NINIVE – Vittoria Raffa

NON INVASIVE NANOTRANSDUCER FOR IN VIVO GENE THERAPY (NINIVE)

One focus in nanobiotechnology is the development of nonviral vectors for safe and efficient gene delivery. Progress in the Human Genome Project increases the attractiveness of gene therapy as a therapeutic modality for a host of diseases. Today the methodologies for in vivo gene transfection are still in their infancy. The most promising method is based on the use of viral vectors, but its safety is actually under discussion. This project aims at developing a nonviral vector for gene delivery, able of cell recognition and external activation.

MAIN COLLABORATORS

Center for Drug Delivery Research. The School of Pharmacy, University of London

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V., represented by MPI fuer Festkoerperforschung

Consiglio Nazionale di Ricerca, Pisa, Institute of Neuroscience

Thales Research And Technology, Nanostructures Electroniques, Nanocarb

Nanothinx S.A.

PUBLICATIONS

Raffa V; Riggio C; Cuschieri A (2012). BNNT-mediated irreversible electroporation: its potential on cancer cells. TECHNOLOGY IN CANCER RESEARCH & TREATMENT (ISSN:1533-0346) p. 459 – 465 Vol. 11, IF: 1,943
Raffa V; Gherardini L; Vittorio O; Bardi G; Ziaei A; Pizzorusso T; Riggio C; Nitodas S; Karachalios T; Al-Jamal KT; Kostarelos K; Costa M; Cuschieri A (2011). Carbon nanotube-mediated wireless cell permeabilization: drug and gene uptake. NANOMEDICINE (ISSN:1743-5889) p. 1709 – 1718 Vol. 6, IF: 5,055
Raffa V; Ciofani G; Vittorio O; Riggio C; Cuschieri A (2010). Physicochemical properties affecting cellular uptake of carbon nanotubes. NANOMEDICINE (ISSN:1743-5889) p. 89 – 97 Vol. 5, IF: 5,055
Raffa V; Ciofani G; Vittorio O; Pensabene V; Cuschieri A (2010). Carbon nanotube-enhanced cell electropermeabilisation. BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY (ISSN:1567-5394) p. 136 – 141 Vol. 79, IF: 3,759
Ciofani G; Raffa V (2009). Chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes: emerging vectors for cell therapy. MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY (ISSN:1389-5575) p. 1251 – 1261 Vol. 9, IF:2,528
Ciofani G; Raffa V; Pensabene V; Menciassi A; Dario A (2009). Dispersion of multiwall carbon nanotubes in aqueous Pluronic F127 solutions for biological applications. FULLERENES, NANOTUBES AND CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES (ISSN:1536-383X) p. 11 – 25 Vol. 17, IF: 2,528
Bardi G; Tognini P; Ciofani G; Raffa V; Costa M; Pizzorusso T (2009). Pluronic-coated carbon nanotubes do not induce degeneration of cortical neurons in vivo and in vitro. NANOMEDICINE (ISSN:1743-5889) p. 96 – 104 Vol. 5, IF: 5,055
Raffa V; Ciofani G; Cuschieri A (2009). Enhanced low voltage cell electropermeabilization by boron nitride nanotubes. NANOTECHNOLOGY (ISSN:0957-4484) p. 075104 – Vol. 20,IF: 3,979
Ciofani G; Riggio C; Raffa V; Menciassi A; Cuschieri A (2009). A bi-modal approach against cancer: magnetic alginate nanoparticles for combined chemotherapy and hyperthermia. MEDICAL HYPOTHESES (ISSN:0306-9877) p. 80 – 82 Vol. 73,IF: 1,150
Ciofani G; Raffa V; Menciassi A; Cuschieri A (2009). Boron nitride nanotubes: An innovative tool for nanomedicine. NANO TODAY (ISSN:1748-0132) p. 8 – 10 Vol. 4, IF: 15,355
Vittorio O; Raffa V; Cuschieri A (2009). Influence of purity and surface oxidation on cytotoxicity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with human neuroblastoma cells. NANOMEDICINE (ISSN:1549-9634) p. 424 – 431 Vol. 5, IF: 6,692
Ciofani G; Raffa V; Menciassi A; Cuschieri A (2009). Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS (ISSN:1556-276X) p. 113 – 121 Vol. 4, IF: 2,726
Raffa V; Ciofani G; Nitodas S; Karachalios T; D’Alessandro D; Masini M; Cuschieri A (2008). Can the properties of carbon nanotubes influence their internalisation by living cells?. CARBON (ISSN:0008-6223) p. 1600 – 1610 Vol. 46, IF: 5,378
Lacerda L; Raffa V; Prato M; Bianco A; Kostarelos K (2007). Cell-penetrating CNTs for delivery of therapeutics. NANO TODAY (ISSN:1748-0132) p. 38 – 43 Vol. 2, IF: 15,355