Mario Casolaro

Biography

He graduated in Industrial Chemistry on December 20th 1980 at the University of Naples, presenting a thesis entitled 'Poly (amido-amines) in the Free and crosslinked Form, as Complexing Agents of Metal Ions'. In the years 1981 and 1982 he received a grant from the LMI SpA (La Metalli Industriale of Fornaci di Barga, Lucca) for the study of 'Capacity and Selectivity of Complexing Metal ions in the Electrolytic Refining of Copper in Sulfuric Acid Solutions'. The result was an international scientific publication and the award of the Italian Institute of Copper (IIR) for the synthesis of specific ion exchange resins, precursors of applications in the refining processes of copper (February 1987). In 1983 he won the post of General and Inorganic Chemistry researcher at the Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Siena). In 1986 he won a scholarship from the Japanese Government (Monbusho) for the study of 'New Systems for the Controlled Release of Insulin'. He carried out this research for a year in Kyoto at the Department of Polymer Chemistry (Faculty of Engineering) under the supervision of prof. Yukio Imanishi. In Kyoto he actively participated at the International Research Course for Graduate Students and received the Certificate of merit at the end. He continued this activity for years and coordinated a three-years project in Siena (1989-91) internationally supervised by prof. Y.Imanishi and funded by the Japanese Government (NEDO project: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) for the study of 'Function and Properties of New Porous Polymeric Systems for the Separation of Substances and Permeability Set by External Signals'. This resulted in numerous scientific publications and dissemination of results at national and international conferences. The bilateral cooperation Siena-Kyoto agreement is strengthened by the exchange of information between the two universities (Siena and Kyoto) and the researchers. Thus, it was born the Kyoto-Siena Symposium (KSS) in which every two years the teachers of both the countries will exchange scientific informations. He was project coordinator of the University PAR2000 and PAR2005 and funded by the University of Siena for the studies, respectively, of 'Intelligent Polymer Systems for Controlled Release of Drugs' and 'Poly (ampholytes) for Gene Therapy and Cosmetics'. These resulted in numerous international scientific publications and several students have graduated from the Faculty of Farmacy (degree in CTF). He has participated in Prin projects in the years 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010 on the theme of smart polymers and hydrogels for controlled drug release. It is currently co-head of a FIRB project (RBAP11ZJFA, 2010) funded by the Italian Ministry of Education to prof. Barbucci for the study of 'Strategies for engineering ferromagnetic nanoparticles as crosslinkers of polymer chains: application as a targeted drug delivery system in primary and secondary bone tumors’. The project was coordinated by prof. Alberto Maria Martelli (Department of Human Anatomical Sciences and Physiopathology of the Locomotor Apparatus, University of Bologna). He was and is a reviewer of scientific papers in international journals (Elsevier, ACS) and national research projects. 

Research Interest

His research interest revolves around smart polymers.