Physicochemical Properties at the Nanoscale: New Frontiers for Health and Sustainability

Let’s explore together a hidden universe — the realm of physicochemical properties of materials at the nanoscale, where tiny variations in composition, shape, or structure can trigger surprising effects on cells, tissues, and the environment.

We investigate how the mechanical, optical, magnetic, and chemical reactivity properties of nanomaterials can be harnessed to create innovative solutions for both human health and environmental sustainability.

This invisible thread connects all our projects:

• - tumor cells become “mechanical probes”, revealing their aggressiveness when analyzed with advanced biomechanical techniques;
• - gold, silver, copper, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, designed through green approaches, combine optical and chemical properties to enhance therapies, act as antibacterial agents, or degrade pollutants;
• magneto-plasmonic heterostructures merge magnetic and optical features for use in imaging and therapy;
• - chitosan-based films and nanocircuits exploit the biocompatibility and tunable conductivity of this biopolymer for sustainable electronics and smart packaging;
• - bio-inspired surfaces, modeled on lotus leaves and cactus spines, use surface energy gradients and microstructures to harvest water from the air;
• - intelligent, eco-friendly nanosensors detect pathogens with high sensitivity, combining nanomaterial-based physicochemical properties and sustainable design to enable rapid and environmentally responsible diagnostics.

From the scale of a single cell to that of entire ecosystems, we demonstrate how manipulating matter at the nanoscale can generate new emergent functions, paving the way toward more precise diagnostics, targeted therapies, and environmentally responsible technologies.