Academic staff

Catherine LEVISAGE

Research Director INSERM Deputy Head Inserm U1229 - Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton (RMeS) Group leader "HEAL: Hydrogels and joint regeneration"

UMR_S 1229 Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton

Contact details

INSERM UMR 1229, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, School of Dental Surgery, University of Nantes, 1 Place Ricordeau - 44300 Nantes France

Phone: 0240412984 (n° interne : 312984)
Email: Catherine.Levisage@univ-nantes.fr
Personal Website: http://www.rmes.univ-nantes.fr/

Research topics

Hydrogels and joint microenvironment

To reproduce the complex three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment experienced by cells in vivo, we have selected hydrogels, i.e., complex networks of hydrophilic crosslinked polymers, for their similarity with the extracellular matrix of tissues.
My research is focused on natural, bioresorbable, and non-immunogenic polysaccharides to design innovative hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity and the ability to mediate cellular activities. My most recent works have focused on innovative hydrogels as i) carriers of cells or bioactive molecules in the context of intervertebral disc disease and osteoarthritis and ii) biofabrication tools for developing in vitro models.

Activities / Resume

Online CV

2017-	Deputy Director. Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton (RMeS) Laboratory, Nantes, France
2012-	Research Director. National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Nantes, France
2007-2012	Senior Research Scientist. National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paris, France
2005-2007	Young Investigator Fellow. National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paris, France
2003-2005	Research Associate. Biomedical Engineering Dept, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, USA
2000-2003	Postdoctoral position. Biomedical Engineering Dept, Johns Hopkins - Advisor: Pr. K. Leong
1996-1999	Ph.D. Student. University Paris 11, Paris, France - Advisor: Pr. P. Couvreur

Additional information

Recent publications

Lipid nanocapsules for intracellular delivery of microRNA: a first step towards intervertebral disc degeneration therapy

B. Le Moal, E. Lepeltier, D. Rouleau, C. Le Visage, J-P Benoit, C. Passirani, J. Guicheux, M. Fusellier, J. Clouet
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022, 624: 121941
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121941

Controlled release of biological factors for endogenous progenitor cell migration and intervertebral disc extracellular matrix remodelling

L. Frapin, J. Clouet, C. Chedeville, C. Moraru, E. Samarut, N. Henry, M. André, E. Bord, B. Halgand, J. Lesoeur, M. Fusellier, J. Guicheux*, C. Le Visage*
Biomaterials, 2020, 253: 120107
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120107

Lessons learned from intervertebral disc pathophysiology to guide rational design of sequential delivery systems for therapeutic biological factors

L. Frapin, J. Clouet, V. Delplace, M. Fusellier, J. Guicheux*, C. Le Visage*
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2019, 205: 81-93
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.08.007

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of an electrospun-aligned microfibrous implant for Annulus fibrosus repair

M. Gluais, J. Clouet, M. Fusellier, C. Decante, C. Moraru, M. Dutilleul, J. Veziers, J. Lesoeur, D. Dumas, J. Abadie, A. Hamel, E. Bord, S. Y. Chew, J. Guicheux, C. Le Visage
Biomaterials, 2019, 205: 81-93
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.03.010

Intervertebral disc regeneration: From cell therapy to the development of novel bioinspired endogenous repair strategies

J. Clouet, M. Fusellier, A. Camus*,C. Le Visage*, J. Guicheux
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2019, 146:306-324
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.017

Assessing glucose and oxygen diffusion in hydrogels for the rational design of 3D stem cell scaffolds in regenerative medicine

L. Figueiredo, R. Pace, C. d'Arros, G. Réthoré, J. Guicheux, C. Le Visage*, P. Weiss*,
Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2018, 12(5):1238-1246
DOI: 10.1002/term.2656

Toward the development of biomimetic injectable and macroporous biohydrogels for regenerative medicine

K. Flégeau, R. Pace, H. Gautier, G. Rethore, J. Guicheux, C. Le Visage*, P. Weiss*
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2017, 247:589-609
DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2017.07.012

Pullulan microbeads/Si-HPMC hydrogel injectable system for the sustained delivery of GDF-5 and TGF-β1: new insight into intervertebral disc regenerative medicine

N. Henry, J. Clouet, A. Fragale, L. Griveau, C. Chédeville, J. Véziers, P. Weiss, J. Le Bideau, J. Guicheux*, C. Le Visage*
Drug Delivery, 2017, 24(1): 999-1010 - Full text available
DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2017.1340362