Research interests and scientific activity. Sergio Murgia (orcid.org/0000-0002-9986-0638) is an expert in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, particularly in relaxation and self-diffusion methods), dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and electron microscopy at cryogenic temperature (cryo-TEM) techniques. His scientific activity is mainly related to the field of soft matter surfactant-based colloids such as micellar solutions, microemulsions, emulsions, vesicles and lyotropic liquid-crystalline nanoscopic dispersions. Research topics concern investigation on both the nanostructure and the dynamic behaviour of biocompatible surfactant (mostly lipids) in self-assembled systems, with particular emphasis on those having promising applications in the drug delivery field, and including development of theranostic soft matter amphiphilic lipid-based nanoparticles with application in oncology and diabetes. Another important research topic is related to the rational design and physicochemical characterization of surfactant formulations for cleaning applications. In the last twelve years, research was especially devoted to the formulation of lyotropic liquid crystalline dispersions such as liposomes and their non-lamellar counterparts, known as cubosomes and hexosomes. These innovative nanoparticles are also evaluated for their biological impact (e.g., cytotoxicity, interactions with individual cells, in vivo biodistribution) as well as the investigation of their technological features (e.g., drug encapsulation and drug release efficacy).  These formulations are designed for administering drugs or imaging agents by the systemic or the topic route. Major recent scientific contributions include the development of drug-loaded, fluorescent (theranostic) cubosomes and hexosomes for anticancer applications. These nanoparticles were also engineered decorating their surface with targeting agents (e.g., folate residues) to improve accumulation in pathological cancer tissues. Sergio and his collaborators recently introduced polyphosphoesters as stabilizers for cubosome dispersions, thus reducing cubosomes cytotoxicity. In addition, Sergio and his collaborators were the first in exploring the possibility of using cubosomes as carriers for photosensitizers (PSs) for application in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and formulated classical and polymer-free cubosomes loaded with commercial or newly synthesized PSs for PDT. A further evolution of these systems led to the formulation of hybrid cubosomes loaded with up-converting nanoparticles for NIR-induced PDT. Another significant, recent achievement is the formulation of long-acting adrenaline in form of a liposomal dispersion (patented) to keep the required therapeutic dose in the body constant for longer time, thus reducing the neurological risks associated to over-exposure, dose fluctuations, and multiple administrations.

Reviewing and editorial activities. He is member of the Editorial Board (Biomaterials) of BioMed Research International (Hindawi, impact factor 2021 = 3.25), and regularly serves as reviewer for numerous journals of the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Elsevier.

Patents. Inventors: Theodoros Xhantos, Sergio Murgia, Valeria Meli, Maura Monduzzi, Chiara Sinico, Michele Schlich, Ernesto D’Aloja, Emanuela Locci. European Patent Specification: EP3 658 116B1 (Granted), International application number PCT/IB2018/055606. Title: ADRENALIN-CONTAINING DOUBLE LAYERED LIPID VESICLES FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF CARDIAC EMERGENCIES.

Academic activities. Since 2018 Sergio lead the Biotechnology course (L2) of the University of Cagliari (two curricula). Since the academic year 2012/2013 he is member of the PhD School in Chemical Sciences and Technologies and was member of the assessment committee in numerous national and international PhD defence. He is appointed of courses of Physical Chemistry I (degree in Chemistry) and Physical Chemistry with Laboratory (degree in Biotechnology) at the University of Cagliari.

Collaborations. Ongoing collaborations include international research groups at ETH Zürich (Switzerland), Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Poland), Lund University (Sweden), Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Israel), University of Twente (The Nederlands). Italian collaborations include research groups atthe Universities of Florence, Bari, Rome (La Sapienza), Napoli Federico II, and at the Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRRCS Burlo Garofolo in Trieste.

Updated 26/06/2023