Seconda Relazione Tecnico Scientifica Tesi Dottorato (Multifunctional and eco-friendly nanofibrous based tools to control and reduce environmental impacts in agricultural systems)

In the second year, my PhD research activities focused on improving the design and development of advanced nanomaterials selected according to the aims set by the project. Thus, in cooperation with research groups of University of Tuscia (DAFNE and DIBAF), CNR (IIA, IBAF) and Technion (Israel, Prof. E. Zussmann), free-standing nanofibrous layers were developed by electrospinning technology in order to be used as nanofibrous smart fabrics with potentials in providing nutrient-mobilizing molecules and microorganisms to soil. Simultaneously, conductive sensors based on nanofibrous composite materials were designed and investigated as potential units within a sensing device capable to detect gases and VOCs potentially related to the soil composition and metabolism. Therefore my efforts have been addressed to create electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds suitable for the following purposes: i) the creation of nanofibrous PCL scaffolds with more effective and efficient capacity of housing bacteria for a variety of natural (e.g. generation of more eco-friendly agrochemicals and fertilisers) and anthropic (industry and remediation treatments) applications and study of bacteria-surface interactions; ii) the development of siderophores-loading free-standing nanofibrous structures of PCL/PHB polymer blends capable of providing iron to plants (i.e. acting as nanobiostimulants) and investigation of their effects on some plants physiological parameters; iii) the design and test of selective nano-composite conductive sensors based on biodegradable and recyclable polymers, capable of selectively detecting some gases and volatile compounds in traces