YEAR 2021
INTERNAL TEACHING
Videos and dissemination initiatives promoted by the University of Eastern Piedmont's PhD in Chemistry and Biology at DiSIT Alexandria (https://www.disit.uniupo.it/it) can be viewed on the UPO PhD in Chemistry and Biology YouTube channel.
Computational modeling for molecules and macromolecules
Prof. Maurizio Cossi
1 ECTS
We'll present the main computational techniques for the simulation of molecular and macromolecula systems, based on atomistic models. Such techniques are rooted on Quantum and Classical Mechanics: the illustration will be focused on the applications, more than on theoretical bases, in order to clarify the utility and the applicability of the various modeling techniques. A goal is to help the students to choose the most suitable models to support the experimental work, and to evaluate the reliability of simulations.
Green Chemistry Principles
Prof. Valentina Gianotti
1 ECTS
The twelve principles of green chemistry will be presented in this course. Starting from the students' experience, case studies will be analyzed by extrapolating the critical points and possible improvements from a "Green Chemistry" perspective.
Metal-based drugs fighting cancer: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and radiodiagnostics
Prof. Elisabetta Gabano
0.5 ECTS
Metal-based drugs are metal complexes that exert their pharmacological activity by reaction with biomolecules in the cell, mainly proteins and DNA. Usually, these compounds express their biological activity by losing one or more ligand and reacting with target molecules in the cell, thus jeopardizing their function. On the contrary, for radioactive compounds used for diagnosing disease, a lack of chemical reactivity is generally required. In addition to being used to detect disease, some radioactive complexes emitting strong radiation can be used for radiotherapy. This course will give a brief overview of the metal-based drugs employed as anti-tumor agents and of the radionuclides exploited in therapy and diagnostics.This short course will follow “Who's afraid of the Big Bad Metal? A bioinorganic (but not only) view of the metal toxicity”; the two modules are related but separated and may be attended independently.
Who's afraid of the Big Bad Metal? A bioinorganic (but not only) view of the metal toxicity
Prof. Mauro Ravera
0.5 ECTS
The aim of this 2-lessons course is to introduce the students to the fundamental concepts of metal toxicity and detoxification, mainly from a bioinorganic point of view. Tentative program: the bio- and inorganic chemistry of metals (when they are or they become toxic); short stories starring toxic metals (aluminum, chromium, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, etc.); metal chelation in medicine (ligands for metals, treatments for heavy metal poisoning, iron diseases, copper diseases, administration of metals in case of deficiencies).This short course will be followed by “Metal-based drugs fighting cancer: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and radiodiagnostics”; the two modules are related but separated, and may be attended independently.
Raman imaging: coupling optical microscopy and chemical information
Prof. Enrico Boccaleri
0.5 ECTS
Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and versatile analytical technique. Its main features are:i) a comprehensive chemical information, similar to Infrared vibrational spectroscopy;ii) the possibility to use light transparent materials as containers and optics (basically common glass); ii) the possibility to collect spectra also in samples rich in water or even in solution.These features are exploited at best in the application of Raman spectroscopy to optical microscopy and, more recently, combining this to mapping and imaging setup. This allows the acquisition of a very large number of spectra, with a sub-micrometric lateral resolution and confocal optical arrangement, that are collected and classified in order to produce a 2-D chemical distribution map of the sample.The 8-hour workshop includes a training on the fundamentals of the technique, the experimental needs and a part of practical case-study on the instrument.
The 17 Goal for Sustainable Development of the UN 2030 Agenda for scientists
Prof. Enrico Boccaleri
0.5 ECTS
The goal of sustainability is a urgent and widespread requirement for all the human activities, and the need to tackle the emerging problems of climate change and resource demand heavily involves the Chemistry and Biology field.In 2015 the Countries of United Nations have shared a roadmap to achieve those goals that can afford a potentially sustainable future for the Earth inhabitants from 2030 on; the 17 Goals for Sustainable Development (SDG) in which the Agenda is organised are the pillars on which the future research, development, industrial production, social policy and government must be grounded.In a 2-hour lesson, the 17 SDG will be focused on the basis of the main drivers in the Chemistry and Biology fields of Research.
Proust's taste for Madeleine
Life is also a matter of flavors and aromas
Prof. Simona Martinotti
0.5 ECTS
The sense of smell is the most mysterious of the senses, the one we know least about, the one that influences our unconscious most intensely. The smell is brain part projected into the external world, a "proximal and distal" sense that is indispensable to perceive the world both from afar (the scent of the sea breeze) and from inside the body (together with taste).
The origin of life: from spontaneous generation to biotechnology
Prof. Elia Ranzato
0.5 ECTS
Life is a puzzle, unsolved and extremely complex. We will travel through the major stages that led to the multiform explosion of life on our planet, through competition and cooperation in shaping the "most beautiful and most wonderful" species of which Charles Darwin speaks.
Characterization of inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles by multi-technique approach
Prof. Fabio Carniato
1 ECTS
In recent years, inorganic and hybrid nanoparticles have attracted large interest from the scientific community, finding widespread use in numerous technological fields, such as nanomedicine, heterogeneous catalysis, batteries, etc. However, the chemical complexity of these nanosystems requires a multidisciplinary multi-technical approach necessary for understanding the structural, morphological and surface aspects that characterize these materials. During these lessons, some theoretical bases of different spectroscopic techniques (surface analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR) and relaxometric techniques and their use in different case studies will be presented.
Biopolymers and bioplastics: the panacea for our environmental woes?
Prof. Katia Sparnacci
1 ECTS
Plastics are an integral part of our modern life. They play an essential role in providing, protecting, and delivering high-quality products in pretty much every market segment to consumers around the world. However, the ever-growing demand of plastic is resulting in the depletion of natural resources like petroleum as well as the amassment of waste plastics in the environment. Consequently, the development of effective and environmental-friendly plastics is the need of the hour. Bioplastics – plastics that are bio-based, biodegradable, or both – have similar properties as conventional plastics but offer additional benefits, such as a reduced carbon footprint, better functionalities, or additional waste management options, such as organic recycling. In this course, various aspects of the complex world of bioplastics will be addressed, including biodegradation, composting and recycling.
Chemistry Teaching: Didactic Methods
Prof. Elisabetta Gabano
3 ECTS
Course of the Master Degree in Chemical Sciences, open to PhD students and teachers of Chemistry/Sciences, with the aim of identifying teaching strategies based on the active involvement of the student, by exploiting the discussion between teachers and undergraduates/PhD students interested in a career as teachers about the problems associated with the teaching/learning of Chemistry at school and university.