From Italy, two new solutions for coral protection: a conductive biopaste and a natural healing patch

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 successfully tested on real corals. The two solutions resulted from the collaboration among researchers at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Milan, the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Genoa, and the Acquario di Genova (Aquarium of Genoa).

Threatened by climate change and increasingly vulnerable, coral reefs are crucial ecosystems for marine biodiversity and the survival of many coastal communities. In addition to being a fundamental resource for fishing and tourism, reefs play a key role in global ecological balance. To counteract their progressive degradation, scientific research is focusing on innovative solutions that combine eco-compatibility, effectiveness, and rapid intervention.

The first solution realized by the research group is a green, fully biodegradable biopaste capable of anchoring corals while simultaneously accelerating their growth through electrochemical mineralization technology. Described in a study published in the journal Advanced Materials, the new material, named "Active Biopaste", is a paste made from modified soybean oil and graphene. The two substances, once mixed, harden in a controllable way and become a solid, conductive substrate to anchor coral fragments and support Mineral Accretion Technology (MAT), a technique that stimulates their growth. The paste exhibits stable properties for over 40 days in seawater, and MAT tests show significant enhancement of coral growth rates within two weeks, doubling those of the control group.

“What makes our solution unique is the integration of two essential functions into a single innovative material,” explains Gabriele Corigliano, first author of the study and a PhD student in Marine Sciences at Bicocca and in the Smart Materials unit at IIT, coordinated by Athanassia Athanassiou. “On one hand, this paste simplifies the attachment of corals, making it safer and more reliable both in underwater nurseries and on the reef. On the other hand, thanks to its conductive properties, it promotes coral growth through MAT, a technique that uses low-intensity electric currents to deposit calcium carbonate on metal structures—this is the material corals use to build their skeletons. Unlike traditional MAT, no permanent structures are needed, eliminating the risk of corrosion and long-term pollution. Overall, our approach actively promotes coral growth and is safe for marine life.”

“We aim to push current knowledge in materials science as far as possible to produce technologies that are effective and multifunctional underwater, while also respecting the environment and aligning with the United Nations’ sustainability goals,” adds Marco Contardi, researcher at the MaRHE Center at Bicocca and member of the Smart Materials unit at IIT. “This approach allows us to design materials intended for the sea and for marine use, always considering their effects during and after application, such as biodegradation.”

“This study highlights the profound transformation underway in marine sciences,” notes Simone Montano, associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences and deputy director of the MaRHE Center at the University of Milano-Bicocca. “The synergy between the three research groups—the MaRHE Center at the University of Milano-Bicocca, the IIT Smart Materials team, and the Aquarium of Genoa—demonstrates how the development of innovative and sustainable technologies can buy us the time needed for mitigation policies to take effect. Only through joint efforts like this can we give nature the chance to return to its original balance.”

This same collaboration also led to a second major contribution to reef conservation, published in the journal One Earth. First author of this study is Vincenzo Scribano, a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bicocca and member of the Smart Materials unit at IIT, who developed an eco-compatible system for the targeted delivery of antibiotics to diseased corals—a sort of patch combining a hydrophilic film loaded with antibiotics (made from chitosan, a polymer derived from shellfish) with a natural hydrophobic sealant based on beeswax and plant oils from sunflower and flax. All materials are natural and, once degraded, do not harm the marine ecosystem. In aquarium tests, the treatment halted the disease’s progression in over 90% of the cases.

“This technology allows us to treat corals affected by aggressive diseases that damage their tissue and spread rapidly across coral reefs,” explains Scribano. “Thanks to the dual-layer system, the antibiotics are released exclusively on the infected coral area, and the delivery is sealed off by the paste, preventing the spread of antibiotics into the marine environment. The technology has proven particularly effective against a disease in the tissue necrosis family, which is widespread in aquaculture.”

“With these studies, we’ve demonstrated the potential of a responsible approach to materials design,” says Athanassia Athanassiou, Principal Investigator and Head of the Smart Materials unit at IIT. “The goal is to develop sustainable solutions that support living organisms and protect biodiversity. We conduct in-depth research on sustainable materials, evaluating their effectiveness and end-of-life impact, always with a design approach that considers environmental consequences. Today, every design decision we make is guided by a responsible and sustainable scientific vision.”

These results are part of a long-term research initiative by the joint team from the University of Milano-Bicocca, IIT, and the Aquarium of Genoa, which has become an international reference point in the development of coral conservation technologies. This interdisciplinary approach has already led to previous innovations, such as the use of curcumin, a natural antioxidant extracted from turmeric, to reduce coral bleaching.

Materials and innovations are tested at the MaRHE Center facility within the Aquarium of Genoa, which, thanks to its solid expertise in the field, controlled environment, and attention to animal welfare, is an ideal setting for developing solutions aimed at marine conservation. This integrated vision sees the sea not only as an ecosystem to protect but also as a laboratory for imagining a more sustainable future in harmony with the environment.