GABRIELE FAVERO

Chimica del Restauro e della Conservazione
Le lezioni sono svolte dal docente in presenza nel luogo e nell'orario indicati:
GiornoOrarioAula
lunedì16-18Aula C (Biologia Ambientale, CU022)
mercoledì16-18Aula D (Chimica Cannizzaro, CU014)
Le lezioni inizieranno lunedì 29 settembre 2025

Chemistry of the Conservation
Lessons are held by the teacher in presence at the indicated place and time:
DayTimeRoom
tuesday14-16Room 5 (Mineralogy-Geology Building, CU005)
friday14-16Room 14 (Geochemistry Building, CU009)
Classes will start on Tuesday September 30st

Sensori e Biosensori
Le lezioni sono svolte dal docente in presenza nel luogo e nell'orario indicati:
GiornoOrarioAula
lunedì14-16Aula H (Edificio Cannizzaro, CU014)
martedì14-16Aula H (Edificio Cannizzaro, CU014)
Le lezioni inizieranno ...

 
Ricevimento Studenti
Il docente riceve previo appuntamento via email in presenza oppure nell'Aula Virtuale https://meet.google.com/wsw-fbef-acx
 

PROFILE
Gabriele Favero is a Full Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Cultural Heritage at the Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza University of Rome. He graduated with honors in Chemistry in 1992 with a thesis on cell biosensors and earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences in 1997, presenting a dissertation on the development of sensors and biosensors for the determination of free radicals. From 1998 to 2000, he continued his research activities with two scholarships: the first funded by INCA (Inter-university Consortium Chemistry for the Environment) concerning the development of biosensors for environmental applications, and the second by Sapienza University of Rome concerning the characterization of reconstituted biological membranes. In 2001, he obtained a four-year research grant from Sapienza University of Rome for the reconstitution of biological membranes suitable for biosensor applications, followed in 2006 by another research grant from the same institution for the study and development of biosensors based on redox mediators. From 2007 to 2015, he served as a Researcher, and from 2015 to 2021, he was an Associate Professor in the scientific-disciplinary sector CHIM/01 - Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at Sapienza University of Rome. Since September 2021, he has been a Full Professor in the scientific-disciplinary sector CHEM-01/B (formerly CHIM/12) - Chemistry for the Environment and for Cultural Heritage at the Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza University of Rome.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2016 – today Member of the Teaching Board of the Ph.D. Program in Earth Sciences at Sapienza University of Rome.
2018 – today Member of the QuID Group - Quality and Educational Innovation at Sapienza University of Rome.
2018 – 2024 President of the Educational Area Council in Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage at Sapienza University of Rome.
2019 – today National Representative for the Degree Classes L-43 and LM-11 at the National Conference of Presidents and Directors of University Structures in Sciences and Technologies (con.Scienze).
2024 – 2025 Coordinator of Master Degree in Science and Technologies for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage at Sapienza University of Rome.
2025 – today Dean of the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND VISITING POSITIONS
2025-08 Invited Professor at Institute of High Energy Physics - Chinese Academy of Sciences, The first China-Europe Cultural Heritage Science Summer School (CECHSS2025)
2025-06  Invited Professor at Shanghai University, Summer Course within the 2025 International Education Forum
2025-05  Appointed Consulting Expert for the Sanxingdui–Jinsha Sites Research Expert Committee and the Sichuan Grotto Temples Protection and Research Expert Committee
2025-03  PIFI Visiting Scientist under the President’s International Fellowship Initiative, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2023-11  Visiting Professor at Shanghai University and Visiting Scientist at the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute, Shanxi Province
2015–2016  Guest Lecturer for Art & Chemistry, Art & Medicine Summer Course, ACCENT – Michigan State University

RESEARCH ACTIVITY
My scientific research spans nearly three decades, marked by a continuous commitment to developing and applying advanced methodologies in the fields of sensing, bioelectrochemistry, analytical chemistry, and, more recently, archaeometry, artistic diagnostics, and innovative materials for cultural heritage preservation.
In my most recent research focus, I delve into the microextraction of dyes and organic compounds from archaeological artifacts. This involves subsequent analysis using fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) in the realm of archaeometry. Additionally, I explore the application of Nuclear Plasmon Resonance (NMR) for artistic diagnostics, utilizing Micro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (μ-MRI) to identify archaeological plants and study nanostructured materials. Electrochemical techniques, such as microparticle voltammetry (VMP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), play a crucial role in my analyses of artistic materials, with a particular focus on pigments and metals. Pioneering work led to the design of a polymer gel-based electrochemical cell, broadening the possibilities for impedance analysis on archaeological artifacts.
My involvement extends to the study of degradation and the development of innovative cleaning treatments for cultural heritage. This includes exploring the impact of atmospheric pollution on materials like limestone, copper, and bronze. Advanced solutions involving microemulsions, hydrogels, and environmentally friendly solvents like deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been proposed.
In the field of environmental chemistry, I direct my interest towards monitoring pollutants in drinking water. Contributions include frontier analytical approaches such as thallium(I)/(III) speciation along water pipes, simultaneous determination of cyanotoxins via Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer, and monitoring pollutant markers in biological fluids and tissues of marine organisms.
A longstanding interest since the early stages of my research career is bioelectrochemistry and biosensor development. This culminated in the creation of advanced electrochemical biosensors, including second and third-generation devices for environmental and food analyses, as well as prototypes of enzymatic biofuel cells for energy production and self-powered sensors. To achieve this, I worked on the functionalization and nanostructuring of electrode surfaces using diverse approaches such as ferrocene utilization, mesoporous conductive polymers, DNA-decorated filaments, and noble metal nanoparticles. Contributions also extend to innovative enzyme immobilization techniques, utilizing polymer gels, reactive soft landing, and composite nanomaterials to preserve protein native structures and facilitate efficient electron transfer.
In the realm of advanced immobilization systems for biological components of biosensors, I introduced an experimental approach to obtain hybrid biological membranes, resulting in the creation of the "Mixed Hybrid Bilayer Lipid Membrane" (MHBLM), incorporating ionotropic receptors. Finally, I actively contributed to the development of innovative biosensors for the determination of free radicals, enzymatic biosensors operating in organic solvents, and biosensors with immobilized cells, with a patented method for assessing toxicity resulting from exposure to chemical and physical agents.

DIDACTIC ACTIVITY
2012 - today Chemistry of Restoration and Conservation (6 CFU, SSD CHIM/12), Bachelor’s Degree Course in Technologies for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome
2021 - today Plant Biology and Conservation (3 CFU, SSD CHIM/12), Master’s Degree Course in Sciences and Technologies for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome
2016 - 2025 Introduction to Thesis and Practical Seminars (3 CFU, SSD CHIM/12), Master’s Degree Course in Sciences and Technologies for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome
2013 - 2025 Analytical Chemistry and Complements of General and Inorganic Chemistry (10 CFU, SSD CHIM/01), Master’s Degree Course in Pharmacy, Sapienza University of Rome
2018 - today Sensors and Biosensors (6 CFU, SSD CHIM/01), Master’s Degree Course in Industrial Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome
2011 - 2014 Instrumental Chemistry Analysis (4 CFU, SSD CHIM / 01), Master’s Degree Course in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome
2003 - 2006 Laboratory of Restoration and Conservation Chemistry (2 CFU, SSD CHIM/01), Bachelor’s Degree Course in Sciences Applied to Cultural Heritage and Diagnostics for their Conservation, Sapienza University of Rome
2000 - 2018 Instrumental Analysis and its Applications in the Knowledge Survey Sector, Special Course in Merceology and Applied Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome
Supervisor of 18 PhD Theses in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Earth Sciences (Curriculum Environment and Cultural Heritage) and Supervisor of 85 Master and Bachelor Theses in Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies and Sciences and Technologies for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage .

FUNDING AND PROJECTS
2024 – 2025 Innovative Approaches to Biodeterioration: application of nano systems loaded with Essential Oils and their Active Components to control fungal decay, Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo Medi 2024 - € 9.655 (PI)
2022 – 2024 Chitosan Nanoparticles loaded with Active Principles of Essential Oils for Conservation and Bioremediation of Archeological Wooden Artefacts, Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo Grandi 2022 - € 72.890 (PI)
2023 HARMONIA - Framework for the Preventive Preservation of Cultural Heritage using Digital Twin Approaches - Award Horizon Europe, € 5.250 (PI)
2022 – today Monitoring, Assessment and Preventive Conservation of Heritage Against Climate Change, PNRR Partenariato Esteso 5 - Spoke 7, € 1.349.438 (Co-PI)
2021 – 2023 NYMPHA - Natural polYsaccharides from Microalgae for the Protection of cultural HeritAge, Programma Lazio Innova - Regione Lazio, 147.000 € (PI)
2020 – 2023 EDICULA - Educational Digital Innovative Cultural heritage related Learning Alliance, Programma Erasmus Plus, 100.000 € (PI)
2019 – 2022 PaGIMeter - Immunosensori modificati con materiale nanostrutturato per la rilevazione di biomarcatori fecali di infiammazione e permeabilità intestinale: un importante progresso nella gestione di malattie ad alta prevalenza, Progetti Strategici 2019 POR FESR 2014 – 2020, 353.000 € (I)
2019 – 2022 CollectionCare – Innovative and affordable service for the Preventive Conservation monitoring of individual Cultural Artefacts during display, storage, handling and transport, Programma EU Horizon 2020, 666.000 € (I)
2017 Peoples of the Middle Sea. Innovation and Integration in ancient Mediterranean (1600-500 BC), Programma PRIN, 647.000 € (I)
2011 – 2012 NanoBioWine – “NANOtechnology based BIOsensors for WINE quality control”, Programma EUREKA EuroStars 2010, 210.000 € (I)
2008 Citotossicità indotta dai metaboliti delle poliamine su cellule tumorali umani sensibili e farmacoresistenti: un nuovo approccio terapeutico, Programma PRIN, 25.000 € (I)
2006 – 2009 BioMedNaNo – “Integrating enzymes, mediators and nanostructures to provide bio-powered bio-electrochemical sensing systems”, Programma Sixth Framework Programme, 451.500 € (I)
2005 Biosensori Sensibilizzati per la Protezione dell'Ambiente e della Salute Umana, Programma PRIN, 140.000 € (I)
2002 Monitoraggio di principi farmacologicamente attivi in acque di scarico durante il processo di risanamento, mediante sensori tradizionali ed innovativi, con particolare attenzione alla verifica dell'abbattimento della loro tossicità, Programma PRIN, 52.000 € (I)
2001 Sviluppo di Biosensori Innovativi Basati su Doppi Strati Biomimetici di Molecole Anfifiliche, Programma MURST Giovani Ricercatori, 10.000 € (PI)

INVITED LECTURES AND INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS
2016 Recent Trends in the Employment of Electrochemical Techniques for the Characterization of Corrosion Products of Archaeological Metals, XXVI Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Analitica, SCI & Università degli Studi di Messina (Italy), 20-09-2016 – keynote lecture
2022 Use of Electrochemical Techniques in Diagnostics Applied to Cultural Heritage, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain), 20-04-2022 – invited lecture
2023 Il Ruolo dell’Esperto di Diagnostica nella Lotta al Commercio Illecito degli Oggetti d’Arte, Fondazione Wanted, Senato della Repubblica (Italy), 17-05-2023 – invited seminar
2023 Soft Matter in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration: Versatile Solutions for the Cleaning, Remediation and Micro-Sampling, Shanghai University (China), 30-10-2023 – invited lecture
2024 Innovative and Sustainable Materials in Cultural Heritage Conservation, Istanbul Aydin University (Turkey), 03-04-2024 – invited lecture
2024 Chemical Matter and Artistic Materiality: Evolutionary Analysis from Restoration to Conservation and Cultural Heritage Protection, Istanbul Aydin University (Turkey), 04-04-2024 – invited lecture
2024 Exploring the Versatile Applications of Soft Matter in Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), 07-05-2024 – invited lecture
2025 Innovative and Sustainable Materials in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Diagnostic, Green Chemical Engineering Technology R&D Centre, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (China), 24-02-2025 – invited lecture
2025 Innovative and Sustainable Materials in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Diagnostic, ShanghaiTech University (China), 03-03-2025 – invited lecture
2025 Soft Materials for Conservation: New Tools for Museums and Conservation Facilities, Shanghai Museum Conservation Facility (China), 06-03-2025 – invited seminar
2025 Conservation Challenges and Material Innovation in Cultural Heritage, Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, Chengdu (China), 12-03-2025 – invited seminar
2025 The Chemistry Behind Restoration: Innovative Materials for Cultural Heritage, Scientific Laboratory, Palace Museum, Beijing (China), 13-03-2025 – invited seminar
2025 Innovative and Sustainable Materials in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Diagnostic, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China), 14-03-2025 – invited lecture
2025 Patrimonio culturale in un clima mutevole: dal rischio alla resilienza, II Congresso Internazionale “Science for the Planet”, Università del Molise (Italy), 25-06-2025 – plenary lecture
2025 Materia, Autenticità e Indagine Scientifica | Il Ruolo dell’Esperto di Diagnostica nella Tutela e nel Contrasto al Commercio Illecito delle Opere d’Arte, Fondazione Wanted, Senato della Repubblica (Italy), 23-10-2025 – invited seminar

PUBLICATIONS AND BIBLIOMETRICAL PARAMETERS
He is author of 1 patent, 161 peer-reviewed papers on international journals, 35 conference proceedings, 4 book chapters and more than 300 oral or poster contributions to national and international congresses; this scientific production is characterized by the following bibliometric and scientometric parameters: H-index=35; Number of citations=3820; Total Impact Factor=621,3.
OrcID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6650-7216
He is Associate Editor for the journal Frontiers in Sensors, member of the Editorial Board of the following journals: Sensors, International Journal of Environment and Health e Journal of Pharmacovigilance and is referee of several international journals including Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Analytica Chimica Acta, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Chemistry - A European Journal, Electroanalysis, Electrochimica Acta, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal of Chemical Education, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Molecules, Sensors and Actuators, Small, Talanta. He also acted as an evaluator for the projects: PRIN, SIR, PISCOPIA (Marie Curie Actions), Czech–Israel Scientific Cooperation (Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology).
Profile @Publons: https://publons.com/author/588466

ASSOCIATIONS
He is a member of SCI - Italian Chemical Society, ECS - The Electrochemical Society, ISE - International Society of Electrochemistry.