Università del Salento: ESE - Salento University Publishing

Del Piano, Irma

Letizia, Francesca

Doria, Lorenzo

Anglana, Chiara

Barozzi, Fabrizio

Mancini, Francesco

Mancinelli, Giorgio

Di Sansebastiano, Gian Pietro

Università del Salento - Coordinamento SIBA

LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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Reduction of biofouling on aquatic moss-based biofilters using 
Mediterranean crustaceans 
Del Piano I.1*, Letizia Francesca1, Doria Lorenzo1, Angla Del Piano I.1*, Letizia F.1, Doria 
L.1, Anglana C.1, Barozzi F.1, Mancini F.1, Mancinelli G.1, Di Sansebastiano GP.1* 
 
1 University of Salento, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, ECOTEKNE, 
s.p. Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy 
 
*irma.delpiano@unisalento.it; gp.disansebastiano@unisalento.it  
 
 
 
Aquatic mosses can be used as biofilters since they reduce heavy metals, nitrogenous 
compounds and nanoparticles in solution through absorption and uptake. They’re also an 
effective mechanical filter for particles resuspended in water. However, over time, biofiltering 
efficiency can be compromised by the formation of a biofilm consisting of filamentous algae 
and cyanobacteria (biofouling). This phenomenon can obstruct the spaces between mosses’ 
talli and reduce the water flow through the filter. Therefore, it would be appropriate to 
associate this with organisms capable of reducing biofouling by feeding on the 
contaminating microflora. In this study (Project fish RISE; PON 2014/20 ARS01_01053) was 
tested the behaviour of two Mediterranean aquatic crustaceans, i.e. the amphipod 
Gammarus aequicauda and the isopod Lekanesphaera monodi, by allowing them to feed, 
under laboratory conditions, on contaminated Leptodictyum riparium, a cosmopolitan 
species of moss common in Italy. Subsequently, the moss fragments used in the trial were 
observed under a confocal fluorescence microscope and, from the analysis of the acquired 
images, it was possible to deduce that the two species of crustaceans have a different 
feeding behaviour. In particular, it turned out that Gammarus aequicauda  feeds on both the 
microflora and moss biomass, while L. monodi feeds mostly on the fouling microorganisms 
without damaging the moss, therefore this latter may represent a suitable organism for 
preserving moss efficiency as a biofilter. 
  


English

Reduction of biofouling on aquatic moss-based biofilters using Mediterranean crustaceans

Giacovelli, Antonella

Rizzato, Silvia

Monteduro, Anna Grazia

Lionetto, Francesca

Esposito Corcione, Carola

Maffezzoli, Alfonso

Udayan, Gayatri

Maruccio, Giuseppe

Lionetto, Maria Giulia

LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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Acute toxicity of nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana: study of the 
effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics on the 
swimming behavior 
 
Antonella Giacovelli 1,*, Silvia Rizzato 1, Anna Grazia Monteduro 1, Francesca Lionetto 2, 
Carola Esposito Corcione 2, Alfonso Maffezzoli 2, Gayatri Udayan 3, Giuseppe Maruccio 1, 
Maria Giulia Lionetto 3 
 
1 Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics “Ennio De Giorgi”, University of Salento, 
Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; silvia.rizzato@unisalento.it (S.R.), giuseppe.maruccio@unisalento.it 
(G.M.) 
2 Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; 
francesca.lionetto@unisalento.it (F.L.), carola.corcione@unisalento.it (C.E.C.), 
alfonso.maffezzoli@unisalento.it (A.M.) 
3 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, 
Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; giulia.lionetto@unisalento.it (M.G.L.); gayatri.udayan@unisalento.it 
(G.U.)  
* Correspondence: antonella.giacovelli@unisalento.it  
 
 
 
Anthropogenic activities result in the release of pollutants into the marine environment, 
which represents a worldwide threat to the health of marine organisms and in turn and 
endanger for biodiversity. Among contaminants of emerging concern micro- and 
nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have become a priority issue in recent years due to their presence 
and accumulation in all studied ecosystems. The present work aims to study the effects of 
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NPs on the motility of mesozooplankton, using Artemia 
franciscana as a model organism. This species is a mesozooplankton organism widely used 
in ecotoxicological studies. In the last decade, Artemia Franciscana has started to gain 
attention as a biological model suitable for nanoecotoxicity testing. For the purpose of the 
study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) environmentally relevant model nanoplastics, 
similar to those found in the marine environment, produced by means of a fast top-down 
approach based on mechanical fragmentation, were used.  Behavior analysis of the 
organisms exposed for 24 and 48h to PET NPs was performed using a cell phone camera 
employing image recognition protocols for automated analysis, allowing real-time integration 
of behavioral recordings with measurements of physiological outcomes during acute 
exposure of Artemia franciscana to nano-sized PET. The short-term exposure to PET 
nanoparticles induced significant alterations, consisting in changes of trajectories and 
acceleration. The obtained results highlight the potential impact that PET NP litter can exert 
on marine mesozooplankton. The used methodological approache represent a new direction 
LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
42 
 
that could miniaturize and revolutionize research in aquatic ecotoxicology to study the effects 
of nanoplastics in field biomonitoring applications. 
  


Acute toxicity of nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana: study of the effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics on the swimming behavior

Corallo, Gaia

Polini, Alessandro

Pappagallo, Susanna Anita

Gigli, Giuseppa

Stanzione, Antonella

Scalera, Francesca

Vegliante, Maria Carmela

Ciavarella, Sabino

Guarino, Attilio

Gervaso, Francesca

LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in vitro model based on a newly 
synthetized chitosan/gelatin hydrogel 
 
Gaia Corallo1, Alessandro Polini2, Susanna Anita Pappagallo3, Giuseppe Gigli1,2, 
Antonella Stanzione2, Francesca Scalera2, Maria Carmela Vegliante3, Sabino Ciavarella3, 
Attilio Guarino3, Francesca Gervaso2 
 
1 Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica E. De Giorgi, University of Salento, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 
73100 Lecce, Italy 
2 CNR NANOTEC – Institute of Nanotechnology c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy 
3 Hematology and Cell Therapy Unit, IRCCS-Istituto Tumori ‘Giovanni Paolo II’, Bari Italy 
 
 
 
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 
accounting for 30% of diagnoses worldwide. The advances in molecular biology 
techniques have been fundamental to achieve maximum understanding of DLBCL 
pathophysiology, but conventional 2D cell culture and mice models are not representative 
of the in vivo physiology. 2D cultures do not mimic growth profiles and cellular organization 
observed in vivo and lack the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME). 
Consequently, extracellular matrix (ECM) analogues can be designed to provide cells with 
a 3D structure and obtain a more faithful representation of the TME. In this work a 
chitosan/gelatin-based hydrogel has been developed to provide lymphoma cells with a 3D 
structure and obtain a more faithful representation of the TME. U2932 lymphoma cells 
have been encapsulated in the hydrogel, alone or in combination with WPMY-1 stromal 
cells, showing high viability by live/dead assay. Furthermore, co-culture studies showed 
the formation of cell spheroids after three days of culture, with respect to U2932 cells 
encapsulated alone. Based on these results, this hydrogel represents an excellent 
candidate for establishing a 3D in vitro model of DLBCL. 
  


Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in vitro model based on A newly synthetized chitosan/gelatin hydrogel

Colophon

Caragnano, Giusi

Munir, Anas

Inguscio, Alessandra

Petese, Noemi

Monteduro, Annagrazia

Maffia, Michele

LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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Miniaturized microfluidic platforms (Lab-on-chip/Organ-on-chip) for 
medical diagnostics, monitoring and drug screening 
 
Giusi Caragnano1, Anas Munir2, Alessandra Inguscio Noemi Petese1, Silvia Rizzato1, 
Annagrazia Monteduro1, Michele Maffia 2, Giuseppe Maruccio1 
 
1 Omnics Research Group - Department of Mathematics and Physics University of Salento- CNR-Institute of 
Nanotechnology, INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy 
 
2 Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, Via per 
Monteroni, 73100, Lecce 
 
 
 
Microphysiological systems, organ-on-chip and multiorgans microdevices attracted 
considerable attention as novel tools for high-throughput and high-content research to 
achieve an improved understanding of diseases and to accelerate the drug development 
process towards more precise and personalized standards. An organ-on-chip is a 
miniaturized device that can mimic the functional unit of an organ and simulate human 
pathophysiology by also incorporating mechanical and chemical stimuli[1, 2]. Here we report 
the development of an Intestine-on-chip model, made in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to 
recreate the intestinal epithelium-endothelium interface so as to have a tool for screening 
drugs used in the treatment of chronic gastrointestinal diseases and colorectal cancer [3]. 
Moreover, to take full advantage of capabilities of these microfluidic devices, they should be 
combined with efficient analytical methods. A recent trend is to make a device that integrates 
several functions that usually take place in the laboratory. These devices are named Lab-
on-chip and offer great opportunities to enable continuous, automated data collection and in 
situ monitoring of functional indicators and biological responses, attracting great interest for 
medical diagnostics and drug screening. Such biochips were demonstrated to be suitable 
for ultrasensitive detection of  biomarkers in flow immunoassays providing tools useful to 
achieve a diagnosis of tumours (or other diseases) and monitor their evolution by liquid 
biopsy approaches [4-7]. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, coupled with the chip, 
enables proliferation, viability, and migration assays to be performed on a cell population, 
thus making the platform suitable for conducting pharmacological studies and learning more 
about the disease.[8] [9-12]  
LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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Fig.1. A) Foto del dispositivo sottoposto a test di flusso con Elve flow OB1MK3 con coloranti alimentari (rosso e 
giallo). B) Foto del sistema incubatore  (Okolab)+ microscopio dove è stato tenuto in coltura per 3 giorni il 
dispositivo con all’interno cellule umane di adenocarcinoma  al colon-retto (Caco-2). C) Immagine presa 
dal microscopio Evos Floid Invitrogen delle cellule Caco-2 appena seminate nel chip (scale bar:125 µm) 
 
 
 
Bibliografia 
1. Monteduro, A.G., et al., Organs-on-chips technologies - A guide from disease models to 
opportunities for drug development. Biosens Bioelectron, 2023. 231: p. 115271. 
2. Marrero, D., et al., Gut-on-a-chip: Mimicking and monitoring the human intestine. Biosens 
Bioelectron, 2021. 181. 
3. Kim, H.J., et al., Human gut-on-a-chip inhabited by microbial flora that experiences intestinal 
peristalsis-like motions and flow. Lab Chip, 2012. 12(12): p. 2165-74. 
4. Chiriacò, M.S., et al., Towards pancreatic cancer diagnosis using EIS biochips. Lab on a 
Chip, 2013. 13(4): p. 730-734. 
5. Chiriacò, M.S., et al., On-chip screening for prostate cancer: an EIS microfluidic platform for 
contemporary detection of free and total PSA. Analyst, 2013. 138(18): p. 5404-5410. 
6. Paul, A., et al., Picomolar detection of retinol binding protein 4 for early management of type 
II diabetes. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2019. 128: p. 122-128. 
7. Chiriacò, M.S., et al., Lab-on-Chip for Exosomes and Microvesicles Detection and 
Characterization. Sensors, 2018. 18(10): p. 3175. 
8. Piccinno, E., et al., Validation of a Lab-on-Chip Assay for Measuring Sorafenib Effectiveness 
on HCC Cell Proliferation. Int J Mol Sci, 2021. 22(23). 
9. Rizzato, S., et al., Optimization of SAW Sensors for Nanoplastics and Grapevine Virus 
Detection. Biosensors, 2023. 13(2): p. 197. 
10. Leo, A., et al., Miniaturized Sensors for Detection of Ethanol in Water Based on Electrical 
Impedance Spectroscopy and Resonant Perturbation Method-A Comparative Study. 
Sensors, 2022. 22(7): p. 12. 
LEbiotec VI edition – Lecce 27-29 September 2023 – Abstract Book 
 
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11. Rizzato, S., et al., Interaction-tailored organization of large-area colloidal assemblies. 
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2018. 9: p. 1582-1593. 
12. Rizzato, S., et al., From ion-sensitive field-effect transistor to 2D materials field-effect-
transistor biosensors. Electrochemical Science Advances. n/a(n/a): p. e2200006. 
 
 
  


Miniaturized microfluidic platforms (Lab-on-chip/Organ-on-chip) for medical diagnostics, monitoring and drug screening

Kappel, Kai

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Manifestation des kulturell Eigenen? Zur Baugeschichte der Kathedrale von Acerenza

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«Non expectata conscientia imperatoris». La prassi documentaria nel Regno di Sicilia*

Smurra, Rosa

Imprenditori tessili alla fine del Trecento a Bologna: il caso dei da Matugliano

D'Acunto, Nicolangelo

Il riposo dei dannati secondo Pier Damiani (con una precisazione sulla datazione della lettera 72)

Rinelli, Federico

Discriminazione istituzionale e gestione delle migrazioni interne: le conseguenze razziste dello hukou in Cina

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