ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7739-4488
Dr. Alessia Pepe graduated in Molecular and Applied Biology at the Polytechnic University of Marche in 2020 with an experimental dissertation titled “G/GMP Hydrogel for Drug Delivery: structure and stability in the presence of intercalants and polymerizing agents,” conducted at the Molecular Biophysics Laboratory of the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Paolo Mariani.
In November 2024, she discussed a doctoral dissertation titled “Supramolecular gels formed by guanine and folic acid: from structural and mechanical properties to biotechnology applications” (Ph.D. Programme XXXVI, SSD PHYS-06/A), which she completed as part of the same research group.
From 2024 to 2025, Dr. Pepe served as a research fellow at the Polytechnic University of Marche under the supervision of Prof. Maria Grazia Ortore, as part of the PRIN 2022 project “Structural Characterization of Drug Delivery Systems for Topical Use” in collaboration with the University of Ferrara and the University of Verona. During this research, she focused on the structural characterization of lipid nanovesicles used for drug delivery, primarily employing X-ray-based techniques.
Dr. Pepe currently teaches Medical Physics in the Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry programs at Link Campus University, located in the Marche region. Her research focuses primarily on the biophysical study of biologically derived biomaterials, such as a guanine-based hydrogel and a folic acid-based hydrogel. Structural and mechanical studies reveal the mechanisms underlying the formation of hydrogels and their properties, which are then exploited in a wide range of applications spanning from biotechnology to biomedicine, from environmental science to cultural heritage.
The main techniques used are rheology, X-ray-based techniques (SAXS/WAXS and XRD), confocal microscopy and FRAP, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Regarding X-ray-based measurements, Dr. Pepe is a frequent user of major synchrotron light laboratories across Europe (Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), where she has conducted dozens of experiments, some as principal investigator. Among the most significant applications of these biomaterials are studies based on three-dimensional cell growth within hydrogels printed using 3D bioprinting, the use of these hydrogels as molecular filters for purifying water and/or surfaces from environmental contaminants (e.g., heavy metals), and finally, the use of hydrogels for the conservation of cultural heritage.
Curriculum Vitae OFFICE HOURS
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