Dr. Silvio Aime, az olaszországi Torinói Egyetem professzorának díszdoktori avatása a Debreceni Egyetemen 2010. június 5.
Silvio Aime is an internationally recognized scientist in the field of bio-inorganic chemistry, especially in the application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for medical biology. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a widespread, highly advanced method in diagnostic medicine. Professor Aime and his group in Turin have contributed to the basic understanding of the proton relaxation mechanisms and the solution structure of gadolinium-containing contrast agents used to increase the quality of the images. Their discoveries on the role of different isomers in proton relaxation are especially important for chemistry. The Turin group has synthesized new ligands combined with macromolecules and has quantitatively described the importance of “the rotation correlation time” in improving relaxivity of Gd(III)-complexes. Professor Aime has developed several “responsive contrast agents” for “in vivo” detection of anions and cations and measurement of pH in body fluids. He has an important contribution to the development of lanthanide(III) agents for PARACEST (Paramagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer) and manganese(II) contrast agents for MRI. His recent intensive research with medical research groups in the field of molecular imaging has been focused directly on the detection of tumor cells. In chemistry, he has been collaborating with researchers of the University of Debrecen for about ten years. Professor Silvio Amie has published more than four hundred papers in international journals.