ALBERTO BOFFI

ALBERTO BOFFI
CURRICULUM VITAE AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Alberto Boffi, born in Rome on 13.09.1960, he graduated cum laude in Medicine at the University of Rome "Sapienza" in 1985.
Maitre de Conference associee (assistant lecturer) Université de Luminy II, Marseille, France, in 1986.
Researcher of the National Research Council at the Molecular Biology Center in Rome from 1991 to 2000.
Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University "Sapienza" of Rome since November 2000.
Delegate of the Dean for fundraising activities at the University "Sapienza" of Rome since November 2014.
Director of the Department of Biochemical Sciences, University "Sapienza" of Rome from November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2021.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Alberto Boffi started his research career in the group of Prof. Emilia Chiancone (former President of the Italian National Academy of Sciences), at the University "Sapienza" of Rome. Reseach topics were focused on the relationship between structure and function of proteins of the globin family. These studies were aimed to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of action of hemoglobins and heme dependent redox enzymes. Alberto Boffi was then trained to innovative spectroscopic methods within a ten-year collaboration (1990-2000) with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY, USA) and the AT&T Bell Laboratories (Murray Hill, NJ, USA). Some of these works remain examples set forth in the scientific literature to have led to a substantial advancement of knowledge in the dynamics of haemoproteins.
Alberto Boffi also worked on the development of industrial enzymes for pharma manufacturing. The development of recombinant enzymes with improved methods of genetic engineering promoted successful innovation in several industrial processes.
In recent years, Alberto Boffi has contributed to the development of new targeted drug transport systems based on engineered ferritins, in order to deliver anticancer drugs directly to cancer cells. Alberto Boffi was entitled an important number of research projects, training and innovation projects as well as industrial projects.
The experimental results, known and cited in the international literature, are presented in 178 papers published in peer reviewed journals (total impact factor exceeding 800, H index = 41 from Scopus). Scientific work is highly interdisciplinary including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (100), Nanotechnologies (8), Biophysics (23) and Synthetic Green Chemistry (27).

National Coordinator of research projects (only main projects listed).

- FIRB 2003, strategic programme entitled "Organo-metallic catalysts and Enzymes for new bio- transformations and optimization of eco-friendly production processes". (RBNE034XSV) funded by the Ministry of Research with 2.700 k€.
- PRIN 2004, research project entitled: "The bacterial hemoglobin, a versatile tool for biotechnological applications" (MIUR N° 2,004,059,317) funded by MIUR with 250 k€.
2007-2010 Regional Project n° 182, 4/28/2006 "Advanced biotechnologies for the production of medicines and intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry." Financial support for infrastructure funded with 490 k€.
- Flagship Project Nanomax 2012, research project entitled "Nanotechnology-based Diagnostics In Experimental oncology", funded by MIUR (CNR N° 0068289) with 692 k€.
- PRIN 2022, research project entitled: “Ferritin Shines bright” funded by MUR with 418 k€.
- PNRR 2022, National Coordinator Spoke 2 “Cancer”, Centro Nazionale per la terapia genica e farmaci con tecnologia RNA.

Research sector domains and keywords
LS1 Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry: LS1_1 Molecular interactions LS1_9 Structural biology (crystallography and EM); PE5 Synthetic Chemistry and Materials: PE5_11 Biological chemistry LS7 Diagnostic Tools, Therapies and Public Health: LS7_3 drug discovery and design, drug therapy

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
Alberto Boffi experience concerns activities related to technology transfer of methodologies, intellectual properties and know-how acquired in the context of academic research to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in cooperation with industrial partners.
2004-2007 projects "Recombinant Enzymes for biotechnology applications in oxidative biotransformation processes" and "New alcohol dehydrogenases to produce Chiral compounds" financed by ACS Dobfar S.p.a.
2009 – Project MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) ITALY-ISRAEL "antibiotic inactivating enzymes diagnostic" in collaboration with Hylabs (Rehovot) and CPC Biotech srl (Agrate Brianza). 2011 "Nanobiowine" Eureka Eurostars Project E6384 FPVII to complete diagnostic methodologies for the agri-food industry based on enzymes.
2016 Project “Life 2020” Regione Lazio (POR-FESR) on “Alzheimer diagnostics” in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (CNLS of Rome) and CREST OPTICS SRL.

Promoter of spin-off / start-up companies
Alberto Boffi has been promoter and founder of the spin-off company MoLiRom s.r.l, participated by Sapienza University, may 2009. The Company is active in the production and selling of specialty ezymes. Currently he is scientific advisor and holder of 5 % shares.
Promoter of the Joint Lab "Advanced technologies for the production of medicines", a joint undertaking among academia and and Biotech companies ACS Dobfar, CPC Biotech and Indena, june 2011-december 2017.
Co-founder of Biogamma s.r.l., 2013, a company specialized in enzymatic methods for analytical determination in wine and beverage industry. Company acquired by the group KPM analytics (NL).
Co-founder of Cellis Sp.z.o.o., a start-up created in Warszaw, November 2015, together with Profs. Magdalena Krol and Thomasz Rygel dedicated to the development of cell based Advanced Therapies against tumors. Currently scientific advisor, owner of 9 % shares.

Co-founder of Thena Biotech Srl, (www.thenabiotech.com) a new start-up created in Latina (LT), July 2016, dedicated to the development of ferritin based delivery agents against tumors. Currently scientific advisor, owner of 1 % shares.
Promoter of the Joint Lab "IIT-Crest Optics", a joint undertaking between the Italian Institute of Technology and Crest Optics srl. on “Novel fluorescent probes for Tau fibrils retina imaging”, june 2019.
Co-founder of Cellis AG a new start-up created in Zurich, November 2020, together with Profs. Magdalena Krol, Thomasz Rygel and Tweety Investiments dedicated to the development of cell based Advanced Therapies against tumors.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND COORDINATION ACTIVITIES
Alberto Boffi has been involved in many research related organizational activities. Besides being permanent member of project evaluation at the Ministry of University since 2008, he is member of the Italian delegation of the Institute of foreign trade as well as member of business associations.
2006-2010 Tutor aimed at training young graduates to entrepreneurial activities in the biotechnology industry “FILAS/ACTL” and “FIxO” projects.
2015-2018 Training officer and supervisor in the H2020 MSCA International training network “X-probe” (www.x-probe.org). He takes care of training activities, career development plans and secondments of 10 MSCA fellows in the field of structural biology for pharma industry.

LIST OF PATENTS (GRANTED and ACTIVE)

Cellular Targeted Label Delivery System Publication number: 20200030468
Filed: June 22, 2016
Publication date: January 30, 2020
Inventors: Magdalena Krol, Irene Benni, Paola Baiocco, Tomasz Rygiel, Alberto Boffi

CELLULAR TARGETED ACTIVE INGREDIENT DELIVERY SYSTEM
Publication number: 20200030374
Filed: June 22, 2016
Publication date: January 30, 2020
Inventors: Magdalena KROL, Irene BENNI, Paola BAIOCCO, Tomasz RYGIEL, Alberto BOFFI

Formulation for release of nitric oxide Patent number: 10716805
Filed: March 19, 2018
Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
Inventors: Gioacchino Di Leo, Luciano Caglioti, Alberto Boffi, Luciana Mosca, Robert Giovanni Nisticò

Fluorescent markers for neurofibrillar tangles and uses thereof
Patent number: WO2022224151A1
Filed 2022-04-20
Date of Patent 2022-10-27
Inventors: Alberto BOFFI, Francesca GHIRGA, Alessandro SOLOPERTO, Silvia Di Angelantonio

ASSOCIATION OR COMPOSITION COMPRISING STABILIZED LACTOFERRIN
Filed: 2022-02-01
Priority to PCT/IB2022/050853 2022-08-04
Publication of IT202100002471A1
Inventors: Giancarlo Ruocco, Alberto Boffi, Raino Ceccarelli

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (Last 5 years)

1: Braniewska A, Skorzynski M, Sas Z, Dlugolecka M, Marszalek I, Kurpiel D, Bühler M, Strzemecki D, Magiera A, Bialasek M, Walczak J, Cheda L, Komorowski M, Weiss T, Czystowska-Kuzmicz M, Kwapiszewska K, Boffi A, Krol M, Rygiel TP. A novel process for transcellular hemoglobin transport from macrophages to cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Nov 27;22(1):570. doi: 10.1186/s12964-024-01929-8. PMID: 39605056.
2: Human H Ferritin Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Navigating Physiological Constraints. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2024 Nov-Dec;16(6):e2016. doi: 10.1002/wnan.2016. PMID: 39541599.
3: A, Bonamore A, Macone A. Ferritin-based disruptor nanoparticles: A novel strategy to enhance LDL cholesterol clearance via multivalent inhibition of PCSK9-LDL receptor interaction. Protein Sci. 2024 Sep;33(9):e5111. doi: 10.1002/pro.5111. PMID: 39150051; PMCID: PMC11328107.

4: Ricci C, Abbandonato G, Giannangeli M, Matthews L, Almásy L, Sartori B, Podestà A, Caselli A, Boffi A, Thiel G, Del Favero E, Moroni A. Ferritin at different iron loading: From biological to nanotechnological applications. Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Sep;276(Pt 2):133812. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133812. Epub 2024 Jul 19. PMID: 39032902.

5: Barolo L, Gigante Y, Mautone L, Ghirga S, Soloperto A, Giorgi A, Ghirga F, Pitea M, Incocciati A, Mura F, Ruocco G, Boffi A, Baiocco P, Di Angelantonio S. Ferritin nanocage-enabled detection of pathological tau in living human retinal cells. Sci Rep. 2024 May 21;14(1):11533. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62188-8. PMID: 38773170; PMCID: PMC11109090.

6: Liberati FR, Di Russo S, Barolo L, Peruzzi G, Farina MV, Spizzichino S, Di Fonzo F, Quaglio D, Pisano L, Botta B, Giorgi A, Boffi A, Cutruzzolà F, Paone A, Baiocco P. Combined Delivery of miR-15/16 through Humanized Ferritin Nanocages for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Pharmaceutics. 2024 Mar 14;16(3):402. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16030402. PMID: 38543296; PMCID: PMC10974561.

7: Piacentini R, Boffi A, Milanetti E. Lactoferrins in Their Interactions with Molecular Targets: A Structure-Based Overview. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Mar 20;17(3):398. doi: 10.3390/ph17030398. PMID: 38543184; PMCID: PMC10974892.

8: Parisi G, Piacentini R, Incocciati A, Bonamore A, Macone A, Rupert J, Zacco E, Miotto M, Milanetti E, Tartaglia GG, Ruocco G, Boffi A, Di Rienzo L. Design of protein-binding peptides with controlled binding affinity: the case of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 derived peptides. Front Mol Biosci. 2024 Jan 5;10:1332359. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1332359. PMID: 38250735; PMCID: PMC10797010.

9: Incocciati A, Kubeš J, Piacentini R, Cappelletti C, Botta S, Bertuccini L, Šimůnek T, Boffi A, Macone A, Bonamore A. Hydrophobicity-enhanced ferritin nanoparticles for efficient encapsulation and targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs to tumor cells. Protein Sci. 2023 Dec;32(12):e4819. doi: 10.1002/pro.4819. PMID: 37883077; PMCID: PMC10661074.

10: Affatigato L, Licciardi M, Bonamore A, Martorana A, Incocciati A, Boffi A, Militello V. Ferritin-Coated SPIONs as New Cancer Cell Targeted Magnetic Nanocarrier. Molecules. 2023 Jan 24;28(3):1163. doi: 10.3390/molecules28031163. PMID: 36770830; PMCID: PMC9919024.

11: Piacentini R, Centi L, Miotto M, Milanetti E, Di Rienzo L, Pitea M, Piazza P, Ruocco G, Boffi A, Parisi G. Lactoferrin Inhibition of the Complex Formation between ACE2 Receptor and SARS CoV-2 Recognition Binding Domain. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 13;23(10):5436. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105436. PMID: 35628247; PMCID: PMC9141661.

12: Soloperto A, Quaglio D, Baiocco P, Romeo I, Mori M, Ardini M, Presutti C, Sannino I, Ghirga S, Iazzetti A, Ippoliti R, Ruocco G, Botta B, Ghirga F, Di Angelantonio S, Boffi A. Rational design and synthesis of a novel BODIPY-based probe for selective imaging of tau tangles in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons. Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 28;12(1):5257. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-09016-z. PMID: 35347170; PMCID: PMC8960764.
13: Miotto M, Di Rienzo L, Boffi A, Ruocco G, Milanetti E. Molecular Mechanisms Behind Anti SARS-CoV-2 Action of Lactoferrin. Front Mol Biosci. 2021 Feb 15;8:607443. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.607443.

14: Di Rienzo L, Milanetti E, Testi C, Montemiglio LC, Baiocco P, Boffi A, Ruocco G. A novel strategy for molecular interfaces optimization: The case of Ferritin-Transferrin receptor interaction. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2020 Sep 24;18:2678-2686. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.09.020.

15: Di Fabio E, Incocciati A, Palombarini F, Boffi A, Bonamore A, Macone A. Ethylchloroformate Derivatization for GC-MS Analysis of Resveratrol Isomers in Red Wine. Molecules. 2020 Oct 9;25(20):4603. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204603.

16: Francioso A, Federico R, Maggiore A, Fontana M, Boffi A, D'Erme M, Mosca L. Green Route for the Isolation and Purification of Hyrdoxytyrosol, Tyrosol, Oleacein and Oleocanthal from Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Molecules. 2020 Aug 11;25(16):3654. doi: 10.3390/molecules25163654.

17: Kiraga Ł, Cerutti G, Braniewska A, Strzemecki D, Sas Z, Boffi A, Savino C, Montemiglio LC, Turnham D, Seaton G, Bonamore A, Clarkson R, Dabkowski AM, Paisey SJ, Taciak B, Kucharzewska P, Rygiel TP, Król M. Biodistribution PET/CT Study of Hemoglobin-DFO-
⁸⁹Zr Complex in Healthy and Lung Tumor-Bearing Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 15;21(14):4991. doi: 10.3390/ijms21144991.

18: Palombarini F, Di Fabio E, Boffi A, Macone A, Bonamore A. Ferritin Nanocages for Protein Delivery to Tumor Cells. Molecules. 2020 Feb 13;25(4):825. doi:10.3390/molecules25040825.

19: Francioso A, Laštovičková L, Mosca L, Boffi A, Bonamore A, Macone A. Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Resveratrol Isomers and 2,4,6-Trihydroxyphenanthrene in Red Wines Exposed to UV-Light. J Agric Food Chem. 2019 Oct 23;67(42):11752-11757. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05992.

20: Testi C, Boffi A, Montemiglio LC. Structural analysis of the transferring receptor multifaceted ligand(s) interface. Biophys Chem. 2019 Nov;254:106242. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2019.106242.

21: Macone A, Masciarelli S, Palombarini F, Quaglio D, Boffi A, Trabuco MC, Baiocco P, Fazi F, Bonamore A. Ferritin nanovehicle for targeted delivery of cytochrome C to cancer cells. Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 13;9(1):11749. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48037-z.

22: Palombarini F, Ghirga F, Boffi A, Macone A, Bonamore A. Application of crossflow ultrafiltration for scaling up the purification of a recombinant ferritin. Protein Expr Purif. 2019 Nov;163:105451. doi:10.1016/j.pep.2019.105451.

23: Montemiglio LC, Testi C, Ceci P, Falvo E, Pitea M, Savino C, Arcovito A, Peruzzi G, Baiocco P, Mancia F, Boffi A, des Georges A, Vallone B. Cryo-EM structure of the human ferritin- transferrin receptor 1 complex. Nat Commun. 2019 Mar 8;10(1):1121. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019- 09098-w. PMID: 30850661;