Scientific Pubblications


Manuscripts


1. Iolanda Petrillo, Mostafa Al Haj Sleiman, Aleassio Passalacqua, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. Environmental enrichment as a multisensory approach to treat neurodegenerative blindness (in preparation)


2. Edoardo Porzano, Dominga Lapi, Iolanda Petrillo, Silvia Marracci, Giovanni Casini, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. Enriched environment enhances visual responses of the inner retina and cortex in early-stage retinitis pigmentosa (in preparation)


3. Iolanda Petrillo*, Nicolò Luciani*, Silvia Marracci, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. Vision in young RCS Rats after multisensory stimulation: electrophysiological and behavioral examination (in preparation)


4. Dario Rusciano, Caterina Gagliano, Alessandro Avitabile, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2026. Vitreous Substitutes in Vitreoretinal Surgery: From Native Vitreous Physiology to Bioengineered Experimental Replacements. Experimental Eye Research (accepted) IF 2.7


5. Dario Rusciano, Caterina Gagliano, Alessandro Avitabile, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2026. Prostaglandin E1 in ischemic retinal diseases: mechanisms, evidence, and clinical perspectives. Frontiers in Medicine 13: 1749690 IF 3.0


6. Dario Rusciano, Caterina Gagliano, Alessandro Avitabile, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2026. Environmental Enrichment as a mitochondria-targeting systems strategy across neurodegenerative diseases and retinal dystrophies. Frontiers in Neuroscience 20: 1744873. IF 3.2


7. Dario Rusciano, Caterina Gagliano, Alessandro Avitabile, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2026. Targeted RNA degradation by RIBOTACs: a novel therapeutic avenue for ophthalmic diseases. International Journal of Molecular Science 27: 1493. IF 5.7


8. Dario Rusciano, Caterina Gagliano, Alessandro Avitabile, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2025. Cell motility dynamics in glaucoma: mechanisms, pathogenic roles, and therapeutic targeting. Medicina 61: 2219. IF 2.8


9. Martina Lucchesi, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt*, Dario Rusciano*. 2025. Multisensory integration, brain plasticity and optogenetics in visual rehabilitation. Frontiers in Neurology 16: 1590305. IF 3.1


10. Filippo Galluzzi, Simona Francia, Sara Cupini, Mattia Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Tiziana Ravasenga, Jasnoor, Marcella Attanasio, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Grazia Pertile, Domenico Ventrella, Maria Laura Bacci, Stefano Di Marco, Fabio Benfenati, Elisabetta Colombo. 2025. Graphene oxide increases the phototransduction efficiency of copolymeric nanoimplants and rescues visual functions in rat and pig models of Retinitis pigmentosa. Nature Communications 16(1): 8721. IF 17.69


11. Dmytro Shmal, Giulia Mantero, Thomas Floss, Fabio Benfenati, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2024. Restoring vision in adult amblyopia by enhancing plasticity through deletion of the transcriptional repressor REST. iScience 27(4): 109507. IF 5.8


12. Ilaria Piano, Arianna Votta, Patrizia Colucci, Francesca Corsi, Sara Vitolo, Chiara Cerri, Dario Puppi, Michele Lai, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Massimiliano Leigheb, Chiara Gabellini, Elisabetta Ferraro. 2023. Anti-inflammatory reprogramming of microglia cells by metabolic modulators to counteract neurodegeneration: a new role for Ranolazine. Scientific Reports 13: 20138. IF 5.13


13. Simona Francia, Stefano Di Marco, Mattia Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Davide Ferrari, Dmytro Shmal, Alessio Cavalli, Grazia Pertile, Marcella Attanasio, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati, Elisabetta Colombo. 2023. P3HT-Graphene device for the restoration of visual properties in a model of retinitis pigmentosa. Advanced Materials Technologies 8: 2201467. IF 8.86


14. Domenico Ventrella*, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt*, Alberto Elmi, Francesca Barone, Camilla Aniballi, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Fabio Benfenati, Maria Laura Bacci. 2022. The p-ERG spatial acuity in the biomedical pig under physiological conditions. Scientific Reports 12: 15479. IF 5.13


15. Simona Francia, Dmytro Shmal, Stefano Di Marco, Greta Chiaravalli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giulia Mantero, Caterina Michetti, Sara Cupini, Giovanni Manfredi, Mattia Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Anna Rocchi, Sara Perotto, Marcella Attanasio, Riccardo Sacco, Silvia Bisti, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Elisabetta Colombo, Fabio Benfenati. 2022. Light induced charge generation in polymeric nanoparticles restores vision in advanced-stage retinitis pigmentosa rats. Nature Communications 13: 3677. IF 17.69


16. Miguel Skirzewski, Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Luis F Hernandez, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2022. Multisensory integration: is medial prefrontal cortex signaling relevant for the treatment of higher-order visual dysfunctions? Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 14: 806376. IF 5.63


17. Stefano di Marco, Mattia Di Francesco, Elisabetta Colombo, Giovanni Manfredi, José Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Modulation of neuronal firing: what role can nanotechnology play? Nanomedicine 8: 579141. IF 4.7


18. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Stefano Di Marco, Maurizio Mete, Mattia Di Paolo, Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Giovanni Manfredi, Silvia Bisti, Guglielmo Lanzani, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Biocompatibility of a polymeric subretinal prosthesis in the domestic pig. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 8: 1188. IF 6.06


19. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Maurizio Mete, Elisabetta Colombo, Mattia Bramini, Mattia DiFrancesco, Dmytro Shmal, Cyril Eleftheriou, Francesca Di Maria, Vanessa Cossu, Laura Emionite, Flavia Ticconi, Cecilia Marini, Gianmario Sambuceti, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Subretinal semiconducting polymer nanoparticles fully rescue vision in a rat model of retinal dystrophy. Nature Nanotechnology 15: 698. IF 40.5


20. DiFrancesco Mattia, Elisabetta Colombo, Ermanno Papaleo, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. A hybrid P3HT-Graphene interface for efficient photostimulation of neurons. Carbon 162: 308. IF 11.3


21. Francesca Barone, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Noemi Romagnoli, Luciana Mandrioli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi, Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2020. The porcine iodoacetic acid model of retinal degeneration: morpho-functional characterization of the visual system. Experimental Eye Research 193 107979. IF 3.8


22. Mattia DiFrancesco, Francesco Lodola, Elisabetta Colombo, Luca Maragliano, Giuseppe M. Paternò, Mattia Bramini, Simone Cimò, Letizia Collela, Daniele Fazzi, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Chiara Bertarelli, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Neuronal firing modulation by a membrane-targeted photoswitch. Nature Nanotechnology 15(4): 296. IF 40.5


23. Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Vishal Bharmauria, Nayan Chanauria, Lyes Bachatene, José Fernando Maya- Vetencourt. 2019. The function of connectomes in encoding sensory stimuli. Progress in Neurobiology 101659. IF 14.16


24. Luisa Vera Muscatello, Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Luciana Mandrioli, Noemi Romagnoli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi, Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2019. Retinal features in iodoacetic-treated biomedical pigs as a model for photoreceptor disorders. Journal of Comparative Pathology 166: 103. IF N.A.


25. Francesca Barone, Eleonora Nannoni, Alberto Elmi, Domenico Ventrella, Marika Vitali, Giovanna Martelli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Fabio Benfenati, Maria Laura Bacci. 2018. Behavioral assessment of vision in pigs. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 57(4): 350. IF 1.34


26. Mattia Bramini, Fabrizia Cesca, Elisabetta Colombo, Mattia Lorenzo Di Francesco, José Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, Giulio Alberini, Luca Maragliano, Fabio Benfenati. 2018. Interfacing graphene-based materials with neural cells. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 12: 12. IF 3.78


27. Cyril Eleftheriou, Fabrizia Cesca, Luca Maragliano, Fabio Benfenati, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2017. Optogenetic modulation of intracellular signaling and transcription: focus on neuronal plasticity. Journal of Experimental Neuroscience 11: 1-16. IF N.A.


28. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Diego Ghezzi, Maria Rosa Antognazza, Elisabetta Colombo, Maurizio Mete, Paul Feyen, Ambra Buschiazzo, Mattia Di Paolo, Stefano Di Marco, Flavia Ticconi, Laura Emionite, Dmytro Shmal, Cecilia Marini, Ilaria Donelli, Giuliano Freddi, Rita Maccarone, Silvia Bisti, Gianmario Sanbuceti, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2017. A fully organic retinal prosthesis restores vision in a rat model of degenerative blindness. Nature Materials 16(6): 681-689. IF 47.7


29. Maria Rosa Antognazza, Mattia Di Paolo, Diego Ghezzi, Maurizio Mete, Stefano Di Marco, José Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, Rita Maccarone, Andre Desii, Fabio Di Fonzo, Mattia Bramini, Angela Russo, Lucia Laudato, Ilaria Donelli, Michele Cilli, Giuliano Freddi, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Silvia Bisti, Fabio Benfenati. 2016. Characterization of a polymer-based, fully organic prosthesis for implantation into the subretinal space of the rat. Advanced Healthcare Materials 5(17): 2271-2282. IF 11.09


30. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Nicola Maria Carucci, Simona Capsoni, Antonino Cattaneo. 2014. Amyloid plaque-independent deficit of early postnatal visual cortical plasticity in the 5XFAD transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 42(1): 103-107. IF 4.0


31. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt & Tommaso Pizzorusso. 2013. Molecular mechanisms at the basis of plasticity in the developing visual cortex: epigenetic processes and gene programs. Journal of Experimental Neuroscience 7: 75-83. IF N.A.


32. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2013. Activity dependent expression of NPAS4 and the regulation of gene programs underlying plasticity in the central nervous system. Neural Plasticity 2013: 683909. IF 3.14


33. Ettore Tiraboschi, Ramon Guirado, Dario Greco, Petri Auvinen, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Lamberto Maffei, Eero Castren. 2013. Gene expression patterns underlying the reinstatement of plasticity in the adult visual system. Neural Plasticity 2013: 605079. IF 3.14


34. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Ettore Tiraboschi, Dario Greco, Laura Restani, Chiara Cerri, Petri Auvinen, Lamberto Maffei, Eero Castren. 2012. Experience-dependent NPAS4 expression regulates plasticity in adult visual cortex. Journal of Physiology 590(19): 4777-4787. IF 6.22


35. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt & Nicola Origlia. 2012. Visual cortex plasticity: a complex interplay of genetic and environmental influences. Neural Plasticity 2012: 631965. IF 3.14


36. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Laura Baroncelli, Alessandro Viegi, Ettore Tiraboschi, Eero Castren, Antonino Cattaneo, Lamberto Maffei. 2012. IGF-1 restores visual cortex plasticity in adult life by reducing local GABA levels. Neural Plasticity 2012: 250421. IF 3.14


37. Maria Spolidoro, Laura Baroncelli, Elena Putignano, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Alessandro Viegi, Lamberto Maffei. 2011. Food restriction enhances visual cortex plasticity in adulthood. Nature Communications 2: 320. IF 17.69


38. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Ettore Tiraboschi, Maria Spolidoro, Eero Castren, Lamberto Maffei. 2011. Serotonin triggers a transient epigenetic mechanism that reinstates rat visual cortex plasticity. European Journal of Neuroscience 33(1): 49-57. IF 3.69


39. Laura Baroncelli, Alessandro Sale, Alessandro Viegi, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Roberto De Pasquale, Sara Baldini, Lamberto Maffei. 2010. Experience-dependent reactivation of ocular dominance plasticity in the adult visual cortex. Experimental Neurology 226(1): 100-109. IF 5.62


40. Flavia Antonucci, Chiara Cerri, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Matteo Caleo. 2010. Acute neuroprotection by the synaptic blocker botulinum neurotoxin e (BoNT-E) in a rat odel of focal cerebral ischaemia. Neuroscience 169: 395-401. IF 3.3


41. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Matteo Caleo, Lamberto Maffei. 2009. Frontiers of neuronal plasticity: can we treat amblyopia in adulthood? Ophthalmology International Review 4: 45-50. IF N.A.


42. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Alessandro Sale, Alessandro Viegi, Laura Baroncelli, Roberto De Pasquale, Olivia O’Leary, Eero Castrén, Lamberto Maffei. 2008. The antidepressant fluoxetine restores plasticity in the adult visual cortex. Science 320(5874): 385-388. IF 63.8


43. Alessandro Sale*, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt*, Paolo Medini, Maria Cristina Cenni, Laura Baroncelli, Roberto De Pasquale, Lamberto Maffei. 2007. Environmental enrichment in adulthood promotes amblyopia recovery through a reduction of intracortical inhibition. Nature Neuroscience10(6): 679-681. IF 28.8


Books

  1. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt is editor of the book: Prime Archives in Neuroscience (2020). Vide Leaf. ISBN: 978-93-90014-30-9

Book Chapters

  1. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt & Matteo Caleo. 2013. Experience-dependent plasticity in the central nervous system. In Neurosciences. Eds: P.M. Lledo and G. Galizia. Springer Verlag Press, Amsterdam

  2. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2012. Plasticity of visual cortical circuitries in adulthood. In Visual Cortex: Anatomy, Functions and Injuries. Eds: J.M. Harris and J. Scott. Nova Science Publishers, New York

  3. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt & Matteo Caleo, 2012. Insights into visual cortex plasticity: interaction of genes and sensory experience. In Visual Cortex. Eds: S. Molotchnikoff. InTech Publishers, New York

  4. Eero Castren & José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2011. Neurotrophins as regulators of visual cortical plasticity. In Cerebral Plasticity: new perspectives. Eds: L.M. Chalupa, N. Berardi, M. Caleo, L. Galli-Resta, T. Pizzorusso. MIT Press, Cambridge

Patents

  1. G Lanzani, F Benfenati, G Pertile, M Mete, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. Eye-injectable polymeric nanoparticles and methods of use thereof. 2019. Application Number: US PCT 16/005; 248

  2. C Bertarelli, L Colella, F Benfenati, ML DiFrancesco, E Colombo, F Lodola, G Paternò, José Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, G Lanzani. Photochromic compounds for use in the treatment of eye disorders. 2019. Application Number: US PCT/IB2019/054530

  3. G Lanzani, GM Paternò, F Lodola, C Bertarelli, F Benfenati, ML Di Francesco, E Colombo, L Collela, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. Composti Fotocromici. 2018. Application Number: 102018000005987

  4. E Castrén, L Maffei, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. A method of treating amblyopia. 2008. Application Number: WO 2009/004114 A1

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