La missione del Regenerative Technologies Lab è quella di studiare fenomeni alla milli-, micro- e nanoscala, di inventare nuove soluzioni e di ingegnerizzare processi a tali dimensioni, allo scopo di sviluppare componenti tecnologiche avanzate e di abilitare terapie minimamente invasive.
Il gruppo è caratterizzato da una forte interdisciplinarietà e i suoi sforzi di ricerca si collocano al confine tra robotica, micro-meccanica, scienza dei materiali e biologia molecolare.
Il Laboratorio è focalizzato su: (i) nuove macchine, flessibili e scalabili, basate su smart materials e sistemi bioibridi, che integrano cellule e tessuti viventi (ottimizzati da milioni di anni di evoluzione naturale) e componenti artificiali; (ii) organi artificiali impiantabili avanzati basati su sistemi micro-meccatronici e materiali biocompatibili; (iii) milli-, micro- e nanorobots per terapie mirate, rilascio di farmaci e applicazioni nel campo dei lab-on-chip; (iv) biomateriali nanostrutturati per trattamenti medici non-convenzionali e medicina rigenerativa; (v) ultrasuoni non focalizzati e altre tecnologie innovative che abilitino scoperte significative nel campo delle Life Sciences (ad esempio per svelare i principi fondamentali che stanno alla base dei comportamenti chiave di cellule/tessuti sani e patologici, della loro rigenerazione e/o della loro organizzazione in strutture 3D funzionali).

Responsabile scientifico

Prof. Leonardo Ricotti - Download Curriculum Vitae
e-mail: leonardo.ricotti@santannapisa.it
Tel: 366 6868242

Profili dei ricercatori afferenti al Lab

Progetti attivi

ADMAIORA "ADvanced nanocomposite MAterIals fOr in situ treatment and ultRAsound-mediated management of osteoarthritis" - Call: H2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2018, Research and Innovation action;
ImmUniverse - progetto europeo finanziato da Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI 2), partenariato pubblico-privato gestito dall'Unione Europea e dall’European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA);
FORGETDIABETES - programma Future & Emerging Technologies Proactive Horizon 2020 - Grant agreement ID: 951933;
MIO-PRO - interfaccia uomo-macchina per il controllo delle protesi (collaborazione tra Istituto di BioRobotica e Centro Protesi INAIL);
REBORN (Remodelling of the infarcted heart: piezoelectric multifunctional patch enabling the sequential release of of therapeutic factors), funded by the European Commission, HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01-13;
BioMeld (A modular framework for designing and producing biohybrid machines), funded by the European Commission, HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-27.

Paper selezionati

2022

• T. Mazzocchi, D. Guarnera, D. Trucco, F.R. Restaino, L. Vannozzi, A. Siliberto, G. Lisignoli, S. Zaffagnini, A. Russo, and L. Ricotti. A novel approach for multiple material extrusion in arthroscopic knee surgery. Ann. Biomed. Eng. doi: 10.1007/s10439-022-03061-5 (2022)
• A. Vizzoca, G. Lucarini, E. Tognoni, S. Tognarelli, L. Ricotti, L. Gherardini, G. Pelosi, M. Pellegrino, A. Menciassi, S. Grimaldi, and C. Cinti. Erythro–magneto–HA–virosome: a bio-inspired drug delivery system for active targeting of drugs in the lungs. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23(17): 9893 (2022)
• C. Paci, F. Iberite, L. Arrico, L. Vannozzi, P. Parlanti, M. Gemmi, and L. Ricotti. Piezoelectric nanocomposite bioink and ultrasound stimulation modulate early skeletal myogenesis. Biomater. Sci. doi: 10.1039/D1BM01853A (2022)
• L. Vannozzi, A. Lucantonio, A. Castillo, A. De Simone, and L. Ricotti. Modeling self-rollable elastomeric films for building bioinspired hierarchical 3D structures. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23(15): 8467 (2022)
• D. Trucco, L. Riacci, L. Vannozzi, C. Manferdini, L. Arrico, E. Gabusi, G. Lisignoli, and L. Ricotti. Primers for the adhesion of gellan gum-based hydrogels to the cartilage: a comparative study. Macromol. Biosci. Doi: 10.1002/mabi.202200096 (2022)
• C. Manferdini, D. Trucco, Y. Saleh, E. Gabusi, P. Dolzani, E. Lenzi, L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, and G. Lisignoli. RGD-functionalized hydrogel supports the chondrogenic commitment of adipose mesenchymal stromal cells. Gels. 8(6): 382 (2022)
• F. Iberite, E. Gruppioni, and L. Ricotti. Skeletal muscle differentiation of human iPSCs meets bioengineering strategies: perspectives and challenges. npj Regenerative Medicine. 7: 23
• T. Mazzocchi, G. Lucarini, I. Roehrer, A. Menciassi, and L. Ricotti. PDMS and DLC‐coated unidirectional valves for artificial urinary sphincters: Opening performance after 126 days of immersion in urine. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B: App. Biomater. 110: 817-827 (2022)
• M. Piazzoni, E. Piccoli, L. Migliorini, E. Milana, F. Iberite, L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, I. Gerges, P. Milani, C. Marano, C. Lenardi and T. Santaniello. Monolithic three-dimensional functionally graded hydrogels for bioinspired soft robots fabrication. Soft Rob. 9(2): 224-232 (2022)

2021

• A. Cafarelli, A. Marino, L. Vannozzi, J. Puigmartí-Luis, S. Pané, G. Ciofani, and L. Ricotti. Piezoelectric nanomaterials activated by ultrasound: the pathway from discovery to future clinical adoption. ACS Nano. 15(7): 11066–11086 (2021);
• V. Iacovacci, I. Tamadon, E.F. Kauffmann, S. Pane, V. Simoni, L. Marziale, M. Aragona, L. Cobuccio, M. Chiarugi, P. Dario, S. Del Prato, L. Ricotti, F. Vistoli and A. Menciassi. A fully implantable device for intraperitoneal drug delivery refilled by ingestible capsules. Science Robotics. 6(57): eabh3328 (2021);
• L. Vannozzi, E. Catalano, M. Telkhozhayeva, E. Teblum, A. Yarmolenko, E.S. Avraham, R. Konar, G.D. Nessim, and L. Ricotti. Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide nanoflakes coated with glycol chitosan, propylene glycol alginate, and polydopamine: characterization and cytotoxicity in human chondrocytes. Nanomaterials. 11(8), 2105 (2021);
• F. Fontana, F. Iberite, A. Cafarelli, A. Aliperta, G. Baldi, E. Gabusi, P. Dolzani, S. Cristino, G. Lisignoli, T. Pratellesi, E. Dumont, and L. Ricotti. Development and validation of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound systems for highly controlled in vitro cell stimulation. Ultrasonics. 116: 106495 (2021);
• D. Trucco, A. Sharma, C. Manferdini, E. Gabusi, M. Petretta, G. Desando, L. Ricotti, J. Chakraborty, S. Ghosh, and G. Lisignoli. Modeling and fabrication of silk fibroin–gelatin-based constructs using extrusion-based three-dimensional bioprinting. ACS Applied Biomaterials Science & Engineering. Doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00410 (2021);
• L. Ricotti, T. Fujie, and E.T. Roche. Bionic 0rgans and tissues. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. 3(2): 295-296 (2021);
• A. Mazzeo, V. Iacovacci, L. Riacci, D. Trucco, G. Lisignoli, F. Vistoli, and L. Ricotti. 3D printed perfusable renal proximal tubule model with different extracellular matrix compositions. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. 3(2): 328-336 (2021);
• M. Piazzoni, E. Piccoli, L. Migliorini, E. Milana, F. Iberite, L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, I. Gerges, P. Milani, C. Marano, C. Lenardi, and T. Santaniello. Monolithic three-dimensional functionally graded hydrogels for bioinspired soft robots fabrication. Soft Robotics. Doi: 10.1089/soro.2020.0137 (2021);
• D. Trucco, L. Vannozzi, E. Teblum, M. Telkhozhayeva, G.D. Nessim, S. Affatato, H. Al-Haddad, G. Lisignoli, L. Ricotti, Graphene oxide-doped gellan gum–PEGDA bilayered hydrogel mimicking the mechanical and lubrication properties of articular cartilage. Adv. Health. Mater. Doi: 10.1002/adhm.202001434 (2021);
• V. Iacovacci, I. Naselli, A.R. Salgarella, F. Clemente, L. Ricotti, C. Cipriani, Stability and in vivo safety of gold, titanium nitride and parylene C coatings on NdFeB magnets implanted in muscles towards a new generation of myokinetic prosthetic limbs. RSC Adv. 11: 6766 (2021);
• A. Sorriento, A. Poliziani, A. Cafarelli, G. Valenza, L. Ricotti, A novel quantitative and reference-free ultrasound analysis to discriminate different concentrations of bone mineral content. Sci. Rep. 11: 301 (2021);
• J.O. Alcaide, Y. Huan, N. Gabrieli, A. Firrincieli, L. Ricotti, P. Dario G. Ciuti, Tether-colon interaction model and tribological characterization for front-wheel driven colonoscopic devices. Tribology Int. 156: 106814 (2021);
• S. Affatato, D. Trucco, P. Taddei, L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, G.D. Nessim, G. Lisignoli, Wear behavior characterization of hydrogels constructs for cartilage tissue replacement. Materials. 14(2): 428 (2021);

2020

• L. Vannozzi, T. Mazzocchi, A. Hasebe, S. Takeoka, T. Fujie, L. Ricotti, A coupled FEM-SPH modeling technique to investigate the contractility of biohybrid thin films, Adv. Biosys. Doi: 10.1002/adbi.201900306 (2020);
• L. Vannozzi, P.J. Gouveia, P. Pingue, C. Canale, L. Ricotti, Novel ultra-thin films based on a blend of PEG-b-PCL and PLLA and doped with ZnO nanoparticles, ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. Doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c00154 (2020) [I.F. 2019: 8.758;]; LEGGI LA NEWS
• S. Ciancia, A. Cafarelli, A. Zahoranova, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, Pulsatile drug delivery system triggered by acoustic radiation force. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol, Doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00317 (2020) [I.F. 2019: 3.644];
• M. Ibrahimi, L. Paternò, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, A layer jamming actuator for tunable stiffnessand shape-changing devices, Soft Rob. Doi: 10.1089/soro.2019.018 (2020) [I.F. 2019: 5.543];
• G. Lucarini, A. Vizzoca, C. Cinti, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, Design of an innovative platform for the treatment of cerebral tumors by means of erythro-magneto-HA-virosomes, Biomed. Phys. Eng. Expr. Doi: 10.1088/2057-1976/ab89f1 (2020);
• L. Marziale, G. Lucarini, T. Mazzocchi, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, Comparative analysis of occlusion methods for artificial sphincters, Artif. Org. Doi: 10.1111/aor.13684 (2020) [I.F. 2019: 2.259];
• F. Dedola, F.P. Ulloa Severino, N. Meneghetti, T. Lemaire, A. Cafarelli, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, A. Cutrone, A. Mazzoni, S. Micera, Ultrasound stimulations induce prolonged depolarization and fast action potentials in leech neurons, IEEE Open J. Eng. Med. Biol. 1: 23-32 (2020);
• F. Iberite, I. Gerges, L. Vannozzi, A. Marino, M. Piazzoni, T. Santaniello, C. Lenardi, L. Ricotti, Combined effects of electrical stimulation and protein coatings on myotube formation in a soft porous scaffold, Ann. Biomed. Eng. 48(2): 734-746 (2020) [I.F. 2019: 3.324];

2019

• V. Iacovacci, A. Blanc, H. Huang, L. Ricotti, R. Schibli, A. Menciassi, M. Behe, S. Pané,  B.J. Nelson, High‐resolution SPECT imaging of stimuli‐responsive soft microrobots, Small. Doi: 10.1002/smll.201900709 (2019) [I.F. 2019: 11.459]. LEGGI LA NEWS
• S. Rosa, C. Praça, P.R. Pitrez, P.J. Gouveia, X.L. Aranguren, L. Ricotti, L.S. Ferreira, Functional characterization of iPSC-derived arterial-and venous-like endothelial cells, Scientific Reports. 9(1): 3826 (2019);
• A. Cafarelli, P. Losi, A. R. Salgarella, M. C. Barsotti, I. B. Di Cioccio, I. Foffa, L. Vannozzi, P. Pingue, G. Soldani, L. Ricotti, Small-caliber vascular grafts based on a piezoelectric nanocomposite elastomer: Mechanical properties and biocompatibility, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. (2019);
• S. Ugolini, T. Mazzocchi, M. Ghionzoli, F. Facchini, L. Ricotti, G. Ciuti, A. Menciassi, A. Messineo, Sensorized orthosis for non-operative treatment of Pectus Carinatum in pediatric patients, IEEE Trans. Med. Rob. Bion. 1(2): 115 (2019);
• A. Hasebe, Y. Suematsu, S. Takeoka, T. Mazzocchi, L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, T. Fujie, Biohybrid Actuators Based on Skeletal Muscle-Powered Microgrooved Ultra-Thin Films Consisting of Poly (styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene), ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering. (2019);

2018

• A. Cardona, V. Iacovacci, T. Mazzocchi, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, Novel Nanostructured Coating on PDMS Substrates Featuring High Resistance to Urine, ACS Applied Bio Materials. (2018);  
• V. Iacovacci, L. Ricotti, E. Sinibaldi, G. Signore, F. Vistoli, A. Menciassi, Intravascular magnetic catheter enables the retrieval of nanoagents from the bloodstream, Advanced Science. Doi: 10.1002/advs.201800807 (2018); LEGGI LA NEWS;
• A.R. Salgarella, A. Zahoranová , P. Šrámková , M. Majerčíková , E. Pavlova , R. Luxenhofer , J. Kronek , I. Lacik, L. Ricotti, Investigation of drug release modulation from poly(2-oxazoline) micelles through ultrasound, Sci. Rep. 8: 9893 (2018);
• D. Trelova, A.R. Salgarella, L. Ricotti, G. Giudetti, A. Cutrone, P. Sramkova, A. Zahoranova, D. Chorvat, D. Hasko, C. Canale, S. Micera, J. Kronek, A. Menciassi, I. Lacik, Soft hydrogel zwitterionic coatings minimize fibroblast and macrophage adhesion on polyimide substrates, Langmuir. Doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00765 (2018);
• R. Grifantini, M. Taranta, L. Gherardini, I. Naldi, M. Parri, A. Grandi, A. Giannetti, S. Tombelli, G. Lucarini, L. Ricotti, S. Campagnoli, E. De Camilli, G. Pelosi, F. Baldini, A. Menciassi, G. Viale, P. Pileri, C. Cinti, Magnetically driven drug delivery systems improving targeted immunotherapy for colon-rectal cancer, J Contr Rel. Doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.04.052 (2018);
• L. Marziale, G. Lucarini, T. Mazzocchi, E. Gruppioni, S. Castellano, A. Davalli, R. Sacchetti, D. Pistolesi, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, Artificial sphincters to manage urinary incontinence: a review, Artif Org. Doi: 10.1111/aor.13164 (2018);
• L. Vannozzi, V. Iacovacci, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, Nanocomposite thin films for triggerable drug delivery, Exp Opin Drug Deliv. Doi: 10.1080/17425247.2018.1451512 (2018);
• L. Vannozzi, I.C. Yasa, H. Ceylan, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, M. Sitti, Self-folded hydrogel tubes for implantable muscular tissue scaffolds, Macromol Biosci. Doi: 10.1002/mabi.201700377 (2018);
• L. Paternò, M. Ibrahimi, E. Gruppioni, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, Sockets for limb prostheses: a review of existing technologies and open challenges, IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. Doi: 10.1109/TBME.2017.2775100 (2018);
• G. Lucarini, V. Iacovacci, P.J. Gouveia, L. Ricotti, A. Menciassi, Design of a novel magnetic platform for cell manipulation, J Micromech Microeng. 28: 025009 (2018);

2017

• L. Ricotti, B. Trimmer, A. W. Feinberg, R. Raman, K. K. Parker, R. Bashir, M. Sitti, S. Martel, P. Dario, A. Menciassi, Bio-hybrid actuators for robotics: a review of devices actuated by living cells, Science Robotics. 2(12): eaaq0495 (2017);
• L. Vannozzi, L. Ricotti, T. Santaniello, T. Terencio, R. Oropesa-Nunez, C. Canale, F. Borghi, A. Menciassi, C. Lenardi, I. Gerges, 3D porous polyurethanes featured by different mechanical properties: characterization and interaction with skeletal muscle cells, J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 75: 147-159; 2017;
• P.J. Gouveia, S. Rosa, L. Ricotti, B. Abecasis, H.V. Almeida, L. Monteiro, J. Nunes, F. Sofia Carvalho, M. Serra, S. Luchkin, A. Leonidovitch Kholkin, P. Marques Alves, P. Jorge Oliveira, R. Carvalho, A. Menciassi, R. Pires Neves, L. Silva Ferreira, Flexible nanofilms coated with aligned piezoelectric microfibers preserve the contractility of cardiomyocytes, Biomaterials. Doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.05.048; 2017;
• A. Salgarella, A. Cafarelli, L. Ricotti, L. Capineri, P. Dario, A. Menciassi, Optimal ultrasound exposure conditions for maximizing C2C12 muscle cell proliferation and differentiation, Ultrasound Med Biol. 43: 1452-1465; 2017 [I.F. 2017: 2.645];
• L. Morelli, M.A. Cappelluti, L. Ricotti, C. Lenardi, I. Gerges, An injectable system for local and sustained release of antimicrobial agents in the periodontal pocket, Macromol Biosci. Doi: 10.1002/mabi.201700103; 2017;
• L. Ricotti, T. Fujie, Thin polymeric films for building biohybrid microrobots, Bioinsp. Biomim. 12(2): 021001; 2017;
• A. Cafarelli, A. Verbeni, A. Poliziani, P. Dario, A. Menciassi, L. Ricotti, Tuning acoustic and mechanical properties of materials for ultrasound phantoms and smart substrates for cell cultures, Acta  49: 368-378; 2017;
• T. Mazzocchi, L. Ricotti, N. Pinzi, A. Menciassi, Magnetically controlled endourethral artificial urinary sphincter, Annals of Biomedical Engineering. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 45: 1181-1193; 2017; 

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