Barbara Saccà

Prof. Barbara Saccà is a Professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and the Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB). She is a Principal Investigator in the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1093, leading Project A6 focused on DNA-based nanocontainers for protein spatial confinement. Her research integrates DNA nanotechnology with molecular biology to engineer functional nanostructures for biomedical applications.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry (2002), Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich
• Diploma in Chemistry (1997), University of Padova, Italy

Research Interests: Her work revolves around designing DNA-based nanostructures to mimic and control biological processes. Key areas include spatial confinement of proteins, dynamic DNA architectures, and biomedical applications such as biosensors and drug delivery systems. Recent advancements include programmable nanocompartments and enzyme-functionalized DNA scaffolds.

Publications: Over 50+ peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact studies in Nature Communications, ACS Nano, and Angewandte Chemie. Her work highlights innovations like DNA origami-based protein encapsulation and plasmonic hybrid devices.

Advising & Grants: Led multiple DFG-funded projects, including her independent research group (2009–present). Supervised postdoctoral researchers and contributed to early-career programs in the ZMB.

Labs/Teams: Head of the Bionanotechnology Group at the ZMB, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to bridge nanotechnology and life sciences.