PATRUNO MARCO VINCENZO

- Characterization of adult stem cells in veterinary medicine - Study the effects of cryopreservation on mesenchymal stem cells isolated from adipose tissue of dog and peripheral blood of horse. - In vivo study on sheep/horse tendon/skin regeneration - Results obtained during these years allowed to widen, also in the veterinary field, knowledge and potential application of stem cells obtained from peripheral blood or adipose tissue. In particular, we have investigated the potential application of stem cells in tendon and skin regeneration both in sheep and horses and in human for full thickness tendon lesions.

Marine ecosystems are a huge source of unexplored “blue” materials for different human applications. Sea urchins are a highly appreciated food resource in Italy and other countries. The edible part of this product is limited, and the vast majority of the product ends up as waste. The BRITEs project intends to fully recycle wastes from the sea urchin food industry and reconvert them in high added-value products, as innovative matrix for tissue regeneration and novel feeds to promote aquaculture systems. We intend to develop unique, eco-friendly and efficient marine biomaterials for skin regeneration applications entirely made of innovative materials (high value collagen and antioxidants) of marine -sea urchin- origin, thus representing per se a groundbreaking novelty in the field of regenerative and marine biotechnology. We plan to obtain the total recycling of an industrial waste, in a perfectly circular economy perspective; within the circular economy framework, this project represents an example of regenerative system in which waste, emissions, and energy leakage are minimized. Aims: 1. to develop biocompatible skin substitutes 2. to extract antioxidants and produce composite biomaterials 3. to produce aquaculture feeds 4. to set up a new pilot full supply chain