Natascia Grimaldi
University of Palermo
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Publication
Featured researches published by Natascia Grimaldi.
Biomacromolecules | 2012
Clelia Dispenza; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Natascia Grimaldi; Donatella Bulone; Maria Luisa Bondì; Maria Pia Casaletto; Salvatrice Rigogliuso; Giorgia Adamo; Giulio Ghersi
A scalable, single-step, synthetic approach for the manufacture of biocompatible, functionalized micro- and nanogels is presented. In particular, poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-grafted-(aminopropyl)methacrylamide microgels and nanogels were generated through e-beam irradiation of PVP aqueous solutions in the presence of a primary amino-group-carrying monomer. Particles with different hydrodynamic diameters and surface charge densities were obtained at the variance of the irradiation conditions. Chemical structure was investigated by different spectroscopic techniques. Fluorescent variants were generated through fluorescein isothiocyanate attachment to the primary amino groups grafted to PVP, to both quantify the available functional groups for bioconjugation and follow nanogels localization in cell cultures. Finally, a model protein, bovine serum albumin, was conjugated to the nanogels to demonstrate the attachment of biologically relevant molecules for targeting purposes in drug delivery. The described approach provides a novel strategy to fabricate biohybrid nanogels with a very promising potential in nanomedicine.
RSC Advances | 2016
Clelia Dispenza; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Rosalia Mangione; M. Walo; Eagambaram Murugan; Mats Jonsson
Radiation-engineered poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) nanogels are very interesting biocompatible nanocarriers for i.v. administration of therapeutics and contrast agents for bioimaging. The manufacturing process is fast and effective, it grants excellent control of particle size and simultaneous sterilization of the formed nanogels. Interestingly, primary amino groups and carboxyl groups, useful for (bio)conjugation, are also formed in a dose-dependent fashion. In this paper, by means of both numerical simulations and experiments, the origin of nanogel size control and functionalization is investigated. This understanding offers a new dimension for the design and production of radiation-sculptured multifunctional nanocarriers from aqueous solutions of polymers.
Molecules | 2016
Giorgia Adamo; Natascia Grimaldi; Simona Campora; Donatella Bulone; Maria Luisa Bondì; Mohamad Al-Sheikhly; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Clelia Dispenza; Giulio Ghersi
(1) Background: A new family of nanosystems able to discern between normal and tumor cells and to release a therapeutic agent in controlled way were synthetized by e-beam irradiation. This technique permits to obtain biocompatible, sterile, carboxyl-functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-co-acrylic acid) nanogels (NGs); (2) Methods: Here, we performed a targeting strategy based on the recognition of over-expressed proteins on tumor cells, like the folate receptor. The selective targeting was demonstrated by co-culture studies and flow cytometry analysis, using folate conjugated NGs. Moreover, nanoparticles were conjugated to a chemotherapeutic drug or to a pro-apoptotic siRNA through a glutathione sensitive spacer, in order to obtain a controlled release mechanism, specific for cancer cells. The drug efficiency was tested on tumor and healthy cells by flow cytometric analysis, confocal and epifluorescence microscopy and cytotoxicity assay; the siRNA effect was investigated by RNAi experiment; (3) Results: The data obtained showed that the use of NGs permits a faster cargo release in cancer cells, in response to high cytosolic glutathione level, also improving their efficacy; (4) Conclusion: The possibility of releasing biological molecules in a controlled way and to recognize a specific tumor target allows overcoming the typical limits of the classic cancer therapy.
Biological Chemistry | 2017
Giorgia Adamo; Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Marta Walo; Clelia Dispenza; Giulio Ghersi
Abstract Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-based-nanogels (NGs), produced by e-beam irradiation, are conjugated with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for active targeting purposes. The uptake of immuno-functionalized nanogels is tested in an endothelial cell line, ECV304, using confocal and epifluorescence microscopy. Intracellular localization studies reveal a faster uptake of the immuno-nanogel conjugate with respect to the ‘bare’ nanogel. The specific internalization pathway of these immuno-nanogels is clarified by selective endocytosis inhibition experiments, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Active targeting ability is also verified by conjugating a monoclonal antibody which recognizes the αvβ3 integrin on activated endothelial cells. Epifluorescence images of the ‘wound healing assay’ on ECV304 cells provide evidence of nanogels localization only in the target cells. Therefore, the immuno-nanogels produced have the potential to recognize specific cell types in heterogeneous systems, which makes them promising candidates for targeted drug delivery applications.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | 2015
Clelia Dispenza; Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Inna Soroka; Mats Jonsson
Radiation Physics and Chemistry | 2012
Clelia Dispenza; Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Simona Todaro; D. Bulone; Daniela Giacomazza; G. Przybytniak; Sabina Alessi; G. Spadaro
Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 2014
Clelia Dispenza; Giorgia Adamo; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; Natascia Grimaldi; Donatella Bulone; Maria Luisa Bondì; Salvatrice Rigogliuso; Giulio Ghersi
Radiation Physics and Chemistry | 2014
Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; G. Przybytniak; I. Kaluska; M. Bondì; D. Bulone; Sabina Alessi; G. Spadaro; Clelia Dispenza
Chemical engineering transactions | 2012
Salvatrice Rigogliuso; Sabatino; Gabriele Adamo; Natascia Grimaldi; Clelia Dispenza; Giulio Ghersi
Reactive & Functional Polymers | 2013
Clelia Dispenza; Salvatrice Rigogliuso; Natascia Grimaldi; Maria Antonietta Sabatino; D. Bulone; M. Bondì; Giulio Ghersi