Bio
Education
May 2010: Ph.D. in Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Pisa, Italy, with the dissertation: “Experimental and computational study of novel biomaterials for advanced cardiovascular applications”.
October 2006: Laurea Specialistica (Master Degree) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pisa, Italy, with the thesis: “Computational and experimental study of implantable drug-eluting devices” (grade: 110/110).
July 2004: Laurea Triennale (Bachelor Degree) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pisa, Italy, with the thesis: “Study of polymeric systems used to realize coatings for endovascular drug-eluting devices” (grade: 106/110).
July 2001: Classical Lyceum Diploma from the "Liceo Ginnasio F. Fiorentino", Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy (grade: 100/100).
Experience
November 2011 to present: Junior Post-doc, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @ NEST, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Pisa, Italy.
June 2010 to November 2011: Post-doctoral research fellow, University of Pisa, Italy.
January 2010 to June 2010: Research fellow, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Italy.
November 2009 to January 2011: Lecturer in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry (Bachelor Degree in Energetic Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy).
January 2007 to December 2009: Ph.D. Student, University of Pisa, Italy
October 2006 to December 2006: Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Italy.
Current research activity
The aim of the research is the design, the development and the production of multifunctional and biodegradable polymeric nanocarriers able to encapsulate, transport and release biological molecules in the site of interest.
Nanocarriers:
§ will be engineered to elude the reticuloendothelial system, thanks to specific surface properties;
§ will specifically recognize their targets, thanks to their biofunctionalization via chemical conjugation of molecules or through the molecular imprinting technique;
§ will be tailored to cross the blood-brain barrier, the cell membrane and the lysosomal membranes.
Past research activity
Synthesis of biodegradable polymers and copolymers for myocardial tissue engineering; development of three-dimensional and injectable scaffolds and their chemical and morphological functionalization; production of micro- and nano- polymeric carriers for the controlled delivery of drugs and growth factors; development of polymeric coatings for controlled drug delivery from endovascular stents; FEM analysis (structural and fluid dynamics).
Other Publications
Articles in Journals
1. Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Giannessi D, Guerra GD. Novel biodegradable, biomimetic and functionalised polymer scaffolds to prevent expansion of post-infarct left ventricular remodelling. Journal of Materials Science, Materials in Medicine, 2011, in press.
2. Guerra GD, Barbani N, Gagliardi M, Rosellini E, Cristallini C. Chitosan-based macromolecular biomaterials for the regeneration of chondroskeletal and nerve tissue. International Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry, 2011, in press (review).
3. Guerra GD, Cristallini C, Barbani N and Gagliardi M. Bioresorbable microspheres as devices for the controlled release of paclitaxel. International Journal of Biology and Biomedical Engineering, 2011, 3(5), 121-128.
4. Guerra GD, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Cristallini C. Controlled release of the anti-cancer drug Paclitaxel from bioresorbable poly(ester-ether-ester) microspheres. Recent Researches in Modern Medicine, 2011, 210-217.
5. Gagliardi M. Relevance of mesh dimension optimization, geometry simplification and discretization accuracy in the study of mechanical behaviour of bare metal stents. International Journal of Computational Models and Algorithms in Medicine, 2011, 2(1), 1-15.
6. Gagliardi M. Computational models for the in silico analysis of drug delivery from drug-eluting stents. Therapeutic Delivery, 2011, 2(1), 1-3 (invited editorial).
7. Silvestri D, Barbani N, Guerra GD, Gagliardi M, Cristallini C. Biodegradable bioartificial materials made by chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol). Part III: Materials toughened by means of a dehydrothermal treatment, Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, 2010, 22(6), 509-517.
8. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C. Macromolecular composition and drug-loading effect on the delivery of paclitaxel and folic acid from acrylic matrices, Drug Delivery, 2010, 17(6):452-465.
9. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Guadagni M, Crifaci G, Giusti P. Combined drug release from biodegradable bi-layer coating for endovascular stents. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 2009, 93(2): 375-85.
10. Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Domenichini M, Gagliardi M, Giusti P. Non conventional surface functionalization of porous poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds using bioactive molecularly imprinted nanospheres. Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, 2010, 22(5): 1-13.
11. Silvestri D, Gagliardi M, Cristallini C, Barbani N, Giusti P. Different composition poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) copolymers through seeded semi-batch emulsion polymerization. Polymer Bulletin, 2009, 63(3): 423-439.
12. Silvestri D, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Giusti P. Synthesis and characterization of copolymers of methylmethacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate for the aqueous solubilisation of Paclitaxel. Drug Delivery, 2009, 16(2): 116-124.
13. Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, D'Acunto M, Barbani N, Ciardelli G, Giusti P. Acrylic copolymers as candidates for drug eluting coating of vascular stents. Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 2009, 24(4): 353-383.
Refereed Articles in Conference Proceedings
1. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Giusti P. Single and simultaneous release of drugs with different hydrophilicity from acrylic matrices. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2010, 8(2):113.
2. Guerra GD, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Rosellini E, Silvestri D. Poly(vinyl alcohol)-chitosan blends modified by means of a dehydrothermal treatment, Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2010, 8(2):118.
3. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Guadagni M, Crifaci G, Giusti P. Study of drug release mechanisms from PLGA/PHBHV bi-layered biodegradable polymeric matrices. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2009, 7:64.
4. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Bellotti E, Parrini S, Giusti P. Poly(methylmethacrylate-co-butylmethacrylate) copolymer from monomer-starved seeded semi-batch reaction for biomedical use. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2009, 7:63.
5. Silvestri D, Gagliardi M, Cristallini C, Baldoli I, Zecca M, Giusti P. Drug elution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs from biostable acrylic matrices. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2009, 7:62.
6. Cristallini C, Ruffini A, Ranzani T, Barbani N, Rosellini E, Silvestri D, Gagliardi M, Guerra GD, Giusti P. Smart polymer nanocomplexes obtained by template polymerisation for drug targeting. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2009, 7:60.
7. Barbani N, Cristallini C, Pulizzi R, Donati M, Gagliardi M, Rechichi A, Guerra GD, Giusti P. Preparation and functional characterization of a polysaccharidic matrix microsphere-shaped for controlled drug release. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2009, 7:54.
8. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Giusti P. Experimental characterization and computational modelling of polymeric materials used as stents coatings. In: Congresso Nazionale di Bioingegneria 2008, Atti, pagg. 349-350, R. Burattini, R. Contro, P. Dario, L. Landini, Pàtron Editore, 2008.
9. Barbani N, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Guerra GD, Silvestri D. Bioartificial chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) blends as biomaterials. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2008, 62(8):487.
10. Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Guerra GD, Krajewski A, Mazzocchi M. Composites between collagen and hydroxyapatite, a preliminary physicochemical and biological investigation on interactions between collagen and hydroxyapatite. In: 11th Meeting and Seminar on: Ceramics Cells and Tissues, Annual Conference, Faenza, October 2-5, 2007, pagg 182-191, A. Ravaglioli, A. Krajewski, 2007.
11. Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Guadagni M, Barbani N, Giusti P. Combined drug release from biodegradable bi-layer coating for endovascular stents. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 2007, 5:209.
Talks (in national and international conferences)
1. Gagliardi M, Schiavello L, Cristallini C. Experimental and computational study of the dual drug release from polymeric stent coatings. 24rd European Conference on Biomaterials, 2011, Dublin 4-8 September.
2. Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Russo Fiorillo S, Bonaretti A. Novel biodegradable, biomimetic and functionalised polymer scaffolds to prevent expansion of post-infart left ventricular remodelling. 24rd European Conference on Biomaterials, 2011, Dublin 4-8 September.
3. Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Guerra GD, Russo Fiorillo S, Barbani N. New bioartificial microstructures in combination with molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for the treatment of myocardial infarction. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2011, Bari 23-25 May.
4. Guerra GD, Cristallini C, Barbani N, Gagliardi M. Release of anti-restenotic drugs from macromolecular materials useful for covering vascular stents. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2011, Bari 23-25 May.
5. Cristallini C, Gagliardi M. Applicazione dell'analisi reologica allo sviluppo di nuovi sistemi polimerici iniettabili e termoreversibili per l'ingegnerizzazione del tessuto cardiaco. 2th Workshop Alfatest Reologia e Nanoformulazioni, 2011, Milano 2 February.
6. Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Cristallini C. Design, fabrication and preliminary characterization of a bioartificial scaffold for tissue engineering. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2010, Camogli 24-26 May.
7. Guerra GD, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Rosellini E, Silvestri D. Poly(vinil alcohol)-chitosan blends modified by means of a dehydrothermal treatment. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2009, Salice Terme 15-17 June.
8. Gagliardi M, Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Giusti P. Studio dei meccanismi di rilascio di farmaco da matrici polimeriche biodegradabili. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2008, Follonica 17-19 September.
9. Silvestri D, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Baldoli I, Giusti P, Cristallini C. Materiali copolimerici a base acrilica per il rilascio di farmaci idrofilici e idrofobici. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2008, Follonica 17-19 September.
10. Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Cristallini C, Guerra GD, Krajewski A, Mazzocchi M. Composites between collagen and hydroxyapatite. Ceramics, Cells and Tissues, 11th Annual Seminar & Meeting, 2007, Faenza October 2-5.
Silvestri D, Cristallini C, Gagliardi M, Barbani N, Giusti P. Studio di materiali biodegradabili per il rilascio combinato di farmaci da stent vascolari. Congresso Nazionale Biomateriali, 2007, Bologna 28-29 May.
Mariacristina Gagliardi
