Doctoral candidate
DC8
Sapienza University of Rome · Italy
Biography
Sudenur Özbey holds an integrated Master’s degree in Pharmacy from Ankara University, Türkiye. During her studies, she focused on nanomaterials and their biomedical applications, with an emphasis on drug delivery and biosensing. Her research background includes hands-on experience in developing electrochemical biosensors and nanostructured interfaces, complemented by an Erasmus+ research internship at the Institute of Chemistry at TU Berlin. Having contributed to several research projects and peer-reviewed publications, she is now eager to apply her background to polymeric nanostructures and biofilm modulation within the HEAL-4WARD Doctoral Network.
Doctoral project
This project focuses on the development and characterisation of polymeric nanostructures and their application in modulating multispecies biofilms associated with chronic wounds. It aims to investigate the antibiofilm potential of these materials and evaluate how their physicochemical properties influence their performance. The expected outcomes include the development and evaluation of polymer-based nanostructures with promising antibiofilm properties, alongside insights into their potential application in chronic wound management.
Polymeric biomaterials
Nanomedicine
Biointerfaces
Antibiofilm strategies
Host institution
Sapienza University of Rome
Country
Italy
Main supervisors
Prof. Iolanda Francolini, Alessandra Del Giudice, Rosanna Papa
Secondments
Secondment 1 · 3 months
Prof. Gustavo Bodelon González, University of Vigo, Spain
Title: Advanced biophysical and imaging characterisation of polymeric nanostructure–biofilm interfaces
Purpose: To utilise advanced surface characterisation and high-resolution imaging platforms to evaluate the spatial organisation and direct interactions between polymeric nanostructures and chronic wound multispecies biofilms
Secondment 2 · 3 months
Dr. Vincenzo Taresco, School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham
Title: Synthesis, design, and optimization of functional polymeric biomaterials
Purpose: To synthesize tailored natural and synthetic polymeric nanostructures, optimizing their physicochemical properties (surface charge, morphology, stability) and antimicrobial capabilities for biofilm modulation
Secondment 3 · 2 months
Prof. Evangelos Giamarellos-Bourboulis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Title: Clinical and translational evaluation of nanostructures in multispecies wound biofilm models and AI-assisted infection prediction
Purpose: To assess the biological response, immune-modulation, and antimicrobial susceptibility of multispecies biofilms derived from chronic wound bacterial isolates upon treatment with the nanostructures. In collaboration with clinical experts, DC8 will receive training in the interpretation and integration of microbiological and clinical data and will contribute to the development and/or validation of AI-based models for the early prediction and risk stratification of wound infections
