Laboratory for Advanced and Scattering Technologies (LAST)

The Laboratory for advanced and scattering technologies (LAST), founded with the colleagues of the University of Palermo, has three main aims. (i) The first aim is the development of theoretical and technical tools for light scattering devices, with a specific focus on technological transfer. (ii) The second aim is to work as a facility for expert-assisted light scattering measurements. (iii) The third objective is the implementation of a scientific program on the interaction and stability of proteins involved in conformational diseases (like neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson). The research focuses, on one hand, on protein interaction affected by macromolecular crowding and, on the other hand, on the supramolecular structures formed by proteins n such conditions.
The laboratory aims to be a reference point for the study of soft and biological matter by light scattering techniques. In this perspective, the lab was built gathering the main scientific expertises of researchers from University and CNR in Palermo, with a long working experience in the field of biological and colloidal systems studied by developing innovative light scattering instrumentation (see: Italian Patent N. 01309135 del 16/2/2002; Carrotta et al. 2007 Eur Biophys J 36:701-709), or theoretical tools (Manno et al. 2004 Physica A 341:40-54; Manno et al. 2006 Biophys J 90:4585-4591).

Members:
Mauro Manno (Principal investigator)
Vincenzo Martorana
Samuele Raccosta