Education Background:
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway
Master degree in Medical Biotechnology, University of Trieste, Italy
Bachelor degree in Biotechnology, University of Trieste, Italy
Research Description:
Develop platforms for the delivery of nucleic acids in non-dividing cells or in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Moreover, I also have interest in understanding the development of neural tissues using controlled microenvironments and iPSCs.
Publications:
- Fontana G., Srivastava A., Thomas D., Lalor P., Dockery P., Pandit A. “A three-dimensional microgel Platform for the Production of Cell Factories Tailored for the Nucleus Pulposus” Bioconjugate Chemistry (2014) (in press)
- Fontana G., See E., Pandit A.. “Current Trends in Biologics Delivery to Restore Intervertebral Disc Anabolism” Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, August 2014
- Fontana G., Thomas D., Collin E., Pandit A.. “Microgel Microenvironment Primes Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Towards a NP Cells-like Phenotype”Advanced Healthcare Materials (2014)
- Thomas D., Fontana G., Chen X., Sanz-Nogues C., Zeugolis D.I., Dockery P., O’Brien T., Pandit A. “A Shape-Controlled Tuneable Microgel Platform to Modulate Angiogenic Paracrine Responses in Stem Cells” Biomaterials (2014)
- Browne S.*, Fontana G.*, Rodriguez B., Pandit A. “A Protective Extracellular Matrix-based Gene Delivery Reservoir Fabricated by Electrostatic Charge Manipulation.” Molecular Pharmaceutics. 2012 (* Equal Contribution)
- Newland B., Moloney TC., Fontana G., Browne S., Pandit A. “The Neurotoxicity of Gene Vectors and its Amelioration by Packaging with Collagen Hollow Spheres”. Biomaterials. 2013
- Book Chapter: Zeugolis D.I., Keeney M., Collin E., Fontana G., Pandit A.. “Xenogenic Tissues and Biomaterials for the Skeletal System” Comprehensive Biomaterials (2011), 387-404.
- Book Chapter: Fontana G., Delgado L., Cigognini D.. “Biologically Inspired Materials in Tissue Engineering” Extracellular Matrix for Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, Springer – Submitted in September 2014
Awards & Honors:
- Winner of the Wiley Functional Material Award for best poster presentation at The 24th European Society for Biomaterials (ESB), 4th -8th September, 2011; Dublin.