معرفی
Diego Caccavo is a researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering (DIIN), University of Salerno, Italy. He holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and has been actively contributing to research and teaching since 2017, transitioning from a research fellow to a permanent researcher in 2022. His academic work spans interdisciplinary domains at the intersection of chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and materials science.
- Education: He earned his Bachelor's degree with honors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Salerno in 2013, with part of his thesis work conducted at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. He completed his PhD in 2017 at the University of Salerno.
Dr. Caccavo’s research is centered on hydrogel-based systems for biomedical and agro-food applications, with a strong emphasis on mathematical modeling of drug release mechanisms. His work explores the development of innovative nanoparticle production methods, such as coaxial jet mixers and microfluidic analogs, with a focus on liposome synthesis. He also investigates process control and optimization, particularly in wet granulation and rapid prototyping of pharmaceutical devices. His research integrates transport phenomena, biomaterials science, and process engineering to design advanced drug delivery systems.
The analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on modeling hydrogel behavior, controlled drug release, and nanoparticle synthesis. His work often combines experimental data with computational models, particularly using population balance equations and viscoelastic frameworks. There is a strong trend toward translational research, evident in his spin-off ventures and patent filings. Topics such as in vitro stomach simulation, USP II testing, and pharmacokinetic modeling indicate a growing interest in bridging laboratory findings with clinical outcomes.
Scientific Awards and Recognition:
- Recognized as a Top Scientist 2019–2020 (top 2% globally, PLOS Biology)
- Editorial Board Member of European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics (Elsevier)
- Active peer reviewer for multiple ISI-indexed journals
Dr. Caccavo has supervised over 40 thesis projects in Chemical Engineering, including numerous master’s theses. He has contributed to research grants and collaborative projects, though specific grant names are not mentioned. His entrepreneurial activities include co-founding two spin-offs: Eng4Life S.r.L. and EST S.r.L., which likely commercialize technologies in drug delivery and process instrumentation. He holds two Italian patent applications related to beverage alcohol measurement and gastric pH monitoring, highlighting his innovation in analytical and biomedical devices.
He is actively involved in laboratory research, with affiliations to the T5a Laboratory (DIIN) and the Plant and Process Laboratory (DIFARMA). These labs support his work in process development, formulation, and characterization of advanced materials.
