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Contatti:

Antonio D’Amore, PhD
GROUP LEADER IN TISSUE ENGINEERING
adamore@fondazionerimed.com
tissueengineering@fondazionerimed.com
c/o ATeN Center – University of Palermo
Viale delle Scienze Ed. 18/A – 90100 Palermo, ITALY

Facilities:

Collaborazioni:

  • University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
  • Advanced Technologies Network Center (ATeN Center), Palermo, Italy
  • McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), Pittsburgh, USA
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, USA
  • The Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (ISMETT-IRCCS), Palermo, Italy
  • Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Neoolife, Pittsburgh, USA
  • TELEA BioTech, Sandrigo, Italy
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), New York, USA
  • Technical University of Munich, (TUM), Munich, Germany
  • University of California Irvine (UCI), Irvine, USA
  • Eindhoven University of Technology, NetherlandPolitecnico di Torino, Italy
  • Università di Cagliari, Italy
  • Policlinico di Milano, Italy
  • Campus biomedico, Rome, Italy
  • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy

Description

Dr. D’Amore’s cardiovascular tissue engineering laboratory seeks to couple a mechanistic understanding of the relationship between scaffolds micro-structure, mechanics, and endogenous tissue growth with the development of novel biomaterials for tissue engineering strategies. The focus of our research is upon unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular diseases. The ongoing funded projects (NIH, ERC, industry sponsored) share an integrated in silico, in vitro, in vivo approach where three critical steps in biomimicry are implemented: I) Observe (quantify specific native tissue and organ features); II) Understand (elucidate mechanisms based on the observation made); III) Develop (duplicate the identified properties and mechanisms, fabricate tissue surrogate accordingly and assess its performance).

Aims

Can a mechanistic understanding of how biomaterials and native tissue micro-structure translates into a specific biological response as well as a nature inspired control over biomaterials structure – function lead to a better performing generation of cardiovascular tissue surrogates?”

The statement of our mission reflects our vision of science where basic and translational research are equally fundamental and symbiotic in advancing human knowledge and addressing unmet clinical needs.

The connection of this research question with the Ri.MED Center scientific identity is twofold and bidirectional:

Humans → Environment

The medical devices and cardiovascular tissue engineering strategies we develop aim to enhance human resilience to the threats of the environment which, in this case, are the broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases.

Humans ←Environment

Our group combines tissue engineering with biomimicry, this paradigm requires operatively and philosophically to study and unfold the complexity of nature, to identify, and ultimately to replicate critical properties for a specific clinical application.

Focus

  • Tissue-engineered heart valves
  • Tissue-engineered vascular grafts
  • Tissue-engineered cardiac patches
  • Bioreactors for enhanced extracellular matrix elaboration
  • Native/engineered tissue image-based structural and histopathological analysis
  • Native/engineered tissue numerical models for mechanics and tissue growth

Expertise and resources

  • Engineered tissue and biomaterials fabrication
  • Physical, and chemical characterization of native and engineered tissues
  • Qualitative and quantitative histological evaluation
  • Tissue surrogate models for mechanobiology
  • Numerical modeling of tissue function, growth and scaffold degradation
  • In vivo characterization of engineered tissue in large and small animal models
  • 23 people strong, 150 m2 + of fully equipped wet lab space with focus on material fabrication and characterization

Team

Patrizia Caruso

Ph.D. Student in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Management, and Aerospace Innovation

Elisa Lanzalaco

Ph.D. Student in Chemical, Environmental, Biomedical, Hydraulic, and Materials engineering

Enrica Romano

Ph.D. Student in Chemical, Environmental, Biomedical, Hydraulic, and Materials engineering

Flaviana Falci

Ph.D. Student in Technology and Science for Human Health

Ignazio Niosi

Ph.D. Student in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Management, and Aerospace Innovation

Publications

Journal Paper
Photo-oxidation crosslinked, glutaraldehyde crosslinked, or enzyme and hydrostatic pressure processed decellularized biomaterials for cardiovascular repair do not affect host response in a rat right ventricular outflow flow tract reconstruction (RVOT) model
Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Yasurani Hayashi , Danila Vella, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Taro Fujii , Emily Gorge , Garrett Coyan , Laubrie Soto Joan Dario, PhD , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , William R Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(2):e35529, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35529
Journal Paper
In Vitro Evaluation of Biomaterials for Heart Valve Prosthesis: High Hydrostatic and Enzymatic Treatments as Alternative for Bio-Derived Materials
Danila Vella, PhD †, Parnaz Boodagh , Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Federica Scaglione , Sofia Dei Bardi , Giulia Polizzi , Garrett Coyan , William R. Wagner , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. *
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(6): e35592, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35592
Journal Paper
Mammary tissue-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels reveal the role of irradiation in driving a pro-tumor and immunosuppressive microenvironment
Tian Zhu , Steven M Alves , Arianna Adamo, PhD , Xiaona Wen , Kevin C Corn , Anastasia Shostak , Shereena Johnson , Nicholas D Shaub , Shannon E Martello , Benjamin C Hacker , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Rizia Bardhan , Marjan Rafat
Biomaterials308, 2024, 122531
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122531
Journal Paper
Redefining vascular repair: revealing cellular responses on PEUU—gelatin electrospun vascular grafts for endothelialization and immune responses on in vitro models
M. A. Rodríguez Soto , A. Riverso-Cortes , I. Orjuela-Garzon , I Fernandez-Calderon , C. Rodriguez , N. Suarez Vargas , C. Ostos , C. Muñoz Camargo , J. C. Cruz, , S. Kim , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W. R. Wagner , J. C. Briceño ,
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1410863
Journal Paper
Polyester urethane urea (PEUU) functionalization for enhanced anti-thrombotic performance: advancing regenerative cardiovascular devices through innovative surface modifications
M.A. Rodriguez-Soto , A.M. Aragón , N.A. Suarez , M. Ayala-Velásquez , G. Peralta-Peluffo , J.C. Cruz , C. Muñoz Camargo , S. Kim , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W.R. Wagner , J.C. Briceño
Frontiers Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1257778
Dissemination
Comparative Assessment of Prosthetic Biomaterials for Cardiac Applications
Danila Vella, PhD †, Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Federica Scaglione , William Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD
Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Electrical Engineering and Computer Systems and Sciences (EECSS’23), ICBES 137, 2023. DOI: 10.11159/icbes23.137
https://avestia.com/EECSS2023_Proceedings/files/paper/ICBES/ICBES_137.pdf
Journal Paper
Blood Vessel Detection Algorithm For Tissue Engineering And Quantitative Histology
Arianna Adamo, PhD , Alessandro Bruno , Giorgio Menallo , Maria Giovanna Francipane, Ph.D. , Marco Fazzari , Roberto Pirrone , Edoardo Ardizzone , William R Wagner , Antonio D'Amore
Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 50(4):387-400, 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-022-02923-2
Journal Paper
A Cell-free Biodegradable Synthetic Artificial Ligament for the Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in a Rat Model
Y. Kawakami , K. Nonaka , N. Fukase , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Y. Murata , P. Quinn , S. Luketich , K. Takayama , T. Matsumoto , J. H. Cummins , M. Kurosaka , R. Kuroda , W. R. Wagner , F. H. Fu , J. Huard
Acta Biomaterialia
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.10.037
Journal Paper
Development of a semi-automated, bulk seeding device for large animal model implantation of tissue engineered vascular grafts
E. M. Cunnane , K. L. Lorentz , L. Soletti , A. K. Ramaswamy , T. K. Chung , D. G. Haskett , S. K. Luketich , E. T. Tzeng , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , W. R. Wagner , J. S. Weinbaum , D. A. Vorp
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.597847
Journal Paper
Photo-oxidation crosslinked, glutaraldehyde crosslinked, or enzyme and hydrostatic pressure processed decellularized biomaterials for cardiovascular repair do not affect host response in a rat right ventricular outflow flow tract reconstruction (RVOT) model
Parnaz Boodagh †, Laura Modica De Mohac, PhD , Yasurani Hayashi , Danila Vella, PhD , Sang-Ho Ye , Federica Cosentino, PhD , Taro Fujii , Emily Gorge , Garrett Coyan , Laubrie Soto Joan Dario, PhD , Gaetano Burriesci, PhD , William R. Wagner , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. *
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials, 113(2):e35529 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.35529
Journal Paper
Intramyocardial injection of a fully synthetic hydrogel attenuates left ventricular remodeling post myocardial infarction
Yasumoto Matsumura , Yang Zhu , Hongbin Jiang , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Samuel K. Luketich , Verena Charwat , Tomo Yoshizumi , Hideyoshi Sato , Brenda Yang , Takafumi Uchibori , Kevin E. Healy , William R. Wagner

Biomaterials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119289
Journal Paper
Evaluation of Microscopic Structure−Function Relationships of PEGylated Small Intestinal Submucosa Vascular Grafts for Arteriovenous Connection
Karen T. Valencia-Rivero , Juan C. Cruz , Nicolle Wagner-Gutierrez , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Maria C. Miranda , Rocío López , Albert Guerrero , William Wagner , Néstor Sandoval , Juan C. Briceño
ACS Applied Bio Materials
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.9b00158
Journal Paper
In vivo functional assessment of a novel degradable metal and elastomeric scaffold-based tissue engineered heart valve
Garrett N. Coyan , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Yasumoto Matsumura , Drake D. Pedersen , Samuel K. Luketich , Vesselin Shanov , William E. Katz , Tirone E. David , William R. Wagner , Vinay Badhwar

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.09.128
Journal Paper
An exploratory study on the preparation and evaluation of a “same-day” adipose stem cell–based tissue-engineered vascular graft
Darren G. Haskett , Kamiel S. Saleh , Katherine L. Lorentz , Alexander D. Josowitz , Samuel K. Luketich , Justin S. Weinbaum , Lauren E. Kokai , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Kacey G. Marra , J. Peter Rubin , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.05.120
Journal Paper
Heart valve scaffold fabrication: Bioinspired control of macro-scale morphology, mechanics and micro-structure
Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Samuel K. Luketich , Giuseppe M. Raffa , Salim Olia , Giorgio Menallo , Antonino Mazzola , Flavio D'Accardi , Tamir Grunberg , Xinzhu Gu , Michele Pilato , Marina V. Kameneva , Vinay Badhwar , William R. Wagner

Biomaterials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.011
Journal Paper
Heart valve scaffold fabrication: Bioinspired control of macro-scale morphology, mechanics and micro-structure
Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Samuel K Luketich , Giuseppe M Raffa , Salim Olia , Giorgio Menallo , Antonino Mazzola , Flavio D'Accardi , Tamir Grunberg , Xinzhu Gu , Michele Pilato , Marina V Kameneva , Vinay Badhwar , William R Wagner
Biomaterials
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.011
Journal Paper
Aging of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix drives a stem cell fibrogenic conversion
Kristen M. Stearns-Reider , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Kevin Beezhold , Benjamin Rothrauff , Loredana Cavalli , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp , Alkiviadis Tsamis , Sunita Shinde , Changqing Zhang , Aaron Barchowsky , Thomas A. Rando , Rocky S. Tuan , Fabrisia Ambrosio
Aging Cells
https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12578
Patent
Retrievable self-expanding non- thrombogenic low-profile percutaneous atrioventricular valve prosthesis
Vinay Badhwar , Young Jae Chun , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , David S. Schwartzman , William R. Wagner
US patent issued in 03-03-2026, publication number: US 12,564,492. Licensed to Neoolife Inc. in 10-2020.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10583004B2/en?inventor=%22Antonio%2bd%27Amore%22&oq=%22Antonio%2bd%27Amore%22
Journal Paper
In Vivo Functional Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Fabricated Using Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from High Cardiovascular Risk Populations
Jeffrey T. Krawiec , Justin S. Weinbaum , Han-Tsung Liao , Aneesh K. Ramaswamy , Dominic J. Pezzone , Alexander D. Josowitz , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , J. Peter Rubin , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp
Tissue Engineering Part A
https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2015.0379
Journal Paper
Extracellular matrix fiber microarchitecture is region-specific in bicuspid aortic valve-associated ascending aortopathy
Alkiviadis Tsamis , Julie A. Phillippi , Ryan G. Koch , Patrick G. Chan , Jeffrey T. Krawiec , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Simon C. Watkins , William R. Wagner , David A. Vorp , Thomas G. Gleason

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.02.019
Journal Paper
Correlations between transmural mechanical and morphological properties in porcine thoracic descending aorta
Ali Hemmasizadeh , Alkiviadis Tsamis , Rabee Cheheltani , Soroush Assari , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Michael Autieri , Mohammad F. Kiani , Nancy Pleshko , William R. Wagner , Simon C. Watkins , David Vorp , Kurosh Darvish

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2015.03.004
Dissemination
Collagen fiber architecture in the longitudinal-radial plane of ascending aorta is distinctly different among bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve patients with ascending aortic aneurysm
A. Tsamis , J.A. Phillippi , S. Pasta , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , S. Watkins , W. Wagner , D. Vorp , T. Gleason
Cardiovascular Pathology
Book/Book Chapter
Biomechanics and Finite Element Analysis
Michael Sacks , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , Hobson Chistopher
Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, 3rd ed., Chapter I.1.4 "Biomechanics and Finite Element Analysis." Eds. Ratner, Hoffman, Schoen & Lemons. Elsevier Publisher, 2012. ISBN 9780123746269
Dissemination
Controlling micro-structure to enhance de novo extracellular matrix deposition in elastomeric scaffolds for cardiac tissue regeneration
Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , J. Stella , R. Hoff , N. Amoroso , M. Sacks , W. R. Wagner
Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Dissemination
Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels Prepared from Porcine Dermis and Urinary Bladder: Structure, Mechanics and In Vivo Remodeling
M. Wolf , K. Daly , E. Brennan-Pierce , S. Johnson , C. Carruthers , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , S. Nagarkar , S. Velankar , S. Badylak
Glycobiology
Book/Book Chapter
The mechanics of native and engineered cardiac soft tissues
Michael S. Sacks , S. Wognum , J. Stella , E. Joyce , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. ,
Comprehensive Biomaterials, Page 27 of 42 Chapter 94 “The Mechanics of Native and Engineered Cardiac Soft Tissue”. Volume 3, 113-132. Elsevier Publisher, 2011. ISBN: 9780080553023
Dissemination
Unseeded Engineered Valve Leaflets Retain Function and Remodel After Implant in Sheep Right Pulmonary Outflow Tract
A. S Bayoumi , Antonio D'Amore, Ph.D. , E. Aikawa , N. Amoroso , S. E New , A. Cubberley , P. Chen , K. Shapero , R.F Padera , F. J Schoen , W. R Wagner , M. S Sacks , J. E Mayer
CIRCULATION
https://dx.doi.org/http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/126/21_MeetingAbstracts/A19201
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