Pubblicazioni

MOST RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

The research activity is documented by more than 290 papers, published in journals such as Science, Nature Materials and Advanced Materials. Her works collected almost 20.000 Google Scholar (almost 15.000 Scopus) citations resulting in an h-index of 70 (63 Scopus). Furthermore, the works cited at least 10 times (i10-index) are more than 180 (Google Scholar) 

https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=4vNWapMAAAAJ&hl=it 

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7005294241

Listed in the following are the most relevant publications:

• Macchia, E. and Torsi, L.* Sensing regimes in potentiometric immunoassays. Nature Reviews Materials (IF=87.2)2025, DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00863-6
• Macchia, E., Di Franco, C., Scandurra, C., Sarcina. L., Piscitelli, M., Catacchio, M., Caputo, M., Bollella, P., Scamarcio, G.*, Torsi, L.* Photonic single-affinity detections at 10^-20 Advanced Materials (IF=29.4) 2025, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202418610
• Scandurra, C., Björkström, K., Caputo, M., Sarcina, L., Genco, E., Modena, F., Viola, FA., Brunetti, C., Kovács-Vajna, Z.M., Di Franco, C., Haeberle, L., Larizza, P., Mancini, M.T., Österbacka, R., Reeves, W., Scamarcio, G., Wheeler, M., Caironi, M.*, Cantatore, E.*, Torricelli, F.*, Esposito, I.*, Macchia, E.*, Torsi, L.* Analysis of Clinical Samples of Pancreatic Cyst's Lesions with A Multi-Analyte Bioelectronic SiMoT. Advanced Science (IF=15.1) 2024, 202308141, DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308141
• Macchia, E., Torricelli, F., Caputo, M., Sarcina, L., Scandurra, C., Bollella, P., Catacchio, M., Piscitelli, M., Di Franco, C., Scamarcio, G., Torsi, L.* Point-Of-Care Ultra-Portable Single-Molecule Bioassays for One-Health. Advanced Materials (IF=29.4) 2023, 202309705, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309705. Part of the “Hall of Fame collection” and featured as frontispiece of the issue
• Di Franco, C.*, Piscitelli, M., Macchia, E., Scandurra, C., Catacchio, M., Torsi, L.*, Scamarcio, G.* Kelvin probe force microscopy on patterned large-area biofunctionalized surfaces: a reliable ultrasensitive platform for biomarker detection. Journal of Materials Chemistry C (IF=6.4) 2023, vol. 12, pag. 73-79 DOI: 10.1039/d3tc03110a
• Genco, E., Modena, F., Sarcina, L., Björkström, K., Brunetti, C., Caironi, M., Caputo, M., Demartis, V.M., Di Franco, C., Frusconi, G., Haeberle, L., Larizza, P., Mancini, M.T., Österbacka, R., Reeves, W., Scamarcio, G., Scandurra, C., Wheeler, M., Cantatore, E.* Irene Esposito, I.* Macchia, E.* Torricelli, F.* Viola, A.F.* Torsi, L.* A Single-Molecule Bioelectronic Portable Array for Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer Precursors. Advanced Materials (IF=29.4) 2023, 202304102, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304102. Featured as frontispiece of the issue
• Scandurra,C., Kim Björkström, K., Sarcina, L., Imbriano, A., Di Franco, C., Österbacka, R., Bolella, P., Scamarcio, G., Torsi, L.,* Macchia, E.,* Single Molecule with a Large Transistor – SiMoT cytokine IL-6 Detection Benchmarked against a Chemiluminescent Ultrasensitive Immunoassay Array, Advanced Materials Technologies (IF= 6.8) 2023, 202201910, DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201910
• Di Franco, C., Macchia, E., Sarcina, L., Ditaranto, N., Khaliq, A., Torsi, L.,* Scamarcio, G.* Extended Work Function Shift of Large-Area Biofunctionalized Surfaces Triggered by a Few Single-Molecule Affinity Binding Events. Advanced Materials Interface (IF=5.4), 2022, 202201829; DOI: 10.1002/admi.202201829
• Sarcina, L.; Macchia, E;* Loconsole, G.; D’Attoma, G.; Bollella, P.; Catacchio M.; Leonetti, F.; Di Franco, C.; Elicio, V.; Scamarcio, G.; Palazzo, G.; Boscia, D.; Saldarelli, S.; and Torsi, L.*  Fast and Reliable Electronic Assay of a Xylella fastidiosa Single Bacterium in Infected Plants Sap. Advanced Science (IF= 15.1) 2022, 2203900 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203900. Featured as main covered
• Macchia, E., Kovacs-Vajna, Z.M., Loconsole, D., Sarcina, L., Redolfi, M., Chironna, M., Torricelli, F.,* Torsi, L.,* A handheld intelligent single-molecule binary bioelectronic system for fast and reliable immunometric point-of-care testing. Science Advances (IF= 13.6) 6 Jul 2022 Vol 8, Issue 27 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0881. Highlighted in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/d43978-022-00092-3
• Macchia, E; Torricelli, F.; Bollella, P.; Sarcina, L.; Tricase, A.; Di Franco, C.; Österbacka, R.; Kovács-Vajna, Z.M.; Scamarcio, G.; Torsi, L.*; Large-Area Interfaces for Single-Molecule Label-free Bioelectronic Detection. Chemical Reviews (IF= 62.1) 2022,122, 4, 4636 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00290
• Macchia, E., De Caro, L., Torricelli, F., Di Franco, C., Mangiatordi, G.F., Scamarcio, G., and Torsi, L.*, Why a diffusing single-molecule can be detected in few minutes by a large capturing bioelectronic interface. Advanced Science (IF= 15.1) 2022, vol. 9, n. 210438; DOI: 10.1002/advs.202104381
• Torricelli, F.*, Adrahtas, D.Z., Bao, Z., Berggren, M., Biscarini, F., Bonfiglio, A., Bortolotti, C.A., Frisbie, C.F., Macchia, E., Malliaras, G.G., McCulloch, I., Moser, M., Nguyen, T.-Q., Owens, R., Salleo, A., Spanu, A., Torsi, L.* Electrolyte-gated transistors for enhanced performance bioelectronics. Nature Reviews Methods Primers (IF= 39.8)2021, 1 Article number: 66, DOI: 10.1038/s43586-021-00065-8
• Macchia E., Sarcina L., Driescher C., Gounani Z., Tewari A., Osterbacka R., Palazzo G., Tricase A., Vajna Z.M.K., Viol, F., Modena F., Caironi M.,Torricelli F., Esposito I.*, Torsi, L.*, Single-Molecule Bioelectronic Label-Free Assay of both Protein and Genomic Markers of Pancreatic Mucinous Cysts' in Whole Blood Serum, Advanced Electronic Materials (IF=6.2) 2021, 2199-160X, 2100304; DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202100304
• Picca, M.R., Manoli, K., Macchia, E., Sarcina, L., Di Franco, C., Cioffi, N., Blasi, D., Österbacka, R., Torricelli, F., Scamarcio, G., Torsi, L.*, Ultimately sensitive organic bioelectronic transistor sensors by materials and device structures design. Advanced Functional Materials (IF=19) 2020, 30, art. No. 1904513, DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201904513
• Macchia E., Picca R.A., Manoli, K., Di Franco, C., Blasi, B., Sarcina, L., Ditaranto, N., Cioffi, N., Österbacka, R., Scamarcio, G., Torricelli, F., Torsi, L.*, About the amplification factors in organic bioelectronic sensors. Materials Horizons (IF=13.3) 2020, vol. 7, pag. 999 DOI: 1039/C9MH01544B
• Macchia, E., Tiwari, A., Manoli, K., Holzer, B., Ditaranto, N., Picca, R.A., Cioffi, N., Di Franco, C., Scamarcio, G., Palazzo, G., Torsi, L.* Label-Free and Selective Single-Molecule Bioelectronic Sensing with a Millimeter-Wide Self-Assembled Monolayer of Anti-Immunoglobulins. Chemistry of Materials (IF=8.6) 2019, vol. 31, pag. 6476 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b04414 Featured as inside front cover
• Macchia, E.; Manoli, K., Holzer, B., Di Franco, C., Ghittorelli, M., Torricelli, F., Alberga, D., Mangiatordi, G.F., Palazzo, G., Scamarcio, G., Torsi, L.*, Single molecule detection with a millimetre-sized transistor. Nature Communication (IF=16.6) 2018, vol. 9, n. 3223, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05235-z. Highlighted in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05950-z
• Mulla, M.Y.; Tuccori, E.; Magliulo, M.; Lattanzi, G.; Palazzo, G.; Persaud, K.; Torsi, L.*; Capacitance modulated transistor detects odorant binding protein chiral interactions. Nature Communication (IF=16.6) 2015, vol. 6, n. 6010, DOI:1038/ncomms7010   
• Manoli, K.; Magliulo, M.; Mulla, Y.M.; Singh, M.; Sabbatini, L.; Palazzo G.; Torsi, L.*, Printable bioelectronics to investigate functional biological interfaces. Angewandte Chemie Int Ed (IF=16.6) 2015, vol. 54, pag. 12562 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7010
• Palazzo, G.; De Tullio, D.; Magliulo, M.; Mallardi, A.; Intranuovo, F.; Mulla, M.Y.; Favia, P.; Vikholm-Lundin, I.; Torsi, L.*, Detection beyond the Debye's length with an electrolyte gated organic field-effect transistor.  Advanced Materials (4) 2015, vol. 27, pag. 911 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201403541  
• Magliulo, M.; Manoli, K.; Macchia, E.; Palazzo, G.; Torsi, L.*, Tailoring functional interlayers in organic field-effect transistor biosensors. Advanced Materials (29.4) 2015, vol. 27, pag. 7528 (Epub 2014 Nov 27), DOI: 10.1002/adma.201403477
• Palazzo, G.; Magliulo, M.; Mallardi, A.; Angione, M.D.; Gobeljic, D.; Scamarcio, G.; Fratini, E.; Ridi, F.; Torsi, L.*, Electronic Transduction of Proton Translocations in Nanoassembled Lamellae of Bacteriorhodopsin, ACS-Nano (IF=17.1) 2014, vol. 8, pag. 7834 DOI: 10.1021/nn503135y
• Angione, M.D.; Cotrone, S.; Magliulo, M.; Mallardi, A.; Altamura, D.; Giannini, C.; Cioffi, N.; Sabbatini, L.; Fratini, E.; Baglioni, P.; Scamarcio, G.; Torsi, L.*, Interfacial electronic effects in functional biolayers integrated into organic field-effect transistors. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (IF=11.1) 2013, vol. 109, pag. 6429 DOI:1073/pnas.1200549109 
• Torsi, L.*, Magliulo, M.; Manoli, K.; Palazzo, G., Organic field-effect transistor sensors: a tutorial review. Chemical Society Reviews (IF=46.2) 2013, vol. 42 pag. 8612 DOI: 10.1039/C3CS60127G
• Torsi, L.*, Farinola, G. M.; Marinelli, F.; Tanese, M. C.; Omar, O. H.; Valli, L.; Babudri, F.; Palmisano, F.; Zambonin, P. G.; Naso, F.*; A sensitivity-enhanced field-effect chiral sensor, state-of-the-art detection limit improved by three orders of magnitude. Nature Materials (IF=41.2) 2008, vol. 7, pag. 412 DOI:1038/nmat2167
• Dodabalapur, A.*; Torsi, L.; Katz, H. E.; Organic Transistors: Two-Dimensional Transport and Improved Electrical Characteristics Science (IF=56.9) 1995, vol. 268, pag. 270 DOI: 1126/science.268.5208.270
• Dodabalapur, A.*; Katz, H. E.; Torsi, L.; Haddon, R. C.; Organic heterostructure field-effect transistors Science (IF=56.9) 1995, vol. 269, pag. 1560 DOI: 1126/science.269.5230.1560

PATENTS

Patents pending:

No. 1 - Torsi L., Macchia E., Scamarcio G., Di Franco C., A method for optical, label-free detection of molecules at ultra-low concentration, particularly as low as zeptomolar concentration. 2023 PCT/IB2023/053542 on 06.04.23.

No. 2 - Torricelli, F, Torsi, L, Scamarcio, G, Kovacs-Vajana, Z.M., A clustered FET bio-sensor system for biological assay. A matrix of electronic and bioelectronic components made by a top plate and a bottom plate coupled together. The system likely aims to enhance the efficiency and sensitivity of biological assays through the utilization of clustered FET sensors. These sensors may offer advantages such as improved detection capabilities and potentially faster analysis of biological samples. 2019 PCT/IB2019/061345 on 24.12.2019.

No. 3 - Torsi L., Scamarcio G., Macchia E., Manoli K., Palazzo G., Cioffi N., Picca R. A. Sensor useful for providing field effect transistor sensor, comprises source-drain channel, semiconductor layer on source-drain channel, first gate electrode, first well, semiconductor layer and first gate electrode. Patent Number: WO2019145755-A1. Patent Assignee Name and Code: Univ Bari Aldo Moro (UYBA-Non-standard). 2019 Derwent Primary Ac-cession Number: 2019-67550N.

No. 5 - Torsi, L., Palazzo, G., Scamarcio, G., “A field-effect transistor sensor” European Patent Application 2017 no. 17177349.2 filed on June 22, 2017.

No. 6 - Torsi, L, Palazzo, G., Scamarcio, G., “Method of functionalization of a gate electrode of a field-effect transistor sensor” International 2017 Patent no. PCT/IB2017/058065 filed December 18, 2017.

Patents granted:

No. 6 - Torsi, L, Palazzo, G., Scamarcio, G., “Method of functionalization of a gate electrode of a field-effect transistor sensor” European Patent Application no. 16207596.4 filed December 30, 2016.

No. 4 - Torsi L., Palazzo G., Scamarcio, G., FET sensor e.g. biosensor for detecting biomarkers at the earliest possible stage of disease, has gate electrode that is functionalized with biological recognition elements layer patterned into several uncoupled domains. Patent Number(s): EP3418729-A1 WO2018234905-A1, 2018 Patent Assignee Name(s) and Code(s): Univ Bari Aldo Moro (UYBA-Non-standard). Derwent Primary Accession Number: 2018-A39981.

7. 7 - F. Babudri, G.M. Farinola, H.O: Hassan, F. Naso, F. Palmisano, M. C. Tanese, L. Torsi*, L. Valli, P. G. Zambonin; Organic thin film transistors comprising thienyl oligomers and their use as gaseous phase sensors. FT/TS/GV/ds/06578D53 (07.02.07) – International extension No. WO 2008/096239 – European Patent No. 2121647.
8. 8 - Angione, M. D.; Cioffi, N.; Magliulo, M.; Palazzo, G.; Torsi, L.; Cotrone, S.; Scamarcio, G.; Sabbatini, L.; Mallardi, Organic field effect transistors based on multilayers of self-assembled biological systems covered by an organic semiconductor layer: processes for their realization and use as sensors. EP2385563-A1
9. 9 - Angione, M. D.; Cioffi, N.; Magliulo, M.; Palazzo, G.; Torsi, L.; Cotrone, S.; Scamarcio, G.; Sabbatini, L.; Mallardi, A. Transistor e.g. FET, useful in sensor, comprises a conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a semiconducting film that is deposited on top of receptor molecule layer previously deposited or covalently linked to surface of gate dielectric. Patent Number: WO2013065073-A1; WO2013065073-A8; US2014312879-A1
10. 10 - Cioffi, N.; Ditaranto, N.; Sabbatini, L.; Tantillo, G.; Torsi, L.; Zambonin, P. G. New nanoparticles comprising a core formed from metal selected from silver, copper, tin and zinc and a shell formed of quaternary ammonium compound, useful in nanocomposite materials and as biostatic compounds or biocides. Patent number: EP2157211-A1.
11. 11 - Cioffi, N.; Ditaranto, N.; Sabbatini, L.; Torsi, L.; Zambonin, P. G. Use of nano-particles in a fabric or polymer matrix for delaying the release speed of metal ions from the core into an aqueous material. Patent number: EP2123797-A1.
12. 12 - Ananth Dodabalapur, Howard E. Katz, Luisa Torsi, Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ. Article comprising a thin film transistor with low conductivity organic layer United State Patent US005574291A; Patent Number: 5,574,291; Date of Patent: Nov. 12, 1996.
13. 13 - Ananth Dodabalapur, Howard E. Katz, Luisa Torsi, Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ. Article comprising an organic thin film transistor. United States Patent US005596208A; Patent Number: 5,596,208; Date of Patent: Jan. 21, 1997.
14. 14 - Ananth Dodabalapur, Robert Cort Huddon, Howard E. Katz, Luisa Torsi, Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ. Article comprising an organic thin film transistor adapted for biasing to form a n-type or a p-type transistor. United States Patent US006278127B1; Patent Number: US 6,278,127 B1; Date of Patent: Au .21, 2001.

MAIN AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

2025    Honorary Doctorate from Faculty of Science and Engineering -Åbo Akademi University (FI) https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/academic-traditions/conferral-ceremony/doctoral-conferral-ceremony-2025/conferral-ceremony-2025-honorary-doctors-and-jubilee-doctors/

2024    Fellow of the European Academy of Science: https://www.eurasc.eu/members/luisa-torsi/member/

2024    Lifetime Achievement Award - Executive Council of the Analytical Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society, based on the proposal of the Committee of Experts who reviewed the applications received, with the following motivation: "For pioneering and innovative contributions in the field of electrochemical biosensors, for the significant impact of your scientific production, and for your mentorship activities in a prestigious school of Analytical Chemistry.” https://www.soc.chim.it/it/divisioni/analitica/medaglie_premi_2024

2024    Melvin Jones Fellow by Lions District 108AB - Puglia and Lions Clubs International Foundation

2023    Spiers Memorial Lecture - Challenges and prospects in organic photonics and electronics, a Faraday Discussion, Royal Society of Chemistry https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/75379/challenges-and-prospects-in-organic-photonics-and-electronics-faraday-discussion

2023    Featured in Advanced Materials Hall of Fame  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)1521-4095.HallofFame

2023    Fellow of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei https://www.lincei.it/it/content/torsi-luisa

2023    Premio Presidente della Repubblica awarded by the Accademia dei Lincei, an Italian prize introduced in 1949 by the former president and academic Luigi Einaudi. Among the people awarded, there are several winners of other important awards such as the Nobel Prize and the Wolf Prize. https://www.lincei.it/en/node/10282

2023    Recognition of the municipal administration of Bari to Professor Torsi for having brought prestige to the city through her work in the scientific, academic, and social fields https://www.comune.bari.it/-/oggi-a-palazzo-di-citta-la-consegna-di-un-riconoscimento-alla-professoressa-luisa-torsi.

2023    Marco Mascini Award of the Interdivisional Group 'Sensors' of the Italian Chemical Society

2022    Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry for significant contributions to the publication of papers in the field of chemical sciences.

2021    Wilhelm Exner Medal 2021 awarded for her pioneering contributions in the field of organic bioelectronics. The medal has been awarded since 1921 by the Austrian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises to celebrate excellence in research and science and is conferred in the presence of the Minister for Technological Innovation Leonore Gewessler under the aegis of the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. The motivation is the following: Prof. Torsi's research crosswise combines electronic and electrochemical sensors, analytical chemistry, organic semiconductors, physics of solid-state devices, chemistry of materials and physics. Being at the forefront of one of the fastest growing research directions in organic electronics, her discoveries promise new technologies for healthcare and human well-being. The award has previously been conferred to 23 Nobel laureates, including scientists of the caliber of Guglielmo Marconi, William Shockley, Karl Ziegler, Ted Hänsch and Emmanuelle Charpentier https://www.wilhelmexner.org/en/. The Italian President Sergio Mattarella has invited Prof. Torsi to the Quirinale to personally congratulate her on this award.

2020    Canneri Medal awarded by the Analytical Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society to distinguished scientists in the field of Analytical Chemistry https://www.soc.chim.it/it/divisioni/analitica/medaglie_premi_2020.

2019    Robert Kellner Lecture of the European Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry honoring those who have made a substantial contribution to the advancement of research or teaching in analytical chemistry https://www.euchems.eu/divisions/analytical-chemistry/honours/  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-019-02373-1

2019    Outstanding Women of Southern Italy – Department for International Trade – UK Government Science and Innovation Network https://twitter.com/tradegovukITA/status/1104049783617044480/photo/2

2019    IUPAC (international Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) Distinguished Women in chemistry or chemical engineering; the award recognizes and promotes the work of women in chemistry around the world. Winners are selected based on excellence in basic or applied research, for achievements in teaching or education as well as for demonstrating leadership or managerial excellence in the chemical sciences. https://iupac.org/iupac-2019-distinguished-women. 

2018    Plenary Lecture in the occasion of the inauguration of the academic year  at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turin https://www.unito.it/eventi/il-dipartimento-di-chimica-dedica-linaugurazione-dellaa-2018-2019-al-tema-del-crescente-ruolo .   

2018    Silver medal of the Italian Chemical Society awarded to the Merck & Elsevier Young Chemistry Symposium by the "SCI Gruppo Giovani".

2017    Elected Fellow of the Material Research Society for pioneering work in bio-organic electronic sensors and their use in point-of-care testing https://www.mrs.org/careers-advancement/awards/spring-awards/mrs-fellows/list-of-mrs-fellows

2015    Overall platinum International European Women Inventors & Innovators Network Award for the biomedical devices she is developing. https://www.itwiin.org/en/albo/hall-of-fame-2013.html

2010    Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award conferred by the renowned pharmaceutical multinational that celebrates scientists who are developing innovative analytical chemistry methods with applications that aim to improve the quality of life. She was the first woman to win this award https://www.merckgroup.com/en/research/grants-and-awards/heinrich-emanuel-merck-award.html