Andrea De Luna

Andrea De Luna is an Associate Professor at the University for Continuing Education Krems, affiliated with the Center for Regenerative Medicine. Her research focuses on regenerative medicine, cartilage tissue engineering, and the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells and blood products. She leads projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and regional innovation programs, investigating novel strategies for osteoarthritis treatment and cartilage regeneration.

• Research Interests: Stem cell biology, EV-based therapies, chondrogenesis, osteoarthritis pathophysiology, bioreactor systems for cell culture, and regenerative biomaterials.
• Key Projects: Principal Investigator of projects such as 'Influence of cellular pre-conditioning on the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived EVs' (FWF-funded) and '3D printing of EVs from Hoffa fat pad-derived MSCs' (2024–2028).

Her publications highlight advancements in EV isolation techniques, chondroprotective effects of blood-derived products, and large-scale EV production via bioreactors. Recent work emphasizes translational applications of EVs in cartilage repair and organ-on-a-chip models for disease modeling. Dr. De Luna actively collaborates with institutions like the Vienna Center for Engineering in Medicine and presents at global conferences (e.g., OARSI World Congress).

Grants and funding have supported her exploration of hyperacute serum, lyophilization techniques for therapeutics, and infra-patellar fat pad-derived stem cell applications. Her lab’s innovations aim to bridge basic science and clinical regenerative solutions for musculoskeletal disorders.