Both nanotechnology and immune-oncology fields have motivated Florindo’s research, which has been focused on the rational development and characterization of disruptive chemically defined functionalized nanobiomaterials as novel immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. We are interested in identifying process parameters critical for targeted nanoparticle quality attributes, identified as optimal for targeting specific immune cell subtypes in pharmacological active sites. To this end, Florindo’s team follows an iterative approach to evaluate the impact of the physicochemical properties of these delivery systems on their interaction with targeted cells. These studies dissect the transport mechanisms and effect on dendritic cell (DC) maturation and T/B cell activation of these multi-component immune-modulators, as well as their biodistribution profiles and pharmacokinetics, in vivo efficacy and effect on immune and stromal cell functions. Florindo’s major topics of research are: 1) Regulation of immunity by targeting DC using nanotechnology-based tools to combine the antigen carry capacity of nanoparticles and the specific targeting and maturation of DC receptors in vivo. It aims to i) enhance antigen delivery to DC; ii) modulate antigen intracellular processing and presentation pathways; iii) block signaling pathways related to immune evasion mechanisms. 2) Size-based targeting of lymph node-resident immune cells by nanoparticles to overcome major barriers for vaccine components and immunotherapies, via different administration routes (e.g., parenteral, nasal). 3) Characterization of the impact of bio-responsive materials on humoral and cellular responses to generally improve vaccine efficacy. 4) Dissecting tumor stromal and immune cell interplay to guide the design of multi-targeting nano-conjugates as innovative immunotherapeutic treatments against metastatic cancer diseases.