Prof.ssa

BATTISTINI Lucia

Professore di II fascia
Settore scientifico disciplinare
Chimica organica
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Office hour
  • Teaching
  • Appointments
  • Research

Lucia Battistini obtained her Laurea degree with honors in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Parma in 1995, performing research on the synthesis of non natural alpha-amino acids.

In 1999 she received her Ph.D. degree in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Torino working on the exploitation of heterocyclic silyloxy dienes in the synthesis of densely functionalized chiral compounds.

In the period November 1998-October 1999 she carried out post-doctoral research at the Organic Synthesis Laboratory of the Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma.

In the fall of 1999 she was appointed Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma.

In March 2015 she was appointed Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Food and Drug Department, University of Parma,

Lucia Battistini has co-authored 69 scientific publications in international journals, 3 book chapters, and 2 patents. She is co-author of more than 50 communications and posters presented at national and international conferences and schools; she was the speaker of a Lesson at 10th ULLA Summer School in July 2011.

She received 2 citations of excellence for 2 articles published in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

She participated as a member to the following PRIN Programs funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and Education: PRIN2000; PRIN2002; PRIN2004; PRIN2006; PRIN2008; PRIN 2010-2011 and PRIN 2015.

Every day (from Monday to Friday) by telephone or e-mail appointment, at the Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2025/2026

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2024/2025

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2023/2024

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2022/2023

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2021/2022

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2020/2021

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2019/2020

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2018/2019

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2017/2018

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2016/2017

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2015/2016

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2014/2015

Anno accademico di erogazione: 2013/2014

Professor/Teacher

Teacher tutor

Other appointments

Institutional appointments:

Member of the Scientific Committee 103 (Chemical Sciences) of the University of Parma (2005-2007)

Member of the Teaching Board of the Doctorate School "Design and Synthesis of Biologically Active Compounds" of the University of Parma (2008-2013)

Member of Teaching Board of the Doctorate School "Drugs, Biomolecules and Health Products” (since 2013)

She is a reviewer of MIUR (Italian Ministry of Research and Education) for Reprise Actions.

 

Past academic and teaching responsibilities at the University of Parma (Food and Drug Department and Department of Veterinary Science):

1999-2006 - Organic Chemistry for Diploma Courses (SEPS/ISF three-year degree courses)

2006-2010 - Organic Chemistry Basics/ Organic Chemistry for Pharmacy Course

 

Lines of research

Main research interests are in the field of organic and bioorganic chemistry. Focus of the first research line is on the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel and modulable integrin-targeted RGD-based pseudopeptide ligands and their covalent conjugates with active units. These platforms are intended for molecular recognition studies and biomedical applications in the field of targeted anti-cancer therapy and non-invasive diagnosis. Integrins are cell surface receptors playing essential roles in many physiological and pathological events. The relevance of RGD-dependent alphaVbeta3, alphaVbeta5, alphaVbeta6 and alpha5beta1 integrins during tumour angiogenesis and tumour development, inflammation and fibrosis is well established. Furthermore, differential integrin expression patterns in normal versus tumour tissue as well as in different stages of tumour progression make these receptors as valuable disease biomarker. In recent years our efforts in the area of specific integrin ligands led to the development of a new series of gamma-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (Acpca)-based or gamma-aminoproline (Amp)-based RGD-cyclopeptides which turned out to be very potent alphaVbeta3 alphaVbeta5, alphaVbeta6 and alpha5beta1 integrin binders with IC50 binding affinities in the nanomolar range. In particular, the covalent conjugation of our AmpRGD ligands with cytotoxic agents or diagnostic probes such as fluorescent probes or metal-chelating units (e.g. DOTA), as well as their embodiment in liposomal nanoparticles were accomplished and biological properties of these bioconjugates were evaluated with notable results. Focus of the second research line is the development of new methodologies for asymmetric synthesis merging selectivity and molecular diversity. In this field major efforts have been devoted to the design and synthesis of novel multi-site (pro)nucleophilic and (pro)electrophilic carbon matrices – mainly in the heterocyclic domain – and their exploitation in vinylogous and multivinylogous carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. In recent past years, application of the vinylogy concept in asymmetric synthesis enabled us to access diverse collections of high-quality small-molecule scaffolds including unnatural and natural carbasugars, alkaloids, nucleosides, amino acids, peptidomimetics and heterocycle matrices such as butenolides, pyrrolinones, 2-oxindoles. Thus, the exploitation of the “vinylogy concept” represents a powerful opportunity to selectively access molecular diversity in the search of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant molecules.

Publications

Orcid

orcid.org/0000-0002-5341-5547

Contacts

Phone number
906040
Office location

Room 070

1st floor - Corpo B sud

Building "Farmacia"