Principal investigator

Caroline Curtin

Principal Investigator

Bio-nano interactions · Biomaterials · Gene delivery · Bone and joint repair

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About

Research profile

Caroline Curtin develops smart scaffolds and delivery systems for regenerative medicine and advanced disease models, combining biomaterials, cell biology and therapeutic translation.

Expertise

Research interests

01Bio-nano interactions

02Biomaterials

03Gene delivery

04Bone and joint repair

05Drug delivery

06Nanomedicine

07Stem-cell biology

08Tissue engineering

09Cancer models

10Therapeutics

Lab members

Caroline’s research team

Browse PI groups

PhD Scholar

Na Zhao

Na Zhao is a PhD scholar in TERG building technical expertise and developing new research approaches within the group’s supportive multidisciplinary environment.

terg@rcsi.ie View profile

Current work

Research projects

Platforms

Biomaterial scaffolds

Natural-polymer scaffolds engineered to reproduce extracellular-matrix structure, guide cell behaviour and support tissue repair.

7 associated researchers

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Research areas

Targeted therapeutic delivery

Local delivery of drugs, proteins, peptides, bioinorganic ions, nucleic acids and cells from biomaterials and medical devices.

7 associated researchers

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Research areas

Gene-activated materials

Non-viral vectors and biomaterial platforms that deliver genes, microRNAs and other nucleic-acid therapeutics at the site of repair.

6 associated researchers

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Research areas

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials

Bioactive materials designed to counter infection, regulate inflammation and create a repair-supportive immune environment.

6 associated researchers

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Clinical applications

Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

Regenerative and drug-delivery strategies for bone defects, cartilage damage, osteoarthritis and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).

5 associated researchers

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Clinical applications

Respiratory regeneration and drug delivery

Scaffolds, disease models and delivery systems for airway regeneration, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis research.

3 associated researchers

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Clinical applications

Advanced disease models

Three-dimensional models of cancer, bone infection, osteoporosis, lung disease and other tissue microenvironments for discovery and screening.

7 associated researchers

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Selected outputs

Highlighted publications

All publications by this PI

2025Biofabrication

Collagen silver-doped hydroxyapatite scaffolds reinforced with 3D printed frameworks for infection prevention and enhanced repair of load-bearing bone defects.

Genoud KJ, Sadowska JM, Power RN, Costard LS, Ryan EJ, Matherson AR, Gonzalez-Vazquez AG, Lemoine M, Eichholz K, Pitacco P, Chen G, Cavanagh B, Garcia O, Murphy CM, Curtin CM, Kelly DJ, O'Brien FJ

Biofabrication and 3D printing Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2024Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

A Multifunctional Scaffold for Bone Infection Treatment by Delivery of microRNA Therapeutics Combined With Antimicrobial Nanoparticles.

Sadowska JM, Power RN, Genoud KJ, Matheson A, González-Vázquez A, Costard L, Eichholz K, Pitacco P, Hallegouet T, Chen G, Curtin CM, Murphy CM, Cavanagh B, Zhang H, Kelly DJ, Boccaccini AR, O'Brien FJ

Gene-activated materials Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA Targeted therapeutic delivery Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2023BiofabricationFeatured

An injectable and 3D printable pro-chondrogenic hyaluronic acid and collagen type II composite hydrogel for the repair of articular cartilage defects

Donagh G. O’Shea, Tom Hodgkinson, Caroline M. Curtin and Fergal J. O’Brien

Hydrogels Biofabrication and 3D printing Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

DOI Article

2023Methods in Molecular Biology

Assessment of Cell Cytotoxicity in 3D Biomaterial Scaffolds Following miRNA Transfection

Elizabeth Sainsbury, Lara Costard, Fergal J. O’Brien and Caroline M. Curtin

Biomaterial scaffolds Gene-activated materials Advanced disease models

DOI Article

2023Acta biomaterialia

Dual scaffold delivery of miR-210 mimic and miR-16 inhibitor enhances angiogenesis and osteogenesis to accelerate bone healing.

Castaño IM, Raftery RM, Chen G, Cavanagh B, Quinn B, Duffy GP, Curtin CM, O'Brien FJ

Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA Targeted therapeutic delivery Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2022Nature reviews. Rheumatology

Mechanosignalling in cartilage: an emerging target for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Hodgkinson T, Kelly DC, Curtin CM, O'Brien FJ

Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

DOI Article

Industry & translation

Turning research into impact.

TERG works with academic, clinical and industry partners to move biomaterials, devices and regenerative technologies towards patient benefit.

Industry, spin-outs and collaboration

Contact

Start a conversation.

For research, collaboration and supervision enquiries, email carolinecurtin@rcsi.com.

Lab contact details