)

1. Samorì, B. and G. Zuccheri (2005). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44(8): 1166-1181.

2. Brucale, M., G. Zuccheri, and B. Samorì, (2006) Trends in Biotechnology 24: 235-243

3. M . Brucale, G. Zuccheri and B. Samorì (2005) Org . Biomol. Chem. 3 , 575–577

4. C . Guiducci, C. Stagni, G. Zuccheri, A. Bogliolo,L. Benini, B. Samorì, B. Riccò. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 19, 781-787 (2004)

5. Stagni C, Guiducci C, Benini L, Ricco B, Carrara S, Samori B, Paulus C, Schienle M, Augustyniak M, Thewes R. ( 2006) IEEE J. Of Solid-State Circuits 41 (12): 2956-2964

6. B. Samorì, G. Zuccheri, P. Baschieri (2005) ChemPhysChem, , 6 (1), 29-34

7. Yasser Bustanji, Carla Renata Arciola, Matteo Conti, Enrico Mandello, Lucio Montanaro, Bruno Samorì (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. ( USA ) 100: 13292-13297

8. Fabio Grandi, Massimo Sandal, Giovanni Guarguaglini, Emidio Capriotti, Rita Casadio, Bruno Samorì (2006) ChemBioChem, 7, 1774-1782

9. M . Sandal, F. Valle, B. Samorì (2007) Physics of Life Review