IZZO LORELLA

WORK EXPERIENCE
December 2018 - present. Associate Professor in Inorganic Chemistry at University of Insubria - Department of Biotecnology and Life Sciences.
November 2017-November 2018 Lecturer in Chemistry at University of Insubria - Department of Biotecnology and Life Sciences.
January 2002-2017 Lecturer in Chemistry at University of Salerno - Department of Chemistry and Biology.
June 2007 – September 2007 Visiting Scientist at Cardiff University – School of Chemistry (Soft Matter Research Group) and Centre of Polymer Therapeutics - sponsored by the EPSRC Platform Grant titled “Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel Polymer Therapeutics as Nanomedicines”.
This Platform involves scientists from Cardiff University, University of Bath, Oxford University, London King’s College, Bristol University. L. Izzo was member of the Platform in the period 2007-2010.
January 2004-January 2005 Visiting Scientist at Centre of Polymer Therapeutics (Head of the Centre: Prof Ruth Duncan) – Cardiff University (UK) sponsored by BBSRC.
During this period L. Izzo has carried out synthesis and characterisation of dendrimers to be used in drug delivery.
November 2000-Dicember 2001 Post-doctoral position sponsored by EU at University of Salerno - Department of Chemistry.
During this period L. Izzo has carried out the synthesis of meso-metallocene compounds and studied their application in homogeneous catalysis.
January 1998 – May 1998 Post-graduated research work for SYREMONT S.p.A. carried out (simultaneously to the Ph.D. work) at University of Catania (ITALY) - Department of Chemistry.
Polymeric materials were investigated as a way of protecting ancient mosaics.
June 1997- Oct. 1997 Post-graduated research work for ENICHEM S.p.A. (short term contract).
New catalytic systems, involved in the polymerization of styrene, were synthesised and studied.



EDUCATION


November 1997-October 2000 Ph.D. in Chemistry - University of Salerno, Department of Chemistry.
Thesis’ title: “Studies on zironocenes based catalysts with different symmetry in the copolymerization of styrene with olefins and in the homopolymerization of ethylene”.

Academic Year 1995-1996 Master Degree in Chemistry - University of Salerno, Department of Chemistry. Graduated with 110/110.
Experimental thesis on “Kinetic studies on ethylene-styrene copolymerization in presence of homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts”.

September 1998 Teacher’s training diploma.

July 1989 High School diploma based mainly on scientific subjects. Graduated with 60/60.

INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION
November 2020-present. Scientific referent for research projects relating to the synthesis and characterization of innovative materials for applications in tires as part of a partnership agreement between the University of Insubria and the Prometeon Tire Group.

January 2021- December 2021 PI of the annual research project entitled: "Synthesis and characterization of materials from renewable sources for tyre applications" stipulated between the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and the Prometeon Tire Group for a value of 60,000, 00 euros.

AWARDED GRANT

2007 Scientific director of the research project titled: ”Study of biomolecular interactions with stereoregular, hydrosoluble polymers” in collaboration with the Centre for Polymer Therapeutics – Cardiff University – and the School of Chemistry – Cardiff University –UK, financially supported by the Platform grant EP/C013220/1. (9240 pounds)


2003 Scientific director of the research project titled: “Study of metallocene and post-metallocene systems for the production of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by homopolymerisation“ funded by Regione Campania (LR/5). (24832,50 euros)


2001 Scientific director of the research project titled: “Synthesis and study of new type of Ziegler-Natta homogeneous catalysts for the polymerisation of -olefins” funded by Regione Campania (LR/5). (12000000 lire)


INVITED SEMINARS

- Università Federico II - Napoli – Dipartimento di Oncologia Medica.“Nanotecnologie in medicina: passato, presente e futuro”. Napoli, 10 dicembre 2009.

- Cardiff University (UK) - School of Chemistry. “Synthesis and characterisation of PEG-dendrons”. Cardiff, 14 luglio 2006.


RESEARCH


Research interests

Broadly speaking, L. Izzo works in the field of polymerization catalysis. Despite the interlinked nature of all parts of her research, for the sake of simplicity her main scientific activity can be summarized as follows:
1) Mechanistic studies on Ziegler-Natta homogeneous catalysis;
2) Design, synthesis and characterization of polymers with novel topologies and properties.


1) Mechanistic studies on Ziegler-Natta homogeneous catalysis.

Since her diploma work, LI has been carrying out extensive work on the mechanism of copolymerization of ethylene and styrene in the presence of classical C2 and CS symmetric zirconocene catalysts. These complexes, once activated by a Lewis acid, are able to produce either alternating or block copolymers in dependence on the mechanism of action with respect to the styrene. Kinetic studies of ethylene and styrene copolymerization allowed individuating the experimental conditions to produce nearly alternating copolymers. It was also found that block copolymers can be produced in the presence of a metallocene with bulky substituents (tert-Butyl) on the ligands. These substituents are able to change the reactivity of styrene and so its behaviour in copolymerization.

Another important topic investigated by LI was the influence of catalytic systems on the regiochemistry and the stereochemistry of styrene insertion. In particular, an approach based on the synthesis of low molecular mass models has been developed to study both the copolymer tacticity and the regiochemistry of styrene insertion. With such approach, simulating “short chain” molecules and comparing them with copolymer chains, it was possible to understand the influence of the catalyst geometry on the copolymer stereo-structure. Furthermore, the study and the control over the regiochemistry insertion of styrene afforded, thanks to both the nature of the metal centre and the substituents on its ligands, low molecular mass molecules with stereogenic centre using hydrooligomerization processes.

Of industrial relevance, it is worth mentioning how understanding the behaviour of a few metallocenes as catalytic systems for olefin copolymerization, paved the way for the synthesis of new copolymeric materials based on styrene-containing isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene. The synthesis was carried out using trace of ethylene to reactivate the catalyst after the insertion of styrene. NMR spectroscopy and DSC were carried out to characterise all polymers. NMR spectroscopy was also used for investigating the stereochemistry of styrene vs propylene in such novel copolymers.

Finally, Meso-metallocene complexes with Ti, Zr and Hf, were tested in the homopolymerization of ethylene and successfully opened a new synthetic route for low density polyethylene. Generally, LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) is produced by copolymerization of ethylene with -olefins, while it was found that ethyl branched polyethylenes can be easily synthesized in absence of butene in the feed due to a mechanism of chain transfer on the metal centre.


2) Design, synthesis and characterization of polymers with novel topologies and properties.

The design of polymeric and copolymeric structures and, more generally, of complex architectures requires a thorough knowledge of the chemistry involved. Thus, the experience in studying polymerization mechanisms becomes an asset when it comes to the understanding of the correlation between catalyst geometry and polymer microstructure. In this framework, new polymeric materials or more convenient processes can be developed thanks to the knowledge of the catalytic species behaviour with respect to a specific substrate. In particular, the analysis of polymer and copolymer details such as the monomer sequence distribution, the sample homogeneity and the degree of stereoregularity, allows the understanding of the catalytic mechanism and consequently a precise control over the polymerisation process. Thus, it is possible to employ controlled polymerisation techniques for the synthesis of complex, hyperbranched polymeric architectures.
Banking on her previous experience, L. Izzo’s research has therefore been focused on the synthesis of multifunctional polymers to be employed as carrier systems for drug delivery or for application in bioactive food packaging, water treatments, medical devices, and tissue engineering.
In particular, L. Izzo has been interested in:
a) optimising macromolecular design for specific drug delivery applications, hinging on a better understanding of the endocytic fate;
b) investigating the interactions of polymer chains with the cell membrane, placing particular attention onto hydrophilic-stereoregular polymers (e.g. isotactic and syndiotactic);
c) synthesis of novel intrinsically bactericidal polymers with star-like (BnABn) or “tree”-like (ABn) architectures. These polymers can be tailor-designed and properly functionalized for potential application in tissue engineering, medical devices, food packaging, as well as water treatments.




TEACHING

L. Izzo has taught the following subjects:

- Laboratory of General Chemistry (Chemistry - Unisa)
- Laboratory of Characterisation and Purification of organic compounds (Unisa)
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry (Unisa)
- Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry (Unisa)
- Course of Environmental Chemistry (Unisa)
- Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry (Unisa)
- Stoichiometry
- Course of General and Inorganic Chemistry (Uninsubria)
- Course of Polymer Chemistry and Tecnology (Uninsubria)


CLERICAL DUTIES
2020 - present. Member of the teaching staff of Ph.Ds in Chemistry and Environmental Science (Uninsubria)

2019 - present . Member of the AiQua Board of the Life Sciences Degree (commission for internal quality assurance of teaching) and of the AiQua-R Board of the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (commission of internal quality assurance of research) .

2004- 2017 Member of the High School Students Orientation Panel of the Department.
This Commission organises one week long stages as a way of helping High School students in choosing the University Degree; the stages is composed by seminars and lab demos.

2009-2012 Member of the teaching staff of Ph.Ds in Chemistry (Unisa)

2006-2008 Coordinator for the teaching modules of the Department of Chemistry.
L. Izzo organised the timetable of Courses for the first degree and the “Specilistic” Laurea (Master). Among her duties, she updates the student’s guide with the latest information about exam programmes, provides students with academic guidance and tutorial support, and checks their academic plans for congruency. In this role, L. Izzo strictly collaborates with the Head of Teaching in the organising the teaching aspects of all courses.

2003 Member of the University Board for the Quality of Research.
This panel makes strategic decision and controls the standards of research within the University.