Matteo Castronovo

Dr Matteo Castronovo is an Associate Professor of Biomolecular Nanotechnology at the University of Leeds and leads the Mo.Na.Li.S.A. (Molecular Nanotechnology for Life Science Applications) laboratory. His research focuses on DNA nanotechnology, biomolecular self-assembly, synthetic biology, and nanoscale bioengineering. Using approaches including atomic force microscopy and surface-based biomolecular analysis, his work investigates how nucleic acids behave in dense nanoscale environments and how these properties can be harnessed for biotechnology, diagnostics, and genetic engineering applications.

Within ACROPATH, Matteo brings expertise in biomolecular nanotechnology, DNA processing, and advanced analytical platforms for studying complex biological systems.

Key publications

Noncanonical DNA Cleavage by BamHI Endonuclease in Laterally Confined DNA Monolayers Is a Step Function of DNA Density and Sequence.
Adedeji Olulana A.F., Choi D., Inverso V., Redhu S.K., Vidonis M., Crevatin L., et al.
Molecules, 27, (16), pp. 5262 (2022).
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165262

A last-in first-out stack data structure implemented in DNA.
Lopiccolo A., Shirt-Ediss B., Torelli E., Olulana A.F.A., Castronovo M., Fellermann H., and Krasnogor N.
Nature Communications 12, (1), pp. 4861 (2021).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25023-6

Global and local mechanical properties control endonuclease reactivity of a DNA origami nanostructure.
Suma A., Stopar A., Nicholson A.W., Castronovo M., and Carnevale V.
Nucleic Acids Research, 48, (9), pp. 4672-4680 (2020).
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa080