Salvatore SORTINO

PERCORSO SCIENTIFICO E PROFESSIONALE

• Novembre 1990: Laurea in Chimica Industriale con 110/110 e Lode, Università degli Studi di Catania.

• Dicembre 1990: Abilitazione  all’esercizio della professione di chimico.

• Gennaio 1991 - Ottobre 1992: Laureato Frequentatore presso il Laboratorio di Fotochimica del Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Catania.

• Ottobre 1995: Conseguimento del Titolo di Dottore di Ricerca in Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Catania.

• Febbraio 1995 – Aprile 1996: Post-Doc Fellow, Istituto di Fotochimica e Radiazioni di Alta Energia CNR di Bologna.

• Aprile 1996 - Febbraio 2005: Ricercatore per il SSD CHIM03, Chimica Generale e Inorganica, Università degli Studi di Catania.

• Febbraio 1998: Visiting Scientist, Max-Planck Institut fur Strahlenchemie, Mulheim van der Ruer, Germany.

• Aprile 1998 - Aprile 1999: Visiting Scientist, Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, Canada.

• Luglio-Settembre 2004: Visiting Scientist, University of Miami, USA.

• Febbraio 2005: Professore Associato SSD CHIM03 Chimica Generale e Inorganica, Università degli Studi di Catania

• Ottobre-Novembre 2011: Visiting Scientist, University of Miami, USA.

• Dicembre 2013: Abilitato a Professore Ordinario per il settore concorsuale 03B1 - Fondamenti delle Scienze Chimiche e Sistemi Inorganici

• Ottobre 2015: Vincitore del concorso per Professore Ordinario per il settore concorsuale 03B1 - Fondamenti delle Scienze Chimiche e Sistemi Inorganici, presso il Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Catania

 

ATTIVITA' SCIENTIFICA

L’attività di ricerca nel corso degli anni ha coperto aspetti multisciplinari della Fotochimica molecolare, supramolecolare e applicata ai nano-materiali attraverso lo studio di processi fotoindotti in una varietà di sistemi organizzati comprendenti ciclodestrine, micelle, vescicole, proteine, DNA, nanoparticelle e film sottili. Al momento essa è principalmente incentrata sulla progettazione e realizzazione di nanosistemi in grado di assolvere specifiche funzioni sotto l’esclusivo controllo di stimoli luminosi per applicazioni nel campo emergente della nanomedicina con particolare attenzione ai settori delle terapie multimodali e dell’imaging per fluorescenza. Nel 2004 e 2011 ha ricevuto il Journals Grant for International Authors da parte della Royal Society of Chemistry.

 

ATTIVITA' SCIENTIFICA IN CIFRE

• 228 Pubblicazioni scientifiche di cui 169 come Corresponding Author e 24 ad Invito (Review, Articoli e Capitoli di Libri) così articolate:

• 217 Pubblicazioni su Riviste Scientifiche Internazionali con referee (ISI) di cui oltre 80 in collaborazione con Istituzioni Estere

• 5 Capitoli in Libri editi dalla Royal Society of Chemistry (3) dalla Wiley (1) e Springer (1)

• 6 Contributi in Proceedings di Convegni

• 3 Pubblicazioni su Riviste Divulgative a Diffusione Nazionale

• H Index = 40 - Numero totale di citazioni ca. 5700 (Scopus)

• 24 Cover Pages su riviste scientifiche internazionali con referee (ISI)

• 12 Hot Papers and Highlights su riviste scientifiche internazionali con referee (ISI)

• Oltre 180 Contributi a Congressi Nazionali ed Internazionali

• Oltre 50 Relazioni Orali ad Invito (Congressi e Scuole Nazionali ed Internazionali e Seminari)

• 10 Progetti di Ricerca, di cui 2 Europei (Coordinatore o Responsabile Scientifico) negli ultimi 15 anni

• 2 Brevetti Internazionali

 

PROGETTI DI RICERCA

Europei

• FP7-PEOPLE-ITN 2013 - CYCLON-HIT: Nanocarriers for the delivery of antimicrobial agents to fight resistance mechanisms

  Ruolo: Principal Investigator; Durata: 48 mesi

• FP7-PEOPLE-ITN 2008 - CYCLON: Novel multifunctional cyclodextrin based nanocarriers for drug encapsulation and delivery as a strategy to overcome current therapeutic drawbacks, nell’ambito del 7 Programma Quadro, Marie Curie Actions;

  Ruolo: Principal Investigator; Durata: 48 mesi

Nazionali

• Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro, Investigator Grant IG-2017: Photocontrolled Release of Nitric Oxide as a Novel Strategy to Amplify Doxorubicin Activity in Cancer;

  Ruolo: Coordinatore Scientifico; Durata: 60 mesi

• Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro, Investigator Grant IG-2012: Multimodal cancer therapy implemented with functionalized photoactivable nanoparticles;

  Ruolo: Coordinatore Scientifico; Durata: 36 mesi

• FIR 2014 (UNICT): Development of a Multimodal Photo-Theranostic Nanoplatform for Cancer Diseases;

  Ruolo: Coordinatore Scientifico; Durata: 24 mesi

• PON 2007-2013 (MIUR) – Hippocrates: Sviluppo di Micro e Nano-Tecnologie e Sistemi Avanzati per la Salute dell'Uomo;

  Ruolo: Responsabile Scientifico Unità; Durata: 36 mesi

• PRIN 2010-2011 (MIUR): Organizzazione funzionale a livello nanoscopico di biomolecole e ibridi per applicazioni nel campo della sensoristica, della medicina e delle biotecnologie;

  Ruolo: Responsabile Scientifico Unità; Durata: 36 mesi;

• PRIN 2008 (MIUR): Architetture ibride multifunzionali basate su biomolecole per applicazioni nel campo della sensoristica, della conversione di energia e del biomedicale;

  Ruolo: Responsabile Scientifico Unità; Durata: 24 mesi

• PRIN 2006 (MIUR): Complessi porfirinici autoorganizzati su scala nanoscopica, proprietà e applicazioni tecnologiche;

  Ruolo: Responsabile Scientifico Unità; Durata: 24 mesi

 

BREVETTI INTERNAZIONALI

1. S. Conoci, S. Petralia, S. Sortino (2006)

Use of nitroaniline derivatives for the production of nitric oxide, EP2051935 A1/US20090191284

2. S. Conoci, S. Sortino (2007)

1-{4-[2-(9-anthrylmethoxy)ethyl]benzyl}-1'-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium salts and related compounds as bifunctional compounds with an intercalating and a signal emitting unit for the detection of nucleic acids. EP1914226A1/ US20080118405/US7799912

 

INVITED TALKS

• 19th Congress of the European Society for Photobiology, Salzburg, Austria, August 2021 (Invited Talk)
• 20th International Cyclodextrin Symposium, Giardini Naxos, Italy, May 2021 (Key Lecture)
• 3rd International Conferences on Mateial Science and Engeneering: Recent Advances and Challenges, Alessandria, Egypt, March 2020 (Key Lecture)
• Controlled Release Society, Australian Chapter, Brisbane, Australia, November 2019 (Invited Talk)
• Department of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Australia, November 2019 (Seminar)
• King’s College, London, October 2019 (Seminar)
• XLVII Italian Division of Inorganic Chemistry, Bari, September 2019 (Key Lecture)
• VII International School on Photochemistry, Bologna, June 2019 (Invited Talk)
• Materials.it 2018, IItalian Conference on Material Science and Technology, Bologna, Italy, October, 2018 (Key Lecture)
• Conference of Italian Society of Photobiology, Udine, Italy, June 2018 (Plenary Lecture)
• Italian Photochemistry Meeting, Perugia, Italy, December 2017 (Plenary Lecture)
• XVI International Photodynamic Association World Congress, Coimbra, Portugal, June 2017.
• V International Workshop on Nitric Oxide and Cancer, Bologna, Italy, March 2017 (Plenary Lecture)
• Summer School on Photoactivable Antibacterials: from Basic Concepts to Practical Applications, Bologna, Italy, September 2016.
• 20th Meeting of The European Society of Surgery, Naples, Italy, June 2016.
• 7 Corso Nazionale di Introduzione alla Fotochimica, Bologna, Italy, June 2016.
• World Congress and Expo on Material Science and Polymer Engineering, Dubai, November 2015
• International Workshop and Summer School on Advances in nanoparticulate carriers: applications in diseases and infections, Paris, October 2015 (Plenary Lecture)
• Conference of Italian Society of Biomaterials, Ancona, Italy, June 2015 (Plenary Lecture)
• Conference of Italian Society of Photobiology, Bari, Italy, June 2015 (Plenary Lecture)
• University of Siegen, Macromolecular Chemistry Department Chemistry - Biology, February 2015
• Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e Fotoreattività, CNR, Bologna, Marzo 2015
• Organic Chemistry Day, University of Pavia, October 2014 (Plenary Lecture)
• International Conference on Nanomedicine, Viterbo, Italy, September 2014 (Plenary Lecture)
• 8th International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2014
• Conference of Italian Society of Photobiology, Trento, Italy, June 2014 (Plenary Lecture)
• 17th International Cyclodextrin Symposium, Saarbrucken, Germany, May 2014 (Plenary Lecture)
• University of Brest, Department of Chemistry, France, March 2014
• International Workshop on New Advances in Biology and Medicine, Catania, May 2014
• Università degli Studi di Torino, Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnonolgia del Farmaco, Torino, Italy, January 2014
• XI National Conference of Supramolecular Chemistry, Padova, Italy, September 2013 (Key Lecture)
• Università degli Studi di Napoli, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Napoli, Italy, September 2013.
• 2nd International School on Cyclodextrins, Giardini-Naxos, Italy, May 2013
• 4th Italian Conference on Chemistry and Technology of Cyclodextrins, Giardini-Naxos, Italy, May 2013 (Plenary Lecture)
• Università della Basilicata, Dipartimento di Chimica, Potenza, Italy, May 2013.
• Conference on Applications of Nanodrugs in Photodynamic Therapy, Goetheburg, Sweeden, April 2013 (Key Lecture)
• Summer School on Applications of Nanodrugs in Photodynamic Therapy, Goetheburg, Sweeden, April 2013
• Conference of Italian Society of Photobiology, Padova, Italy, June 2012 (Plenary Lecture)
• XXV International Conference on Photochemistry, Beijing, China, August 2011 (Key Lecture)
• Summer School on Photochemistry and Applications in Photoactivable Anticancer Drugs, Bologna, Italy, September 2011
• International Workshop on Photochemistry in Confined Media, Toledo, Spain, March 2011
• University of Praga, Department of Chemistry, May 2011
• S.I.F.I. Società' Industria Farmaceutica Italiana, spa, Catania, Italy, February 2011
• School of Organometallic Chemistry, Bertinoro (FC), Italy, June 2010
• 2nd France-Italy Meeting on Photochemisty, Marsille, France, December 2009 (Key Lecture)
• International Congress Molecular Modification of Inorganic Surfaces for Nanomedicine, Pavia, Italy, February 2009 (Plenary Lecture)
• Conference on Electronic Interactions in Supramolecular Systems, Luvain la Neuve, Belgium, September 2009 (Plenary Lecture)
• Universidad de Vigo, Departimento de Quimica, Spain, Decembre 2009
• Central European Conference on Photochemistry” Bad Hofgastein, Austria, February 2008 (Plenary Lecture)
• IV Joint Conference of Italian Society of Chemistry, Sicilia e Calabria Divisions, Cosenza, Italy, December 2008 (Plenary Lecture)
• IV Joint Conference of Italian Society of Photochemistry and Photobiology, Maratea (PZ), Italy, June 2007 (Key Lecture)
• Universitaet Munchen, Lehrstuhl fuer BioMolekulare Optik, Department fuer Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians, Germany, July 2008
• Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Departamento de Quimica Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica, July 1999

 

ATTIVITA' DA REFEREE PER:

Riviste Scientifiche Internazionali (ISI)

• American Chemical Society

Journal of American Chemical Society, Account of Chemical Research, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Letters, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Langmuir, Chemistry of Materials, Chemical Research in Toxicology, Biomacromolecules, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

• Wiley
• Angewandte Chemie, Small, Chemistry - A European Journal, Chemistry - Asian Journal, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Biomaterials, ChemPhysChem, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, European Journal of Organic Chemistry.
• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Chemical Society Review, Chemical Communications, Journal of Material Chemistry, Nanoscale, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, New Journal of Chemistry, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, RSC Advances, Photochemistry and Photobiological Sciences, Polymer Chemistry, The Analyst.
• Elsevier
• Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, Biomaterials, Advances in Colloid and   Interface Science, Thin Solid Films, Journal of Luminescence, Chemical Physics Letters, Material Science and Engineer C
• Springer
• Journal of Inclusion Phenomena, Topics in Current Chemistry
• American Society for Photobiology
• Photochemistry and Photobiology
• Nature Publishing Group
• Scientific Reports

Progetti di Ricerca Internazionali

• Multinational Research Program on Self-Organized Nanostructures, EROCORES Programme, European Science Foundation
• ACS Petroleum Research Fund, American Chemical Society
• Projects of Research Grants Council of Hong Kong
• Agence Nationale de la Recherche de France
• Projects of Research Grants GranCzech Science Foundation (GACR)
• NanoMedPhD Programme (Spain)
• Third World Academy of Sciences Research Grants Programm

 

ATTIVITA' ORGANIZZATIVA DI DIREZIONE E COORDINAMENTO

• Coordinatore del Dottorato Internazionale in Scienze Chimiche dell’Università degli Studi di Catania, dal Gennaio 2015 a tutt’oggi.

• Coordinatore della Classe delle Scienze Sperimentali della Scuola Superiore dell'Università di Catania, 2011-2015 e riconfermato per il quadriennio 2015-2019.
• Coordinatore Scientifico del Progetti AIRC, Investigator Grant, 2012 e 2017.

• Coordinatore Scientifico del Progetto FIR 2014.

• Responsabile Scientifico dei Progetti di Ricerca PRIN 2006, PRIN 2008, PRIN 2010-2011 e PON 2007-2013.

• Responsabile Scientifico dei Progetti Europei FP7-PEOPLE-ITN 2008 (Cyclon) e FP7-PEOPLE-ITN 2013 (Cyclon-Hit).

• Membro del Consiglio Direttivo del Gruppo Italiano di Fotochimica, 2001-2005 e 2010-2014.

• Membro del Consiglio Direttivo del Gruppo Interdivisionale di Fotochimica della Società Chimica Italiana, 2006-2010.
• Membro della European Photochemistry Association, dal 1996 a tutt’oggi
• Membro del Comitato Organizzatore del 2nd Mediterranean Meeting on Photochemistry, Giardini Naxos, 2003.
• Organizzatore del Workshop Internazionale: Advances in Cyclodextrin Chemistry and Current Applications, nell’ambito del progetto europeo FP7-ITN Cyclon, Catania 2010.
• Organizzatore della Summer School Internazionale su Photoactivable Antibacterials nell’ambito del Progetto Europeo Cyclon-Hit, Bologna 2016

 

PREMI E RICONOSCIMENTI

• Journals Grant for International Authors - Royal Society of Chemistry- 2010

• Journals Grant for International Authors - Royal Society of Chemistry- 2003

• Hot Papers and Highlights su riviste scientifiche internazionali (ISI)

• C. Conte, A. Fraix, H. Thomsen, F. Ungaro, V. Cardile, A.C.E. Graziano, M. B. Ericson, F. Quaglia and S. Sortino* Monitoring the Release of a NO Photodonor from Polymer Nanoparticles via Förster Resonance Energy Transfer and Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging J. Mater. Chem. B 2018, 6, 249-256. Hot Paper in J. Mater. Chem. B

• F. L. Callari and S. Sortino.* Amplified nitric oxide photorelease in DNA proximity, Chem. Commun., 2008, 1971-1973. Hot Paper in Chem. Commun. e Highlight in Chemical Biology.

• L. Valli*, G. Giancane and S. Sortino.* Nitric oxide photoreleasing multilayer films, J. Mater. Chem., 2008, 18, 2437-2441. Hot Paper in J. Mater. Chem. e Highlight in Chemical Technology

• F. L. Callari, S. Petralia, S. Conoci and S. Sortino.* Light-triggered DNA release by dynamic monolayer films, New J. Chem., 2008, 32, 1899-1903. Hot Paper in New J. Chem.

• E. B. Caruso, E. Cicciarella and S. Sortino.* A multifunctional nanoassembly of mesogen-bearing amphiphiles and porphyrins for the simultaneous photodelivery of nitric oxide and singlet oxygen Chem. Commun., 2007, 5028-5030. Highlight in Nature Materials.

• R. P. Bonomo, V. Bruno, E. Conte, G.De Guidi, D. La Mendola, G. Maccarrone, F. Nicoletti, E Rizzarelli, S. Sortino and G. Vecchio. Potentiometric, spectroscopic and biological activity studies of SOD mimics containing carnosine J. Chem Soc. Dalton Trans., 2003, 23, 4406-4415, Hot Paper in J. Chem Soc. Dalton Trans.

   

• Cover Pages su riviste scientifiche internazionali (ISI)

• C. Conte,  A. Fraix, H. Thomsen, F. Ungaro, V. Cardile, A. C. E. Graziano, N. B. Ericso, F. Quaglia and S. Sortino.* Monitoring the release of a NO photodonor from polymer nanoparticles via Forster resonance energy transfer and two-photon fluorescence imaging J. Mater. Chem. B 2018, 6. 249-256

• K. Chegaev,  A. Fraix, E. Gazzano,  G. E. F. Abd-Ellatefand, M. Blamgetti, B. Rolando, S. Conoci, C. Riganti, R. Fruttero, A. Gasco and S. Sortino.* Light-regulated NO release as a novel strategy to overcome multidrug resistance of doxorubicin ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2017, 8, 361-365

• N. Marino, S. Petralia, M. Perez-Lloret, J. Mosinger, S. Conoci and S. Sortino.* Graphene oxide nanohybrid that photoreleases nitric oxide J. Mater. Chem. B 2016, 4, 5825-5830

• I. Di Bari, R. Picciotto, G. Granata, A. R. Blanco, G. M. L. Consoli and S. Sortino.* A bactericidal calix[4]arene-based nanoconstruct with amplified NO photorelease Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 8047-8052

• A. Fraix and S. Sortino.* Photoactivable platforms for nitric oxide delivery with fluorescence imaging Chem. Asian J. 2015, 10. 1116-1125.

• S. Maiolino, F. Moret, C. Conte, A. Fraix, P. Tirino, F. Ungaro, S. Sortino, E. Reddi and F. Quaglia. Hyaluronan-decorated polymer nanoparticles targeting the CD44 receptor for the combinated photo/chemo-therapy of cancer Nanoscale 2015, 7, 5643-5653.

• A. Fraix, R. Gref and S. Sortino “A Multi-Photoresponsive Supramolecular Hydrogel with Dual-Colour Fluorescence and Dual-Modal Photodynamic Action J. Mater. Chem. B. 2014, 2, 3443-3449.

• J. Garcia-Amoros, S. Swaminathan, S. Sortino*and F. M. Raymo.* Plasmonic activation of a fluorescent carbazole-oxazine switch, Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 10276-10284.

• A. Fraix, N. Kandoth, I. Manet,* V. Cardile, A. C. E. Graziano, R. Gref and S. Sortino.* An engineered nanoplatform for bimodal anticancer phototherapy and dual-color fluorescence detection of sensitizers, Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, 4459-4461.

• A. Fraix, A. R. L. Gonçalves, V. Cardile, A. C. E. Graziano, T. Theodossiou, K. Yannakopoulou* and S. Sortino.* A Multifunctional Bichromophoric Nanoaggregate for Fluorescence Imaging and Simultaneous Photogeneration of RNOS and RO, Chem. Asian J., 2013, 8, 2634-2641.

• E. Vittorino, M.T. Sciortino, G. Siracusano and S. Sortino.* Light-activated release of nitric oxide with fluorescent reporting in living cells, ChemMedChem., 2011, 6, 1551-1554.

• E.Deniz, M. Tomasulo, J. Cusido, S. Sortino* and F. M. Raymo.* Fast and stable photochromic oxazines for fluorescence switching, Langmuir, 2011, 27, 11773-11783

• E. Vittorino and S. Sortino.* A phenolic antioxidant releasing nitric oxide on demand, Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2010, 379-385.

• G. Bellia, E. Vittorino and S. Sortino.* A novel molecular conjugate for the simultaneous DNA oxidation and targeted delivery of nitric oxide triggered by light, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2009, 8, 1534-1538.

• F. L. Callari, S. Petralia, S. Conoci and S. Sortino.* Light-triggered DNA release by dynamic monolayer films, New J. Chem., 2008, 32, 1899-1903.

• S. Monti* and S. Sortino.* Photoprocesses of photosensitizing drugs within cyclodextrin cavities, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2002, 31, 287-300.

• S. Sortino*, G. De Guidi, S. Fazio, S. Giuffrida, G. Salemi and S. Monti, On the absorption and emission properties of three new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-beta-cyclodextrin host-guest inclusion complexes: differential sensitivity to the microenvironment upon light excitation, Int. J. Photoenergy, 1999, 1, 19-23

 

COLLABORAZIONI SCIENTIFICHE CON ISTITUZIONI INTERNAZIONALI

• Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa – Canada (Prof. J. C. Scaiano)

• National Research Council, Ottawa – Canada (Dr. K. U. Ingold)

• Laboratory for Molecular Photonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Miami – USA (Prof. F. M. Raymo)

• Department of Chemistry, Union College, Schenectady, New York 12308 – USA (Prof. L. J. Martinez)

• Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology of the Conway Institute, Department of Chemistry, National University of Ireland – Ireland (Prof. R. Darcy)

• Departamento de Quimica Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia – Spain (Prof. M. A. Miranda)

• Departimento de Quimica Universidad de Vigo – Spain (Prof. P. Herves)

• Departamento de Quimica y Fisica, Universitad Nacional de Rio Cuarto – Argentina (Dr. C. D. Borsarelli)

• Max-Planck Institut fur Strahlenchemie, Mulheim van der Ruher – Germany (Dr. S. E. Braslawsky)

• Entropy Control Project, ICORP, Toyonaka – Japan (Prof. Y. Inoue)

• Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine - Northen Ireland (Prof. J. F. Callan)

• UMR-CNRS 8612, Faculty of Pharmacy, Paris Sud University – France (Dr. R. Gref)

• Biomedical Photonics Group, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg – Sweeden (Prof. M. B. Ericson)

• Institute of Advanced Materials, Physicochemical Processes, Nanotechnology and Microsystems, National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens – Greece (Dr. K. Yannakopoulou)

• CycloLab Ltd., Budapest – Hungary (Dr. E. Fenyvesi)

• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Chemistry – Austria (Prof. T. Rosenau)

• Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague - Czech Republic (Prof. J. Mosinger)

• Nanologica – Stockolm (Prof. A. Feiler)