Tommaso Mecca

Master degree 110/110 cum Laude in Chemistry at Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy in 1997 discussing the thesis: “Synthesis and reactivity of propinoylsilanes as versatiles building blocks to build complex and polyfunctionalized molecules”. PhD studies at the Università degli Studi della Basilicata working on the project: “Synthesis and applications of new optically pure atropisomeric compounds”, final discussion held on 28/02/2002. Formative working period during PhD studies at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, under the supervision of prof. B. L. Feringa. During the course of the thesis and PhD in chemistry, the use of various advanced organic synthesis techniques were acquired. Starting from 28/12/2001 employed as permanent researcher at CNR – Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Catania, Italy. The main skills acquired concern the field of Supramolecular and Macromolecular Chemistry: synthesis and reactivity of Calixarene Macrocycles and their applications in the biomedical field; preparation of functionalized polymeric cryogels and applications in the biomedical field for the removal of heparin from blood and derivatives; preparation of macroporous polymeric cryogels and applications in the field of environmental chemistry for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants, in particular boron, arsenic and chromium from waste water.

1. Van Delden, R. A.; Mecca, T.; Rosini, C.; Feringa, B. L. «A Chiroptical Molecular Switch with Distinct Chiral and Photochromic Entities and Its Application in Optical Switching of a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal», Chemistry, A European Journal, 2004, 10, 61.

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/148148878.pdf

2. Mecca, T.; Consoli, G. M. L.; Geraci, C.; La Spina, R.; Cunsolo, F. «Polycationic calix[8]arenes able to recognize and neutralize heparin», Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2006, 4, 3763.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2006/ob/b608887b

3. Spina R.L.; Tripisciano C.; Mecca T.; Cunsolo, F.; Weber, V.; Mattiasson, B. «Chemically modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogel for the adsorption of heparin», J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B, 2014, 102, 1207.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jbm.b.33104

4. Ussia, M.; Di Mauro, A.; Mecca, T.; Cunsolo, F.; Cerruti, P.; Nicotra, G.; Spinella, C.; Impellizzeri, G.; Privitera, V.; Carroccio, S. C. «ZnO-pHEMA nanocomposites: an eco-friendly and reusable material for water remediation», ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018, 10, 40100.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.8b13029

5. Mecca, T.; Ussia, M.; Caretti, D.; Cunsolo, F.; Dattilo, S.; Scurti, S.; Privitera, V.; Carroccio, S. C.; «N-methyl-D-glucamine based cryogels as reusable sponges to enhance heavy metals removal from water», Chem. Eng. J. 2020, 399, 125753.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138589472031881