Platform for Technologies for Energy, Health, and the Environment

Lecturers

1. Tiziana Benincori, Federica Bertolotti, Stefano Brenna, Simona Galli, Barbara Giussani, Carlo Lucarelli, Norberto Masciocchi, Massimo Mella, Sandro Recchia, Nicola Schiaroli, Davide Spanu, Gloria Tabacchi, Jenny G. Vitillo (Department of Science and Advanced Technology), Lorella Izzo (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences) 
2. Tiziana Benincori, Simona Galli, Barbara Giussani, Norberto Masciocchi (Department of Science and High Technology), Enrico Caruso  (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences) 
3. Federica Bertolotti, Ettore Fois, Simona Galli, Barbara Giussani, Norberto Masciocchi, Gloria Tabacchi, Jenny G. Vitillo (Department of Science and High Technology), Laura Rampazzi (Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory)

Specific Objectives

1. Materials for Energy and the Environment: The energy and environmental transition requires, on a global scale, increasingly intensive efforts to maintain excellence within a competitive industrial system and to ensure significant advances in the production of goods and services tailored to citizens’ needs. Underpinning this progressive development is the study of engineered materials with high functional performance [materials for photovoltaics (semiconductors), for the selective absorption of gases and environmental contaminants (both natural and man-made), for “green” catalysis, and for low-energy-consumption optoelectronic applications (e.g., LEDs)], which will be addressed in terms of design, synthesis, characterization, and computational modeling.
2. Materials for Health: This theme includes the design, production, and characterization of highly diverse chemical species and composites for i) disease prevention and treatment (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and their formulations), ii) the development of medical devices, and iii) the use of safe materials in work and home environments, including to ensure food safety, where materials and additives used in the formulation of foods and beverages must not release substances harmful to health. The preparation and optimization of these materials, especially at the industrial level, will be ensured by continuous feedback between the production, characterization, and performance evaluation phases, through a fruitful exchange of expertise between academia and industry.
3. Nanostructured Materials The development of innovative techniques for the synthesis, characterization, and modeling of nanoscale materials (with linear dimensions between 5 and 50 nm) has enabled, in recent decades, the formulation of new chemical species for highly specialized applications across various fields. Their properties, which differ from those of bulk phases—of which they can (only) ideally be considered excised portions—include, among others, high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, optical response, and (bio)chemical reactivity. Already on the market as materials for displays and sensors (quantum dots) or in nanomedicine (diagnostic imaging techniques, cancer prevention, and therapy), they are also used in the pharmaceutical and environmental sectors. Instrumental and computational analysis methods will be developed to gain a deep understanding of their functional behavior.

Keywords

1. Functional Materials, Catalysis, Polymers
2. Drugs, Solid-State Polymorphism, Toxicity, Medical Devices
3. Nanomaterials, Porous Polymers, Nanomedicine.

Main funding (from 2022)

1. PRIN 2022
2. PRIN 2022

Lecturers

1. Alessia Allevi, Giuliano Benenti, Maria Bondani, Enrico Brambilla, Claudio Cacciapuoti, Lucia Caspani, Matteo Clerici, Ottavia Jedrkiewicz, Franco Prati (Department of Science and Advanced Technology)
2. Alessia Allevi, Giuliano Benenti, Maria Bondani, Massimo Caccia, Matteo Clerici, Marco Lamperti, Romualdo Santoro (Department of Science and High Technology), Barbara Pozzo (Department of Law, Economics, and Culture)
3. Matteo Clerici, Ottavia Jedrkiewicz, Paolo Di Trapani (Department of Science and High Technology)
4. Alessia Allevi, Maria Bondani, Enrico Brambilla, Lucia Caspani, Matteo Clerici, Fabio Ferri, Ettore Fois, Ottavia Jedrkiewicz, Marco Lamperti, Luca Nardo, Gloria Tabacchi (DiSAT), (Department of Science and High Technology), Barbara Pozzo (Department of Law, Economics, and Culture)
5. Massimo Caccia, Romualdo Santoro (Department of Science and High Technology), Barbara Pozzo (Department of Law, Economics, and Culture), Alberto Trombetta (Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences) 
6. Matteo Clerici, Paolo Di Trapani (Department of Science and High Technology)

Specific Objectives

1. Fundamentals of Photonics and Quantum Mechanics. This course examines the fundamental principles of light-matter interaction in quantum and nonlinear regimes, with a particular focus on the generation and characterization of nonclassical states of light (entangled, squeezed) and the dynamics of open quantum systems. Nonlinear optical systems in cavities are investigated for the analysis of dissipative solitons, frequency combs, bistability phenomena, and modal stability. Dielectric breakdown phenomena in the ultrashort regime are also analyzed. The research integrates theoretical modeling and advanced numerical simulations with experiments using ultrashort laser pulses and photon-counting systems to investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying photonics and quantum mechanics.
2. Quantum Information: We study processes for the generation, manipulation, and measurement of quantum states of light for applications in quantum information. Protocols for the production of entangled and squeezed states, as well as high-efficiency photon-counting techniques, are being developed. Quantum random number generators based on tunneling effects are being designed, with applications in cryptography and security. In parallel, theoretical models of photonic quantum batteries for the controlled storage and transfer of energy are being explored. The activities combine theoretical modeling and experimental work in ultrafast photonics to advance quantum technologies in communication and computing. Regulatory implications are also studied, with the aim of contributing to the development of a proportionate and flexible regulatory framework capable of fostering the responsible adoption of quantum information technologies, ensuring data security, the protection of rights, and social sustainability.
3. Micromachining: Development of advanced laser micromachining strategies on innovative transparent materials such as sapphire, Gorilla Glass, tempered glass, diamond, and silicon carbide (SiC). Structured beams, particularly Bessel beams, are used to induce structural changes unattainable with conventional irradiation, thanks to the spatial control of deposited energy and access to selective nonlinear regimes. Process parameters are studied and optimized to create functional microstructures for microfluidics, sensor technology, and microelectronics, enabling high-performance integrated devices.
4. Sensing - Spectroscopy, Imaging, and Scattering: We study advanced techniques in spectroscopy, scattering, and optical imaging to investigate the structural, electronic, and quantum properties of materials and molecular systems. We develop time-resolved methodologies using ultrashort pulses (<300 fs) to analyze electronic and vibrational dynamics on timescales shorter than a picosecond. Particular attention is devoted to the development of advanced imaging, including two-photon quantum microscopy to enhance sensitivity and resolution. The research includes the development of high-sensitivity detection chains based on photon counting and EMCCD, PMT, CCD, and q-CMOS detectors, as well as pump-probe systems for spectroscopy in the THz domain. We also analyze the ethical and regulatory implications of quantum sensing, promoting responsible innovation practices and the protection of rights in emerging applications.
5. Component and Sensor Design. Design, fabrication, and characterization of integrated optoelectronic devices with single-photon sensitivity, based on arrays of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) integrated into microchips with signal processing capabilities. We also develop high-entropy random number generators based on self-amplified quantum noise in SPAD arrays through the spin-off Random Power, enabling applications in classical and post-quantum cryptography, and quantum communications. This activity aims to realize ultra-sensitive sensors, biomedical imaging systems, environmental monitoring, and secure communications in high-performance integrated microsystems. We also study the legal aspects related to the use of quantum components and sensors, with a focus on privacy, security, and responsibility in innovation.
6. Lighting Technology. We study innovative lighting systems based on nanotechnology, advanced optics, and high-efficiency LED sources to artificially reproduce the sky and sun in indoor environments. The spin-off CoeLux Srl, founded at the University of Insubria, develops nanostructured panels that utilize Rayleigh scattering and sophisticated optics to create the illusion of spatial infinity. Components and illuminators with spectral and directional control are designed, analyzing the impact on circadian lighting, physiological well-being, and visual comfort. The initiative aims to improve comfort in spaces lacking natural light (offices, hospitals, retail) by integrating fundamental research with advanced technological applications.

Keywords

1. Nonlinear optical cavities; dissipative solitons; frequency combs; nonclassical light states; quantum open systems dynamics; nonlinear optics
2. Quantum information processing; entangled and squeezed states; photon-number-resolving detection; quantum randomness
3. Laser Micromachining; Structured Light; Transparent Material Processing
4. Time-Resolved Spectroscopy; Quantum-Enhanced Imaging; Pump-Probe Spectroscopy; Photon-Counting Detection; Scattering; Biophotonics
5. Integrated Optoelectronic Sensors; Quantum Random Number Generation; Single-Photon Detection; “Security in Modern Information Management Infrastructures” (SMIMI); “Advanced and Quantum-safe Solutions for Digital Identity and Digital Tracing” (AQuSDIT); 
6. Human-Centric Lighting; Nanostructured Optical Systems; Circadian Light Modulation

Main funding (since 2022)

1. ERC CoG QuNIM G.A. 101125923; PRIN 2022K3KMX7, ELISE, CUP B53D2300515000;
2. Ultimate bounds for quantum heat engines, Julian Schwinger Foundation; Solid State Quantum Batteries: Characterisation and Optimisation (SoSQuBa), PRIN 2022; Quantum Optimisation Variational Algorithms for Higher-Dimensional Systems (QUOVADIS), cascade call for proposals, Spoke 10 of the ICSC project, Spoke 10 “Quantum Computing”; Novel Quantum Communication protocols for power systems and smart grids, Ministerial Decree 737/2021.
3. Marie Curie ITN project LasIonDef (GA No. 956387)
4. ERC CoG QuNIM GA 101125923; PRIN 2022K3KMX7, ELISE, CUP B53D2300515000;
5. “In-silico quantum generation of random bit streams”, HOR2020. ‘Security in Modern Information Management Infrastructures’ (SMIMI); ‘Advanced and Quantum-safe Solutions for Digital Identity and Digital Tracing’ (AQuSDIT); cascade calls from Spoke 10 of the SERICS Extended Partnership (PE00000014)
6. Total funding >€3m

Lecturers

1. Pietro Anzini, Massimo Caccia, Matteo Clerici, Fabio Ferri, Marco Lamperti, Luca Nardo, Romualdo Santoro (Department of Science and Advanced Technology)
2. Marco Donatelli, Giorgio Mantica, Massimo Mella, Matteo Semplice (Department of Science and Advanced Technology), Giovanni Veronesi (Department of Medicine and Surgery)
3. Massimo Caccia, Angelo Monti, Michela Prest, Romualdo Santoro (Department of Science and High Technology)
4. Pietro Anzini, Fabio Ferri, Silvia Gazzola, Marco Lamperti, Angelo Maspero, Massimo Mella, Andrea Penoni, Luca Nardo (Department of Science and High Technology), Enrico Caruso, Lorella Izzo (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences) 
5. Alessia Allevi, Massimo Caccia, Lucia Caspani, Matteo Clerici, Marco Lamperti, Luca Nardo, Romualdo Santoro (Department of Science and High Technology), Lorella Izzo (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences) 
6. Tiziana Alberio, Matteo Clerici, Marco Lamperti, Marta Lualdi, Luca Nardo (Department of Science and High Technology), Elena Bossi, Cristina Roseti, Lia Forti,  Marzia Gariboldi, Viviana Orlandi, (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences), Andrea Moriondo (Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation) 
7. Rosalba Gornati, Roberto Papait, Christina Pagiatakis (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences)
8. Loredano Pollegioni, Silvia Sacchi, Gianluca Molla, Elena Rosini, Luciano Piubelli (Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences)

Specific objectives

1. Biophotonics
   1. Spectroscopic and microscopic measurements, including interferometric techniques, with time resolution and sensitivity down to the single-molecule level, for the characterisation of solutions, surfaces, materials, biological samples and drugs
   2. Particle sizing techniques and inversion algorithms for the granulometric analysis of micro- and nanoparticles of biophysical and biochemical interest
   3. Development of pump-probe systems for time-resolved spectroscopy in the THz spectral domain and for studies of transient phenomena on electronic and molecular time scales
   4. Single-photon detectors for fluorescence and luminescence measurements
2. Modelling
   1. Development and study of mathematical models in the biomedical field (e.g. epidemiological, biophysical and biochemical)
   2. Development and application of numerical algorithms for calculations using the aforementioned models
   3. Mathematical algorithms for the enhancement (e.g. deblurring), processing and analysis of biomedical images
   4. Development and study of models in statistics, biostatistics and medical statistics for the description of systems, populations and phenomena of medical and biological interest
   5. Computational methods for ab initio and coarse-grained simulation of the structure and chemical reactivity of molecular, supramolecular and polymeric systems and their interactions with electromagnetic radiation
3. Innovative therapeutic, diagnostic and theranostic approaches. Applications of physics aimed at refining therapies using ionising radiation and ensuring the maintenance of treatment quality, both through predictive models and in vivo:
   1. beam and in vivo (including real-time) dosimetry and ionometric metrology,
   2. predictive calculation of dose distribution in phantoms and patients, including using intelligent methods
   3. multimodal imaging (CT, CBCT, MRI, PET) aimed at defining targets and maintaining targeting before and during/between treatments
   4. development of new personalised/hypofractionated techniques for IGRT, SBRT, IMRT and VMAT treatments
   5. intracranial, thoracic and abdominal radiosurgery techniques
   6. total-body irradiation techniques in the context of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
   7. quality control for radiography and radiotherapy equipment
4. Drug design. 
   1. Design, synthesis, characterisation, evaluation and computational modelling of compounds and polymers with pharmaceutical activity; phytopharmaceuticals; nutraceuticals; cosmetics: polyelectrolyte materials with antimicrobial properties, polymeric systems for the capture of toxic metal ions via chelating or ionophore groups, materials containing photosensitising groups, peptide or peptidomimetic systems with biological properties, innovative contrast agents for diagnostic and theranostic imaging
   2. Design, synthesis, characterisation, evaluation and computational modelling of molecular, supramolecular and polymeric systems for drug delivery: micelles, liposomes, polymersomers, hydrogels and organogels, conjugated systems for the selective transport of bioactive molecules to target cells
5. Super-resolution bioimaging. Development of techniques, instrumentation and probes for high-resolution biomedical optical imaging:
   1. generation and manipulation of quantum states for the implementation of measurement schemes designed to increase imaging sensitivity
   2. bioimaging protocols based on classical and quantum states of light (with correlated photons and squeezed states)
   3. construction of customised setups for fluorescence imaging (confocal, TIRF, multiphoton) and the application of advanced in-cell fluorescence spectroscopy techniques.
   4. development, implementation, characterisation and commissioning of single-photon detectors for fluorescence and luminescence measurements
   5. synthesis of luminescent dyes and polymers for the labelling of biological samples
6. Structural and functional analysis of biosystems Development of methods, setups and protocols (spectroscopic, biophotonic, analytical, electrophysiological) for the structural, chemical and functional investigation of biological systems at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels
   1. Cutting-edge methods for biochemical analysis: molecular docking, identification, quantification and subcellular localisation of proteins, proteomics, bioinformatics analysis and systems biology
   2. Innovative spectroscopic methods for structural analysis with sub-nanometre resolution of individual biomolecules and their interactions with substrates and drugs
   3. Use of visible light (alone or combined with photosensitisers) in antimicrobial and anticancer applications
   4. Electrophysiological methods: patch-clamp, Ca2+ imaging, and MEA in ex vivo preparations and cell cultures for studies of synaptic physiology and pharmacological modulation of the electrical activity of neural networks
   5. Structure-function analysis of neuronal and epithelial membrane transporters, via heterologous expression in high-expression systems coupled with electrophysiological measurements (Two-electrode Voltage Clamp). Study of both wild-type and recombinant proteins. Applications: functional characterisation of mutants, interaction with substrates and drugs, and modulation by accessory proteins. 
   6. Methods for measuring intravascular hydraulic pressures in vivo and ex vivo using micropuncture techniques in blood and lymphatic vessels, including those of small calibre (up to approximately 10 µm in diameter)
7. Nanomaterial toxicity: the role of epigenetics 
   With the rapid spread of nanotechnologies in sectors such as medicine, cosmetics and industry, it is becoming essential to understand the potentially harmful effects of nanomaterials on human health and the environment, as well as to have assays capable of assessing not only acute toxicity but also long-term effects—an aspect currently unmeasurable with traditional cellular toxicity assays. In this context, epigenetics has attracted growing interest in recent years; it is a complex network of modifications to DNA and associated proteins, capable of regulating gene expression in an heritable manner and responding to environmental stimuli. Our laboratory is currently investigating the toxic effects of various nanomaterials at the epigenetic level, using genomic approaches for the integrated study of the epigenome and transcriptome. The objective is twofold: on the one hand, to clarify the role of epigenetic mechanisms in nanotoxicity; on the other, to identify biological markers capable of detecting forms of latent toxicity that cannot be measured using traditional assays. 
8. Biopharmaceuticals
   Production of recombinant proteins in heterologous systems (from bacteria to CHO cells) as biopharmaceuticals. Proteins are produced for vaccine manufacture (including engineered and glycovaccines), therapeutic proteins (including chimeric proteins, for example linked to antibodies or their fragments for improved delivery), hormones, PROTACs, and human proteins of pharmacological interest for the development of new drugs. Study of the metabolism of serine and D-amino acids in the central nervous system and development of specific therapies to regulate these metabolites in pathological conditions (from Alzheimer’s disease to schizophrenia, from autism to rare diseases).

Keywords

1. Single-molecule detection; Time-resolved fluorescence; Terahertz spectroscopy; Pump-probe techniques
2. Computational biomedicine; Biomedical image processing; Biostatistics and medical statistics; Mathematical modelling of biological systems
3. Medical physics and radiation therapy; Real-time dosimetry and dose prediction; Multimodal imaging for treatment planning; Personalised and hypofractionated radiotherapy; Quality assurance in radiotherapy
4. Drug delivery systems; Drug-conjugates; Drug design; Peptidomimetics and bioactive compounds; Contrast agents for diagnostic and theranostic imaging; Computational modelling of pharmaceutical materials 
5. Quantum-enhanced bioimaging; Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy; Custom optical imaging systems; Luminescent probes and dyes for labelling 
6. Electrophysiology; Biofunctional imaging; Molecular spectroscopy; Single-molecule structural characterisation; Heterologous expression
7. Nanotoxicity; Human mesenchymal stem cells; DNA methylation; Histone modifications; ChIP-seq; RNA-seq
8. Biopharmaceuticals; Antibodies; Enzyme replacement therapy; D-amino acids; CHO; Serine

Main funding (from 2022)

3. ORIGIN (H2020 - grant agreement no. 871324)
4. R&D AbITi - Italian-Ticino Technology Platform for Antibody Research and Development (ID: 0200168)
5. ERC CoG QuNIM G.A. 101125923
6. PRIN 202287R9RX, H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019-2024 grant number 860954, PRIN 20228XHTBZ SLC15A4 (Solute Carrier 15 member A4): integrated in vitro-in vivo analysis and functional characterisation
7. ANTIDOTES 2024
8. ImmunoHub – Ministry of Health 2022–2027