- Allouche Y, Marchetti S, Bengalli R, Motta G, Pagliarulo L, Cazier F, Achard S, Fadel M, Mantecca P, Courcot D, Ledoux F, Verdin A, Gualtieri M. Comparison of submerged and air liquid interface exposure: limitations and differences in the toxicological effects evaluated in bronchial epithelial cells. Environ Res. 279 (2025). doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121856.
- Bengalli R, Gualtieri M, Ornelas M, Tzanov T, Mantecca P. Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2025 Apr 4;15(7):549. doi: 10.3390/nano15070549.
- Furxhi I, Perucca M, Baldi G, Dami V, Cioni A, Koivisto AJ, Bengalli R, Mantecca P, Motta G, Carriere M, Kose O, Nicosia A, Ravegnani F, Burrueco-Subirà D, Candalija A, Cabellos J, Vázquez-Campos S, Lahive E, Eagles E, de Ipiña JL, Oliveira J, Conin P, Zanoni I, Brigliadori A, Faccani L, Syed T, Haq EU, Mahony C, Serantoni M, Blosi M, Exner T, Costa A. The fruits of data shepherding: A collection of open FAIR datasets for titanium dioxide coated photocatalytic surfaces. NanoImpact. 2025 Aug 29;39:100583. doi: 10.1016/j.impact.2025.100583.
- Furxhi I, Mirzaei M, Costa A, Bengalli R. From literature to predictive modelling: Insights and machine learning applications from in vitro comet assays related to the genotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanomaterials. NanoImpact, 100562. doi: 10.1016/j.impact.2025.100562.
- Mosallaei M, Kärkkäinen E, Laurikainen P, Soundararajan CK, Saarimäki E, Paajanen M., Perelshtein I, Ivanova K, Ramon E, Tzanov T, Negrini B, D’Abramo C, Bonfanti P, Colombo A, Mantecca P.. Nano-engineering of a thermoplastic compound with CuO nanoparticles for the development of safe antimicrobial and anti-biofouling fish cage nets. RSC Advances, 15(26), 20944–20956 (2025). doi: 10.1039/d5ra02611c.
- Negrini B, Floris, P, D’Abramo C, Aldaghi SA, Costamagna M, Perucca M, Saibene, M, Perelshtein I., Colombo A., Bonfanti P., Mantecca P. Comparative toxicity and environmental impact assessments of sonochemically-synthesized CuO and Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles using zebrafish and LCA tools. Discover Nano, 20(1) (2025). doi:10.1186/s11671-025-04225-7.
- Persico A, Molteni L, Mantecca P, Kravicz M, Bragato C. Transgenic zebrafish embryos to evaluate the in vivo effects of different liposome-paclitaxel nanocarrier system. Sci Rep. 2025 May 26;15(1):18358. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00258-1. PMID: 40419515; PMCID: PMC12106770.
Research
Plastics&Environment Conference – 1st announcement
The third edition of the interdisciplinary conference “Plastics and the Environment,” organized by the University of Milan-Bicocca and POLARIS Research Centre, builds on previous workshops held in Ravenna by the University of Bologna. It brings together experts to address key challenges related to environmental and socioeconomic sustainability, as well as the health implications of the “world of plastics.” Involving scientists from various disciplines, spanning chemical, biological, physical, social, and economic sciences, the conference will explore the monitoring and characterization of micro- and nanoplastics, their effects on ecosystems and human health, socio-cultural and educational strategies toward zero waste, the development of safe and sustainable materials, as well as degradation and mitigation approaches within the circular economy and the bioeconomy. The ultimate goal is to update on the cutting edge of various research fields while also promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration to better address innovation and sustainability.
Date: June 4-5, 2026
Venue: Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Aula Magna (Ed. U6), Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1.
Discover the scientific sessions and don’t miss all the useful information for participating in our conference.
Session 2 – Ecotoxicological and environmental impacts of plastics: emerging evidences and future challenges
Session 3 – Human exposure and adverse health effects of micro and nano plastics: unravelling the mysteries behind these ubiquitous threats.
Session 4 – Promoting Safe and Sustainable by Design, circularity and bioeconomy in polymers innovation
Session 5 – Climate-neutral cities and plastic. Rethinking practices, governance and politics for urban and environmental health
Organizing Committee
University of Milano-Bicocca, POLARIS Research Centre
Rossella Bengalli, Monica Bernardi, Paola Branduardi, Matteo Colleoni, Maddalena Collini, Mariaclaudia Cusumano, Maurizio Gualtieri, Alessandra Lama, Paride Mantecca, Valeria Mapelli, Riccardo Milanesi, Giulio Sancini, Giulia Terribile.
Scientific Committe
University of Milano-Bicocca: Paride Mantecca, Maurizio Gualtieri, Luca Ferrero, Francesco Saliu, Veronica Nava, Paola Branduardi, Immacolata Serra, Maddalena Collini, Giulio Sancini Monica Bernardi, Matteo Colleoni
University of Bologna: Elena Fabbri, Paola Valbonesi, Chiara Samorì, Andrea Facchin, Paola Galletti, Alessandra Landi
University of Milano: Marco Parolini, Lavinia Casati
Istituto di Ricerca Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCSS: Paolo Bigini
For info please contact us at: polaris@unimib.it
For info about registration and abstract submission please visit the website of the conference: https://eventi.unibo.it/workshop-plastiche-ambiente
MEETmeSCHOOL
MEETmeSCHOOL activities, aimed at schools of all levels, aim to engage students in the scientific activities conducted by research groups. These initiatives are part of Citizen Science, an approach that promotes the direct participation of non-experts in the research process through co-design and co-creation.
Thanks to RESPIRO, POLARIS researchers will introduce Citizen Science as a research tool.
POLARIS activities within the MMS will take place in the early months of 2026 in schools in the Milan metropolitan area.
With RESPIRO, students explore the topic of air quality and its impact on our well-being, becoming protagonists in monitoring activities in school environments.
To learn more, visit the dedicated page!
RESPIRO – MeetMe@School
POLARIS, in collaboration with the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (UniSR), is participating in the European MeetME@School program with a citizen science project for air monitoring using RESPIRO sensors developed within the MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action) ecosystem.
The school-based activity, entitled “RESPIRO – Monitoring of Air Quality and Personal Exposure”, will include an awareness-raising presentation on air pollution and its effects on health, followed by the active participation of middle school students, who will be researchers as first-hand users of the low-cost sensors for monitoring particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), gases (CO2, CO), and environmental parameters (temperature, pressure, and humidity) in indoor and outdoor school environments. The monitoring activity also includes the compilation of a daily diary to record events that may affect air quality. The data collected will be analysed by POLARIS researchers that will compare the data based on, for example, weather conditions, the location of the schools in the urban context, and in comparison with data collected by national and European bodies. They will then present the results to the schools during a feedback day.
The activity is ongoing in four schools throughout the Milan metropolitan area. Further details are available at the following link: https://www.meetmetonight.it/2024/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PosterMM@school_rework_2025__02.pdf
MEETmeTONIGHT 2025
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night, the event promoted by the European Union that annually brings science to the general public, involving hundreds of cities across Europe. This year’s edition, scheduled for September 26 and 27, will see the participation of over 460 cities in 25 countries.
For the occasion, MEETmeTonight returns to Milan, two days of activities, meetings, workshops, and shows, open to everyone, hosted this year by the University of Milan, at Via Festa del Perdono 7 – in the heart of the city.
Join us for a face-to-face encounter with research and its protagonists!
Find out more about the planned activities and consult the complete program.
Heart of the program are the 5 European Missions – adaptation to climate change; fight against cancer; protection of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers; climate-neutral and intelligent cities; soil health – expressed in numerous activities involving professors, researchers and young PhDs.
Among the thematic pavilions dedicated to the 5 Horizon Europe Missions, on September 27th there will also be researchers from the POLARIS Research Centre, with a thematic pavilion entitled “Smart Cities and Health: Discover the Air We Breathe“.
The proposed activity aims to explore the topic of air quality from different points of view. The stand includes various instruments for measuring air pollutants, from scientific-level instruments to low-cost instruments, such as ‘smart’ sensors used by the POLARIS Interdepartmental Centre within the Open-Living lab of the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, PNRR Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Creation and strengthening of “innovation ecosystems”, construction of “territorial R&D leaders” (Spoke 1 – Urban Regeneration. City of Tomorrow, WP1).
From smart sensors that measure air quality to optical microscopes for close-up exploration of cells and tissues: an interactive participatory science experience to discover how pollution affects our breathing and daily well-being.
We look forward to seeing you at our pavilion!
RESPIRO
Real-time Environmental Sensing for Personal Intelligent Risk Optimization – RESPIRO
In a world where the quality of the air we breathe is increasingly at the center of attention, the idea of RESPIRO was born: an innovative, portable, intelligent and economical device, designed to help every citizen to monitor the surrounding environment and make informed decisions in real time.
RESPIRO is more than just a sensor: it is a knowledge and awareness platform that puts the power of science in the hands of every citizen
Born from an idea of the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre of the University of Milan Bicocca, RESPIRO was developed within the MUSA project, by the University of Milan-Bicocca and by ROAD – Rome Advanced District, in collaboration with a specialized company in the sector, XEarPro Srl.
RESPIRO was designed to allow everyone to know in real time the air quality of every place, even inside buildings.
It is a device capable of detecting the presence of air pollutants such as fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1), carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) and integrating the data with information on temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. Being physically compact and wearable, it can check the characteristics of the air in multiple points, attaching to backpacks or jackets. Each number is georeferenced, transmitted to a central server in real time and projected on an LED display, where it provides the user with a detailed and immediate picture of the air quality of the environments in which they live.
The practical innovation of RESPIRO lies in the fact that the device can be used not only by scientists who are experts in air quality, but by anyone who wants to evaluate more conscious choices about their exposure to pollutants. By enabling participatory science approaches, it aims to improve the well-being of all through the active involvement of citizens, students and researchers who move around the neighborhoods. The data collected are integrated into a broader monitoring network, useful both to the scientific community and to the territory.
The final goal is not only to measure pollution, but to understand how urban policies and lifestyles can concretely improve public health. It is therefore an important step forward in the protection of health and urban sustainability, offering citizens an advanced tool for analyzing the surrounding environment.
Already tested in prototype form, the tool will thus allow everyone to have reliable data on risk areas available and identify behaviors for which more incisive interventions are necessary.
As part of a participatory science project, researchers from UNIMIB and ROAD have recently designed and implemented pilot campaigns in which workers and students monitored the air quality of the Bicocca district (Milan) and the Ostiense district (Rome) using the device.
The campaigns involved several phases:
We gave each volunteer a device, assigning a route and time slot in which to perform at least three repetitions of the dynamic monitoring (lasting approximately 1 hour) in the neighborhood of interest. Through guided routes, the volunteers were able to appreciate the spatial and temporal variations of the concentrations of pollutants in the neighborhood, actively contributing to the research.
At the end of the campaign, data analysis allowed us to create maps representing the air quality of the neighborhood under study in different time slots and to appreciate any differences between days or time slots with different concentrations of particulate matter or meteorological situations.
The image below shows an example of the campaign carried out in the Bicocca district with data collected on two days with different weather conditions: sunny vs. rain.
VINNY
Advanced nano encapsulation of bio-based pesticides and fertilisers for a circular and sustainable viticulture
VINNY is a highly innovative 4-years European funded project focused on sustainable viticulture.
The project aims to develop eco-friendly nanobiopesticides and nanobiofertilizers from grapevines and industrial by-products to reduce agrochemical use and promote healthier soils.
The ambition is to reduce the use of conventional agrochemicals by 50% by employing novel and bio-nanoprocessing ttechnologies to develop and encapsulate novel bioactives into biodegradable matrices, making them more effective and bioavailable.
The consortium is powered by 19 partners from Portugal, Spain, Austria, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom, Israel, Belgium, Romania, and France. This partnership brings together the expertise of universities, research centres, SMEs, and large industries to create innovative solutions for viticulture.
The human and environmental safety of the newly developed nanobiopesticides and biofertilizers will be assessed with a focus on nanotoxicology and risk assessment, providing critical data to ensure the formulations are safe and sustainable, in line with EU regulations and Safe-by-Design (SbD) principles.
UNIMIB is leader of WP5, which aims to evaluate the safety assessment starting with studies of nanotoxicology, followed by LCA studies and the development of a Safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) platform to support the entire project.
Call: HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01-34 – Advanced (nano and bio-based) materials for sustainable agriculture (RIA)
Grant Agreement: 101130039
Project Coordinator: University of Minho
UNIMIB WP leader: WP5 Leader
Further information can be found on the official project page or facebook page.
Research
This page provides an overview of the main research areas in which the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre is involved.
AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH
Monitoring of air quality in indoor and outdoor environments and study of the impact on human and environmental health, with focus on the presence of air contaminants and the spread of pathogens.
Recent Projects:
INNOVATIVE, SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Support for the development of safe, sustainable and innovative (nano)technologies, with assessment of their safety during the entire life cycle (circularity). Study of emerging contaminants, their impact on health and risk prevention and mitigation strategies.
Recent Projects:
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY
Evaluation of the environmental, economic and social impacts of products and processes; development of environmental policies with a view to sustainability and circularity.
Recent Projects:
MEETmeTONIGHT 2024
MEETmeTonight, the event dedicated to scientific dissemination during the European Researchers’ Night, returns to Milan. This new edition includes two days of free initiatives open to all ages with stands, talks, workshops and shows.
Heart of the program are the 5 European Missions – adaptation to climate change; fight against cancer; protection of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers; climate-neutral and intelligent cities; soil health – expressed in numerous activities involving professors, researchers and young PhDs.
The event is organized by 5 universities in Milan – University of Milan-Bicocca, University of Milan, Bocconi University, Polytechnic University of Milan and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University – and by formicablu. It is a unique opportunity to get closer to the world of research, science and innovation.
In this context, the POLARIS research centre will be present at the event with a thematic stand at the Science Park in Viale Sarca (near Bicocca Stadium). At the SC06 stand entitled “SMART SENS – test the quality of your environment!” the researchers will show their research activities to the public.
The proposed activity aims to explore the topic of air quality from different points of view. The stand includes various instruments for measuring air pollutants, from scientific-level instruments to low-cost instruments, such as ‘smart’ sensors used by the POLARIS Interdepartmental Centre within the Open-Living lab of the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, PNRR Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Creation and strengthening of “innovation ecosystems”, construction of “territorial R&D leaders” (Spoke 1 – Urban Regeneration. City of Tomorrow, WP1).
The public will learn how these instruments work and the main environmental monitoring techniques. Additionally, part of the experience also includes an in-depth look at the effects of these pollutants on our respiratory system.
In the afternoon, researchers from the POLARIS Centre will also be involved in the workshop entitled “What do you breathe in your neighborhood? Understanding the urban environment by walking” organized together with researchers from CEMTET (Research Center on Mobility, Tourism and Territory) which will be held in the U7 building (via Padre Gerardo Beccaro 20).
The workshop, aimed at adults and boys and girls aged 14 and up, offers a collective experience of observing the Bicocca district to explore its accessibility and inclusiveness. You can participate in this workshop in two time slots (14:00-16:30, 16:30-19:00). Sign up to attend: registration is required on Eventbrite at the link. There are 15 spots available for each time slot.
The quality of the air we breathe every day is often influenced by our lifestyle choices, which can determine the release of particles and other pollutants into the atmosphere, with a huge impact on our health.
The activity proposed by the workshop presents an interdisciplinary and interactive approach to explore the topic of air quality from different points of view. The proposal for an itinerant activity aims to collect data on the air quality of the neighborhood, also considering how different sources of pollutants in closed (indoor) and open (outdoor) environments or how mobility choices can affect personal exposure.
Check out the program for more information.
Upcoming event with POLARIS
XXVI Conference “Methods, Practices, and Policies for the Future of Mobility”
On September 19 and 20 2024, the University of Milan-Bicocca will host the 26th edition of the Conference of the The Italian Society of Transport and Logistics
Economists (SIET), entitled “Methods, Practices, and Policies for the Future of Mobility”
The conference is organized by the Department of Economics, Quantitative Methods and Strategy and the Department of Sociology and Social Research.
In this perspective, on Friday 20 September from 11.30 to 13.30 in the De Lillo room the thematic session “Environmental sciences meet Transport Economy: challenges in sustainability promotion and monitoring solutions” will take place, is sponsored by the POLARIS research centre.
The session, chaired by Dr. Simone Caiello and Prof. Luca Ferrero, will delve into the relationship between Mobility and Air Quality, thanks to the contributions of professors and researchers on air pollutants and their implications on health and climate, as well as on the strategies that can be implemented to promote increasingly sustainable mobility and logistics.
Check out the program for more information.
