Ricerc@Sapienza

The small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique allows for the characterization of the size and shape of electron density inhomogeneities in matter from the nanometer to the micrometer scale. The experimental setup for these investigations is usually flexible enough to be easily applied to many samples in which the effect of changes in the chemical composition or preparation protocols can be probed, and the response of the system to stimuli can also be studied. The investigation of structure by means of SAXS under varying conditions can help elucidating the underlying mechanism of complex processes and linking structure to function.
The aim of the proposal is to provide machine time of the SAXSLab Sapienza for relatively time-consuming measurements of protein, peptide and self-assembled nanocarriers in solution under varying conditions, in order to answer questions posed by investigations in research topics related to protein functionality and the design of self-assembled structures:
a) Hydration associated with drug release in albumin-based non-covalent drug delivery systems.
b) Molecular aspects of protein oxidation and recovery.
c) Characterization of the structures formed by the self-assembly of peptide and peptide-amphiphiles and their inter-particle interactions.
d) Evaluation of the nanostructures of drug-loaded formulations based on amphiphilic molecules and copolymers.