A 3-year PhD position is offered in the Carbon Bio-nanotechnology group led by Maurizio Prato, focusing on multi-functional carbon-based nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties for therapy and detection, within the MSCA Doctoral Network program HEAL4WARD (DC2).
Biofilm-associated infections represent a major and persistent challenge in wound care, as current diagnostic approaches are often slow, invasive, and lack the sensitivity required for real-time monitoring. In this context, emerging nanomaterials, particularly carbon-based nanostructures, offer promising opportunities for the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools and innovative antimicrobial strategies.
This PhD project will focus on the design, synthesis, and functionalization of carbon dots (C-dots), an emerging class of ultrasmall, carbon-rich nanoparticles, as multifunctional platforms for both infection diagnostics and antimicrobial intervention. The candidate will develop C-dots with finely tunable physicochemical and optical properties, including chirality, multimodal fluorescence, and light-responsive behaviour, enabling advanced sensing and imaging capabilities.
A central objective of the project is the engineering of nanomaterials that combine high biocompatibility and low toxicity toward mammalian cells with the ability to selectively interact with microbial species. This will be achieved through rational design strategies based on molecular recognition and/or external stimuli (e.g., light-triggered activation). The most promising candidates, identified based on their optical performance and biological compatibility, will be further functionalized to introduce additional features such as targeting capability and improved antimicrobial activity.
In parallel, the project will explore the integration of selected C-dot systems into advanced three-dimensional biomaterials, such as antibacterial films, to create multifunctional platforms capable of detecting and disrupting biofilms while supporting tissue regeneration in wound healing applications.
The successful candidate will benefit from a highly interdisciplinary training environment at the interface of nanomaterials chemistry, cell and microbiology, and biomedical engineering. They will acquire expertise in nanoparticle synthesis, advanced optical characterization, and biological evaluation in relevant in vitro models, within the collaborative framework of an international doctoral network.
Host Laboratory: The mission of the Carbon Bionanotechnology Laboratory is to develop tailored carbon-based nanostructures for applications at the interface of nanotechnology and biology. This is achieve through the rational design of nanomaterials with highly tunable properties — including optical, chiral, photoactive, surface, and biorecognition features — that can be adapted to specific bio-related applications. Therefore, the group is largely dedicated to estabilishing innovative synthetic protocols and advanced analytical methodologies that enable the controlled, reproducible, and scalable production of carbon nanostructures, as well as to studying the relationship between the physicochemical properties of materials and their activity in biologically relevant settings.
The candidate will receive comprehensive training in a wide range of techniques and methodologies, including nanoparticle synthesis, bioconjugation chemistry, and advanced characterization methods (e.g. chromatography, optical spectroscopy, and optical and electron microscopy). The project will also involve the development and characterization of hybrid 3D materials. In addition, the candidate will gain hands-on experience working in cell biology and microbiology laboratories, developing skills in biological evaluation and working with relevant in vitro models.
Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Prato
Co-supervisors: Dr Lucia Cardo (CIC biomaGUNE); Prof. Iolanda Francolini (Sapienza University of Rome)
Secondments: This project is carried out in collaboration with the following groups, and visits to their laboratories are expected during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential:
- Prof. Iolanda Francolini, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Prof. Bengt Fadeel, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
