Dr. Silvia Cavalli is working as a research technician in Prof. Giulia Grancini’s group at the University of Pavia. She completed her PhD at the University of Leiden in Prof. Fraaije Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Alexander Kross. During her educational/professional trainings she had the opportunity to work on different interdisciplinary projects related to the field of nanotechnology, which allowed her to gain experience in several disciplines ranging from synthetic and physical-chemistry to biology.
Email: silvia.cavalli@unipv.it, Web: Scholar
Education.
January 2007, PhD (Soft Matter Chemistry), Leiden Institute of Chemistry, University of Leiden,
The Netherlands, “Synthesis and evaluation of physical-chemical properties of self-assembly β-sheet
lipopeptides”. Supervisor Prof. Dr. Ir. J. G. E. M. Fraaije, Co-promoters: Dr. A. Kros and Dr. M. Overhand.
March 2002, MSc in Chemistry, Università degli studi di Milano, Italy. “Synthesis of Orthogonal
Protected 2-Amino-2-Deoxy-Glucopyranosides as Scaffolds for the Construction of Combinatorial
Libraries”. Supervisor Prof. G. Russo.
Habilitation.
2020
Scientific National Habilitation (ASN), Assistant Professor Level, Field: 03/B2 “Fondamenti chimici delle tecnologie”.
Research Experience.
2021-2022
Senior scientist working on the project “Materials chemistry for tissue engineering applications” in
the group of Prof. Francesco Pasqualini at the University of Pavia, Italy.
2012-2017
Senior postdoctoral researcher coordinating the project: “Development of new light-responsive cell instructive materials”. Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare at the Italian Institute of Technology @ CRIB, Naples (Italy). Group of Prof. Dr. Paolo Antonio Netti.
2011-2012
Independent researcher handling the project: “Pentaphyrin-Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Theranostic Agents” granted by TALENTS Fellowship Programme (FP7 Marie Curie Actions Co-Funding of Regional, National and International Programmes for Friuli-Venezia Giulia, AREA Science Park). Hosting laboratories: Biomaterials laboratory of Dr. Clara Comuzzi and Cellular Biology laboratory of Prof. Dr. Luigi Xodo, University of Udine.
2008-2011
Postdoctoral researcher working on the project: “Synthesis of peptide-superparamagnetic nanoparticle hybrids as contrast agents for MRI and studies of their internalization in HeLa cells”. Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Programme, Prof. Dr. Fernando Albericio Group, contracted by a Networking Centre on Biomedical Investigation by means of Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-
BBN) and working at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Science
Park (PCB), Barcelona, Spain.
2006-2008
Postdoctoral researcher working on the project: “Synthesis and biological application of fluorescent probes as active-site directed autotoxin sensors”. Chemical Biology Laboratory of Dr. H. Ovaa, Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Division of cellular biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Selected List of Publications.
S. De Martino, S. Cavalli, P. A. Netti. Photoactive Interfaces for Spatio‐Temporal Guidance of
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020, 9 (13); e2000470. (Co-corresponding Author)
C. Fedele, P. A. Netti, S. Cavalli. Azobenzene-based polymers: emerging applications as cell culture
platforms. Biomaterials Science, 2018, 6, 990-995 (Co-corresponding author).
F. A. Pennacchio, C. Fedele, S. De Martino, S. Cavalli, R. Vecchione, P. A. Netti. 3D
Microstructured Azobenzene-Containing Gelatin as Photoactuable Cell Confining System. ACS Appl.
Mater. Interfaces, 2018, 10, 91-97 (Co-corresponding author).
C. Fedele, M. De Gregorio, P. A. Netti, S. Cavalli, C. Attanasio. Azopolymer photopatterning for
directional control of angiogenesis. Acta Biomaterialia, 2017, 63, 317-325 (Co-corresponding author).
C. Fedele, R. H. Kollarigowda, C. Rianna, A. Calabuig, A. C. Manikas, V. Pagliarulo, P. Ferraro, S.
Cavalli, P. A. Netti. Light-Responsive Polymer Brushes: Active Topographic Cues For Cell Culture
Applications. Polym. Chem., 2017, 8, 3271-3278. (Co-corresponding author).
C. Rianna, L. Rossano, R. H. Kollarigowda, F. Formiggini, S. Cavalli, M. Ventre and P. A. Netti.
Spatio-Temporal Control of Dynamic Topographic Patterns on Azopolymers for Cell Culture
Applications. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2016, 26, 7572-7580.
R. H. Kollarigowda, I. De Santo, C. Rianna, C. Fedele, A. C. Manikas, S. Cavalli and P. A. Netti
Shedding Light on Azopolymer Brush Dynamics by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. Soft
Matter, 2016, 12, 7102-7111 (Co-corresponding author).
C. Rianna, M. Ventre, S. Cavalli, M. Radmacher and P. A. Netti. Micropatterned Azopolymer
Surfaces Modulate Cell Mechanics and Cytoskeleton Structure. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7,
21503-21510.
E. Vaselli, C. Fedele, S. Cavalli, P. A. Netti. “On-Off” RGD Signaling Using Azobenzene
Photoswitch-Modified Surfaces. ChemPlusChem 2015, 80, 1547-1555 (Co-corresponding author).
C. Rianna, A. Calabuig, M. Ventre, S. Cavalli, V. Pagliarulo, S. Grilli, P. Ferraro, P. A. Netti.
Reversible Holographic Patterns on Azopolymers for Guiding Cell Adhesion and Orientation. ACS
Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 16984-16991.
S. Cavalli, M. Overhand, A. Kros. Assembly into β‐Sheet Structures upon Peptide-Liposome
Conjugation through Copper (I)‐Catalyzed [3+2] Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition ChemPlusChem 2014,
79, 564-568 (Co-corresponding author).
M. Thandu, V. Rapozzi, L. Xodo, F. Albericio, C. Comuzzi, S. Cavalli. “Clicking” Porphyrins to
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy. ChemPlusChem 2014, 79, 90-98 (Co-corresponding author).
S. Cavalli, D. Carbajo, M. Acosta, A. P. Candiota, C. Arús, M. Royo, F. Albericio. Efficient γ-Amino-
Proline-Derived Cell Penetrating Peptide-Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Conjugates
via Aniline-Catalyzed Oxime Chemistry as Bimodal Imaging Nanoagents. Chem. Commun. 2012, 48,
5322-5324 (Co-corresponding author).
S. Cavalli, A. J. S. Houben, H. Albers, E. van Tilburg, A. de Ru, J. Aoki, P. van Veelen, W. H.
Moolenaar, H. Ovaa. Development of an Activity-Based Probe for Autotaxin. ChemBioChem 2010,
11, 2311-2317.
S. Cavalli, F. Albericio, A. Kros. Amphiphilic Peptides and their Cross-Disciplinary Role as Building
Blocks for Nanoscience. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2010, 39, 241-263 (Co-corresponding author).
S. Cavalli, A. Kros. Scope and Applications of Amphiphilic Alkyl- and Lipopeptides. Adv. Mater.
2008, 20, 627-631.
S. Cavalli, J.-W. Handgraaf, E. E. Tellers, D. C. Popescu, M. Overhand, K. Kjaer, V. Vaiser, N. A. J.
M. Sommerdijk, H. Rapaport, A. Kros. Two-Dimensional Ordered β-Sheet Lipopeptide Monolayers.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 13959.
S. Cavalli, A. R. Tipton, M. Overhand, A. Kros. Colorimetric Assay for Chemical Modification of
Liposome Surface via a Copper-Mediated [3+2] Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition. Chem. Commun. 2006,
30, 3193-3195.
S. Cavalli, D. C. Popescu, E. E. Tellers, M. R. J. Vos, B. P. Pichon, M. Overhand, H. Rapaport, N. A.
J. M. Sommerdijk, A. Kros. Self-Organizing β-Sheet Lipopeptide Monolayers as Template for the
Mineralization of CaCO3. Angew. Chem Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 739-744.