Peptide and Protein Interaction with Membrane Systems

In her thesis, Sara Bobone outlines spectroscopic studies of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which are promising lead compounds for drugs used to fight multidrug resistant bacteria. Bobone shows that AMPs interact with liposomes and she clarifies the structure of pores formed by one of these molecules. These results help us to understand how AMPs are selective for bacterial membranes and how their activity can be finely tuned by modifying their sequence. Findings which solve several conundrums debated in the literature for years. In addition, Bobone uses liposomes as nanotemplates for the photopolymerization of hydrogels - exploiting the self- assembly properties of phospholipids. Bobone was able to trap an enzyme using nanometeric particles, while still allowing its activity by the diffusion of substrates and products through the network of the polymer. The innovative nano devices described in this thesis could solve many of the hurdles still hampering the therapeutic application of protein-based drugs.

I received my M.Sc. Degree in Chemistry magna cum laude from the University of Rome "Sapienza". After the degree, I moved to Tor Vergata, where I won a fellowship for PhD students in Chemical Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. L. Stella. I defended my thesis in 2013 and then continued my work as a postdoctoral fellow. The thesis was awarded the 2012-2013 "Premio Semerano" by the Italian Chemical Society, as the best Italian PhD Physical Chemistry Thesis. The thesis work led to the publication of 7 papers on international journals and to the participation to 13 international and national conferences.