Naples, Campania, Italy
During my experimental thesis at the National Research Council – Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems (CNR-ISASI), I worked on the development of an innovative system for the targeted treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Specifically, I focused on the fabrication of biodegradable and bioresorbable polymeric microneedle patches, using techniques based on pyro-electrohydrodynamic effects. These structures are designed to encapsulate porous microparticles loaded with an immunotherapeutic agent, enabling controlled drug release directly at the tumor site. The goal of this project is to develop a local therapeutic strategy as an alternative to conventional systemic treatments, with the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. This experience allowed me to gain hands-on skills in: * micro/nanofabrication of biomaterials * advanced drug delivery systems * interdisciplinary laboratory techniques bridging engineering and biomedicine
Research traineeship at the CNR Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), focused on protein purification and structural biology. Activities included purification of a target protein and successful first-time crystallization for structural studies. Applied protein crystallography techniques to enable three-dimensional structure determination, contributing to the understanding of protein function and molecular mechanisms.