Abstract by Giorgia Puleo

The rise of antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health challenge, undermining the efficacy of conventional antibacterial therapies. These treatments, often reliant on broad-spectrum antibiotics, are limited by reduced efficacy, off-target effects, and the emergence of resistant microbial strains. This crisis necessitates the urgent development of innovative therapeutic strategies that overcome the limitations of current approaches while maintaining precision and efficacy.
Among the promising solutions, advanced biomaterials offer unique opportunities to address these challenges. Nanostructured materials, in particular, provide high surface-area-to-volume ratios, tuneable physicochemical properties, and the ability to precisely target pathogenic sites. These characteristics make them ideal candidates for overcoming the barriers faced by conventional therapies.

This thesis investigates the design, synthesis, and application of innovative biomaterials tailored for antibacterial applications. Key contributions include the development of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide and gold nanorods composites for photodynamic therapy. These materials demonstrated efficacy under visible light irradiation, inducing oxidative damage in biomolecular targets such as DNA and lipid membranes, evaluated through advanced spectroscopic methods.  
Sustainability in biomaterial design is exemplified through the innovative use of lignin, a renewable and underutilized biopolymer, for nanofiber production. By employing green synthesis methods, lignin was transformed into functional nanofibers with intrinsic autofluorescence, antioxidant activity, and mechanical properties. These nanofibers demonstrated potential as carriers for therapeutic molecules,  such as bacitracin, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for biomedical applications.      
The study also explores polymeric microparticles produced through electrospraying, utilizing biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS) as a matrix for the delivery of ciprofloxacin. This system addresses the challenges of poorly water-soluble antibiotics, demonstrating sustained release, enhanced drug permeability, and strong antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.       
By addressing the limitations of conventional therapies and introducing sustainable, multidimensional biomaterial solutions, this work provides a significant contribution to the development of next-generation therapeutic platforms. The findings emphasize the critical importance of biomaterial design and functionality in creating targeted, effective, and environmentally conscious solutions for pressing global health challenges.