05/2013-03/2019 PhD in Craniofacial Health Sciences (Biomineralization), Faculty of Dentistry, Division of Biomedical Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Thesis title: “Nanostructure of calcareous biominerals and (Graduation date: 28.05.2019)
Supervisor: Prof. Marc D. McKee
09/2011-05/2013 MSc in Dental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada [Fast-track to PhD]
09/2005-09/2010 BSc in School of Science, University of Athens, Faculty of Geology & Geoenvironment, Athens, Greece. Thesis title: “Structure and chemical composition of biominerals (gallstones, kidney stones and teeth) from the human
Supervisor: Prof. Athanasios Godelitsas
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biomineralization, Biomaterials, Pathological calcification, Mechanical properties, Bone, Teeth, Otoconia, Extracellular Matrix Biology, DNA nanotechnology, Electron microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Synchrotron X-ray scattering
14
Scopus Publications
692
Scholar Citations
10
Scholar h-index
11
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration Sara Gamea, Elham Radvar, Dimitra Athanasiadou, Ryan Lee Chan, Giacomo De Sero, Ecaterina Ware, Sunie Kundi, Avir Patel, Shwan Horamee, Shuaib Hadadi, Mads Carlsen, Leanne Allison, Roland Fleck, Ka Lung Andrew Chan, Avijit Banerjee, Nicola Pugno, Marianne Liebi, Paul T Sharpe, Karina Carneiro, Sherif Elsharkawy Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2025 Biomimetic protein‐based platforms, with their hierarchical networks and optimal mechanical properties, show promising potential for hard tissue regeneration, including dental enamel. However, achieving aligned enamel‐like apatite nanocrystals from organic matrices remains challenging. A simple organic‐based approach to re‐create the hierarchical enamel structure using water‐based keratin films is reported. These films assemble via disulfide bridging into a fibrous organic network and birefringent spherulitic construction of predominant ordered β‐sheet conformation. The flexible structure of keratin templates facilitates rearrangement of the secondary structures into α‐helices upon mineralization, guiding the ordered growth of apatite nanocrystals. This system has shown potential in repairing early defective dental enamel lesions, restoring both optical appearance and mechanical properties. This study offers a promising, simple, and clinically‐friendly method for developing novel protein‐based matrices for hard tissue regeneration from naturally abundant sources.
Guinea fowl eggshell structural analysis at different scales reveals how organic matrix induces microstructural shifts that enhance its mechanical properties A.B. Rodríguez-Navarro, N. Domínguez-Gasca, D. Athanasiadou, N. Le Roy, A. González-Segura, N. Reznikov, M.T. Hincke, M.D. McKee, A.G. Checa, Y. Nys, J. Gautron Acta Biomaterialia, 2024 Guinea fowl eggshells have an unusual structural arrangement that is different from that of most birds, consisting of two distinct layers with different microstructures. This bilayered organization, and distinct microstructural characteristics, provides it with exceptional mechanical properties. The inner layer, constituting about one third of the eggshell thickness, contains columnar calcite crystal units arranged vertically as in most bird shells. However, the thicker outer layer has a more complex microstructural arrangement formed by a switch to smaller calcite domains with diffuse/interlocking boundaries, partly resembling the interfaces seen in mollusk shell nacre. The switching process that leads to this remarkable second-layer microstructure is unknown. Our results indicate that the microstructural switching is triggered by changes in the inter- and intracrystalline organic matrix. During production of the outer microcrystalline layer in the later stages of eggshell formation, the interactions of organic matter with mineral induce an accumulation of defects that increase crystal mosaicity, instill anisotropic lattice distortions in the calcite structure, interrupt epitaxial growth, reduce crystallite size, and induce nucleation events which increase crystal misorientation. These structural changes, together with the transition between the layers and each layer having different microstructures, enhance the overall mechanical strength of the Guinea fowl eggshell. Additionally, our findings provide new insights into how biogenic calcite growth may be regulated to impart unique functional properties. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Avian eggshells are mineralized to protect the embryo and to provide calcium for embryonic chick skeletal development. Their thickness, structure and mechanical properties have evolved to resist external forces throughout brooding, yet ultimately allow them to crack open during chick hatching. One particular eggshell, that of the Guinea fowl, has structural features very different from other galliform birds - it is bilayered, with an inner columnar mineral structure (like in most birds), but it also has an outer layer with a complex microstructure which contributes to its superior mechanical properties. This work provides novel and new fundamental information about the processes and mechanisms that control and change crystal growth during the switch to microcrystalline domains when the second outer layer forms.
Chemical and Ultrastructural Characterization of Dentin Treated with Remineralizing Dentifrices Dimitra Athanasiadou, Denise Eymael, Beshr Hajhamid, Karina M. M. Carneiro, Anuradha Prakki Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2024 The aim of this study is to investigate dentin chemical and ultrastructural changes upon exposure to remineralizing dentifrices. Dentin disks were obtained from permanent human molars and treated for 7 days with the dentifrices: (1) C group—control (no dentifrice); (2) S group—Sensodyne Repair & Protect; (3) D group—Dentalclean Daily Regenerating Gel; and (4) DB group—D group + Dentalclean regenerating booster. Afterwards, samples were submitted to an additional 7 days of toothbrushing associated with daily acidic challenge. Samples were imaged and analyzed (days 1, 7, and 14) for Young’s modulus by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). SEM and AFM revealed precipitate deposition on dentin surfaces in groups S, D, and DB, formed as early as day 1. Surface elemental analysis showed a Si increase on all brushed surfaces. Similar surface morphology was maintained after the acidic challenge period. Bright-field TEM/SAED revealed the formation of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite inside the dentin tubules of groups S, D, and DB after day 7. Group C presented a gradual reduction of Young’s modulus from days-1–14, whereas all remaining groups had increased values. All evaluated dentifrices led to successful formation of hydroxyapatite and increased dentin stiffness.
Focusing on the Native Matrix Proteins in Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis Nikolaos Anousakis-Vlachochristou, Dimitra Athanasiadou, Karina M.M. Carneiro, Konstantinos Toutouzas Jacc Basic to Translational Science, 2023 Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a widespread valvular heart disease affecting people in aging societies, primarily characterized by fibrosis, inflammation, and progressive calcification, leading to valve orifice stenosis. Understanding the factors associated with CAVS onset and progression is crucial to develop effective future pharmaceutical therapies. In CAVS, native extracellular matrix proteins modifications, play a significant role in calcification in vitro and in vivo. This work aimed to review the evidence on the alterations of structural native extracellular matrix proteins involved in calcification development during CAVS and highlight its link to deregulated biomechanical function.
DNA hydrogels for bone regeneration Dimitra Athanasiadou, Nadeen Meshry, Naara G. Monteiro, Ana C. Ervolino-Silva, Ryan Lee Chan, Christopher A. McCulloch, Roberta Okamoto, Karina M. M. Carneiro Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2023 DNA-based biomaterials have been proposed for tissue engineering approaches due to their predictable assembly into complex morphologies and ease of functionalization. For bone tissue regeneration, the ability to bind Ca 2+ and promote hydroxyapatite (HAP) growth along the DNA backbone combined with their degradation and release of extracellular phosphate, a known promoter of osteogenic differentiation, make DNA-based biomaterials unlike other currently used materials. However, their use as biodegradable scaffolds for bone repair remains scarce. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of DNA hydrogels, gels composed of DNA that swell in water, their interactions in vitro with the osteogenic cell lines MC3T3-E1 and mouse calvarial osteoblast, and their promotion of new bone formation in rat calvarial wounds. We found that DNA hydrogels can be readily synthesized at room temperature, and they promote HAP growth in vitro, as characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Osteogenic cells remain viable when seeded on DNA hydrogels in vitro, as characterized by fluorescence microscopy. In vivo, DNA hydrogels promote the formation of new bone in rat calvarial critical size defects, as characterized by micro-computed tomography and histology. This study uses DNA hydrogels as a potential therapeutic biomaterial for regenerating lost bone.
Peptide-Decorated DNA Nanostructures Promote Site-Specific Hydroxyapatite Growth Alexander L. Danesi, Dimitra Athanasiadou, Abdulmateen O. Aderinto, Prakash Rasie, Leo Y. T. Chou, Karina M. M. Carneiro ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2022 The guiding principle for mineralized tissue formation is that mineral growth occurs through the interaction of Ca2+ and phosphate ions with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Recently, nanoengineered DNA structures have been proposed as mimics to ECM scaffolds. However, these principles have not been applied to mineralized tissues. Here, we describe DNA nanostructures, namely, a DNA nanotube and a DNA origami rectangle that are site specifically functionalized with a mineral-promoting “SSEE” peptide derived from ECM proteins present in mineralized tissues. In the presence of Ca2+ and phosphate ions (mineralizing conditions), site-specific calcium phosphate formation occurred on the DNA nanostructures. Amorphous calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite was formed depending on the incubation time, shape of the DNA nanostructure, and amount of Ca2+ and phosphate ions present. The ability to design and control the growth of hydroxyapatite through nanoengineered scaffolds provides insights into the mechanisms that may occur during crystal nucleation and growth of mineralized tissues and can inspire mineralized tissue regeneration strategies.
Uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a self‐assembled protein scaffold Alexander L. Danesi, Dimitra Athanasiadou, Ahmad Mansouri, Alina Phen, Mehrnoosh Neshatian, James Holcroft, Johan Bonde, Bernhard Ganss, Karina M. M. Carneiro International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021 Biomineralization is a crucial process whereby organisms produce mineralized tissues such as teeth for mastication, bones for support, and shells for protection. Mineralized tissues are composed of hierarchically organized hydroxyapatite crystals, with a limited capacity to regenerate when demineralized or damaged past a critical size. Thus, the development of protein-based materials that act as artificial scaffolds to guide hydroxyapatite growth is an attractive goal both for the design of ordered nanomaterials and for tissue regeneration. In particular, amelogenin, which is the main protein that scaffolds the hierarchical organization of hydroxyapatite crystals in enamel, amelogenin recombinamers, and amelogenin-derived peptide scaffolds have all been investigated for in vitro mineral growth. Here, we describe uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a nanoengineered amelogenin scaffold in combination with amelotin, a mineral promoting protein present during enamel formation. This bio-inspired approach for hydroxyapatite growth may inform the molecular mechanism of hydroxyapatite formation in vitro as well as possible mechanisms at play during mineralized tissue formation.
Hydroxyapatite Growth on Amelogenin-Amelotin Recombinamers Dimitra Athanasiadou, Alexander L. Danesi, Liana Umbrio, James Holcroft, Bernhard Ganss, Karina M. M. Carneiro Chemnanomat, 2021 Strategies to improve hydroxyapatite mineralization for enamel repair are essential for tissue regeneration. Amelogenin and amelotin (AMTN) are enamel matrix proteins playing critical roles in enamel formation. Amelogenin acts as a scaffold for hydroxyapatite, while AMTN (specifically its ‘SSEEL’ domain) is necessary for proper enamel mineralization. The functional relationship between recombinant AMTN and amelogenin, and their combined ability to guide uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth in vitro has been investigated recently. However, incorporation of the active domain of AMTN within recombinant amelogenins has not been studied yet. Here we describe the synthesis of modified amelogenin by inserting, internally and at its C‐terminus, the mineralizing AMTN‐derived motif SSEEL. C‐terminus modified amelogenin promoted hydroxyapatite formation, whereas internal incorporation of the motif initially resulted in amorphous calcium phosphate formation. Here we show that modified amelogenin with the mineralizing AMTN‐motif SSEEL can promote hydroxyapatite growth. These results give new insights for mineralized tissue regeneration using recombinamer proteins.
Nanostructure of mouse otoconia Dimitra Athanasiadou, Wenge Jiang, Natalie Reznikov, Alejandro B. Rodríguez-Navarro, Roland Kröger, Matthew Bilton, Alicia González-Segura, Yongfeng Hu, Valentin Nelea, Marc D. McKee Journal of Structural Biology, 2020
Nanostructure, osteopontin, and mechanical properties of calcitic avian eggshell Dimitra Athanasiadou, Wenge Jiang, Dina Goldbaum, Aroba Saleem, Kaustuv Basu, Michael S. Pacella, Corinna F. Böhm, Richard R. Chromik, Maxwell T. Hincke, Alejandro B. Rodríguez-Navarro, Hojatollah Vali, Stephan E. Wolf, Jeffrey J. Gray, Khanh Huy Bui, Marc D. McKee Science Advances, 2018
Geochemistry at the Interface Environment (session in honor of Laurent Charlet) J Peña, JF Boily, D Athanasiadou, P Alvarez-Lloret, LHE Winkel, B Ma, ... Goldschmidt 2026 Conference , 2026 2026
Enhanced oral delivery and bioactivity of EGCG via DNA nanocarriers DA Chrisostomo, D Athanasiadou, D Eymael, T Sarma, C Duque, A Prakki, ... Scientific Reports , 2026 2026
Unravelling the Twist in Narwhal Tusk with Hierarchical X-Ray Scattering Tensor Tomography D Athanasiadou, H Birkedal, M Jacobsen, M Liebi, A Rodriguez Palomo, ... Unravelling the Twist in Narwhal Tusk with Hierarchical X-Ray Scattering … , 2026 2026
Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 30/2025) S Gamea, E Radvar, D Athanasiadou, RL Chan, G De Sero, E Ware, ... Advanced Healthcare Materials 14 (30), e70390 , 2025 2025
Calcium oxalate precipitation: Implications for kidney stone formation D Athanasiadou, JM Brazier, P Alvarez-Lloret, V Mavromatis Goldschmidt 2025 Conference , 2025 2025
Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration S Gamea, E Radvar, D Athanasiadou, RL Chan, G De Sero, E Ware, ... Advanced healthcare materials, e02465 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Development of EGCG Loaded DNA Tetrahedron Carriers for Potential Oral Applications C Duque, DA Chrisostomo, D Athanasiadou, KMM Carneiro, A Prakki Dental Materials 41, e57 , 2025 2025
P. 5.8 UTILIZING RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY FOR EARLY DETECTION AND UNDERSTANDING OF CALCIFIC AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS M Karnachoriti, N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, M Mavroidis, ... Physica Medica 127, 104684 , 2024 2024
Multiomics coupled with vibrational spectroscopy identify early mechanisms of experimental aortic valve stenosis N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, M Mavroidis, M Miliotis, M Makridakis, ... 2024
Guinea fowl eggshell structural analysis at different scales reveals how organic matrix induces microstructural shifts that enhance its mechanical properties AB Rodríguez-Navarro, N Domínguez-Gasca, D Athanasiadou, N Le Roy, ... Acta Biomaterialia 178, 244-256 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Chemical and ultrastructural characterization of dentin treated with remineralizing dentifrices D Athanasiadou, D Eymael, B Hajhamid, KMM Carneiro, A Prakki Journal of functional biomaterials 15 (1), 25 , 2024 2024 Citations: 13
Focusing on the native matrix proteins in calcific aortic valve stenosis N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, D Athanasiadou, KMM Carneiro, ... Basic to Translational Science 8 (8), 1028-1039 , 2023 2023 Citations: 24
DNA hydrogels for bone regeneration D Athanasiadou, N Meshry, NG Monteiro, AC Ervolino-Silva, RL Chan, ... Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (17), e2220565120 , 2023 2023 Citations: 44
Peptide-DNA hybrid nanostructures as scaffolds for hydroxyapatite growth KMM Carneiro, D Athanasiadou, A Danesi, N Meshry, RL Chan, ... Dental Materials 39, e16 , 2023 2023
Exploring Calcium Phosphate Biomineralization Systems Using In Situ Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy LA DiCecco, R Gao, D Athanasiadou, RL Chan, KMM Carneiro, DF Kelly, ... Microscopy and Microanalysis 28 (S1), 1818-1820 , 2022 2022 Citations: 5
Extracellular glycoproteins and advanced glycation end products associate with calcification development in human and rabbit calcified aortic valves N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, D Athanasiadou, M Mavroidis, A Miliou, ... Journal of the American College of Cardiology 79 (9_Supplement), 1686-1686 , 2022 2022
Peptide-decorated DNA nanostructures promote site-specific hydroxyapatite growth AL Danesi, D Athanasiadou, AO Aderinto, P Rasie, LYT Chou, ... ACS applied materials & interfaces 14 (1), 1692-1698 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Improved rabbit model of calcific aortic valve disease induces severe medial calcification and stenosis equivalent to human disease N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, M Mavroidis, D Athanasiadou, A Varela, ... Circulation 144 (Suppl_1), A13262-A13262 , 2021 2021
Uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a self-assembled protein scaffold AL Danesi, D Athanasiadou, A Mansouri, A Phen, M Neshatian, J Holcroft, ... International journal of molecular sciences 22 (22), 12343 , 2021 2021 Citations: 12
Hydroxyapatite Growth on Amelogenin‐Amelotin Recombinamers D Athanasiadou, AL Danesi, L Umbrio, J Holcroft, B Ganss, ... ChemNanoMat 7 (7), 851-857 , 2021 2021 Citations: 4
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Chiral acidic amino acids induce chiral hierarchical structure in calcium carbonate W Jiang, MS Pacella, D Athanasiadou, V Nelea, H Vali, RM Hazen, ... Nature communications 8 (1), 15066 , 2017 2017 Citations: 215
Nanostructure, osteopontin, and mechanical properties of calcitic avian eggshell D Athanasiadou, W Jiang, D Goldbaum, A Saleem, K Basu, MS Pacella, ... Science Advances 4 (3), 3219 , 2018 2018 Citations: 154
DNA nanostructures as templates for biomineralization D Athanasiadou, KMM Carneiro Nature Reviews Chemistry 5 (2), 93-108 , 2021 2021 Citations: 106
DNA hydrogels for bone regeneration D Athanasiadou, N Meshry, NG Monteiro, AC Ervolino-Silva, RL Chan, ... Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (17), e2220565120 , 2023 2023 Citations: 44
Homochirality in biomineral suprastructures induced by assembly of single-enantiomer amino acids from a nonracemic mixture W Jiang, D Athanasiadou, S Zhang, R Demichelis, KB Koziara, P Raiteri, ... Nature Communications 10 (1), 2318 , 2019 2019 Citations: 37
New insights into the chemical and isotopic composition of human-body biominerals. I: Cholesterol gallstones from England and Greece D Athanasiadou, A Godelitsas, D Sokaras, AG Karydas, E Dotsika, ... Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 27 (2), 79-84 , 2013 2013 Citations: 28
Focusing on the native matrix proteins in calcific aortic valve stenosis N Anousakis-Vlachochristou, D Athanasiadou, KMM Carneiro, ... Basic to Translational Science 8 (8), 1028-1039 , 2023 2023 Citations: 24
Peptide-decorated DNA nanostructures promote site-specific hydroxyapatite growth AL Danesi, D Athanasiadou, AO Aderinto, P Rasie, LYT Chou, ... ACS applied materials & interfaces 14 (1), 1692-1698 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Chemical and ultrastructural characterization of dentin treated with remineralizing dentifrices D Athanasiadou, D Eymael, B Hajhamid, KMM Carneiro, A Prakki Journal of functional biomaterials 15 (1), 25 , 2024 2024 Citations: 13
Uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a self-assembled protein scaffold AL Danesi, D Athanasiadou, A Mansouri, A Phen, M Neshatian, J Holcroft, ... International journal of molecular sciences 22 (22), 12343 , 2021 2021 Citations: 12
Guinea fowl eggshell structural analysis at different scales reveals how organic matrix induces microstructural shifts that enhance its mechanical properties AB Rodríguez-Navarro, N Domínguez-Gasca, D Athanasiadou, N Le Roy, ... Acta Biomaterialia 178, 244-256 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration S Gamea, E Radvar, D Athanasiadou, RL Chan, G De Sero, E Ware, ... Advanced healthcare materials, e02465 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Nanostructure of mouse otoconia D Athanasiadou, W Jiang, N Reznikov, AB Rodríguez-Navarro, R Kröger, ... Journal of Structural Biology 210 (2), 107489 , 2020 2020 Citations: 9
Exploring Calcium Phosphate Biomineralization Systems Using In Situ Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy LA DiCecco, R Gao, D Athanasiadou, RL Chan, KMM Carneiro, DF Kelly, ... Microscopy and Microanalysis 28 (S1), 1818-1820 , 2022 2022 Citations: 5
New insights into the chemical and isotopic composition of human-body biominerals II: COM kidney stones from Greece D Athanasiadou, A Godelitsas, D Sokaras, AG Karydas, E Dotsika, ... Int Arch Urol Complic 3, 020 , 2017 2017 Citations: 5
Hydroxyapatite Growth on Amelogenin‐Amelotin Recombinamers D Athanasiadou, AL Danesi, L Umbrio, J Holcroft, B Ganss, ... ChemNanoMat 7 (7), 851-857 , 2021 2021 Citations: 4
Nanostructure of calcareous biominerals and osteopontin D Athanasiadou McGill University (Canada) , 2019 2019 Citations: 2
Geochemistry at the Interface Environment (session in honor of Laurent Charlet) J Peña, JF Boily, D Athanasiadou, P Alvarez-Lloret, LHE Winkel, B Ma, ... Goldschmidt 2026 Conference , 2026 2026
Enhanced oral delivery and bioactivity of EGCG via DNA nanocarriers DA Chrisostomo, D Athanasiadou, D Eymael, T Sarma, C Duque, A Prakki, ... Scientific Reports , 2026 2026
Unravelling the Twist in Narwhal Tusk with Hierarchical X-Ray Scattering Tensor Tomography D Athanasiadou, H Birkedal, M Jacobsen, M Liebi, A Rodriguez Palomo, ... Unravelling the Twist in Narwhal Tusk with Hierarchical X-Ray Scattering … , 2026 2026
