Alessandro Pezzella: Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1997 at the University of Naples “Federico II”. He has carried out research mainly in the field of 5,6-dihydroxyindole polymerization, melanin pigment characterization, and oxidative behaviour of phenolic compounds associated with molecular mechanisms underlying degenerative pathologies. molecular mechanisms underlying degenerative pathologies. In recent years his research activity also focused on the exploitation of bioinspired polymers and heterocyclic compounds in organic electronics and bioelectronics.

Main research results are represented by the disclosure of endogenous neurotoxin formation paths of relevance to biological environments, the definition of open issues in melanin research (solubility; structure; morphology), the design and developing of ad hoc protocols for the fabrication eumelanin based electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Since 2008, he coordinates in Naples one of the world lading groups addressing the exploitation of the natural pigment eumelanin in organic electronics. Research activities in this field are disclosing major potentialities of eumelanin as biocompatible active interface between electronic devices and cell cultures. A pioneer study on this topic lead to development and fabrication of eumelanin substrates (eumelanin thin films: ETFs) for stem cell growth and differentiation. This technology also opened to 3D modelling of eumelanin substrates and to the fabrication of microtubular architectures. Parallel studies are addressing the improvement e and modulation of electrical properties of the ETFs.

He was visiting scientist at the Daresbury Synchrotron Laboratory of CCRC (Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, UK); the Lund Laser Centre (LLC) Lund Se; École Polytechnique de Montréal, CAN; The University of California, Santa Cruz, US.

Author or co-author of more than 100 peer-reviewed (h-Index: 31 (Scopus), Citations total: over 2900) publications in the fields of organic and bioorganic chemistry, organic electronics and bioelectronics, material science; two patents; a book chapter for the book: Organic Electronics - Emerging Concepts and Technologies (Publisher: Wiley-VCH); two chapters for the Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry -III book series (Alan Katritzky, Ed.).