Enzo Menna

Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova
Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
tel +39 049 8275660
e-mail enzo.menna@unipd.it

Research Activity

Research activity in Enzo Menna’s group is focused on the chemistry of carbon nanostructures (CNS), such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT). Chemical modification of CNS allows to modulate their interactions with other species and to obtain soluble and functional derivatives. CNS derivatives are used as fillers in polymer composites, to obtain and study materials for energy conversion, environmental and biomedical applications. In the context of CMBM research, organic functionalization of CNSs has enabled their homogeneous dispersion in biocompatible polymer matrices to obtain films, nanofibers and hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. The presence of functionalized CNSs has proved to promote the growth and differentiation of different cells lines. Based on such observations, nanocomposite materials for surgical implants, such as nerve guides, have been developed. Complete characterizations of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of the different scaffolds are put in relation with results from in vitro and in vivo investigations, providing clues to understand the mechanisms through which nanocarbon derivatives affect cell and tissue behavior.

Five most representative publications

• G. Suarato, S. Pressi, E. Menna, M. Ruben, E. M. Petrini, A. Barberis, D. Miele, G. Sandri, M. Salerno, A. Schirato, A. Alabastri, A. Athanassiou, R. Proietti Zaccaria, E. L. Papadopoulou; “Modified Carbon Nanotubes Favor Fibroblast Growth by Tuning the Cell Membrane Potential”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 3093-3105. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14527
• P. Bellet, M. Gasparotto, S. Pressi, A. Fortunato, G. Scapin, M. Mba, E. Menna, F. Filippini; “Graphene-Based Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine”, Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 404. DOI: 10.3390/nano11020404
• M. Tonellato, M. Piccione, M. Gasparotto, P. Bellet, L. Tibaudo, N. Vicentini, E. Bergantino, E. Menna, L. Vitiello, R. D. Liddo, F. Filippini; “Commitment of Autologous Human Multipotent Stem Cells on Biomimetic Poly-L-lactic Acid-Based Scaffolds Is Strongly Influenced by Structure and Concentration of Carbon Nanomaterial”, Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 415. DOI: 10.3390/nano10030415
• N. Vicentini, T. Gatti, M. Salerno, Y. S. Hernandez Gomez, M. Bellon, S. Gallio, C. Marega, F. Filippini, E. Menna; “Effect of different functionalized carbon nanostructures as fillers on the physical properties of biocompatible poly(L-lactic acid) composites”, Mater. Chem. Phys., 2018, 214, 265-276. DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.04.042
• N. Vicentini, T. Gatti, P. Salice, G. Scapin, C. Marega, F. Filippini, E. Menna; “Covalent functionalization enables good dispersion and anisotropic orientation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a poly(L-lactic acid) electrospun nanofibrous matrix boosting neuronal differentiation”, Carbon 2015, 95, 725–730. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.08.094