Lara MASSAI

Ruolo attuale:: Ricercatore Legge 240/10 a tempo determinato
SSD:: CHEM-03/A - Chimica generale e inorganica
Afferenza organizzativa:: Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Schiff' - DICUS

Recapiti

lara.massai(AT)unifi.it

Ulteriori Recapiti

0554573130

Lara MASSAI

Biografia

Lara Massai ha dedicato la sua ricerca allo studio dei metallofarmaci antitumorali, con particolare attenzione ai complessi metallici dell'oro. Infatti, nel corso del suo dottorato (2012-2015) e nei primi anni del postdoc ha indirizzato i suoi interessi sulla sintesi di composti metallici e sullo studio delle interazioni tra composti metallici antitumorali e bersagli biomolecolari tramite ESI-MS. Gli obiettivi finali erano e sono quelli di chiarire la modalità d'azione di potenziali farmaci antitumorali a base di metalli al fine di trasferire questi complessi metallici dal laboratorio a studi preclinici/clinici. Alcuni complessi metallici, oggetto dei suoi studi, hanno già ottenuto buoni risultati. Inoltre, nel secondo anno del suo dottorato, ha trascorso quattro mesi nel laboratorio della Prof.ssa Contel, al Brooklyn College, New York, per migliorare le sue conoscenze sulla sintesi di composti metallici antitumorali. L'obiettivo era ottenere complessi eterometallici citotossici (Au/Ru) per potenziare la loro attività farmacologica come agenti antitumorali migliorando l'affinità e la specificità verso i bersagli biomolecolari.

Negli ultimi anni, Lara Massai ha esteso la sua area di ricerca agli studi di proteomica: le sue competenze e i suoi sforzi sono ben evidenziati da numerosi articoli e reviews. Negli ultimi anni ha supervisionato lo spettrometro di massa per raccogliere e analizzare tutti i dati necessari per realizzare diversi progetti. In questo ambito ha mantenuto rapporti di amicizia e collaborazione con numerosi gruppi di ricerca, e ha supervisionato studenti universitari e dottorandi. Ha avuto, quindi, l'opportunità di lavorare in collaborazione con altri gruppi nazionali e internazionali che operano in diversi campi, che vanno dalla sintesi chimica ai test farmacologici avanzati, in questo modo ha potuto ampliare le sue conoscenze in queste aree.

Lara MASSAI

Curriculum

TITOLI DI STUDIO

05.02.2015 conseguito il titolo di Dottore di Ricerca in Scienze Chimiche, presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze.
Titolo della tesi: “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systematic study of gold-protein metalation”

QUALIFICHE PROFESSIONALI

07.08.2018: Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale Professore II Fascia, SSD CHIM/03 B1 Fondamenti delle Scienze Chimiche e Sistemi Inorganici – codice identificativo:78046 - validità 07.08.2018_07.08.2027.
20.05.2015: Nominata cultore della materia per il SSD CHIM/03, presso il Corso di Laurea in Chimica dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze.
24.11.2009: Conseguita l’abilitazione all’esercizio della professione di FARMACISTA.

OCCUPAZIONE ATTUALE

01.09.2023: Ricercatore Legge 240/10 a tempo determinato_ Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze.

OCCUPAZIONI PRECEDENTI

01.02.2022-31.08.2023: titolare di borsa di ricerca. presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” dell’Università di Firenze. Responsabile della ricerca: Prof. L. Messori. Titolo: “Analysis of the biological samples via LC-MS/MS for simultaneous protein identification and quantification in Human Primary Osteosarcoma Cells”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)

01.09.2020–31.01.2022: titolare di borsa di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” dell’Università di Firenze. Responsabile della ricerca: Prof. L. Messori. Titolo: “Proteomics studies and analysis of interaction between proteins and metallodrugs by advanced mass spectrometric methodologies applied to cancer research”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.12.2018–31.08.2020: titolare di assegno di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” dell’Università di Firenze. Responsabile della ricerca: Prof. L. Messori. Titolo: “Proteomic analysis by advanced mass spectrometric methodologies applied to cancer research”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.09.2018-30.11.2018: titolare di assegno di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. Ttolo: “Protein conjugates of anticancer metallodrugs: preparation, characterization and biological evaluation”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.11.2017-30.08.2018: titolare di una borsa di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. Titolo: “Studies on the mode of action of cytotoxic gold complexes”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03).

01.03.2016-31.10.2017: rinnovo assegno di ricerca “Studies on interactions between proteins and cytotoxic gold compounds to identify their mode of action”. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.03.2015-29.02.2016: titolare di assegno di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. Titolo: “Studies on interactions between proteins and cytotoxic gold compounds to identify their mode of action”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.03.2014-28.02.2015: titolare di una borsa di ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. Titolo: “Studi sui meccanismi d’azione di composti citotossici dell’oro”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.03.2012-28.02.2014: titolare di una borsa di studio presso il Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori. Titolo: “Studi sui meccanismi d’azione di composti citotossici dell’oro”. (Settore Scientifico Disciplinare CHIM/03)
01.01.2012-05.02.2015: Dottoranda in Scienze Chimiche (XXVII Ciclo). Titolo della tesi di dottorato “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systematic study of gold-protein metalation”, Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Luigi Messori.

01.09.2009–31.12.2011: Consulente HACCP. Consulente Esterno in regime di Libera Professione presso Silliker ltalia S.p.a sede di Prato Azienda MN che opera nel settore dell'autocontrollo alimentare, con mansioni di:
- Redazione di Manuali di autocontrollo HACCP
- Prelievo di prodotti alimentari e tamponi di superficie, presso Esercizi alimentari in genere e stabilimenti recanti autorizzazione con numero di riconoscimento CE.
- Organizzazione e successiva realizzazione di corsi di formazione in materia igienico sanitaria in accordo con la normativa europea, nazionale, applicabile presso aziende

09.02.2009-15.05.2009: vincitrice borsa di tirocinio finanziata su fondi FSE (Fondo Sociale Europeo) presso azienda Espikem, per studi riguardanti espressione e purificazione di proteine da cellule batteriche, tecniche di dialisi e nuove metodologie biologiche e chimiche per ottenere proteine semi-sintetiche selettivamente e specificamente modificate.

01.12.2007-30.11.2008: Lavoro Sperimentale per Tesi in Biologia Molecolare presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (Università di Firenze). Responsabile Scientifico: Prof. Paolo Rovero.

ESPERIENZE ALL’ESTERO

01.10.2013-30.01.2014: Exchange Visitor presso i laboratori della Prof.ssa Maria Contel del Dipartimento di Chimica - Brooklyn College – City University of New York (CUNY). Partecipazione al progetto finanziato dal National Institute of Health (US) dal titolo: “Gold-based potential chemotherapeutics”.

PREMI E RICONOSCIMENTI

• Travel grant: XIX Scuola Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica – Pisa – Ottobre 22-24, 2014. Ente Certificatore: Società Chimica Italiana_Divisione di Chimica Inorganica.
• Menzione Speciale Tesi di Dottorato: “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systemic study of gold-protein metalation” – Ente Certificatore: Firenze University Press – Tesi Dottorato – Edizione 2015.

CONTRIBUTI SCIENTIFICI A CONGRESSI NAZIONALI ED INTERNAZIONALI

XLVIII Congresso Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica (Nazionale) Pisa, Italia, Settembre 6-9, 2022,
An ESI-MS Study to Gain an Insights on Interactions between a Synthetic C-Terminal Peptide hTrxR(488-499) and Gold(I) Complexes, L. Massai, D. Cirri, A. Pratesi, L. Messori.

16th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC) (Internazionale) Grenoble, Francia, Luglio 17-21, 2022, Internalization of Anticancer Gold(I) Complexes in Human H Ferritin to Improve Drug Selectivity, L. Massai, S. Ciambellotti, L. Cosottini, T. Gamberi, M. Severi, P. Turano, L. Messori

8th International Symposium on Metallomics – Online - (Internazionale) Kanazawa, Giappone, Luglio 11-14, 2022, Gold(I) complexes: a promising class of SARS-CoV-2 MPro inhibitors, L. Massai, D. Grifagni, F. Cantini, V. Calderone, L. Banci, L. Messori

BioMet22 - XXI Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics – Virtual Meeting (Nazionale) Aprile 28-29, 2022, Ferritin-based anticancer gold(I) complexes delivery system, L. Massai, S. Ciambellotti, L. Cosottini, T. Gamberi, M. Severi, P. Turano, L. Messori

EORTC PAMM Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanism – Virtual Meeting - (Internazionale) Aprile 21-22, 2021, Strategies for Understanding the Mode of Action of Anticancer Gold Complexes, L. Massai, T. Gamberi, I. Landini, E. Mini, L. Messori

BioMet21 - XX Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics – Virtual Meeting – (Nazionale) Aprile 15-16, 2021, Protein metalation by cytotoxic gold complexes: an ESI MS study, L. Massai, D Cirri, A Pratesi, L. Messori

BioMet20 - XIV Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics (Nazionale) Ancona, Italia, Febbraio 20-21, 2020, Strategies for Understanding the Mode of Action of Anticancer Gold Complexes, L. Massai, D. Cirri, C. Zoppi, T. Gamberi, L. Messori

BioMet19 - XVIII PharmacoBioMetallics (Nazionale) Arezzo, Italia, Febbraio 22-23, 2019, A general outlook on the biomolecular targets for anticancer gold complexes, L. Massai, A. Pratesi, D. Cirri, T. Marzo, L. Messori

BioMet18 - XVII PharmacoBioMetallics (Nazionale) Napoli, Italia, Febbraio 16-17, 2018, Chemistry, Molecular Mechanisms and Preclinical Studies of Gold Complexes for Ovarian Cancer Treatment, L. Massai, T. Gamberi, I. Landini, S. Pillozzi, C. Gabbiani, L. Messori

BioMet15 - XV Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics (Nazionale) Bari, Italia, Ottobre 23-24, 2015, Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systematic study of gold-biomolecules interactions, L. Massai, F. Scaletti, T. Marzo, E. Michelucci, L. Messori

XIX Scuola Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica” (Nazionale),Pisa, Italia, Ottobre 22-24, 2014,Studies on protein metalation by selected gold compounds as prospective anticancer agents,L. Massai, F. Scaletti, T. Marzo, C. Gabbiani, E. Michelucci, L. Messori

BioMet14 - XIV PharmacoBioMetallics, (Nazionale),Pisa, Italia, Ottobre 24-25, 2014,New Heterodimetallic Gold(I)-Platinum(II) Compound as Potential Anticancer Agents,L. Massai, T. Marzo, F. Scaletti, L. Messori

2° International Symposium on Functional Metal Complexes that Bind to Biomolecules (Internazionale) Zurigo, Svizzera, Agosto 22-23, 2014, New Heterodimetallic Complexes as potential anticancer agents, L. Massai, T. Marzo, F. Scaletti, L. Messori

4th International Symposium on Metallomics (Internazionale) Oviedo, Spagna, Luglio 8-11, 2013, Studies on protein metalation by selected gold compounds as prospective anticancer agents, L. Massai, F. Scaletti, T. Marzo, L. Messori, C. Gabbiani, E. Michelucci

BioMet12 - XII Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics (Nazionale) Padova, Ottobre 26-28, 2012, Studies of cytotoxic gold compounds: interactions with model proteins and with the copper chaperone Atox-1, L. Massai, F. Scaletti, C. Gabbiani, E. Michelucci, L. Messori

ICCC40 _ 40 International Conference on Coordination Chemistry. (Internazionale) Valencia, Spagna, Settembre 9-13, 2012, Gold compounds: new anticancer drug candidates, L. Massai, F. Scaletti, C. Gabbiani, L. Messori

ALTRE ATTIVITÀ CONGRESSUALI

12.07.2022: Chairman per 8th International Symposium on Metallomics, Keynote Lecture 2 and Oral session 1 “Cancer” (online).

PARTECIPAZIONI A SCUOLE E WORKSHOP

• X Congresso del Gruppo Oncologico Chirurgico Cooperativo Italiano (GOCCI) “Terapie Mediche Innovative In Oncologia” – Firenze- Settembre 27-28,2018.
• 28° Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Chemioterapia – Sessione “Strategie Innovative in Chemioterapia Antitumorale” – Firenze – Novembre 27, 2015.
• 10° Conferenza Scientifica Annuale dell’Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT) - Pisa - Luglio 3, 2015.
• Scuola: “1° MS PHARMA SCHOOL: scuola pratica di Spettrometria di Massa in ambito farmaceutico” – presso Angelini S. Palomba (Roma), Marzo 3-4, 2015.
• Scuola (presentazione poster): “XIX Scuola Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica” – Pisa - Ottobre 22-24, 2014.
• Scuola: “18° Corso Spettrometria di Massa” - Siena - Aprile 7-11, 2014.

ATTIVITÁ DIDATTICA

Da novembre a luglio 2022-2023: Tutorato di Chimica per “Fondamenti di Chimica Generale”, Laurea in Disegno, Tessile e Moda, Scuola di Architettura.
Membro della commissione d'esame.

20.06.2022: Seminario per dottorandi (online) presso IPREM (Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Pau, France, intitolato: “Strategies for biomolecular targets identification of Anticancer Gold Complexes”.

Luglio 2021: Corso Scuola di Dottorato in Scienze Chimiche, “Metal Complexes as Drugs and Chemotherapeutic Agents”, Università degli Studi di Firenze

Maggio 2020: Corso Scuola di Dottorato in Scienze Chimiche “Metal Complexes as Drugs and Chemotherapeutic Agents”, Università degli Studi di Firenze

Settembre 2019: Corso Scuola di Dottorato in Scienze Chimiche “Gold complexes in cancer chemotherapy”, Università degli Studi di Firenze

DIVULGAZIONE SICENTIFICA

Giugno 14-15, 2023: Progetto OpenLab (centro servizi per l’educazione e la divulgazione scientifica). Scienze estate 2022- Visite guidate ai Centri di Ricerca e ai Dipartimenti del Campus Scientifico e Tecnologico di Sesto Fiorentino

Luglio 13-14, 2022: Progetto OpenLab (centro servizi per l’educazione e la divulgazione scientifica). Scienze estate 2022- Visite guidate ai Centri di Ricerca e ai Dipartimenti del Campus Scientifico e Tecnologico di Sesto Fiorentino

ATTIVITÀ DI PEER REVIEW

La Dott.ssa Lara Massai ha svolto attività di referaggio per la casa editrice MDPI nelle seguenti riviste scientifiche:
Inorganics,
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biomolecules,
Molecules, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutics,
Antioxidants
(MDPI Review Editor)
e per la casa editrice Frontiers nella seguente rivista scientifica:
Inorganic Chemistry (Frontiers in Chemistry)
(Review Editor in Inorganic Chemistry)

ATTIVITÁ EDITORIALE

• Frontiers in Chemistry: Guest Associate Editor in Inorganic Chemistry (Allegato 29)
• Guest Associate Editor in Frontiers Research Topic: “The Golden Future in Medicinal

Chemistry: Perspectives and Resources from Old and New Gold-Based Drug Candidates” (2020) – Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Frontiers in Chemistry)
• Guest Associate Editor in Frontiers Research Topic: “Women in Inorganic Chemistry” (2022) – Inorganic Chemistry (Frontiers in Chemistry)

Lara MASSAI

Pubblicazioni

Legenda

Contributo su rivista |

Articolo su libro |

Libro |

Contributo in atti di convegno (proceeding) |

Brevetto |

Curatela | Altro

Altro |

Tesi di Dottorato

Geri, Andrea; Zineddu, Stefano; Massai, Lara; Ronga, Luisa; Lobinski, Ryszard; Gailer, Jürgen; Messori, Luigi (2024). Mercury binding to proteins disclosed by ESI MS experiments: The case of three organomercurials. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 252, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

Cosottini, Lucrezia; Geri, Andrea; Ghini, Veronica; Mannelli, Michele; Zineddu, Stefano; Di Paco, Giorgio; Giachetti, Andrea; Massai, Lara; Severi, Mirko; Gamberi, Tania; Rosato, Antonio; Turano, Paola; Messori, Luigi (2024). Unlocking the Power of Human Ferritin: Enhanced Drug Delivery of Aurothiomalate in A2780 Ovarian Cancer Cells. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE, vol. 63, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1521-3773 DOI

Valentina Vitali, Francesco Torricella, Lara Massai, Luigi Messori, Lucia Banci (2024). Bioconjugations of proteins with 19F and nitroxide tags for in vitro and in cell characterization. (Tutor: Lucia Banci)

Cirri, Damiano; Geri, Andrea; Massai, Lara; Mannelli, Michele; Gamberi, Tania; Magherini, Francesca; Becatti, Matteo; Gabbiani, Chiara; Pratesi, Alessandro; Messori, Luigi (2023). Chemical Modification of Auranofin Yields a New Family of Anticancer Drug Candidates: The Gold(I) Phosphite Analogues. MOLECULES, vol. 28, pp. 1-12, ISSN:1420-3049 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Ghini, Veronica; Mannelli, Michele; Massai, Lara; Geri, Andrea; Zineddu, Stefano; Gamberi, Tania; Messori, Luigi; Turano, Paola (2023). The effects of two cytotoxic gold(i) carbene compounds on the metabolism of A2780 ovarian cancer cells: mechanistic inferences through NMR analysis. RSC ADVANCES, vol. 13, pp. 21629-21632, ISSN:2046-2069 DOI

Tito Gabriella; Troisi Romualdo; Ferraro Giarita; Geri Andrea; Massai Lara; Messori Luigi; Sica Filomena; Merlino Antonello. (2023). Dirhodium tetraacetate binding to a B-DNA double helical dodecamer probed by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 52, pp. 6992-6996, ISSN:1477-9234 DOI

Geri, Andrea; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi (2023). Protein Metalation by Medicinal Gold Compounds: Identification of the Main Features of the Metalation Process through ESI MS Experiments. MOLECULES, vol. 28, pp. 5196-5196, ISSN:1420-3049 DOI

Simonini Steiner, Yschtar Tecla; Romano, Giammarco Maria; Massai, Lara; Lippi, Martina; Paoli, Paola; Rossi, Patrizia; Savastano, Matteo; Bencini, Andrea (2023). Pyrene-Containing Polyamines as Fluorescent Receptors for Recognition of PFOA in Aqueous Media. MOLECULES, vol. 28, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1420-3049 DOI

Cosottini, L; Massai, L; Ghini, V; Zineddu, S; Geri, A; Mannelli, M; Ciambellotti, S; Severi, M; Gamberi, T; Messori, L; Turano, P (2023). Bioconjugation of the gold drug auranofin to human ferritin yields a potent cytotoxin. JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 87, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1773-2247 DOI

Cosottini, Lucrezia; Zineddu, Stefano; Massai, Lara; Ghini, Veronica; Turano, Paola (2023). 19F: A small probe for a giant protein. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 244, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

Massai, Lara; Grifagni, Deborah; De Santis, Alessia; Geri, Andrea; Cantini, Francesca; Calderone, Vito; Banci, Lucia; Messori, Luigi (2022). Gold-Based Metal Drugs as Inhibitors of Coronavirus Proteins: The Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Auranofin and Its Analogs. BIOMOLECULES, vol. 12, pp. 1675-1685, ISSN:2218-273X DOI

Ghini, Veronica; Magherini, Francesca; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Turano, Paola (2022). Comparative NMR metabolomics of the responses of A2780 human ovarian cancer cells to clinically established Pt-based drugs. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 51, pp. 12512-12523, ISSN:1477-9234 DOI

Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Carpentieri, Andrea; Amoresano, Angela; Melchiorre, Chiara; Fiaschi, Tania; Modesti, Alessandra; Gamberi, Tania; Magherini, Francesca (2022). The effects of two gold-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes in ovarian cancer cells: a redox proteomic study. CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY AND PHARMACOLOGY, vol. 89, pp. 809-823, ISSN:0344-5704 DOI

Licciardi, Giulia; Rizzo, Domenico; Salobehaj, Maria; Massai, Lara; Geri, Andrea; Messori, Luigi; Ravera, Enrico; Fragai, Marco; Parigi, Giacomo (2022). Large Protein Assemblies for High-Relaxivity Contrast Agents: The Case of Gadolinium-Labeled Asparaginase. BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY, vol. 33, pp. 2411-2419, ISSN:1043-1802 DOI

Cirri, Damiano; Landini, Ida; Massai, Lara; Mini, Enrico; Maestrelli, Francesca; Messori, Luigi (2021). Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of Auranofin and Its Iodido Analog: A Chemical and Biological Study. PHARMACEUTICS, vol. 13, pp. 1-10, ISSN:1999-4923 DOI

Massai L.; Ciambellotti S.; Cosottini L.; Messori L.; Turano P.; Pratesi A. (2021). Direct detection of iron clusters in L ferritins through ESI-MS experiments. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 50, pp. 16464-16467, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI

Gamberi T.; Pratesi A.; Messori L.; Massai L. (2021). Proteomics as a tool to disclose the cellular and molecular mechanisms of selected anticancer gold compounds. COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS, vol. 438, pp. 213905-213921, ISSN:0010-8545 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Ghini V.; Senzacqua T.; Massai L.; Gamberi T.; Messori L.; Turano P. (2021). NMR reveals the metabolic changes induced by auranofin in A2780 cancer cells: Evidence for glutathione dysregulation. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 50, pp. 6349-6355, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI

Menconi A.; Marzo T.; Massai L.; Pratesi A.; Severi M.; Petroni G.; Antonuzzo L.; Messori L.; Pillozzi S.; Cirri D. (2021). Anticancer effects against colorectal cancer models of chloro(triethylphosphine)gold(I) encapsulated in PLGA–PEG nanoparticles. BIOMETALS, vol. 34, pp. 867-879, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI

Giulia Gorini; Francesca Magherini; Tania Fiaschi; Lara Massai; Matteo Becatti; Alessandra Modesti; Luigi Messori; Tania Gamberi (2021). Au2phen and Auoxo6, Two Dinuclear Oxo-Bridged Gold({III}) Compounds, Induce Apoptotic Signaling in Human Ovarian A2780 Cancer Cells. BIOMEDICINES, vol. 9, pp. 871-888, ISSN:2227-9059 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Bartoli F.; Conti L.; Romano G.M.; Massai L.; Paoli P.; Rossi P.; Pietraperzia G.; Gellini C.; Bencini A. (2021). Protonation of cyclen-based chelating agents containing fluorescent moieties. NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, vol. 45, pp. 16926-16938, ISSN:1144-0546 DOI

Landini, Ida; Massai, Lara; Cirri, Damiano; Gamberi, Tania; Paoli, Paolo; Messori, Luigi; Mini, Enrico; Nobili, Stefania (2020). Structure-activity relationships in a series of auranofin analogues showing remarkable antiproliferative properties. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 208, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

Massai, Lara; Zoppi, Carlotta; Cirri, Damiano; Pratesi, Alessandro; Messori, Luigi (2020). Reactions of Medicinal Gold(III) Compounds With Proteins and Peptides Explored by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Complementary Biophysical Methods. FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY, vol. 8, pp. 1-14, ISSN:2296-2646 DOI

Damiano Cirri, Tanja Schirmeister, Ean-Jeong Seo, Thomas Efferth, Lara Massai, Luigi Messori, Nicola Micale (2020). Antiproliferative Properties of a Few Auranofin-Related Gold(I) and Silver(I) Complexes in Leukemia Cells and their Interferences with the Ubiquitin Proteasome System. MOLECULES, vol. 25, pp. 4454-4462, ISSN:1420-3049 DOI

Tiziano Marzo, Lara Massai, Alessandro Pratesi, Matteo Stefanini, Damiano Cirri, Francesca Magherini, Matteo Becatti, Ida Landini, Stefania Nobili, Enrico Mini, Olivia Crociani, Annarosa Arcangeli, Serena Pillozzi, Tania Gamberi, Luigi Messori (2019). Replacement of the Thiosugar of Auranofin with Iodide Enhances the Anticancer Potency in a Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer. ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS, vol. 10 (4), pp. 656-660, ISSN:1948-5875, American Chemical Society: DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Massai, Lara; Pratesi, Alessandro; Gailer, Jurgen; Marzo, Tiziano; Messori, Luigi (2019). The cisplatin/serum albumin system: A reappraisal. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA, vol. 495, pp. 118983-1-118983-7, ISSN:0020-1693 DOI

Damiano Cirri, Maria Giulia Fabbrini, Alessandro Pratesi, Lorenzo Ciofi, Lara Massai, Tiziano Marzo, Luigi Messori (2019). The leading established metal-based drugs: a revisitation of their relevant physico-chemical data. BIOMETALS, vol. 32, pp. 813-817, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Damiano Cirri, Maria Giulia Fabbrini, Lara Massai, Serena Pillozzi, Annalisa Guerri, Alessio Menconi, Luigi Messori, Tiziano Marzo, Alessandro Pratesi (2019). Structural and solution chemistry, antiproliferative effects, and serum albumin binding of three pseudohalide derivatives of auranofin. BIOMETALS, pp. 1-10, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI

Magherini, Francesca; Fiaschi, Tania; Valocchia, Elisa; Becatti, Matteo; Pratesi, Alessandro; Marzo, Tiziano; Massai, Lara; Gabbiani, Chiara; Landini, Ida; Nobili, Stefania; Mini, Enrico; Messori, Luigi; Modesti, Alessandra; Gamberi, Tania* (2018). Antiproliferative effects of two gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells: A comparative proteomic study. ONCOTARGET, vol. 9, pp. 28042-28068, ISSN:1949-2553 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Bondžić, Aleksandra M.; Janjić, Goran V.; Dramićanin, Miroslav D.; Messori, Luigi; Massai, Lara; Parac Vogt, Tatjana N.; Vasić, Vesna M. (2017). Na/K-ATPase as a target for anticancer metal based drugs: insights into molecular interactions with selected gold(iii) complexes. METALLOMICS, vol. 9, pp. 292-300, ISSN:1756-591X DOI

Landini, I; Lapucci, A; Pratesi, A; Massai, L; Napoli, C; Perrone, G; Pinzani, P; Messori, L; Mini, E; Nobili, S. (2017). Selection and characterization of a human ovarian cancer cell line resistant to auranofin. ONCOTARGET, vol. 8, pp. 96062-96078, ISSN:1949-2553

Nardon, Chiara; Boscutti, Giulia; Gabbiani, Chiara; Massai, Lara; Pettenuzzo, Nicolò; Fassina, Ambrogio; Messori, Luigi; Fregona, Dolores* (2017). Cell and Cell-Free Mechanistic Studies on Two Gold(III) Complexes with Proven Antitumor Properties. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, vol. 2017, pp. 1737-1744, ISSN:1434-1948 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Micale, Nicola; Schirmeister, Tanja; Maes, Louis; Fregona, Dolores; Cinellu, Maria Agostina; Gabbiani, Chiara* (2017). Gold compounds as cysteine protease inhibitors: perspectives for pharmaceutical application as antiparasitic agents. BIOMETALS, vol. 30, pp. 313-320, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Papi, Francesco; Bazzicalupi, Carla; Ferraroni, Marta; Massai, Lara; Bertrand, Benoit; Gratteri, Paola; Colangelo, Donato; Messori, Luigi (2017). [Au(9-methylcaffein-8-ylidene)2]+/DNA Tel23 System: Solution, Computational, and Biological Studies. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, vol. 23, pp. 13784-13791, ISSN:0947-6539 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Musumeci, Domenica; Platella, Chiara; Riccardi, Claudia; Merlino, Antonello; Marzo, Tiziano; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Montesarchio, Daniela (2016). A first-in-class and a fished out anticancer platinum compound:: Cis -[PtCl2(NH3)2] and cis -[PtI2(NH3)2] compared for their reactivity towards DNA model systems. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 45, pp. 8587-8600, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Massai, Lara; Cirri, Damiano; Michelucci, Elena; Bartoli, Gianluca; Guerri, Annalisa; Cinellu, Maria A.; Cocco, Fabio; Gabbiani, Chiara; Messori, Luigi (2016). Organogold(III) compounds as experimental anticancer agents: chemical and biological profiles. BIOMETALS, vol. 29, pp. 863-872, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Bazzicalupi, Carla; Ferraroni, Marta; Papi, Francesco; Massai, Lara; Bertrand, Benoît; Messori, Luigi; Gratteri, Paola; Casini, Angela (2016). Determinants for Tight and Selective Binding of a Medicinal Dicarbene Gold(I) Complex to a Telomeric DNA G-Quadruplex: a Joint ESI MS and XRD Investigation. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE. INTERNATIONAL EDITION, vol. 55, pp. 4256-4259, ISSN:1433-7851 DOI

Mügge, Carolin; Musumeci, Domenica; Michelucci, Elena; Porru, Francesca; Marzo, Tiziano; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Weigand, Wolfgang; Montesarchio, Daniela (2016). Elucidating the reactivity of Pt(II) complexes with (O,S) bidentate ligands towards DNA model systems. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 160, pp. 198-209, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Massai, Lara; Pratesi, Alessandro; Bogojeski, Jovana; Banchini, Marco; Pillozzi, Serena; Messori, Luigi; Bugarčić, Živadin D (2016). Antiproliferative properties and biomolecular interactions of three Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 165, pp. 1-6, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

Serratrice, M; Maiore, L; Zucca, A; Stoccoro, S; Landini, I; Mini, E; Massai, L; Ferraro, G; Merlino, A; Messori, L; Cinellu, Ma (2016). Cytotoxic properties of a new organometallic platinum(II) complex and its gold(I) heterobimetallic derivatives.. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 45, pp. 279-590, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI

Marzo, Tiziano; Scaletti, Federica; Michelucci, Elena; Gabbiani, Chiara; Pescitelli, Gennaro; Messori, Luigi; Massai, Lara (2015). Interactions of the organogold(III) compound Aubipyc with the copper chaperone Atox1: A joint mass spectrometry and circular dichroism investigation. BIOMETALS, vol. 28, pp. 1079-1085, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Gamberi, Tania; Magherini, Francesca; Fiaschi, Tania; Landini, Ida; Massai, Lara; Valocchia, Elisa; Bianchi, Laura; Bini, Luca; Gabbiani, Chiara; Nobili, Stefania; Mini, Enrico; Messori, Luigi; Modesti, Alessandra (2015). Proteomic analysis of the cytotoxic effects induced by the organogold(III) complex Aubipyc in cisplatin-resistant A2780 ovarian cancer cells: further evidence for the glycolytic pathway implication. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS, vol. 11, pp. 1653-1667, ISSN:1742-206X DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Mügge, Carolin; Marzo, Tiziano; Massai, Lara; Hildebrandt, Jana; Ferraro, Giarita; Rivera-Fuentes, Pablo; Metzler-Nolte, Nils; Merlino, Antonello; Messori, Luigi; Weigand, Wolfgang (2015). Platinum(II) Complexes with O,S Bidentate Ligands: Biophysical Characterization, Antiproliferative Activity, and Crystallographic Evidence of Protein Binding. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, vol. 54, pp. 8560-8570, ISSN:0020-1669 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Tiziano Marzo; Aleksandar Savić; Lara Massai; Elena Michelucci; Tibor J. Sabo; Sanja Grguric-Šipka; Luigi Messori (2015). Reactions of Cytotoxic Metallodrugs with Lysozyme in pure DMSO explored through UV-Vis Absorption Spectroscopy and ESI MS. BIOMETALS, pp. 425-430, ISSN:0966-0844

Musumeci, Domenica; Rozza, Lucia; Merlino, Antonello; Paduano, Luigi; Marzo, Tiziano; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Montesarchio, Daniela (2015). Interaction of anticancer Ru(III) complexes with single stranded and duplex DNA model systems. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 44, pp. 13914-13925, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Massai, Lara; Fernández-Gallardo, Jacob; Guerri, Annalisa; Arcangeli, Annarosa; Pillozzi, Serena; Contel, María; Messori, Luigi (2015). Design, synthesis and characterisation of new chimeric ruthenium(ii)-gold(i) complexes as improved cytotoxic agents. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 44, pp. 11067-11076, ISSN:1477-9226 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Ferraro, Giarita; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Cinellu, Maria Agostina; Merlino, Antonello (2015). Structural evidences for a secondary gold binding site in the hydrophobic box of lysozyme. BIOMETALS, vol. 28, pp. 745-754, ISSN:0966-0844 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Farivash Darabi; Tiziano Marzo; Lara Massai; Federica Scaletti; Elena Michelucci; Luigi Messori (2015). Reactions of model proteins with aurothiomalate, a clinically established gold(I) drug: The comparison with auranofin. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 149, pp. 102-107, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Ferraro, Giarita; Massai, Lara; Messori, Luigi; Merlino, Antonello (2015). Cisplatin binding to human serum albumin: a structural study. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 51, pp. 9436-9439, ISSN:1359-7345 DOI

Gamberi, T; Fiaschi, T; Modesti, A; Massai, L; Messori, L; Balzi, M; Magherini, F. (2015). Evidence that the antiproliferative effects of auranofin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae arise from inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY, vol. 65, pp. 61-71, ISSN:1357-2725 DOI

P. Gratteri; L. Massai; E. Michelucci; R. Rigo; L. Messori; M. A. Cinellu; C. Musetti; C. Sissi; C. Bazzicalupi (2015). Interactions of selected gold(III) complexes with DNA G quadruplexes. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 44, pp. 3633-3639, ISSN:1477-9234 DOI

Francesca Tatini;Ida Landini;Federica Scaletti;Lara Massai;Sonia Centi;Fulvio Ratto;Stefania Nobili;Giovanni Romano;Franco Fusi;Luigi Messori;Enrico Mini;Roberto Pini (2014). Size dependent biological profiles of PEGylated gold nanorods. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. B, vol. 2, pp. 6072-6080, ISSN:2050-750X DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Messori L; Marchetti L; Massai L; Scaletti F; Guerri A; Landini I; Nobili S; Perrone G; Mini E; Leoni P; Pasquali M; Gabbiani C. (2014). Chemistry and Biology of Two Novel Gold(I) Carbene Complexes as Prospective Anticancer Agents. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, vol. 35, pp. 2395-2403, ISSN:0020-1669 DOI

Lara Massai (2014). Gold Compounds as Anticancer Agents: A Systematic Study of Gold–Protein Metalation. (Tutor: Prof. Luigi Messori)

Gamberi T; Massai L; Magherini F; Landini I; Fiaschi T; Scaletti F; Gabbiani C; Bianchi L; Bini L; Nobili S; Perrone G; Mini E; Messori L; Modesti A (2014). Proteomic analysis of A2780/S ovarian cancer cell response to the cytotoxic organogold(III) compound Aubipy(c.). JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS, vol. 103, pp. 103-120, ISSN:1874-3919 DOI

Nicola Micale;Tanja Schirmeister; Roberta Ettari; Maria A. Cinellu; Laura Maiore; Maria Serratrice; Chiara Gabbiani; Lara Massai; Luigi Messori. (2014). Selected Cytotoxic Gold Compounds cause Significant Inhibition of 20S Proteasome Catalytic Activities. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 141, pp. 79-82, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

Luigi Messori;Federica Scaletti;Lara Massai;Maria A. Cinellu;Irene Russo Krauss;Giovanna di Martino;Alessandro Vergara;Luigi Paduano;Antonello Merlino (2014). Interactions of Gold-based drugs with proteins: crystal structure of the adduct formed between Ribonuclease A and a cytotoxic gold(III) compound. METALLOMICS, pp. 233-236, ISSN:1756-5901 DOI

F.Z. Sadafi; L. Massai; G. Bartolommei; M.R. Moncelli; L. Messori; F. Tadini-Buoninsegni (2014). Anticancer Ruthenium(III) Complex KP1019 Interferes with ATP-Dependent Ca(2+) Translocation by Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca(2+) -ATPase (SERCA). CHEMMEDCHEM, vol. 9, pp. 1660-1664, ISSN:1860-7187 DOI

Voin Petrovic; Sandra Petrovic; Gordana Joksic; Jasmina Savic; Mirjana Colovic; Maria A Cinellu; Lara Massai; Luigi Messori; Vesna Vasic (2014). Inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase and cytotoxicity of a few selected gold(III) complexes. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 140, pp. 228-235, ISSN:0162-0134 DOI

L Messori; L Massai; F Scaletti; T Marzo; C Gabbiani (2014). Mechanistic studies on cytotoxic gold compounds. JBIC, vol. 19, pp. S725-S747, ISSN:0949-8257 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Luigi Messori;Federica Scaletti;Lara Massai;Maria A. Cinellu;Chiara Gabbiani;Alessandro Vergara;Antonello Merlino (2013). The mode of action of anticancer gold-based drugs: a structural perspective. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 49, pp. 10100-10102, ISSN:1359-7345 DOI

Chiara Gabbiani; Federica Scaletti; Lara Massai; Elena Michelucci; Maria A. Cinellu; Luigi Messori (2012). Medicinal gold compounds form tight adducts with the copper chaperone Atox-1: biological and pharmacological implications. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 48, pp. 11623-11625, ISSN:1359-7345 DOI

Chiara Gabbiani;Lara Massai;Federica Scaletti;Elena Michelucci;Laura Maiore;Maria Agostina Cinellu; Luigi Messori (2012). Protein metalation by metal-based drugs: reactions of cytotoxic gold compounds with cytochrome c and lysozyme. JBIC, vol. 17, pp. 1293-1302, ISSN:0949-8257 DOI

Lara Massai; Federica Scaletti; Chiara Gabbiani; Elena Michelucci; Luigi Messori (2012). Studies of cytotoxic gold compounds: interactions with model proteins and with the copper chaperone Atox-1. In: Biomet12, Padova, Consorzio Interuniversitario di Ricerca in Chimica dei Metalli nei Sistemi Biologici (C.I.R.C.M.S.B.), pp. 39-39.

Lara Massai; Federica Scaletti; Chiara Gabbiani; Elena Michelucci; Luigi Messori (2012). Gold compounds: new anticancer drugs candidates. Studies of protein metalation processes. In: 40ICCC, Valencia, Universitat de Valencia, pp. C393-C394, ISBN:9788469531808

Chiara Gabbiani; Maria Agostina Cinellu; Laura Maiore; Lara Massai; Federica Scaletti; Luigi Messori (2012). Chemistry and biology of three representative gold(III) compounds as prospective anticancer agents. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA, vol. 393, pp. 115-124, ISSN:0020-1693 DOI

Lara MASSAI

Biography

Lara Massai dedicated her research to the study of anticancer metallodrugs, with a specific attention for experimental gold complexes. In fact, over her PhD (2012-2015) and in the first years of her postdoc she addressed her interests on the synthesis of metal compounds and on the study of the interactions between anticancer metal compounds and biomolecular targets through ESI-MS. The final goals were and are to elucidate the mode of action of potential anticancer metal-based drugs and to translate these metal compounds from the laboratory to preclinical/clinical studies. Some metal complexes, subject of her studies have already achieved good results. Moreover, in the second year of her PhD, she spent four months in the laboratory of Prof. M. Contel, in Brooklyn College, New York, to improve her knowledge on the synthesis of anticancer metal-compounds. The goal was to obtain cytotoxic heterometal (Au/Ru) complexes to enhance their pharmacological activity as antitumor agents by improving affinity and specificity towards biomolecular targets.

In the last few years, Lara Massai has extended her research area to the proteomic studies: her skills and efforts are well evidenced by several papers and reviews. In recent years, she supervised the mass spectrometer instrument to collect and to analyse all necessary data to carry out several projects. In this framework, she kept friendly relationship and collaborations with numerous research groups, and she oversaw undergraduate and PhD students. Through all these years, she had the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary network in collaboration with other national and international groups operating in different fields, ranging from chemical synthesis to advanced pharmacological testing, in this way she was able to broaden her knowledge in these areas.

Lara MASSAI

Curriculum

EDUCATION

Feb 05.2015: PhD in CHEMICAL SCIENCES at the University of Florence.
PhD Thesis: “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systemic study of gold-protein metalation”. Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori

OTHER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Aug 2018 Italian National Habilitation as Associate Professor (SSD CHIM03/B1- Fascia II_ code:78046 – validity 07.08.2018/07.08.2027).
May 20.2015: General and Inorganic Chemistry Expert (Cultore della Materia SSD CHIM/03).
Jan 2010: State Certification Exam, Valid for a license to practice as a pharmacist.

CURRENT POSITION

01.09.2023: Non Tenure Assistant Professor (RTDa) _ Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy

RESERACH EXPERINCES/PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

Dec 02.2022 – 08.2023: Postdoctoral fellowship (BORSA di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Analysis of the biological samples via LC-MS/ MS for simultaneous protein identification and quantification in Human Primary Osteosarcoma Cells”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. L. Messori
Dec 09.2020 – Dec. 01.2022: Postdoctoral fellowship (BORSA di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Proteomics studies and analysis of interaction between proteins and metallodrugs by advanced mass spectrometric methodologies applied to cancer research”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. L. Messori
Dec 01.2018 – Dec. 08.2020: Postdoctoral fellowship (ASSEGNO di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project:” Proteomic analysis by advanced mass spectrometric methodologies applied to cancer research”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Sept 01.2018 – Nov. 30.2018: Postdoctoral fellowship (ASSEGNO di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on the mode of action of cytotoxic gold complexes”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Nov 01.2017 - Aug 30.2018: Fellowship Postdoctoral fellowship (BORSA di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on the mode of action of cytotoxic gold complexes”. (SSD CHIM/03). tutor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Mar 01. 2016 – Oct. 31.2017: Postdoctoral fellowship (ASSEGNO di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on interactions between proteins and cytotoxic gold compounds to identify their mode of action”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Mar 01.2015- Feb 29.2016: Postdoctoral fellowship (ASSEGNO di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on interactions between proteins and cytotoxic gold compounds to identify their mode of action”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Jan 01.2012 – Dec. 31.2014: PhD student in Chemical Sciences at the University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on the mechanism of action of cytotoxic gold compounds”.
Mar 01.2014 - Feb 28.2015: Fellowship (BORSA di RICERCA), Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project:” Studies on mode of action on cytotoxic gold compounds”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Mar 01.2013 - Feb 28.2014: Fellowship, (BORSA di STUDIO) Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on mode of action on cytotoxic gold compounds”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Mar 01.2012- Feb 28.2013: Fellowship (BORSA di STUDIO) Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MET MED), Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence. Research project: “Studies on mode of action on cytotoxic gold compounds”. (SSD CHIM/03). Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Messori.
Sept. 01.2009 – Dec. 31.2011: HACCP advisor. External advisor at Silliker Italia S.p.a Prato. MN company that operates in the field of feed, with the following functions:
• Drafting of self-control HACCP textbook
• Withdrawal of food products and surface swabs, at food stores in general and food companies bearing authorization and approval number EC.
• Organization and subsequent implementation of training courses on health and hygiene in accordance with the European legislation, national, applicable to companies
Feb 01.2009 - May 31.2009: Scholarship holder at Espikem funded by FSE (European Social Fund). Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Peptides and Proteins, (University of Florence). Studies of a new biological and chemical methods to obtained semi-synthetic human MOG (Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein) selectively and specifically changed. Supervisor: Paolo Rovero.
Dec 01.2007- Dec 15.2008: Internship in Molecular Biology. Department of Pharmaceutical Science (University of Florence). Project: “Expression and purification of human MOG (Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein) by bacterial cells (E.Coli) in order to test the protein with ELISA , Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as potential probe to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis.” Supervisor: Prof. Paolo Rovero.

EXPERIENCES ABROAD

Oct. 01.2013 – Jan 30.2014: Exchange Visitor at Prof. Maria Contel’s group, Department of Chemistry - Brooklyn College – City University of New York (CUNY). Participation in the project “Gold-based potential chemotherapeutics”- supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (1SC1CA182844), Supervisor: Prof Maria Contel – Research: synthesis and characterization of a new class of bioactive molecules: heterometallic ruthenium-gold derivatives.

AWARDS

Travel grant: XIX Scuola Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica – Pisa – October 22-24, 2014. Awarding Body: Società Chimica Italiana_Divisione di Chimica Inorganica
Special mention for the PhD Thesis: “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systemic study of gold-protein metalation” – Awarding Body: Firenze University Press – Tesi Dottorato – Edizione 2015

CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES

XLVIII Congresso Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica , An ESI-MS Study to Gain an Insights on Interactions between a Synthetic C-Terminal Peptide hTrxR(488-499) and Gold(I) Complexes
Pisa, Italia, Settembre 6-9, 2022, (National)
16th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC) - Internalization of Anticancer Gold(I) Complexes in Human H Ferritin to Improve Drug Selectivity - Grenoble, Francia, Luglio 17-21, 2022, (International)
8th International Symposium on Metallomics –2022, Gold(I) complexes: a promising class of SARS-CoV-2 MPro inhibitors - Online - Kanazawa, Giappone, Luglio 11-14, (International)
EORTC PAMM Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanism– “Strategies for Understanding the Mode of Action of Anticancer Gold Complexes”, Virtual Meeting, April 21-22, 2022 (International)
BioMet22 - XXI Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics – Ferritin-based anticancer gold(I) complexes delivery system - Virtual Meeting - April 28-29, 2022 (National)
BioMet21 - XX Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics XVII PharmacoBioMetallics –Virtual Meeting, April 15-16, 2021 “Protein metalation by cytotoxic gold complexes: an ESI MS study” (National)
BioMet20 - XIV Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics XVII PharmacoBioMetallics – Ancona– February 20-21, 2020 “Strategies for Understanding the Mode of Action of Anticancer Gold Complexes” (National)
BioMet19 - XVIII Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics XVII PharmacoBioMetallics – Arezzo– February 22-23, 2019 “A general outlook on the biomolecular targets for anticancer gold complexes” (National)
BioMet18 - XVII Whorkshop on PharmacoBioMetallics XVII PharmacoBioMetallics – Napoli – February 16-17, 2018. “Chemistry, Molecular Mechanisms and Preclinical Studies of Gold Complexes for Ovarian Cancer Treatment” (National)
BioMet15 - XV PharmacoBioMetallics – Bari – October 23-24, 2015. “Gold compounds as anticancer agents: a systematic study of gold-biomolecules interactions” Lara Massai, Federica Scaletti, Tiziano Marzo, Elena Michelucci, Luigi Messori. (National)
BioMet14 - XIV PharmacoBioMetallics – Pisa – October 24-25, 2014. “New Heterodimetallic Gold(I)-Platinum(II) Compound as Potential Anticancer Agents” (National)
2nd International Symposium on Functional Metal Complexes that Bind to Biomolecules – Zurich – Switzerland – August 22-23, 2014. “New Heterodimetallic Complexes as potential anticancer agents” (International)
Metallomics – Oviedo – Spain July 8-11, 2013. “Studies on protein metalation by selected gold compounds as prospective anticancer agents”. Lara Massai, Federica Scaletti, Tiziano Marzo, Chiara Gabbiani, Elena Michelucci, Luigi Messori. (International)
BIOMET12 - XII PharmacoBioMetallics- Padova, October 26-28, 2012. “Studies of cytotoxic gold compounds: interactions with model proteins and with the copper chaperone Atox-1” (National)
40 International Conference on Coordination Chemistry- ICCC40 Valencia conference centre- Spain – September 9-13, 2012. “Gold compounds: new anticancer drug candidates” Lara Massai, Federica Scaletti, Chiara Gabbiani, Luigi Messori (International)

PARTICIPATION TO SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES

10th Annual Scientific Conference of the Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT) - Pisa - July 3, 2015. (National)
1° MS PHARMA SCHOOL: scuola pratica di Spettrometria di Massa in ambito farmaceutico – c/o Angelini S.Palomba (Roma) - March, 3-4, 2015. (National)
XIX Scuola Nazionale di Chimica Inorganica – Pisa – October 22-24, 2014. (National)
18° Corso Spettrometria di Massa – Siena- April 7-11, 2014. (National)

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

Inorganic synthesis of metal complexes (especially gold and ruthenium) also with Schlenk technique and their characterization by UV-vis spectrophotometry, ESI-Q-TOF MS spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy. Studies of interaction of metal compounds and biomolecules (i.e. HSA, hCA I, Lysozyme, RNase, Atox1, Human Ferritin, DNA quadruplex) through UV-vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism spectroscopy and ICP-OES spectroscopy. Proteomics measurements for the detection of biological alterations in the cell through MS spectrometry.
Skills in the use of the common programs employed in chemistry (Excel, PowerPoint, Origin, Topspin, MestreNova, ChemBioDraw). Biochemical skills like DNA extraction, Western Blot, immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA). Expression and purification (with column chromatography and dialysis techniques) of human proteins in bacterial cells. Insertion of plasmids in bacterial cells and growth of bacterial cell cultures.
Proficient skills in ESI-MS spectrometry, specifically, in the characterization of molecular adducts between metal-drugs and a wide range of high molecular weight proteins of biological interest.

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

• From November to July 2022-2023: Chemistry Tutoring for “Fondamenti di Chimica Generale”, Laurea in Disegno, Tessile e Moda, Scuola di Architettura.
Exam commission member.
• July 2021: PhD Course Lecturer “Metal Complexes as Drugs and Chemotherapeutic Agents” (8 hours) Doctorate in Chemical Sciences (UniFi)
• May 2020: PhD Course Lecturer “Metal Complexes as Drugs and Chemotherapeutic Agents” (8 hours) Doctorate in Chemical Sciences (UniFi)
• Sept. 2019: PhD Course Lecturer “Gold Complexes in Cancer Chemotherapy” (8 hours) Doctorate in Chemical Sciences (UniFi)

SCIENTIFIC PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS ADMITTED TO FINANCING ON THE BASIS OF COMPETITIVE CALLS (PEER REVIEW)

AIRC Project IG26169 (Call2021). PI: Prof. L. Messori (UNIFI), title “A multi-Omics approach to establish the molecular mechanisms of Anticancer Gold Compounds in the Systems Biology Era.” Scientific/administrative coordinator and member of the research team.
-AIRC-ECRF 19650 (Call 2016). P.I. Prof. L. Messori. Title "Advanced mass spectrometry tools for cancer research: novel applications in proteomics, metabolomics and nanomedicine". Member of the research team.
-AIRC Project IG16049 (Call2014). PI: Prof. L. Messori (UNIFI), title: “The mode of action of antiproliferative gold compounds in A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells.” Scientific/administrative coordinator and member of the research team.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI) 1SC1CA182844; P.I.: Prof. Maria Contel (Brooklyn College – CUNY), title: “Gold-based potential chemotherapeutics”. Exchange visitor.
-AIRC Project IG12085 (Call2011). PI: Prof. L. Messori (UNIFI), title “Unravelling the mechanisms of action of gold compounds through innovative proteomic investigations”. Scientific/administrative coordinator and member of the research team.

SCIENCE POPULARIZATION

June 14-15, 2023: OpenLab Project (centro servizi per l’educazione e la divulgazione scientifica).
Scienze estate 2023- Guided tours in the labs of the Centri di Ricerca e ai Dipartimenti del Campus Scientifico e Tecnologico di Sesto Fiorentino

July 13-14, 2022: OpenLab Project (centro servizi per l’educazione e la divulgazione scientifica).
Scienze estate 2022- Guided tours in the labs of the Centri di Ricerca e ai Dipartimenti del Campus Scientifico e Tecnologico di Sesto Fiorentino

EDITORIAL AND PEER-REVIEW ACTIVITIES

• MDPI Review Editor: Inorganics, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biomolecules, Molecules, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutics, Antioxidants
• Frontiers in Chemistry: Review Editor in Inorganic Chemistry

• Frontiers in Chemistry: Guest Associate Editor in Inorganic Chemistry
• Guest Associate Editor in Frontiers Research Topic: “The Golden Future in Medicinal Chemistry: Perspectives and Resources from Old and New Gold-Based Drug Candidates” (2020) – Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Frontiers in Chemistry)
• Guest Associate Editor in Frontiers Research Topic: “Women in Inorganic Chemistry” (2022) – Inorganic Chemistry (Frontiers in Chemistry)