GENINATTI LAB
Diagnostic protocols for imaging guided drug delivery and pathology assessment

My research focuses on the development, characterization and in vitro and in vivo studies of innovative nano-systems for molecular imaging and theranostic applications. Our aim is to improve disease diagnosis, to perform therapy (by delivering drugs more specifically to the pathological site) but also to facilitate (pre-) clinical efficacy and toxicity analyses, and to better understand various important aspects of the drug delivery process.

Thanks to my previous experience, I have specialized in NMR spectroscopy and relaxometry, working mainly in the field of synthesis and physicochemical characterization of paramagnetic metal complexes, liposomes and nanoparticles with potential application as MRI contrast agents. Currently, my research focus on the development of a new imaging technique for clinical application, the Fast Field‐Cycling MRI (FFC‐MRI), where scanners have the ability to switch magnetic field rapidly while scanning. My research work deals with the development of the theory of relaxation in tissue at low magnetic field strengths and the in vitro, in vivo study of FFC contrast agents.

My research focus is the implementation of advanced diagnostic technologies into the field of the FFC technique (Fast Field Cycling). The objective of the IDentIFY project is to turn FFC-MRI into a routine tool for clinical diagnosis. The main goal is to describe and understand the new biomarkers that FFC-MRI gives to improve early detection, cancer treatment monitoring and formation of tumor metastasis.

The aim of my research is the development and characterization of a fast and reliable fluorimetric assay for the detection of nucleic acids biomarkers in biological matrixes. We are focusing on the creation of a liposome based fluorescent probe, in order to detect very low concentrations of biomarkers involved in many different disease, from cancer, to infective and inflammatory pathologies, trying to improve diagnostic and therapeutic insights of common medical protocols and procedures.