The rational design of polymeric devices for the controlled delivery of therapeutic and imaging
agents demands the integration of principles from a wide range of disciplines, including chemistry,
engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, biology, and medicine. This lecture emphasizes the
vital importance of such a multidisciplinary approach by exploring nanomedicines and
hierarchically-organized drug delivery systems developed in my laboratory. Among the systems
discussed are microMESH, a microstructured polymeric patch designed to treat high-grade
gliomas and other cancers through advanced immunochemotherapy regimens; microPLates,
shape-defined polymeric particles tailored for the mechano-pharmacological treatment of
osteoarthritis and other medical disorders; and methyl-palmitate nanoparticles, which enhance the
performance of conventional nanomedicines by modulating the phagocytic activity of professional
macrophages. These examples serve to introduce core concepts in nanomedicine and drug
delivery, while also illustrating the potential of hierarchical platforms to enable the precise
deployment of complex therapeutic strategies. By addressing both biophysical barriers and
biological heterogeneity, these platforms demonstrate how interdisciplinary innovation can drive
the development of more effective treatments for cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and other
challenging medical conditions.
11/06/2025
11th June, 2025 11.00, Aula A Giuliano, CU019