Diego Montagner

Dr Diego Montagner

Chemistry, Human Health Institute

Associate Professor

Head of the Department of Chemistry

Location Education House, North Campus

Floor Upper Ground Floor

Room 3.1.5

Phone (01) 474 7510

Email Diego.Montagner@mu.ie

Biography

2025 Head of Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University

2024 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University

2016 Lecturer in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University, Ireland
2015 Lecturer in Chemistry School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway
2013- 2014 Marie Curie Post-Doctoral fellow School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway
2012-2013 Post-Doctoral Fellow Chemistry Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2011 Visiting Scientist School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway
2009-2010 Visiting Scientist Inorganic Chemistry Department, Dortmund University, Germany
2008 PhD in Chemistry University of Padua, Italy

Research

Research Interests

My research is inserted in the big area of Bioinorganic Chemistry and it is placed at the interface between inorganic/medicinal chemistry and biology.
It is focused on the development of new metal based drugs that could be selectively delivered and accumulated into the tumor cell and that interact with biologically-relevant macromolecules with different mechanism of action.

In particular we are interested in:
1) Pt(IV) prodrug complexes with targeted axial ligands;
2) Cu(II) complexes that interact with the DNA via different pathways;
3) Au(I) carbene complexes as antimicrobial compunds;
4) metal based complexes (Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(III)) that act as metallo-nuclease enzymes;
5) Nanoplatform as delivery systems for drugs

In our lab we design, synthetise and characterise with different spectroscopic techniques (multinuclear NMR, Mass, IR, UV, HPLC, AA) the metal based complexes.
In combination with our national and international collaborators we will study and speculate on the mode of action, interaction with biomolecules and cytotoxic activity of the new metal-based drugs.

Research Projects

Title	Role	Description	Start date	End date	Amount
STRIKE: Comprehensive STRategIes to tacKlE malignant tumors: from nanomedicine and theranostics to precision medicine	PI	STRIKE-DN will raise excellence in research and training in nanomedicine/precision medicine creating new generation of entrepreneurial and innovative multidisciplinary doctoral candidates. New experimental aspects on design and synthesis of nanostructured magnetic materials will be applied to the development of innovative magnetic field-responsive nanotherapeutics for osteosarcoma (OS) combinational therapy. Moreover, the peculiar features of STRIKE nanomaterials will be exploited for liquid biopsy using biological samples of BRCA+ breast cancer (BC) patients. The cooperation among outstanding universities, research institutes and industries will provide the DCs with trans-national exchanges and the most innovative research trainings in novel anticancer therapeutic strategies, including in vivo biological evaluation, imaging in OS and early diagnosis in BC. STRIKE will provide enhanced career perspectives in academic and non-academic sectors for 8 DCs in highly innovative fields by interdisciplinary mobility among 12 institutes/companies in 8 EU countries. STRIKE aims to: 1) develop 8 highly skilled employable doctoral candidates; 2) enhance interdisciplinary capacity and cooperation within the EU nanomedicine and precision medicine research networks; 3) strengthen EU’s competitiveness and growth in nanomedicine and precision medicine through the translation of the consortium research/innovation outputs. The consortium will fulfill its goals through: a) achieving research excellence; b) providing a complete cutting edge research and innovation training program with some of the European top research institutes and industry partners; c) hosting interdisciplinary and commercial workshops, seminars and outreach events; d) maximizing knowledge transfer using Open Science and patents; e) delivering highly trained professionals, whose profiles fit within the requirements of academia, industry and public/private institutions, fostering their employability and promoting the innovation of EU research.	01/01/2023	31/12/2026	2106835.2
Advanced hybrid theranostic nanoplatforms for an active drug delivery in the cancer treatment	PI		01/01/2021	31/12/2023	184484
Darren Beirne- Combination chemotherapy: a modern approach to target colorectal cancer with dualaction Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor-Pt(IV) based drugs	PI	Platinum complexes as anticancer drugs (i.e. cisplatin, carboplatin, oxalilplatin) were discovered in the 1970s and, they have been approved and are worldwide used to treat a variety of tumours. Their activity is limited by dose-dependent side effects (nephro-, neuro- and ototoxicity) and the lack of selectivity toward cancer tissue with respect to healthy cells remains one of the major drawbacks. Combination chemotherapy is a burgeoning strategy that consists of combining in the same molecule two different drugs with two different mechanisms of action that can operate simultaneously, targeting different features on the cancer cell. Tyrosine kinases (TK) are promising targets in oncology and play a major role in cell regulation pathways (e.g. metabolism, transcription, cell division and programmed cell death) and TK deregulation is often related to cancer onset. Several TK play a critical role in the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancers that are among the most common tumours in Ireland (ranked third among the most common cancers in 2018 from National Cancer Registry Ireland). Currently, the activity of platinum-based drugs against these tumours, is limited because resistance is often aquired after few chemotherapeutic cycles. The aim of this project is to exploit the combination chemotherapy strategy to develop new drugs that will target colorectal cancer, combining in one unique molecule, the DNA damaging activity of platinum with TK inhibitors. Imatinib and nilotinib are known TKs inhibitors and are FDA approved to treat solid tumors, such as gastrointestinal stromal cancer. The two active components (platinum(II) and TK inhibitor) will be released simultaneously upon intracellular reduction, and will work in cooperation to increase the overall anticancer efficacy, in particular toward the digestive system tumours. The developing of effective chemotheraputic agents against colorectal cancers, could have very important impact on the Irish society, with almost 3000 people diagnosed every year.	01/10/2020	30/09/2024	112250
STRIKE	PI		01/01/2023	31/12/2026	281488

Post Doctoral Fellows / Research Team

	Researcher Name	Project	Funding Body
	María Galiana Cameo	NANO4TARMED

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2024	Žárská, L.; Moynihan, E.; Rossi, A.; Bassi, G.; Balatková, P.; Campodoni, E.; Cameo, M.G.; Montesi, M.; Montagner, D.; Ranc, V.; Panseri, S. (2024) 'Dual Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy Using Graphene Oxide-Based Nanoplatforms'. Advanced NanoBiomed Research, . [Link] [DOI]
	2024	Moynihan, E.; Galiana-Cameo, M.; Sandri, M.; Ruffini, A.; Panseri, S.; Velasco-Torrijos, T.; Montesi, M.; Montagner, D. (2024) '2D and 3D anticancer properties of C2-functionalised glucosamine-Pt (IV) prodrugs based on cisplatin scaffold'. Frontiers In Chemistry, 12 . [Link] [DOI]
	2023	Moynihan, E.; Panseri, S.; Bassi, G.; Rossi, A.; Campodoni, E.; Dempsey, E.; Montesi, M.; Velasco-Torrijos, T.; Montagner, D. (2023) 'Development of Novel Pt(IV)-Carbohydrate Derivatives as Targeted Anticancer Agents against Osteosarcoma'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 . [Link] [DOI]
	2023	Barrett, S.; De Franco, M.; Donati, C.; Marzano, C.; Gandin, V.; Montagner, D. (2023) 'Novel Biotinylated Cu(II)-Phenanthroline Complexes: 2D and 3D Cytotoxic Activity and Mechanistic Insight'. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28 . [Link] [DOI]
	2023	Beirne, Farkas, Donati, Gandin, Rozas, Velasco-Torrijos, Montagner (2023) 'Novel design of dual-action Pt(iv) anticancer pro-drugs based on cisplatin and derivatives of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and nilotinib'. Dalton Transactions, 52 :14110-14122. https://doi-org.may.idm.oclc.org/10.1039/D3DT02030D [Full-Text]
	2023	D’Arcy, K.; Schäfer, T.; De Franco, M.; Ricco, R.; Gandin, V.; Sanz Miguel, P.J.; Montagner, D. (2023) 'Unusual tellurium(iv) mediated cyclisation diols into dihydroxazoles with potential anticancer activity'. New Journal of Chemistry, . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2022	Beirne D.F.; Dalla Via M.; Velasco-Torrijos T.; Montagner D. (2022) 'Metal-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Targeted metal-drug conjugates'. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 469 . [DOI]
	2022	Giusto E.; Žárská L.; Beirne D.F.; Rossi A.; Bassi G.; Ruffini A.; Montesi M.; Montagner D.; Ranc V.; Panseri S. (2022) 'Graphene Oxide Nanoplatforms to Enhance Cisplatin-Based Drug Delivery in Anticancer Therapy'. Journal of Nanomaterials, 12 (14). [DOI]
	2021	Moynihan E.; Bassi G.; Ruffini A.; Panseri S.; Montesi M.; Velasco-Torrijos T.; Montagner D. (2021) 'Click Pt(IV)-Carbohydrates Pro-Drugs for Treatment of Osteosarcoma'. Frontiers In Chemistry, 9 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2020	Almotairy A.R.Z.; Montagner D.; Morrison L.; Devereux M.; Howe O.; Erxleben A. (2020) 'Pt(IV) pro-drugs with an axial HDAC inhibitor demonstrate multimodal mechanisms involving DNA damage and apoptosis independent of cisplatin resistance in A2780/A2780cis cells'. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 210 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2020	Tonoyan L; Montagner D; Friel R; O'Flaherty V; (2020) 'Antimicrobials offered from nature: Peroxidase-catalyzed systems and their mimics'. Biochemical Pharmacology, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2019	Barrett, S; De Franco, M; Kellett, A; Dempsey, E; Marzano, C; Erxleben, A; Gandin, V; Montagner, D (2019) 'Anticancer activity, DNA binding and cell mechanistic studies of estrogen-functionalised Cu(II) complexes'. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2019	D'Arcy K.; Doyle A.; Kavanagh K.; Ronconi L.; Fresch B.; Montagner D. (2019) 'Stability of antibacterial Te(IV)compounds: A combined experimental and computational study'. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 198 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2019	Tolan D.; Almotairy A.; Howe O.; Devereux M.; Montagner D.; Erxleben A. (2019) 'Cytotoxicity and ROS production of novel Pt(IV)oxaliplatin derivatives with indole propionic acid'. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 492 :262-267. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2019	Kitteringham E.; Andriollo E.; Gandin V.; Montagner D.; Griffith D. (2019) 'Synthesis, characterisation and in vitro antitumour potential of novel Pt(II) estrogen linked complexes'. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 495 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2018	Pettenuzzo A.; Montagner D.; McArdle P.; Ronconi L. (2018) 'An innovative and efficient route to the synthesis of metal-based glycoconjugates: proof-of-concept and potential applications'. Dalton Transactions, 47 (31):10721-10736. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2018	Barrett S.; Delaney S.; Kavanagh K.; Montagner D. (2018) 'Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of novel Cu(II)-steroid complexes'. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 479 :261-265. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2018	Montagner D.; Tolan D.; Andriollo E.; Gandin V.; Marzano C. (2018) 'A Pt(IV) prodrug combining chlorambucil and cisplatin: A dual-acting weapon for targeting DNA in cancer cells'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19 (12). [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2018	Molphy Z; Montagner D; Bhat SS; Slator C; Long C; Erxleben A; Kellett A; (2018) 'A phosphate-targeted dinuclear Cu(II) complex combining major groove binding and oxidative DNA cleavage'. Nucleic Acids Research, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2018	Daniele Lo Re, Diego Montagner, Dina Tolan, Di Sanza, Mar Iglesias, A. Calon, E. Giralt (2018) 'Increased immune cell infiltration in patient-derived tumor explants treated with Traniplatin: an original Pt(IV) pro-drug based on Cisplatin and Tranilas'. Chemical Communications*, . [DOI]
	2018	Diego Montagner, Keefe Guang Zhi Lee, Maria Babak, Andrea Weiss, Paul Dyson, Patrycja Novak-Slowinska, Wee han Ang (2018) 'Development of an Efficient Dual‐action GST‐inhibiting Anticancer Platinum(IV) Prodrug'. ChemMedChem*, . https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.201800105 [Full-Text]
	2017	Montagner D.; Fresch B.; Browne K.; Gandin V.; Erxleben A. (2017) 'A Cu(ii) complex targeting the translocator protein: in vitro and in vivo antitumor potential and mechanistic insights'. Chemical Communications, 53 (1):134-137. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2017	Velle', Maguire, Kavanagh, Sanz Miguel, Montagner* (2017) 'Steroid-Au(I)-NHC Complexes: Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity'. ChemMedChem, 12 :841-844. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2017	Almotairy, Gandin, Morrison, Marzano, Erxleben and Montagner* (2017) 'Antitumor platinum(IV) derivatives of carboplatin and the histone deacetylase inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid'. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY , 177 :1-7. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2017	Montagner Diego, A. Erxleben, P. Sanz Miguel, K. Kavanagh, A. Kellett (2017) 'Estrogen functionalised metal complexes: selective anticancer and antibacterial activity'. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 22 (Suppl 1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-017-1475-y [Full-Text]
	2016	Tolan D.; Gandin V.; Morrison L.; El-Nahas A.; Marzano C.; Montagner D.; Erxleben A. (2016) 'Oxidative Stress Induced by Pt(IV) Pro-drugs Based on the Cisplatin Scaffold and Indole Carboxylic Acids in Axial Position'. Scientific Reports, 6 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2016	Pinheiro Araujo, Gandin, Kavanagh, Braude, Nodari, Montagner,* Erxleben (2016) 'DNA binding, cleavage and cytotoxicity of a novel dimetallic Fe(III) triaza-cyclononane complex'. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA , 142 :170-175. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2015	Montagner, Gandin, Marzano, Erxleben (2015) 'DNA damage and induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by a new dinuclear bis(triazacyclonane) copper complex'. JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY , 145 :101-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.01.013 [Full-Text]
	2014	Ang, Montagner, Siew Qi (2014) 'Investigating Cell Entry of Cisplatin and Anticancer Platinum(IV) Prodrugs Using Fluorescence Microscopy'. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 19 :194-194. [Full-Text]
	2014	Montagner,* Gandin, Marzano, Erxleben (2014) 'Phosphate Diester Cleavage, DNA Interaction and Cytotoxic Activity of a Bimetallic Bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononane) Zn Complex'. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, :4084-4092. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2014	Erxleben, Montagner, Gandin (2014) 'DNA cleavage ability and cytotoxicity of mono- and di-nuclear copper complexes'. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 19 :733-733. [Full-Text]
	2013	Montagner Diego, Yap Siew Qi, Wee Han Ang. (2013) 'A Fluorescent Probe for Investigating the Activation of Anticancer Platinum(IV) Prodrugs Based on the Cisplatin Scaffold'. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION IN ENGLISH, 52 :11785-11789. [Full-Text]
	2011	Montagner Diego, Gandin Valentina, Marzano Cristina, Longato Bruno (2011) 'Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic properties of platinum(II) complexes containing the nucleosides adenosine and cytidine'. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 105 :919-926. [Full-Text]
	2011	Montagner,* Zangrando, Borsato, Lucchini, Longato (2011) 'Metal-promoted synthesis of amidines containing the model nucleobases 1-methylcytosine and 9-methyladenine'. Dalton Transactions, 40 :8664-8674. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2011	Wenisch, Montagner, Helm, Tondello, Gross (2011) 'Pt(II) and Pd(II) Pyrrolidine-Dithiocarbamates Investigated by XPS'. Surface Science Spectra, 18 :82-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/11.20091201 [Full-Text]
	2011	Montagner,* Marzano, gandin (2011) 'Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity of palladium (II) dithiocarbamate complexes with ,-diamines'. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA , 376 :574-580. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2011	Montagner,* Sanz Miguel (2011) 'Unique Pt5 metallacycle: [PtIICl(pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate)]5'. Dalton Transactions, 40 :10809-10811. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2010	Montagner, Venzi, Zangrando, Longato (2010) 'Irreversibile Insertion of Benzonitrile into Platinum(II)-Nitrogen Bonds of Nucleobase Complexes. Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Stable Azametallacycle Compounds'. Inorganic Chemistry, 49 :2013-2019. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2009	Montagner, Zangrando, Longato (2009) 'Stabilisation of the iminooxo tautomer of 1-Methylcytosine in PtII complexes: Role of the ancillary ligands'. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA , 362 :725-732. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2009	Longato, Montagner, Zangrando (2009) 'Role of the ancillary ligands on the stabilisation of the imino-oxo tautomer of 1-methylcytosine in PtII complexes'. Dalton Transactions, :2400-2405. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2008	Montagner, Zangrando, Longato (2008) 'Role of the Phosphine Ligands on the Stabilization of Monoadducts of the Model Nucleobases 1-Methylcytosine and 9-Methylguanine in Platinum(II) Complexes'. Inorganic Chemistry, 47 :2588-2595. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2008	Montagner,* Longato (2008) 'Synthesis and characterization of cis-[(PPh3)2Pt{9-MeAd(-H)N6N7}]X (X- = NO3, PF6): the first example of a Platinum(II) complex containing the N6,N7-chelated 9-methyladenine anion'. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA , 361 :1676-1680. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2006	Longato, Montagner, Bandoli, Zangrando (2006) 'Platinum(II)-Mediated Coupling Reactions of Acetonitrile with the Exocyclic Nitrogen of 9-Methyladenine and 1-Methylcytosine. Synthesis, NMR Characterization and X-ray Structures of NewAzametallacycle Complexes'. Inorganic Chemistry, 45 :1805-1814. [DOI] [Full-Text]
	2006	Longato, Montagner, Zangrando (2006) 'Mono- and Polynuclear Complexes of the Model Nucleobase 1-Methylcytosine. Synthesis and Characterization of cis-[(PMe2Ph)2Pt{1-MeCy(- H)}]3(NO3)3 and cis-[(PPh3)2Pt{1-MeCy(-H)}(1-MeCy)]NO3'. Inorganic Chemistry, 45 :8179-8187. [DOI]
	2005	Faraglia, Sitran, Montagner (2005) 'Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamates of Pd(II)'. INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA , 358 :971-980. [DOI] [Full-Text]

Magazine Article

	Year	Publication
	2017	Montagner, D; Erxleben, A; Miguel, PS; Kavanagh, K; Kellett, A (2017) Estrogens-functionalized metal complexes: selective anticancer and antibacterial activity. NEW YORK: [Magazine Article] [Full-Text]

Other Publication

	Year	Publication
	2024	Ferrari, G.; Lopez-Martinez, I.; Wanek, T.; Kuntner, C.; Montagner, D. (2024) Recent Advances on Pt-Based Compounds for Theranostic Applications. [Link] [DOI]

Professional

Professional Associations

Description	Function	From / To
Royal Society of Chemistry	member	-
IBICS Irish Biological Inorganic Chemistry Society	Treasurer	-
SBIC Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry	member	-
Italian Chemistry Society	member	-

Honors and Awards

	Date	Title	Awarding Body
	01/08/2014	Best Oral presentation EUROBIC12	Society of Bioinorganic Chemistry
	01/06/2013	Marie Curie Post Doc Fellowship	EU FP7

Committees

Committee	Function	From / To
Department of Chemistry, Synthetic lab committee	member	01/09/2018 - 30/11/2020
Athena Swan Post graduate committee	Chair	01/10/2021 -
Campus Life Committee	Member	01/09/2019 - 31/08/2022
Faculty Science Research Committee	Member	01/09/2019 - 31/08/2022
Department of Chemistry Teaching and Learning Committee	Chair	01/09/2018 - 23/11/2020

Employment

	Employer	Position	From / To
	Maynooth University	Associate professor	01/01/2016 -
	National Unibversity of Ireland Galway	Assistant Lecturer	01/01/2015 - 31/12/2015

Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Speaking
Italian	Fluent	Fluent	Fluent
German	Functional	Functional	Functional
Spanish	Fluent	Fluent	Fluent
English	Fluent	Fluent	Fluent

Editorial / Academic Reviews

Amount	Role	From / To
Inorganica Chimica Acta	Reviewer	-
Inorganic Chemistry	Reviewer	-
Scientific Reports	Reviewer	-
Frontiers In Chemistry	Reviewer	-
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry	Reviewer	-
Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry	Reviewer	-
Applied Organometallic Chemistry	Reviewer	-
Chemical Communications	Reviewer	-
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry	Reviewer	-
Cancers	Reviewer	-
Dalton Transactions	Reviewer	-
Molecules	Referee	-
European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry	Reviewer	-
BioMetals	Reviewer	-

Teaching

Teaching Interests

CH224 Inorganic Chemistry: Coordination and "s"-block chemistry (Coordinator)

CH322 Inorganic Chemistry: Solid state and "p"-block chemistry

CH331 Transition Metal chemistry (Coordinator)
CH427 Bioinorganic and "f"-block chemistry (Coordinator)
CH207/CH415 Biochemical Pharmaceutical Workshops

Current Students

	Student Name	Degree	Supervision
	EOIN JOHN MOYNIHAN	RESEARCH PH.D. (10)
	DARREN FERGAL BEIRNE	RESEARCH PH.D. (10)

Recent Students

	Graduation date	Name	Degree
	2021	Stephen Barrett	BA (mod) Chemistry
	2020	Kenneth D'Arcy	Master of Science

Collaborators

Internal Collaborators

	Name	Company	Role	Country
	Kevin Kavanagh	Biology department NUIM		Ireland
	Eithne Dempsey	Maynooth university		Ireland

External Collaborators

	Name	Role	Country
	Andrea Erxleben		Ireland
	Ranc Vaclav		Czech Republic
	Valentina Gandin		Italy
	Pablo Sanz Miguel		Spain
	Daniele Lo Re		Spain
	Andrew Kellett		Ireland
	Silvia Panseri		Italy
	Ang Wee Han		Singapore
	Barbara Fresch		Italy