Link IRIS-AIR database
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2501-3348

ERC Sectors:
LS9_5 Food biotechnology and bioengineering
PE5_18 Medicinal chemistry

Andrea Pinto is Full Professor in Food Chemistry at the Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan.
His research mainly focus on the development of innovative and environmentally sustainable synthetic methodologies (biocatalysis, flow chemistry) for the synthesis of natural and nature-inspired bioactive compounds for food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
In 2006 he received the PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Milan within international Doctoral School in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology (University of Milan-Semmelweis-University of Budapest). As a post-doctoral fellow, he joined in 2007 the research group directed by Prof. Steven V. Ley at Cambridge University (U.K). In 2009 he obtained the Level II Master in Drug Design and Development from the University of Pavia.
Since 2005, Andrea Pinto has published more than 130 publications in international peer-reviewed and indexed journals, 1 international patent, 1 Italian patent, a book chapter, and over 100 conference presentations. Since 2013, he is a member of the Board of Teachers of the Doctorate course in Chemistry, University of Milan.

Main research areas:
1- Study of chemical strategies for the isolation, characterization and synthesis of natural compounds endowed with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Research activities have focused on the study of structure-activity relationships of natural compounds and their derivatives for applications in food (food preservatives - food packaging) and agri-food sectors. In recent years, research has also been devoted to the identification and development of molecules with antifungal activity for the control of rice pathogens (e.g., Pyricularia oryzae responsible for rice BLAST). The research conducted has recently led to the signing of two research contracts with the company Bolton Food S.p.A. and the granting in Italy of the patent “Food packaging film with multi-barrier effect”; grant date:18/03/2023; grant number: 102021000014120; inventors: S. Farris, S. Dallavalle, A. Pinto.

2- Development of sustainable and biocatalytic methodologies (chemo-enzymatic synthesis in batch and in flow chemistry reactors) for the preparation of molecules of interest to the agri-food and nutraceutical sectors. Recently, with a view to the circular economy, and in line with the principles of green chemistry and the NRP, research activities have been directed toward the valorization of some waste products and residues from the agri-food chain for the sustainable production of molecules with high added value. Studies devoted to the development of chemo-enzymatic methodologies in flow chemistry reactors have led in recent years to the signing of several research and consulting contracts with both Italian and international companies (Olon S.p.A.; Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.; Triquim S.A.).

Research projects:
2024 Contract UNIMI - Bolton Food S.p.A. “Sviluppo di trattamenti volti a ridurre il processo di degradazione ossidativa del tonno fresco” (Co- scientific supervisor).
2018-2024 Contract UNIMI - OLON S.p.a. “Studi di applicazione della Flow Chemistry nei processi di sintesi di molecole ad attività farmacologica” (Co- scientific supervisor).
2022-2024 Contract UNIMI - Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a. “Sintesi di eterocicli saturi ad alto interesse farmaceutico tramite biocatalisi in flusso” (Responsabile Scientifico). (Co- scientific supervisor).
2023 Contract UNIMI - Bolton Food S.p.A. “Studio di trattamenti volti a ridurre il processo di degradazione ossidativa del tonno fresco” (Co- scientific supervisor).
2019 Transition Grant - Linea 1A. Progetto “Unimi Partenariati H2020” (PI).
2017 Finanziamenti di Ateneo per la ricerca – Piano sviluppo Unimi – Linea 2- “Polyphenols: chemistry, metabolites, and structure-activity relationships” (PI).
2017 Contract UNIMI - Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a. “Identification of biocatalytic methodologies to perform entiospecific/enantioselective reactions of racemic mixtures” (Co-scientific supervisor).
2016 Contract UNIMI - Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a. “Identification of biocatalytic methodologies to perform entiospecific/enantioselective reactions of racemic mixtures” (Co-scientific supervisor).

Honours and awards:
2021 Winner (with grant) of the Scouting e Open Innovation “Seed 4 Innovation” program, Università degli Studi di Milano. Project ‘MULTIfunctional BIOpolymer COATings – MULTIBIOCOAT’.
2021 Winner of the Scouting e Open Innovation “Seed 4 Innovation” program, Università degli Studi di Milano. Project ‘Continuous Flow Bioreactors for Artificial Biosynthetic and Metabolic Pathways – FLOWBIOART’.

Editorial and reviewer activity:
Editorial Board member for "Antioxidants".
Associate Editor for “Green and Sustainable Chemistry” (Frontiers in Chemistry and Frontiers in Environmental Science).
Guest Editor and Topic Editor for "Antioxidants".
Reviewer for Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Foods, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Nature Review, Scientific Reports, Chirality, Catalysts, Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, MedChemComm.

Memberships:
2024-today Member of the Italian Chemical Society, Food Chemistry Division
2019-today Member of the Italian Society of Food Chemistry (ITACHEMFOOD)
2005-2024 Member of the Italian Chemical Society, Medicinal Chemistry Division

Institutional responsibilities:
2024–today: Departmental referent for VQR 2020-2024, DeFENS, Università degli Studi di Milano.
2013–today: Member of the Board of Teachers of the Doctorate course in Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano.
2015–today: Member of “Gruppo di Riesame”, Chemical Safety and Toxicological Environmental Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan.
2019: Member of the PhD Assessment Committee, University of Oviedo, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry (2019)
2019: Member of the PhD Assessment Committee, University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (2019)
2019: Member of the PhD Assessment Committee, Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta" (DCMC) (2019)
2019: Member of the PhD Assessment Committee, University of Turin, Department of Science and Drug Technology (2017)
2010–2017 Member of Commission of the State certification exam for the Profession of Pharmacist, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan.