From Italy from two new solutions for coral protection: a conductive biopaste and a natural healing stain

Milan/Genoa (Italy), July 30, 2025 – A research group in Italy has developed two new coral protection technologies for healing and restoring coral reefs: a biopaste and a natural patch, both of which have been successfully tested on real corals. The two solutions resulted from the cooperation between researchers from the University of Milano-Biccca in Milan, the Itituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Genoa and the Aquario di Genova (Aquarium from Genoa).

Coral reefs threatened by climate change and increasingly vulnerable. They are decisive ecosystems for the biodiversity of marine biodiversity and the survival of many coastal communities. Reefs are not only a basic resource for fishing and tourism, but also play a key role for global ecological balance. In order to counteract their progressive dismantling, scientific research focuses on innovative solutions that combine eco-compatibility, effectiveness and quick intervention.

The first solution realized by the research group is a green, fully biodegradable biopaste that anchor corals and at the same time accelerates its growth by electrochemical mineralization technology. Described in a study published in the magazine Advanced materials, The new material, named “Active biopasters”is a paste made of modified soybean oil and graph. The two substances, once mixed, harden in a controllable manner and become a solid, conductive substrate for anchoring coral fragments and support Mineral acretic engineering (MAT)A technique that stimulates its growth. The paste shows stable properties in sea water for over 40 days, and MAT tests show a significant improvement in coral growth rates within two weeks and double those of the control group.

“What makes our solution unique is the integration of two essential functions into a single innovative material,” explains Gabriele CoriglianoFirst author of the study and a doctoral student in Marine Sciences near Bicocca and in the smart materials unit at iit, coordinated by von von Athanassia Athanassisiou. “On the one hand, this paste simplifies the adhesion of corals and makes it more safe and reliable in underwater kindergartens and on the reef. On the other hand, thanks to its conductive properties, it promotes coral growth through matrial growth through matrial.

“We want to advance the current knowledge in materials science as far as possible to produce technologies that are effective and multifunctional under water, at the same time respect the environment and align themselves with the sustainability goals of the United Nations” Marco ContardiResearchers at the Marhe Center in Bicocca and member of the smart materials Unit at IIT. “This approach enables us to design materials for the sea and for the use of sea use, and always takes their effects into account during and after use, such as organic degradation.”

“This study shows the profound transformation in marine sciences” Simone MontanoAssociate Professor at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences and Deputy Director of the Marhe Center at the University of Milano-Biccca. “The synergy between the three research groups of the Marhe Center of the University of Milano-Biccca, the IIT team in smart materials and the aquarium from Genoa-, is considered that the development of innovative and sustainable technologies will buy the time to us so that the guidelines have to become effective. Only through joint efforts.

The same collaboration also led to a second major contribution to the Reef Conservation, which was published in the journal An earth. The first author of this study is Vincenzo scribanoA doctoral student at the University of Milano-Biccca and a member of the smart materials unit of IIT, which an environmental compatible system for the targeted submission of antibiotics to sick corals developed a kind of type of type of Patch combines a hydrophilic film that is loaded with antibiotics (Made from chitosan, a polymer derived from shellfish) with a natural hydrophobic sealant on beeswax and vegetable oils of sunflowers and flax. All materials are natural and do not harm the sea ecosystem as soon as it is deteriorated. In the case of aquarium tests, treatment was the progression of the disease in over 90% of cases.

“This technology enables us to treat corals that are affected by aggressive diseases that damage their tissue and quickly spread over coral reefs” Scribano. “Thanks to the dual-layer system, the antibiotics are released exclusively on the infected coral area, and the child is sealed by the paste, which prevents the spread of antibiotics into the marine environment.

“With these studies, we have shown the potential of a responsible approach for material design,” says Athanassia AthanassisiouMain researcher and head of the smart materials unit at iit. “The aim is to develop sustainable solutions that support living organisms and protect the biological diversity. We carry out incoming research on sustainable materials and evaluate their effectiveness and effects on the end of life, always with a design approach that looks at environmental consequences. Now every design decision is guided by a responsible and sustainable scientific vision.”

These results are part of a long-term research initiative of the common team at the University of Milano-Biccca, IIT, and the Aquarium of Genoa, which has become an international reference to the development of coral protection technologies. This interdisciplinary approach has already led to previous innovations, for example to use the use of Curcumin, A natural antioxidant that was extracted from turmeric to reduce the coral bleach.

Materials and innovations are tested in the establishment of the Marhe Center in the Aquarium of Genoa, which is an ideal setting for the development of solutions that aim at marine protection thanks to its solid specialist knowledge in the field, the controlled environment and the attention of the animal. The sea sees this integrated vision not only as an ecosystem for protection, but also as a laboratory for the presentation of a more sustainable future in harmony with the environment.