Viviana Vergaro, Ph.D. is Rtd B in Chemistry at the University of Salento, Department of Experimental Medicine. Her research activity is actuated focused on experimental activity concerning synthesis and biological validation of new organic and inorganic nanomaterials for nanomedicine and nanoagrochemicals as well as the investigation of their functional properties.
The activities include the identification of new drug designs (above all metal-based drug, as DNA intercalating agents for cancer therapy) and therapeutic strategies using inorganic or organic stimuli responsive nanoparticles for the controlled release. These studies involve both ultrastructural investigations (SEM and TEM), or chemical analysis for studying different functionalizations of materials (FTIR, XRD, etc.). and a careful evaluation of the toxicological profile and biological effect of the new materials, using in vitro 3D cellular models, to better mimic the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment in vivo.
This activity is well documented by over 40 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, 1 European patent and various communications at international conferences.
