XXXVII CICLO | Gabellone Sofia

Sofia Gabellone is currently a PhD student in Ecologia e Gestione Sostenibile delle Risorse Ambientali and a researcher at IRCCS IRST since 2022, where she has been involved in several preclinical, translational, and clinical oncology projects. She is a well recognized expert in the synthesis, characterization, and application of biomaterials in the field of nanomedicine (Bibliometric indicators: Scopus h-index: 3, cit: 83, papers: 7).

Deregulated dynamics of the extracellular matrix are one of the hallmarks of cancer. Collagen Type I, a prominent structural protein in the extracellular matrix, is vital for maintaining tissue integrity and providing physical support. Changes in Type I collagen are implicated in the progression and invasion of various diseases during tumor evolution. Our study focuses on fabricating 3D collagen-based scaffolds with hydroxyapatite and eumelanin nanoparticles, aiming to discern the alterations that cancer cells cause in the mechanical and structural properties of the matrix. Furthermore, we aim to understand how these modifications affect cell growth and differentiation. Additionally, we explore the use of lignin nanoparticles as a system for controlled drug delivery of biomimetic pyrimidine dimers. We perform in vitro biological testing on melanoma cell lines under varying conditions, including exposure to UV radiation. This approach aims to advance biomaterial science for therapeutic purposes, with the goal to address issues in tissue regeneration and drug delivery systems.

• Di Martino, J.; Arcieri, M.; Madeddu, F.; Pieroni, M.; Carotenuto, G.; Bottoni, P.; Botta, L.; Castrignanò, T.; Gabellone, S.; Saladino, R. Molecular Dynamics Investigations of Human DNA-Topoisomerase I Interacting with Novel Dewar Valence Photo-Adducts: Insights into Inhibitory Activity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 234. 

• Piccinino D., Ceccotti Vlas N., Gabellone S., Capecchi E., Saladino R. Blue-LED Synthesis of Pummerer’s Ketones by Peroxidase-Lignin-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Substituted Phenols. EurJOC. 2023, 26(32), e202300356.

• Capecchi, E.; Piccinino, D.; Nascimben, C.; Tomaino, E.; Ceccotti Vlas, N.; Gabellone, S.; Saladino, R. Biosynthesis of Novel Ascorbic Acid Esters and Their Encapsulation in Lignin Nanoparticles as Carriers and Stabilizing Systems. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 9044. 

• Gabellone, S., Capecchi, E., Ortelli, L. A., & Saladino, R. (2022). First Evidence of Pheomelanin-UVA-Driven Synthesis of Pummerer’s Ketones by Peroxidase-Mediated Oxidative Coupling of Substituted Phenols. ACS omega, 7(49), 45688–45696.

• Gabellone, S., Piccinino, D., Filippi, S., Castrignanò, T., Zippilli, C., Del Buono, D., & Saladino, R. (2022). Lignin Nanoparticles Deliver Novel Thymine Biomimetic Photo-Adducts with Antimelanoma Activity. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(2), 915. 

• Zippilli C., Bizzarri B.M., Gabellone S., Botta L., Saladino R. Oxidative Coupling of Coumarins by Blue-LED-Driven in situ Activation of Horseradish Peroxidase in a Two-Liquid-Phase System. ChemCatChem, 2021, 13(19), pp. 4151–4158

• Piccinino, D.; Capecchi, E.; Tomaino, E.; Gabellone, S.; Gigli, V.; Avitabile, D.; Saladino, R. Nano-Structured Lignin as Green Antioxidant and UV Shielding Ingredient for Sunscreen Applications. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 274.