Dusica Maysinger, McGill University

Research

Atmospheric Chemistry Chronic Cardiovascular Disease Chronic Respiratory Disease Environmental Epidemiology Exposure Assessment Genomics Nano And Ultrafine Particles Toxicology

Latest papers

Dually Charged Dendrimeric Polyglycerol Modulates Interleukin-33 at Alarmin Receptors in Microglia.
ACS chemical neuroscience · 2026 · senior author
Aggregation-induced emission active seminaphthofluoresceins: a new class of xanthene luminogens for bioimaging.
Nanoscale · 2026 · senior author
Charged dendrimers reduce glioblastoma viability by modulating lysosomal activity and HMGB1-RAGE interaction.
Biochemical pharmacology · 2025 · senior author

All 113 publications

Latest funding

Nanozymes: modulators of neural cells
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$252,000
Nanoprobes to reveal signature biomarkers
NSERC · 2015 · Principal investigator
$225,000
A transdisciplinary team investigating the toxico-genomics and epidemiology of chronic cardiorespiratory diseases from exposures to ultra fine and nano particles
CIHR · 2015 · Principal investigator

All 9 grants and awards

113 publications.

01

Dually Charged Dendrimeric Polyglycerol Modulates Interleukin-33 at Alarmin Receptors in Microglia.

Zhang I, Herrmann A, Mohammadifar E, Herre F, Multhaup G, Haag R, Maysinger D

ACS chemical neuroscience2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6c00161 PMID: 42081615

02

Aggregation-induced emission active seminaphthofluoresceins: a new class of xanthene luminogens for bioimaging.

McKay L, Zhang I, Suh I, Bohle DS, Kakkar A, Maysinger D

Nanoscale2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1039/d5nr04595a PMID: 41550006

03

Charged dendrimers reduce glioblastoma viability by modulating lysosomal activity and HMGB1-RAGE interaction.

Joma N, Kagelmacher M, Zhang I, Herrmann A, Dernedde J, Haag R, Maysinger D

Biochemical pharmacology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2025.116969 PMID: 40348093

04

Luminescent insulin-Au(III) conjugate retains insulin biological properties in human microglia.

Maysinger D, Zhang I, Yuan H, Bonačić-Koutecký V, Sanader Maršić Ž, Antoine R

Nanoscale2025First author

DOI: 10.1039/d5nr01662b PMID: 40600311

05

Gold nanoclusters Au25AcCys18 normalize intracellular ROS without increasing cytoplasmic alarmin acHMGB1 abundance in human microglia and neurons.

Zhang I, Maysinger D, Beus M, Mravak A, Yu Z, Perić Bakulić M, Dion PA, Rouleau GA, Bonačić-Koutecký V, Antoine R, Sanader Maršić Ž

Nanoscale2025

DOI: 10.1039/d4nr03512g PMID: 39607703

06

Soft nanoparticles incorporating a benzo[c]xanthene fluorophore: facile synthesis and ratiometric pH sensing.

McKay L, Joma N, Maysinger D, Kakkar A

Journal of materials chemistry. B2025

DOI: 10.1039/d5tb01322d PMID: 40879594

07

Dendritic Polyglycerol Sulfate Reduces Inflammation Through Inhibition of the HMGB1/RAGE Axis in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Kagelmacher M, Quella CS, Kautz E, Klumpp A, Weichert F, Zhang I, Maysinger D, Wedamulla PG, Straus SK, Risse T, Haag R, Pigaleva M, Dernedde J

International journal of molecular sciences2025

DOI: 10.3390/ijms262110440 PMID: 41226481

08

Nanocarriers for natural polyphenol senotherapeutics.

Joma N, Bielawski PB, Saini A, Kakkar A, Maysinger D

Aging cell2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/acel.14178 PMID: 38685568

09

Modulation of Abundance and Location of High-Mobility Group Box 1 in Human Microglia and Macrophages under Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation.

Bielawski PB, Zhang I, Correa-Paz C, Campos F, Migliavacca M, Polo E, Del Pino P, Pelaz B, Vivien D, Maysinger D

ACS pharmacology & translational science2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00271 PMID: 38481701

10

Thrombolytic therapy based on lyophilized platelet-derived nanocarriers for ischemic stroke.

Migliavacca M, Correa-Paz C, Pérez-Mato M, Bielawski PB, Zhang I, Marie P, Hervella P, Rubio M, Maysinger D, Vivien D, Del Pino P, Pelaz B, Polo E, Campos F

Journal of nanobiotechnology2024

DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02206-5 PMID: 38166940

Nanozymes: modulators of neural cells

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Maysinger, Dusica

$252,000

Nanoprobes to reveal signature biomarkers

Principal investigatorNSERC2015Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Maysinger, Dusica

$225,000

A transdisciplinary team investigating the toxico-genomics and epidemiology of chronic cardiorespiratory diseases from exposures to ultra fine and nano particles

Principal investigatorCIHR2015Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease - LOI

Principal investigators: Goldberg, Mark S; Ariya, Parisa A; Maysinger, Dusica

Keywords: Atmospheric Chemistry; Chronic Cardiovascular Disease; Chronic Respiratory Disease; Environmental Epidemiology; Exposure Assessment; Genomics; Nano And Ultrafine Particles; Toxicology

NANOMEDICINES: A Non-Invasive Approach to Neural Sensing, Imaging, and Chaperoning in the Compromised Nervous System

Nominated PICIHR2011Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Maysinger, Dusica

Keywords: Confocal Microscopy; Gold Nanoparticles; Inflammation; Lipid Droplets; Microglia; Mitochondria; Nanocarriers; Nanoparticles; Neurodegeneration; Sensors

$597,615

CIHR Strategic Training Program in Chemical Biology

Co-investigatorCIHR2008Training Grant

Principal investigators: Thomas, David Y

Keywords: Asthma; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics; Biopharmaceutical; Chemical; Chemical Biology; Chemistry; Cystic Fibrosis; Genetics; Infectious Diseases; Pharmacology; Structural Biology

$1,538,350

Asymmetrical field-flow fractionation (AFFF) system for the analysis of polymeric (bio)materials and nano- to micro-sized supramolecular soft assemblies

Co-investigatorNSERC2008Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Winnik, Françoise

$146,666

Functionalized nanoparticles for real time imaging of cerebral lesions

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Maysinger, Dusica

$404,500

Cellular internalization and In vitro/In vivo fate of biodegradable block copolymer micelles

Co-investigatorNSERC1999Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Eisenberg, Adi

$294,000

Crosslinked high amylose starch self-assembly excipient

Co-investigatorNSERC1998Industrially Oriented Research Grants

Principal investigators: Marchessault, Robert

$150,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Gerhard Multhaup

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

4 shared papers, latest 2026

Kevin Petrecca

Neurology and Neurosurgery

2 shared papers, latest 2018

Jack Antel

Biomedical Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2021

James Diamond

Religious Studies

2 shared papers, latest 2008

Kevin Petrecca

Engineering Physics

2 shared papers, latest 2018

Annik Prat

Biochemical Neuroendocrinology

1 shared papers, latest 2011

Ivan Topisirovic

Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Martin Gleave

Urologic Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Martin Parent

Psychiatrie et de neurosciences

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Arnim Pause

Biochemistry

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Xi-Long Zheng

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Khosrow Adeli

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Craig McCormick

Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Moshe Szyf

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

1 shared papers, latest 2008

Honglin Luo

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Eldad Zacksenhaus

Cellular and Molecular Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Isabella Caniggia

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Xiaoyan Jiang

Terry Fox Laboratory

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Michel Roberge

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Maryam Tabrizian

Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2009

Marie-Ève Tremblay

Molecular Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Steve Jean

Anatomie et biologie cellulaire

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Michael Sacher

Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Atmospheric Chemistry Dear Professor Maysinger, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Dually Charged Dendrimeric Polyglycerol Modulates Interleukin-33 at Alarmin Receptors in Microglia." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Nanozymes: modulators of neural cells" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Dusica Maysinger

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Dually Charged Dendrimeric Polyglycerol Modulates Interleukin-33 at Alarmin Receptors in Microglia.

Aggregation-induced emission active seminaphthofluoresceins: a new class of xanthene luminogens for bioimaging.

Charged dendrimers reduce glioblastoma viability by modulating lysosomal activity and HMGB1-RAGE interaction.

Luminescent insulin-Au(III) conjugate retains insulin biological properties in human microglia.

Gold nanoclusters Au25AcCys18 normalize intracellular ROS without increasing cytoplasmic alarmin acHMGB1 abundance in human microglia and neurons.

Soft nanoparticles incorporating a benzo[c]xanthene fluorophore: facile synthesis and ratiometric pH sensing.

Dendritic Polyglycerol Sulfate Reduces Inflammation Through Inhibition of the HMGB1/RAGE Axis in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Nanocarriers for natural polyphenol senotherapeutics.

Modulation of Abundance and Location of High-Mobility Group Box 1 in Human Microglia and Macrophages under Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation.

Thrombolytic therapy based on lyophilized platelet-derived nanocarriers for ischemic stroke.

Nanozymes: modulators of neural cells

Nanoprobes to reveal signature biomarkers

A transdisciplinary team investigating the toxico-genomics and epidemiology of chronic cardiorespiratory diseases from exposures to ultra fine and nano particles

NANOMEDICINES: A Non-Invasive Approach to Neural Sensing, Imaging, and Chaperoning in the Compromised Nervous System

CIHR Strategic Training Program in Chemical Biology

Asymmetrical field-flow fractionation (AFFF) system for the analysis of polymeric (bio)materials and nano- to micro-sized supramolecular soft assemblies

Functionalized nanoparticles for real time imaging of cerebral lesions

Cellular internalization and In vitro/In vivo fate of biodegradable block copolymer micelles

Crosslinked high amylose starch self-assembly excipient

Frequent collaborators

Gerhard Multhaup

Lawrence Rosenberg

Kevin Petrecca

Jack Antel

James Diamond

Kevin Petrecca

Annik Prat

Ivan Topisirovic

Martin Gleave

Martin Parent

Arnim Pause

Ivan Topisirovic

Xi-Long Zheng

John Breitner

Urban Emmenegger

Khosrow Adeli

Gonzalo Cosa

Craig McCormick

Moshe Szyf

Honglin Luo

Anie Philip

Eldad Zacksenhaus

Isabella Caniggia

Xiaoyan Jiang

Michel Roberge

Maryam Tabrizian

Marie-Ève Tremblay

Steve Jean

Andre Bedard

Parisa Ariya

John Lee

Michael Sacher