Lucia Paolini

Scopus Publications

A reliable high-throughput OECT-based bioelectronic system enabling pan-specific vesicle quantification
Giulia Frusconi, Angelo Musicò, Andrea Zendrini, Zsolt M. Kovács-Vajna, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Biosensors and Bioelectronics X, 2026
FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED (FT-IR) SPECTROSCOPY OF PLASMA AS A LIQUID BIOPSY FOR MONITORING ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA AND EXTRAMEDULLARY RELAPSE FOLLOWING ALLO-HSCT
Alessandro Leoni
Haematologica, 2026
Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remain a major cause of treatment failure. Among relapse patterns, extramedullary disease, referred to as myeloid sarcoma, representing a rare but clinically significant scenario, characterized by infiltration of leukemic blasts in tissues outside the bone marrow. Diagnosis is challenging and requires a multimodal approach integrating imaging, histopathology and immunophenotyping to confirm the myeloid origin of blasts. Prognosis is influenced by localization, disease burden and characteristic and response to therapy. In this single-Centre study, we employed a liquid biopsy approach based on Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to analyze plasma samples from AML patients collected at diagnosis, pre- and post-allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), bone marrow (BM) relapse, and myeloid sarcoma, as well as from healthy controls. Spectral data were normalized using standard normal variate and analyzed with multivariate and machine-learning approaches (Random Forest) with leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. The overall comparison between healthy and pathological subjects demonstrated high discriminatory power (AUC=0.866; Accuracy=0.826), with optimized sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 80%, highlighting the presence of a characteristic FT-IR spectral signature associated with the AML and sarcomatous pathology (Figure 1A). The comparison between the diagnostic phase and BM relapse or myeloid sarcoma showed excellent discrimination (Figures 1B and 1C), as well as the difference between medullary and sarcomatous relapse (Figure 1D). This suggests that, although differences exist, the metabolic, molecular and structura profile detected by FT-IR differs in the two types of relapse, indicating peculiar biochemical features related with the clinical presentations. Furthermore, analysis of post-HSCT spectra revealed a gradual return to a physiological condition, with normalization observed in 88.8 and 94.4% of samples at +30 and +90 days, respectively, consistent with partial metabolic recovery.In conclusion, our findings suggest for the first time that FT-IR spectroscopy applied to plasma represents a promising liquid biopsy tool for monitoring AML and its post-HSCT relapse. The method’s ability to distinguish the diagnostic phase from relapse, the relapse types, and to capture a gradual normalization of the spectral profile in post-transplant samples (up to 94.4% of patients at 90 days) indicates that plasma biochemical changes accurately reflect the patients’ clinical and metabolic status, supporting its potential use in clinical practice.FT-IR offers a sensitive, non-invasive approach to detect biochemical alterations, potentially providing complementary biomarkers for disease monitoring and early relapse prediction. Further studies are warranted to explore these FT-IR-derived signatures and to integrate this approach into precision monitoring strategies for AML patients.
TRACKING RESIDUAL CML: COMPLEMENTARY INSIGHTS FROM CD26+ STEM CELLS AND EXTRACELLULAR BCR::ABL
Alessia Cavalleri
Haematologica, 2026
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder driven by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have revolutionized disease management, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) persist, sustaining minimal residual disease and relapse. A subset expressing the CD26 membrane marker represents a population of proliferating LSCs detectable in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Parallelly, extracellular vesicles (EV) have emerged as promising circulating biomarkers, as they carry BCR::ABL1 transcripts protected within their lipidic membrane. However, the relationship between residual CD26+ LSCs and EV-associated BCR::ABL1 remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the correlation between circulating CD26+ LSCs and vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts as complementary indicators of residual disease activity in CML.Peripheral blood (PB) from 44 adult CML patients in at least major molecular response under TKI therapy was analyzed. Circulating CD26+ LSCs were quantified by multiparametric flow cytometry on the CD45+/CD34+/CD38- population using four-color staining. The extracellular vesicle-enriched secretome (EVES) was isolated from plasma and characterized by Western blot, colloidal nanoplasmonic assay, and atomic force microscopy. Vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts were quantified by digital PCR (dPCR) and compared with BCR::ABL1 levels in PB cells.EVES characterization confirmed vesicular particles expressing CD63 and FLOT-1 (Figure 1A), with minimal soluble protein contamination (Figure 1B) and typical spherical morphology (Figure 1C). The median number of circulating CD26+ LSCs was 0.00625 cells/μL (range 0-0.1565), with 32% of patients showing undetectable levels. Median EVES BCR::ABL1 was 0.230 copies/μL (range 0-0.790), with 14% undetectable (Figure 1D). No correlation was found between CD26⁺ cells or EVES BCR::ABL1 and molecular response, BCR::ABL1 IS%, or dPCR values in PB cells, nor with age or therapy duration (Figure 1E). A significant inverse correlation was observed between CD26+ LSC counts and vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts (r = –0.39, p = 0.0085), even stronger in deep molecular responders (r = –0.45, p = 0.0079) (Figure 1F). Patients in treatment-free remission showed higher CD26+ LSC counts, whereas EVES BCR::ABL1 tended to be higher in those under TKI treatment (Figure 1G).Circulating CD26+ LSCs and vesicle-associated BCR::ABL1 transcripts show an inverse relationship, reflecting complementary aspects of residual leukemic activity in CML. As CD26+ LSCs decline, vesicular BCR::ABL1 may increase, possibly indicating activation of alternative leukemic compartments or enhanced vesicular secretion. Combined monitoring of these cellular and vesicular biomarkers may improve detection of residual disease and provide new insights into CML biology. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and define the biological and prognostic significance of BCR::ABL1-loaded vesicles.
Ethanol-Guided Hybridization of Extracellular Vesicles with Liquid-Crystalline Lipid Nanoparticles
Valentina Pacciani, Jacopo Cardellini, Arianna Balestri, Marta Rojas-Rodríguez, Martino Calamai, et al.
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2026
Orthogonal Investigation at Single-Particle and Ensemble Levels Uncovers Lipoprotein-Extracellular Vesicle Binding
Angelo Musicò, Roberto Frigerio, Karl Normak, Sabrina Scolari, Alessandro Gori, et al.
Analytical Chemistry, 2026
Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles as biomaterials: the opportunity of freezing-induced accelerated aging
Lucia Paolini, Miriam Romano, Valentina Mangolini, Selene Tassoni, Shuhan Jiang, et al.
Biomaterials Science, 2026
Freeze–thaw-induced ageing enables the generation of homogeneous RBC-EV populations with preserved bioactivity, enhancing their standardization and applicability as biomaterials in nanomedicine.
Tracking leukemic residuals: dissecting the inverse relationship between CD26+ stem cells and extracellular BCR::ABL1 transcript in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Silvia Mutti, Alessia Cavalleri, Anna Sicuranza, Paola Pacelli, Claudia Ielo, et al.
Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2025
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) persists due to leukemic stem cells, notably the CD26+ subset. We investigated correlations between circulating CD26+ leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and BCR::ABL1 transcripts in an extracellular vesicle–enriched secretome (EVES) from plasma samples of 44 CML patients. EVES were characterized and BCR::ABL1 quantified via digital PCR. We observed an inverse correlation between CD26+LSC counts and EVES BCR::ABL1 levels, especially in deep molecular responders (DMR). CD26+LSCs were elevated in patients in treatment-free remission (TFR), while EVES BCR::ABL1 levels were higher in those receiving therapy. These findings suggest distinct dynamics between LSC populations and vesicle-mediated transcript release, with potential implications for CML monitoring and prognosis.
Recommendations for Studying In Situ Extracellular Vesicles From Solid Tissue
Rossella Crescitelli, Yiyao Huang, An Hendrix, Andrew F. Hill, Stephanie N. Hurwitz, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2025
Solid tissue‐derived extracellular vesicles (ST‐EVs) are extracellular vesicles (EVs) separated directly from solid tissues of both vertebrates and invertebrates. ST‐EVs provide a physiologically relevant snapshot of tissue‐specific molecular dynamics and can be enriched directly in situ, from tissues in their natural state, preserving the native characteristics of ST‐EVs. However, their enrichment presents unique technical challenges compared to EVs derived from biofluids or cell culture media. The need for transparent reporting in ST‐EV research is crucial to enhance the reproducibility, comparability, and reliability of research findings. The Solid Tissue Task Force, part of the Scientific Reproducibility Subcommittee of International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, aims to recommend reporting parameters and identify outstanding questions related to the pre‐analytical and analytical handling of solid tissues, as well as ST‐EV separation and characterization. These steps are essential for advancing the understanding of the biological roles of ST‐EVs and their potential clinical applications.
Assessment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia In Vitro Models Variability: Insights Into Extracellular Vesicles
Silvia Mutti, Alessia Cavalleri, Stefania Federici, Valentina Mangolini, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 2025
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is driven by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. Although Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors have significantly improved patient outcomes, drug resistance and disease persistence remain challenges, highlighting the need for effective preclinical models. We observed cellular heterogeneity among CML models in response to TKIs, influencing viability, metabolism, and molecular markers. With growing interest in extracellular vesicles as mediators of leukaemia progression via oncogenic cargo like BCR::ABL1, we explored whether EVs from different CML cell lines exhibit distinct features. EVs from K562 and KCL22 cells were characterised under basal conditions using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, dot blotting, and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. We assessed EV release and BCR::ABL1 content before and after treatment with imatinib, nilotinib, or dasatinib, alongside Ki67 expression to gauge proliferation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Principal Component Analysis revealed distinct clustering of EVs by cell line. While untreated K562 and KCL22 cells showed similar EV output and BCR::ABL1 content, post‐treatment K562 cells released more EVs with elevated BCR::ABL1 transcripts. KCL22 cells showed earlier reduction in Ki67 expression. These findings highlight model‐dependent EV behaviour, reflecting patient heterogeneity and reinforcing the need for careful model selection in CML research.
The gold nanoparticle-lipid membrane synergy for nanomedical applications
Lucrezia Caselli, Lucia Paolini, Wye-Khay Fong, Costanza Montis, Andrea Zendrini, et al.
Nanoscale Horizons, 2025
The integration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with lipid bilayers, gives rise to powerful synergistic effects arising from nanoscale interactions.
Nanoplasmonic Isosbestics Uncover Mesoscale Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles on Soft Templates
Jacopo Cardellini, Ilaria De Santis, Giuseppe Emanuele Lio, Marco Brucale, Francesco Valle, et al.
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025
Helminth extracellular vesicles co-opt host monocytes to drive T cell anergy
Anne Borup, Mohammad Farouq Sharifpour, Litten S. Rossen, Bradley Whitehead, Anders T. Boysen, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2025
Extracellular vesicles of different cellular origin feature distinct biomolecular corona dynamics
Angelo Musicò, Andrea Zendrini, Santiago Gimenez Reyes, Valentina Mangolini, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Nanoscale Horizons, 2024
Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches
Joshua A. Welsh, Deborah C. I. Goberdhan, Lorraine O'Driscoll, Edit I. Buzas, Cherie Blenkiron, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2024
Surface functionalization of extracellular vesicle nanoparticles with antibodies: a first study on the protein corona “variable”
Angelo Musicò, Rossella Zenatelli, Miriam Romano, Andrea Zendrini, Silvia Alacqua, et al.
Nanoscale Advances, 2023
Large-scale production of extracellular vesicles: Report on the “massivEVs” ISEV workshop
Lucia Paolini, Marta Monguió‐Tortajada, Marta Costa, Fabio Antenucci, Mario Barilani, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2022
Comparison of separation methods for immunomodulatory extracellular vesicles from helminths
Anne Borup, Anders T. Boysen, Andrea Ridolfi, Marco Brucale, Francesco Valle, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2022
A different protein corona cloaks “true-to-life” nanoplastics with respect to synthetic polystyrene nanobeads
Serena Ducoli, Stefania Federici, Roland Nicsanu, Andrea Zendrini, Claudio Marchesi, et al.
Environmental Science Nano, 2022
A plasmon-based nanoruler to probe the mechanical properties of synthetic and biogenic nanosized lipid vesicles
Lucrezia Caselli, Andrea Ridolfi, Jacopo Cardellini, Lewis Sharpnack, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Nanoscale Horizons, 2021
Corrigendum: Augmented COlorimetric NANoplasmonic (CONAN) Method for Grading Purity and Determine Concentration of EV Microliter Volume Solutions (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, (2020), 7, (452), 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00452)
Andrea Zendrini, Lucia Paolini, Sara Busatto, Annalisa Radeghieri, Miriam Romano, et al.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2021
MicroRNA-34a-5p expression in the plasma and in its extracellular vesicle fractions in subjects with Parkinson's disease: An exploratory study
Ilaria Grossi, Annalisa Radeghieri, Lucia Paolini, Vanessa Porrini, Andrea Pilotto, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2021
AFM-Based High-Throughput Nanomechanical Screening of Single Extracellular Vesicles
Andrea Ridolfi, Marco Brucale, Costanza Montis, Lucrezia Caselli, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Analytical Chemistry, 2020
Biogenic supported lipid bilayers as a tool to investigate nano-bio interfaces
Costanza Montis, Annalisa Salvatore, Francesco Valle, Lucia Paolini, Francesco Carlà, et al.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2020
Augmented COlorimetric NANoplasmonic (CONAN) Method for Grading Purity and Determine Concentration of EV Microliter Volume Solutions
Andrea Zendrini, Lucia Paolini, Sara Busatto, Annalisa Radeghieri, Miriam Romano, et al.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020
The nanostructured secretome
S. Busatto, A. Zendrini, A. Radeghieri, L. Paolini, M. Romano, et al.
Biomaterials Science, 2020
Extracellular vesicles in regenerative medicine
Miriam Romano, Andrea Zendrini, Lucia Paolini, Sara Busatto, Anna C. Berardi, et al.
Nanomaterials for Theranostics and Tissue Engineering Techniques Trends and Applications, 2020
Fourier-transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy fingerprints subpopulations of extracellular vesicles of different sizes and cellular origin
Lucia Paolini, Stefania Federici, Giovanni Consoli, Diletta Arceri, Annalisa Radeghieri, et al.
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2020
Analysis of a nanoparticle‑enriched fraction of plasma reveals miRNA candidates for down syndrome pathogenesis
Alessandro Salvi, Marika Vezzoli, Sara Busatto, Lucia Paolini, Teresa Faranda, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2019
Erratum: Analysis of a nanoparticle‑enriched fraction of plasma reveals miRNA candidates for down syndrome pathogenesis(Int J Mol Med (2019) 43(2303‑2318) DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4158)
Alessandro Salvi, Marika Vezzoli, Sara Busatto, Lucia Paolini, Teresa Faranda, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2019
Collapse of the plasmacytoid dendritic cell compartment in advanced cutaneous melanomas by components of the tumor cell secretome
Raffaella Vescovi, Matilde Monti, Daniele Moratto, Lucia Paolini, Francesca Consoli, et al.
Cancer Immunology Research, 2019
Intersectin goes nuclear: Secret life of an endocytic protein
Gualtiero Alvisi, Lucia Paolini, Andrea Contarini, Chiara Zambarda, Veronica Di Antonio, et al.
Biochemical Journal, 2018
Biophysical properties of extracellular vesicles in diagnostics
Lucia Paolini, Andrea Zendrini, Annalisa Radeghieri
Biomarkers in Medicine, 2018
Exosomes secreted by hela cells shuttle on their surface the plasma membrane-associated sialidase NEU3
Lucia Paolini, Flavia Orizio, Sara Busatto, Annalisa Radeghieri, Roberto Bresciani, et al.
Biochemistry, 2017
Size distribution of extracellular vesicles by optical correlation techniques
Costanza Montis, Andrea Zendrini, Francesco Valle, Sara Busatto, Lucia Paolini, et al.
Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces, 2017
Quantification of β region IgA paraproteins - Should we include immunochemical "heavy/light chain" measurements? Counterpoint
Lucia Paolini
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2016
Residual matrix from different separation techniques impacts exosome biological activity
Lucia Paolini, Andrea Zendrini, Giuseppe Di Noto, Sara Busatto, Elisabetta Lottini, et al.
Scientific Reports, 2016
Comparison of Hevylite™ IgA and IgG assay with conventional techniques for the diagnosis and follow-up of plasma cell dyscrasia
Lucia Paolini, Giuseppe Di Noto, Francesca Maffina, Giovanni Martellosio, Annalisa Radeghieri, et al.
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, 2015
Polyclonal versus monoclonal immunoglobulin-free light chains quantification
Giuseppe Di Noto, Elena Cimpoies, Alessandra Dossi, Lucia Paolini, Annalisa Radeghieri, et al.
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, 2015
Colorimetric nanoplasmonic assay to determine purity and titrate extracellular vesicles
Daniele Maiolo, Lucia Paolini, Giuseppe Di Noto, Andrea Zendrini, Debora Berti, et al.
Analytical Chemistry, 2015
Serum free light chain assays for monitoring response to treatment in a patient with pharmacoresistant light chain multiple myeloma
Biochimica Clinica, 2014
Abatacept reduces levels of switched memory B cells, autoantibodies, and immunoglobulins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Mirko Scarsi, Lucia Paolini, Doris Ricotta, Antonio Pedrini, Silvia Piantoni, et al.
Journal of Rheumatology, 2014
Immunoglobulin free light chains and GAGs mediate multiple myeloma extracellular vesicles uptake and secondary NfκB nuclear translocation
Giuseppe Di Noto, Marco Chiarini, Lucia Paolini, Elena Laura Mazzoldi, Viviana Giustini, et al.
Frontiers in Immunology, 2014
C-src Enriched Serum Microvesicles Are Generated in Malignant Plasma Cell Dyscrasia
Giuseppe Di Noto, Lucia Paolini, Andrea Zendrini, Annalisa Radeghieri, Luigi Caimi, et al.
Plos One, 2013
The epsilon hinge-ear region regulates membrane localization of the AP-4 complex
Lucia Paolini, Annalisa Radeghieri, Sara Civini, Luigi Caimi, Doris Ricotta
Traffic, 2011