Molecular Engineering Lab (MolE)
Specific Mission
The Molecular Engineering Laboratory (MolE) applies the principles of molecular science and engineering so as to explore chemical systems on the molecular level. Through sophisticated computational and experimental methods, MolE develops new technologies which are generally applicable for the engineering of high value chemical applications. Special emphasis is currently placed on stabilization and formulation of biopharmaceuticals, crystallization of small and large molecules, continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, development of innovative eco-friendly polymerization systems, molecular encapsulation of non-polar molecules and controlled drug release.
Main Research topics
- Molecular encapsulation of non-polar molecules for the food and pharmaceutical industry
- Micro- and nanoparticles for delivery of non-personalized and precision medicine therapeutics
- Nucleation and crystallization of small and large molecules
- Formulation, preservation, and stabilization of biopharmaceuticals
- Freezing and lyophilization of peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, nucleic acids, RNA, and DNA
- Downstream processing of biopharmaceuticals and biologics
- Continuous manufacturing applied to the pharmaceutical industry (e.g., lyophilization/freeze-drying, liquid chromatography, etc..)
Main Partnerships
- SIMTI-Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
- POLYMAT Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
- The Center of Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, Università di Torino, Italy
- Pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National University of Colombia, Colombia
- Physics and Chemistry of Nano-objects Laboratory, Ecolé Polytechnique, France
- Biomolecular Separation Engineering group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
- Particle Science Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK
- The Center of Nanocomposites, University of Warwick, UK
- The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, USA
Projects and publications
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Selected funded research projects
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DEVELOPMENT AND SCALE-UP OF A FREEZE-DRYING CYCLE IN THE CASE OF A FORMULATION CONTAINING ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PISANO ROBERTO
2017 - 2017 (Completed) -
FREEZE DRYING OF A BIOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT
PISANO ROBERTO
2015 - 2016 (Completed)
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DEVELOPMENT AND SCALE-UP OF A FREEZE-DRYING CYCLE IN THE CASE OF A FORMULATION CONTAINING ORGANIC SOLVENTS
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Selected recent publications
2017-
Prediction of product morphology of lyophilized drugs in the case of Vacuum Induced Surface freezing
Article
Pisano, Roberto; Capozzi, LUIGI CARLO
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
Institution of Chemical Engineers
Vol.125 pp.11 (pp.119-129) ISSN:0263-8762 DOI:10.1016/j.cherd.2017.07.004 -
Characterization of the mass transfer of lyophilized products based on X-ray micro-computed tomography images
Article
Pisano, R.; Barresi, A. A.; Capozzi, L. C.; Novajra, G.; Oddone, I.; VITALE BROVARONE, C.
DRYING TECHNOLOGY
Taylor & Francis
Vol.35 pp.6 (pp.933-938) ISSN:0737-3937 DOI:10.1080/07373937.2016.1222540 -
Synthesis of Polymeric Microcapsules by Interfacial-Suspension Cationic Photopolymerisation of Divinyl Ether Monomer in Aqueous Suspension
Article
Benedetti, M.; Congdon, T. R.; Bassett, S. P.; Alauhdin, M.; Howdle, S. M.; Haddleton, D. M.; Pisano, Roberto; Sangermano, Marco; Schiller, T. L.
POLYMER CHEMISTRY
Royal Society of Chemistry
Vol.8 pp.4 (pp.972-975) ISSN:1759-9954 DOI:10.1039/C6PY01782G
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Synthesis of Polymeric Nanocapsules by Radical UV-Activated Interface-Emulsion Polymerization
Article
Bazzano, Marco; Pisano, Roberto; Brelstaff, Jack; Spillantini, Maria Grazia; Sidoryk Wegrzynowicz, Marta; Rizza, Giancarlo; Sangermano, Marco
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE. PART A, POLYMER CHEMISTRY
John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Vol.54 pp.13 (pp.3357-3369) ISSN:0887-624X DOI:10.1002/pola.28226 -
Impact of vacuum-induced surface freezing on inter- and intra-vial heterogeneity
Article
Oddone, Irene; Van Bockstal, Pieter Jan; De Beer, Thomas; Pisano, Roberto
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS
Elsevier
Vol.103 pp.12 (pp.167-178) ISSN:0939-6411 DOI:10.1016/j.ejpb.2016.04.002 -
Controlled atmosphere in food packaging using ethylene−α-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes dispersed in photocured acrylic films
Article
Bazzano, Marco; Barolo, Claudia; Buscaino, Roberto; D’Agostino, Giulia; Ferri, Ada; Sangermano, Marco; Pisano, Roberto
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
ACS Publications
Vol.55 pp.7 (pp.579-585) ISSN:0888-5885 DOI:10.1021/acs.iecr.5b03980
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Prediction of product morphology of lyophilized drugs in the case of Vacuum Induced Surface freezing
Reference laboratories
- Multiphase systems and reactors Laboratory
- Nanoparticles synthesis and characterization Laboratory
- Pharmaceutical technology Lab

