Salvatore Calogero Gaglio

@ddsp.univr.it

Department of Biotechnology
University of Verona

https://researchid.co/salvatorec.gaglio

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Colloid and Surface Chemistry, Biomaterials, Biotechnology, Multidisciplinary

Scopus Publications

103

Scholar Citations

Scholar h-index

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

Enhanced Stability and Photochemical Activity of Photosystem I from the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Upon Encapsulation in Organic Matrixes
Salvatore C. Gaglio, Giorgia Zanella, Stefano Cazzaniga, Nico Olivieri, Elia Battagini, Alessandro Romeo, Matteo Ballottari, and Massimiliano Perduca
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Efficiency of Chitosan Nanocarriers in Vaccinology for Mucosal Immunization
Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Massimiliano Perduca, Donato Zipeto, and Giuseppe Bardi
MDPI AG
The mucosal barrier constitutes a huge surface area, close to 40 m2 in humans, located mostly in the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts and ocular cavities. It plays a crucial role in tissue interactions with the microbiome, dietary antigens and other environmental materials. Effective vaccinations to achieve highly protective mucosal immunity are evolving strategies to counteract several serious diseases including tuberculosis, diphtheria, influenzae B, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Human Papilloma Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Interestingly, one of the reasons behind the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants has been the weakness of local immunization at the level of the respiratory mucosa. Mucosal vaccines can outperform parenteral vaccination as they specifically elicit protective mucosal immune responses blocking infection and transmission. In this scenario, chitosan-based nanovaccines are promising adjuvants-carrier systems that rely on the ability of chitosan to cross tight junctions and enhance particle uptake due to chitosan-specific mucoadhesive properties. Indeed, chitosan not only improves the adhesion of antigens to the mucosa promoting their absorption but also shows intrinsic immunostimulant abilities. Furthermore, by finely tuning the colloidal properties of chitosan, it can provide sustained antigen release to strongly activate the humoral defense. In the present review, we agnostically discuss the potential reasons why chitosan-based vaccine carriers, that efficiently elicit strong immune responses in experimental setups and in some pre-clinical/clinical studies, are still poorly considered for therapeutic formulations.

Ln(III) Complexes Embedded in Biocompatible PLGA Nanoparticles as Potential Vis-to-NIR Optical Probes
Fabio Piccinelli, Silvia Mizzoni, Giorgia Zanella, Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Massimiliano Perduca, Alessandro Romeo, Silvia Ruggieri, Chiara Nardon, and Enrico Cavalli
MDPI AG
In this contribution, we present the spectroscopic study of two NIR emitting hydrophobic heteroleptic (R,R)-YbL1(tta) and (R,R)-NdL1(tta) complexes (with tta = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and L1 = N,N′-bis(2-(8-hydroxyquinolinate)methylidene)-1,2-(R,R or S,S)-cyclohexanediamine), both in methanol solution and embedded in water dispersible and biocompatible poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles. Thanks to their absorption properties in a wide range of wavelengths extending from the UV up to the blue and green visible regions, the emission of these complexes can be effectively sensitized using visible radiation, which is much less harmful to tissues and skin than the UV one. The encapsulation of the two Ln(III)-based complexes in PLGA allows us to preserve their nature, making them stable in water and to test their cytotoxicity on two different cell lines, with the aim of using them in the future as potential bioimaging optical probes.

Effects of Magnetic Nanoparticles on the Functional Activity of Human Monocytes and Dendritic Cells
Marta Donini, Francesca Pettinella, Giorgia Zanella, Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Carlo Laudanna, Monica Jimenez-Carretero, Concepcion Jimenez-Lopez, Massimiliano Perduca, and Stefano Dusi
MDPI AG
The use of nanoparticles in medicine is sometimes hampered by their potential to activate immune cells, eliciting inflammation or allergy. We investigated whether magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) or biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles (BMNPs) affect relevant activities of human monocytes. We found that the nanoparticles neither elicited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNFα by resting monocytes (when BMNP dose < 300 μg/mL) nor enhanced their secretion induced by R848, a molecule engaging virus-recognizing receptors, or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MNPs and BMNPs neither induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nor affected the ROS production elicited by the NADPH oxidase activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or the fungal derivative β-glucan. BMNPs, but not MNPs, caused an up-regulation of the maturation markers CD80, CD83, and CD86 in immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs), whereas both nanoparticles did not affect the LPS-induced expression of these markers. Moreover, the nanoparticles were greedily ingested by monocytes and DCs without altering their viability. Therefore, these nanoparticles are candidates for medical applications because they do not activate pro-inflammatory activities of monocytes. Furthermore, their ability to stimulate DC maturation could be used for the design of vaccines. Moreover, harmlessly engulfed nanoparticles could be vehicles to carry molecules inside the immune cells to regulate the immune response.

Embedding Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoparticles Coupled with Peptide AS-48 into PLGA to Treat Intracellular Pathogens
Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Ylenia Jabalera, Manuel Montalbán-López, Ana Cristina Millán-Placer, Marina Lázaro-Callejón, Mercedes Maqueda, María Paz Carrasco-Jimenez, Alejandro Laso, José A. Aínsa, Guillermo R. Iglesias,et al.
MDPI AG
Among the strategies employed to overcome the development of multidrug-resistant bacteria, directed chemotherapy combined with local therapies (e.g., magnetic hyperthermia) has gained great interest. A nano-assembly coupling the antimicrobial peptide AS-48 to biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles (AS-48-BMNPs) was demonstrated to have potent bactericidal effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when the antimicrobial activity of the peptide was combined with magnetic hyperthermia. Nevertheless, intracellular pathogens remain challenging due to the difficulty of the drug reaching the bacterium. Thus, improving the cellular uptake of the nanocarrier is crucial for the success of the treatment. In the present study, we demonstrate the embedding cellular uptake of the original nano-assembly into THP-1, reducing the toxicity of AS-48 toward healthy THP-1 cells. We optimized the design of PLGA[AS-48-BMNPs] in terms of size, colloidal stability, and hyperthermia activity (either magnetic or photothermal). The stability of the nano-formulation at physiological pH values was evaluated by studying the AS-48 release at this pH value. The influence of pH and hyperthermia on the AS-48 release from the nano-formulation was also studied. These results show a slower AS-48 release from PLGA[AS-48-BMNPs] compared to previous nano-formulations, which could make this new nano-formulation suitable for longer extended treatments of intracellular pathogens. PLGA[AS-48-BMNPs] are internalized in THP-1 cells where AS-48 is liberated slowly, which may be useful to treat diseases and prevent infection caused by intracellular pathogens. The treatment will be more efficient combined with hyperthermia or photothermia.

Near Infared Circularly Polarized Luminescence From Water Stable Organic Nanoparticles Containing a Chiral Yb(III) Complex
Enrico Cavalli, Chiara Nardon, Oliver G. Willis, Francesco Zinna, Lorenzo Di Bari, Silvia Mizzoni, Silvia Ruggieri, Salvatore C. Gaglio, Massimiliano Perduca, Claudio Zaccone,et al.
Wiley
Abstract We report the first example of very efficient NIR Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL) (around 970 nm) in water, obtained thanks to the combined use of a chiral Yb complex and of poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles. [YbL(tta)2]CH3COO (L=N, N’‐bis(2‐pyridylmethylidene)‐1,2‐(R,R+S,S) cyclohexanediamine and tta=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) shows good CPL in organic solvents, because the tta ligands efficiently sensitize Yb NIR luminescence and the readily prepared chiral ligand L endows the complex with the necessary dissymmetry. PLGA nanoparticles incorporate the complex and protect the metal ion from the intrusion of solvent molecules, while ensuring biocompatibility, water solubility and stability to the complex. Hydrophilic NIR‐CPL optical probes can find applications in the field of NIR‐CPL bio‐assays.

Fisetin: An Integrated Approach to Identify a Strategy Promoting Osteogenesis
Luca Dalle Carbonare, Jessica Bertacco, Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Arianna Minoia, Mattia Cominacini, Samuele Cheri, Michela Deiana, Giulia Marchetto, Anna Bisognin, Alberto Gandini,et al.
Frontiers Media SA
Flavonoids may modulate the bone formation process. Among flavonoids, fisetin is known to counteract tumor growth, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, fisetin prevents inflammation-induced bone loss. In order to evaluate its favorable use in osteogenesis, we assayed fisetin supplementation in both in vitro and in vivo models and gathered information on nanoparticle-mediated delivery of fisetin in vitro and in a microfluidic system. Real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and nanoparticle synthesis were performed to evaluate the effects of fisetin in vitro, in the zebrafish model, and in ex vivo samples. Our results demonstrated that fisetin at 2.5 µM concentration promotes bone formation in vitro and mineralization in the zebrafish model. In addition, we found that fisetin stimulates osteoblast maturation in cell cultures obtained from cleidocranial dysplasia patients. Remarkably, PLGA nanoparticles increased fisetin stability and, consequently, its stimulating effects on RUNX2 and its downstream gene SP7 expression. Therefore, our findings demonstrated the positive effects of fisetin on osteogenesis and suggest that patients affected by skeletal diseases, both of genetic and metabolic origins, may actually benefit from fisetin supplementation.

Enhanced cytotoxic effect of tat–plga‐embedded doxo carried by biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles upon combination with magnetic hyperthermia and photothermia
Ylenia Jabalera, Alberto Sola-Leyva, Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, María P. Carrasco-Jiménez, Guillermo R. Iglesias, Massimiliano Perduca, and Concepcion Jimenez-Lopez
MDPI AG
The synergy between directed chemotherapy and thermal therapy (both magnetic hyperthermia and photothermia) mediated by a nanoassembly composed of functionalized biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles (BMNPs) with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOXO) covered by the polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), decorated with TAT peptide (here referred to as TAT–PLGA(DOXO-BMNPs)) is explored in the present study. The rationale behind this nanoassembly lies in an optimization of the nanoformulation DOXO-BMNPs, already demonstrated to be more efficient against tumor cells, both in vitro and in vivo, than systemic traditional therapies. By embedding DOXO-BMNPs into PLGA, which is further functionalized with the cell-penetrating TAT peptide, the resulting nanoassembly is able to mediate drug transport (using DOXO as a drug model) and behaves as a hyperthermic agent (induced by an alternating magnetic field (AMF) or by laser irradiation with a laser power density of 2 W/cm2). Our results obtained using the HepG2 cell line show that there is a synergy between chemotherapy and thermal therapy that results in a stronger cytotoxic effect when compared to that caused by the soluble DOXO. This is probably due to the enhanced DOXO release occurring upon the application of the thermal therapy, as well as the induced local temperature rise mediated by BMNPs in the nanoassembly following exposition to AMF or to near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. These results represent a proof of concept demonstrating that TAT–PLGA(DOXO-BMNPs) can be used to efficiently combine therapies against tumor cells, which is a step forward in the transition from systemic to local treatments.

Oxyresveratrol-loaded plga nanoparticles inhibit oxygen free radical production by human monocytes: Role in nanoparticle biocompatibility
Marta Donini, Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Carlo Laudanna, Massimiliano Perduca, and Stefano Dusi
MDPI AG
Oxyresveratrol, a polyphenol extracted from the plant Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb, has been reported to be an antioxidant and an oxygen-free radical scavenger. We investigated whether oxyresveratrol affects the generation of superoxide anion (O2−) by human monocytes, which are powerful reactive oxygen species (ROS) producers. We found that oxyresveratrol inhibited the O2− production induced upon stimulation of monocytes with β-glucan, a well known fungal immune cell activator. We then investigated whether the inclusion of oxyresveratrol into nanoparticles could modulate its effects on O2− release. We synthesized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, and we assessed their effects on monocytes. We found that empty PLGA nanoparticles induced O2− production by resting monocytes and enhanced the formation of this radical in β-glucan-stimulated monocytes. Interestingly, the insertion of oxyresveratrol into PLGA nanoparticles significantly inhibited the O2− production elicited by unloaded nanoparticles in resting monocytes as well as the synergistic effect of nanoparticles and β-glucan. Our results indicate that oxyresveratrol is able to inhibit ROS production by activated monocytes, and its inclusion into PLGA nanoparticles mitigates the oxidative effects due to the interaction between these nanoparticles and resting monocytes. Moreover, oxyresveratrol can contrast the synergistic effects of nanoparticles with fungal agents that could be present in the patient tissues. Therefore, oxyresveratrol is a natural compound able to make PLGA nanoparticles more biocompatible.

Oxyresveratrol inhibits r848-induced pro-inflammatory mediators release by human dendritic cells even when embedded in plga nanoparticles
Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Marta Donini, Piyachat Evelyn Denbaes, Stefano Dusi, and Massimiliano Perduca
MDPI AG
Oxyresveratrol, a stilbene extracted from the plant Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., has been reported to provide a considerable anti-inflammatory activity. Since the mechanisms of this therapeutic action have been poorly clarified, we investigated whether oxyresveratrol affects the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α by human dendritic cells (DCs). We found that oxyresveratrol did not elicit per se the release of these cytokines, but inhibited their secretion induced upon DC stimulation with R848 (Resiquimod), a well-known immune cell activator engaging receptors recognizing RNA viruses. We then investigated whether the inclusion of oxyresveratrol into nanoparticles promoting its ingestion by DCs could favor its effects on cytokine release. For this purpose we synthesized and characterized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, and we assessed their effects on DCs. We found that bare PLGA nanoparticles did not affect cytokine secretion by resting DCs, but increased IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion by R848-stimulated DCs, an event known as “priming effect”. We then loaded PLGA nanoparticles with oxyresveratrol and we observed that oxyresveratrol-bearing particles did not stimulate the cytokine release by resting DCs and inhibited the PLGA-dependent enhancement of IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion by R848-stimulated DCs. The results herein reported indicate that oxyresveratrol suppresses the cytokine production by activated DCs, thus representing a good anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive agent. Moreover, its inclusion into PLGA nanoparticles mitigates the pro-inflammatory effects due to cooperation between nanoparticles and R848 in cytokine release. Therefore, oxyresveratrol can be able to contrast the synergistic effects of nanoparticles with microorganisms that could be present in the patient tissues, therefore overcoming a condition unfavorable to the use of some nanoparticles in biological systems.

Complexes of rare earth ions embedded in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)nanoparticles: Characterization and spectroscopic study
Salvatore Calogero Gaglio, Chiara De Rosa, Fabio Piccinelli, Alessandro Romeo, and Massimiliano Perduca
Elsevier BV

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Effect of TAT-PLGA-DOx transported by biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles under magnetic hyperthermia and photothermia irradiation
SC Gaglio, Y Jabalera, A Sola-Leyva, MP Carrasco Jimenez, GR Iglesias, ...
NALS 2024, 74-74 2024

Avoiding undesired effects in the interaction of nanostructures with immune cells: the Role of Oxyresveratrol
SC Gaglio, M Donini, PE Denbaes, S Dusi, M Perduca
NALS 2024, 114-114 2024

Purification and Biochemical Characterization of novel galectin from black poplar mushroom Cyclocybe cylindracea (Agaricomycetes) Strain MEST42 Grown in Algeria
T Mohammed Esseddik, K Fethi Farouk, R Redouane, D Imene, ...
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS 26 (2), 57-70 2024

Efficiency of chitosan nanocarriers in vaccinology for mucosal immunization
SC Gaglio, M Perduca, D Zipeto, G Bardi
Vaccines 11 (8), 1333 2023

Ln (III) Complexes Embedded in Biocompatible PLGA Nanoparticles as Potential Vis-to-NIR Optical Probes
F Piccinelli, S Mizzoni, G Zanella, SC Gaglio, M Perduca, A Romeo, ...
Molecules 28 (5), 2251 2023

Effects of magnetic nanoparticles on the functional activity of human monocytes and dendritic cells
M Donini, F Pettinella, G Zanella, SC Gaglio, C Laudanna, ...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 (2), 1358 2023

Improving bioavailability of insoluble payloads through PLGA nanotechnology
SC Gaglio
2023

Embedding biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles coupled with peptide AS-48 into PLGA to treat intracellular pathogens
SC Gaglio, Y Jabalera, M Montalbn-Lpez, AC Milln-Placer, ...
Pharmaceutics 14 (12), 2744 2022

Near Infrared Circularly Polarized Luminescence From Water Stable Organic Nanoparticles Containing a Chiral Yb (III) Complex
E Cavalli, C Nardon, OG Willis, F Zinna, L Di Bari, S Mizzoni, S Ruggieri, ...
Chemistry–A European Journal 28 (37), e202200574 2022

Fisetin: An integrated approach to identify a strategy promoting osteogenesis
L Dalle Carbonare, J Bertacco, SC Gaglio, A Minoia, M Cominacini, ...
Frontiers in Pharmacology 13, 890693 2022

Enhanced cytotoxic effect of TAT–PLGA-embedded DOXO carried by biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles upon combination with magnetic hyperthermia and photothermia
Y Jabalera, A Sola-Leyva, SC Gaglio, MP Carrasco-Jimnez, GR Iglesias, ...
Pharmaceutics 13 (8), 1168 2021

Oxyresveratrol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles inhibit oxygen free radical production by human monocytes: role in nanoparticle biocompatibility
M Donini, SC Gaglio, C Laudanna, M Perduca, S Dusi
Molecules 26 (14), 4351 2021

Oxyresveratrol inhibits R848-induced pro-inflammatory mediators release by human dendritic cells even when embedded in PLGA nanoparticles
SC Gaglio, M Donini, PE Denbaes, S Dusi, M Perduca
Molecules 26 (8), 2106 2021

Characterization of Cytotoxic Lactose Binding Lectin from Sulphur Polypore, Laetiporus sulphureus (Agaricomycetes), from Algeria
ME Toumi, M Perduca, Y Necib, FF Kebaili, M Toumi, I Torche, SC Gaglio, ...
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 23 (11) 2021

Complexes of rare earth ions embedded in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) nanoparticles: Characterization and spectroscopic study
SC Gaglio, C De Rosa, F Piccinelli, A Romeo, M Perduca
Optical Materials 94, 249-256 2019

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Efficiency of chitosan nanocarriers in vaccinology for mucosal immunization
SC Gaglio, M Perduca, D Zipeto, G Bardi
Vaccines 11 (8), 1333 2023
Citations: 11

Fisetin: An integrated approach to identify a strategy promoting osteogenesis
L Dalle Carbonare, J Bertacco, SC Gaglio, A Minoia, M Cominacini, ...
Frontiers in Pharmacology 13, 890693 2022
Citations: 8

Avoiding undesired effects in the interaction of nanostructures with immune cells: the Role of Oxyresveratrol
SC Gaglio, M Donini, PE Denbaes, S Dusi, M Perduca
NALS 2024, 114-114 2024
Citations: 1