Caterina Branca
University of Messina, Italy
Biography
Caterina Branca is currently an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Messina (Italy). She completed diploma of scientific maturity at the liceo scientifico "archimede", messina, Italy in 1989 and degree in physics at the physics department of the university of messina, Italy in 1996. She was awarded PhD in physics from University of Messina in the year 2000. Her research activity concerns essentially with the study of the structural and dynamical properties of soft condensed matter, such as disaccharide aqueous solutions, polymeric systems, gels, glasses, etc. For such kind of studies a wide class of techniques has been employed such as light (Raman) and neutron scattering (QENS, INS, SANS), photon correlation spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, etc. Currently, the research activity concerns with the synthesis and characterization of “smart” polymeric hydrogels and block copolymer micelles as novel carrier systems in the field of drug targeting. She is the author of about 90 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals in addition to numerous conference proceedings.