Where Ideas Grow

Biointerfaces and Nanotechnology

The Biointerfaces and Nanotechnology (BN) is a trans-disciplinary scientific platform that gathers fundamental and cutting-edge technologies for the chemical, physical, and mechanical characterization of materials and biological samples at the macro-micro-nano scale. Our mission is to contribute to excellence in advanced materials research in health-related fields. We hold expertise in the characterization of hydrogels, organoids, and tissue-engineered matrices (mechanical and rheological properties), functionalized surfaces (surface chemistry, morphology, wettability), and nanoparticles for diagnostics/therapeutics/theranostics (size, charge, ligand-receptor recognition), among other (bio) materials. Access to equipment and expert staff support is available to the i3S community, academia, and industry (national and international level) on a fee-for-service basis. Besides its research mission, BN has an educational mission, providing hands-on training to i3S users in the framework of their research projects and organizing pre-post-graduate international courses focused on specific techniques. The BN platform also participates in the ARBRE/ MOBIEU - Association of Resources for Physical Research in Europe/ Molecular Biophysics in Europe.

A Quality System is implemented according to ISO standards (NP EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), which assures that the technical services provided at this core facility consistently follow high-quality standards.

For more information on the available techniques/equipment, please get in touch with us by phone (+351 22 040 880Ext: 6057/ 6058), e-mail (info.bn@i3s.up.pt), or through the website at this link.

The BN scientific platform is at laboratory 004.S2.

Team: Manuela Brás - Head | Dalila Pedro - Team Member | Ricardo Vidal - Team Member | Isabel Amaral - Scientific Coordinator

Contacts: mbras@i3s.up.pt | dalila.pedro@ineb.up.pt | rvsilva@ineb.up.pt (Lab 004S2/ Office: 004S4) (Ext. 6057/ 6058)

Platform Head

Team

User Policy

1 - Introduction

The Biointerfaces and Nanotechnology (BN) scientific platform provides access to advanced equipment for structural, chemical, physical and mechanical characterization of materials, surfaces and interfaces of materials with molecules, cells and tissues, at nano/micrometric scale.  This platform mainly supports the research in bioengineering and nanotechnology, namely in biomaterials applied to tissue repair and regeneration.

 

2 - Aim

 

BN scientific platform offers:

  • advanced training to i3S users in the equipment/techniques exiting at BN platform to create independent qualified users;
  • technical services to support research projects from researchers of i3S, other research centers, universities and industry;
  • organization of advanced courses in equipment and techniques with interest to the BN platform users.

 

3 - BN working conditions

 

The BN platform is supported by specialized technicians for the different available equipment/techniques. There are four established categories of clients, in which, the usage of the equipment has always an associated fee, which varies according to the type of entity requesting the service.

  1. i3S users;
  2. External academic University of Porto (UP) users;
  3. External academic non-UP users;
  4. External non-academic service users.

The specific fees are available at the BN's Webpage.

 

3.1 – i3S users

An internal client is considered any researcher that belongs to the i3S. There are two types of internal clients:

 

  • Qualified users – the i3S researchers that have qualifications to run the equipment independently, having received specialized training on the equipment by the technician in charge
  • Non-qualified users – the researchers that do not have qualifications to run the equipment independently, being necessary the support of the responsible specialized technician to perform the assay.

 

Note: A researcher that is not from i3S can be trained to be a qualified user if there a valid justification for that.

All i3S users are encouraged to receive training and therefore became qualified users; only when the assay will be either very short or very sporadic, the i3S user does not need to become a qualified user.

 

The qualified users must:

  • reserve the equipment in the scheduler of the i3S portal (portal.i3s.up.pt) (the use of equipment without prior reservation is not allowed);
  • cancel the reservation (as soon as possible) if are unable to attend (sessions not canceled before the time of booking will be paid);
  • follow the standard operating procedures established for each equipment;
  • perform the assays in accordance to the quality management requirements implemented at BN platform;
  • leave the equipment in optimal conditions for the following users;
  • record each session in the registration book available for each equipment;
  • keep the equipment and the working areas clean;
  • copying their own data (it is not allowed the use of USB storage devices connected to the computers, so the data must be saved in each user profile or project public disk except for Electrokinetic Analyzer (EKA) and Optical Contact Angle measurement device (OCA)).
  • switch off the equipment if nobody is going to use it afterwards
  • check the equipment shutdown (including computers and monitors) before leaving the BN platform if she/he is the last user of the day
  • INFORM THE TECHNICIAN-IN-CHARGE IMMEDIATELY about any problem found with the equipment
  • RECORD any problem found with the equipment in the equipment log book.

 

3.2 – External customers

To request a service, external customers should contact the person responsible of the BN scientific platform by phone and/or email (info.bn@i3s.up.pt.

The technician responsible for the characterization technique will send the pre-requisites and the quotation related to the assay. If the client accepts the analysis conditions, a contract information document will be prepared between the BN scientific platform and the client.  The contract document will be confirmed by signature or by email. The report with the discussion of the results is not included in the listed prices, but can be available on a surplus fee.

 

4- Quality Management

A Quality Management System is implemented at BN platform according to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). This contributes to ensure the provision of strict procedures followed at BN scientific platform, thus enabling each technique to be performed according to high-quality standards.

 

5 – Location

 

BN scientific platform is located at the i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, building at R. Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto.

 

 

6 – How to access the BN scientific platform and equipment

 

To know more about the available techniques and equipment, please contact the BN scientific platform, by phone (+ 351 22040 88 00/ 15), by e-mail (info.bn@i3s.up.pt), or through the websitehttps://www.i3s.up.pt/scientific-platform.php?v=57

Applications

  • Surface characterization of materials and biological samples:
    • Mechanical properties (atomic force microscope and microindenter)
    • Morphology (atomic force microscope)
    • Biomolecular interactions (quartz crystal microbalance)
    • Chemical bonds identification (FT-IR spectrophotometer))
    • Cell-cell/surface interactions and receptor/ligand distribution (atomic force microscope with force spectroscopy and molecular recognition with imaging)
    • Wettability and surface free energy (contact angle device)
    • Charge/ zeta potential at the solid/liquid interface (electro-kinetic analyzer);
  • Thickness of ultrathin films deposited on reflective surfaces (imaging ellipsometer)
  • Nanoparticle characterization in solution - size, charge, isoelectric point, and melting point (Zetasizer);
  • Polymer molecular weight distribution (GPC/SEC).
  • Bulk properties of materials and biological samples
    • Mechanical properties (biodynamic mechanical analyzer, dynamic mechanical analyzer, and rheometer)
  • Chemical bonds identification (FT-IR spectrophotometer using transmission)
  • Detection of biochemical events (eg. Cytotoxicity, cell viability and proliferation, protein and ATP quantitation, ELISA assays, enzyme kinetics, GFP-/Luciferase-based gene expression assays) in microtiter plates (multi-mode plate reader combining absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence detection modes).

Resources

Atomic force microscope (AFM) coupled to an inverted fluorescence microscope (IFM) and a top-view camera 

The NanoWizard V AFM was explicitly designed to study biological samples (molecules, cells, and tissues) in physiological conditions (media, temperature, CO2, and humidity, with or without sample perfusion). The potentialities of high-speed (200 Hz) imaging with high-resolution modes allow the observation of DNA origami nanostructures, cell extensions, microvilli, cytoskeleton reorganization, etc, in real-time. Simultaneous imaging of topography and mapping of molecular recognition events/ nanomechanical properties is possible through the Quantitative Imaging (QITM) mode. Additionally, forces and unfolding lengths are likely to be quantified. Force spectroscopy measurement of cell-molecule, cell-cell, and cell-tissue interactions is possible using the HybridStageTM (combined motorized and piezo stage) due to its high z-piezoelectric range (15 to 200 μm) and wide-ranged motorized stage. This allows the mapping of large biological samples (15 x 15 mm2) and the assessment of static and dynamic mechanical properties in frequencies ranging from 0.5 Hz to 350 Hz. A top-view camera helps the analysis of rough, corrugated, and opaque samples, while the coupling with an inverted fluorescence microscope (Observer Z7 Zeiss) allows simultaneous imaging of biological samples in bright field, phase contrast, and fluorescence.

 

Responsible for the assays: Manuela Brás

 

Rheometer (Kinexus Pro, Netzsch) 

The Kinexus Rheometer is used to characterize the rheological properties of materials, being most helpful in determining the viscosity and viscoelasticity of polymers, such as the toughness and the elastic and viscous modules. The rheometer allows the application of 4 different modes of assays: viscometry, oscillation, creep and recovery, and stress and relaxation. It then determines changes in sample properties resulting from changes in the external conditions applied, such as stress, strain, timescale, and temperature. The rheometer uses samples in bulk solid, molten, semi-solid (such as pastes, creams, and gels), or viscous to dilute liquid solution.

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

 

Dynamical Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) (Triton 2000, Perkin Elmer) 

The DMA is mostly used to characterize the mechanical properties and the viscoelastic nature of polymers at the macro-scale. Samples may be bulk solids, films, fibers, gels, or very viscous liquids. The DMA can detect changes in sample properties by applying different deformation modes: tension, compression, shear, single, dual cantilever, bending and, 3D point bending, by controlling five experimental variables: temperature, time, frequency, force, and strain. Parameters that can be obtained using this technique are:

  • Storage Modulus (E', Measures material stiffness) and loss Modulus (E'', viscosity).
  • Damping Factor (tan δ): Compares elasticity to viscosity.
  • Complex Modulus (E):* Combines E' and E''.
  • Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): Identifies critical material transitions.
  • Elastic Modulus: Evaluates stiffness.
  • Loss Angle (δ): Shows phase shift between stress and strain.

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

 

Ellipsometer with imaging (Ellip) (EP3, Accurion) 

Ellipsometry is an optical technique for investigating thin films' dielectric properties (complex refractive index or dielectric extinction). Ellipsometry measures the change of polarisation of light upon reflection or transmission. By comparing the measured polarization with a model, our Ellipsometer (EP3, Accurion, Germany) can determine the physical properties of the films deposited on reflecting surfaces, like the refraction index and extinction coefficient index and, with these, the thickness of single layers or complex multilayer stacks. The equipment uses a 532 nm laser and allows the variation of the angle of incidence. Microscopic maps of thickness distribution and refractive indices can also be obtained.

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

Zetasizer Nano ZS (ZS, Malvern Panalytical

Zetasizer Nano ZS can characterize particles or molecules dispersed in a liquid medium, namely the particle size and zeta potential, in a wide range of particle concentrations. The Zetasizer Nano ZS is equipped with a 633 nm laser and allows temperature control from 10 to 90 °C. It is also equipped with an MPT-2 auto titrator option to allow measurements of size and/or zeta, in dynamic conditions, varying the pH, dilution, and additive concentrations.

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

 

Optical contact angle device (OCA 15, Data Physics)  

The OCA 15 plus device is used to evaluate the affinity of a surface to a specific liquid, usually known as surface wettability (hydrophilicity in the case of water). The principle of this equipment is based on the optical measurement of the contact angle q between a liquid drop and a surface, which is a quantitative measure of the wetting of a solid by a liquid. Typically, the drop is released from an electronic syringe needle onto the sample, which can be placed inside a thermostated environmental chamber, to allow studies at controlled temperature and humidity. This instrument also allows the determination of the surface tension of pure liquids or aqueous protein solutions, as well as the quantification of the surface free energy of solids and their components. These components can be obtained from experimental values of contact angles measured with two or more testing liquids whose surface tension components are known. The affinity of a specific biomolecule affinity (such as a protein) to a surface may also be determined by combining the information provided by contact angle measurements with that of the surface tension (and its components) of the liquid. This is known as the work of adhesion.

 

The technician responsible: Ricardo Vidal

Zeta Potential Electro Kinetic Analyzer (EKA, Anton-Paar) 

The Electro Kinetic Analyzer (EKA) can be used to investigate the zeta potential of macroscopic solids based on a streaming potential or streaming current measurement. The zeta potential is related to the surface charge at a solid/liquid interface and provides insight into the surface chemistry and liquid phase adsorption processes. It is, therefore, an interfacial property of great importance to understand the behavior of solid materials in several biological/technical processes. The EKA instrument has five different measuring cells for flexible sample mounting, which may accommodate macroscopic solids of almost any size and shape: planar solid samples, films, fibers, foils, granular particles, and powders.

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

 

Gel permeation chromatographer/ size exclusion chromatographer (GPC/ SEC) (OmniSEC/ Malvern Panalytical) 

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), also known as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), is a powerful analytical technique essential for characterizing macromolecules, particularly polymers. This method is pivotal in understanding and predicting polymer behavior, as it offers a unique capability to analyze the complete molecular weight distribution of a polymer, a factor that significantly impacts its physical properties.

In GPC/SEC, analytes are separated based on their hydrodynamic size (volume). To initiate the analysis, the sample is dissolved in an appropriate solvent and then introduced into a column filled with closely packed porous beads having defined pore sizes. Larger molecules, due to their inability to enter these pores, move swiftly through the column, while smaller molecules spend more time within the pores, resulting in delayed elution. Our GPC/SEC system at our I3S core facility uses triple detection, incorporating three primary detectors: a refractometer, a viscometer, and a light scattering detector. Each of these detectors provides distinct but complementary data. The light scattering detector estimates molecular weight, the molecular viscometer determines density (which relates to conformation and branching chains), and the refractometer measures sample concentration. Moreover, our GPC/SEC system features an autosampler, enabling full automation of up to 100 sample analyses.

The outcome of this comprehensive analysis includes information on the polymer's structure, namely:

  • Molecular weight distribution and related variables, such as the number-averaged molecular weight (Mn), weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw), and size-averaged molecular weight (Mz).
  • Molecular volume, often represented by the radius of gyration.
  • Conformation and branching.

 

The technician responsible: Ricardo Vidal

Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer (FTIR) (Frontier, Perkin Elmer) 

Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy is an analytical vibrational spectroscopy technique that provides information about the molecular structure of a sample. Its principle is based on the fact that covalent bonds in a molecule will absorb radiation within a specific IR wavelength region, leading to changes in the vibrational energy of the bonds. Absorption peaks within the IR region are usually sharper when compared with absorption peaks from the ultraviolet and visible regions, and different chemical bonds and functional groups absorb at different IR frequencies. As such, IR spectroscopy can be very sensitive to the detection of functional groups, and the absorbance/transmittance spectrum constitutes a molecular fingerprint. FT-IR can be used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of solid samples (powders, dense materials, thick films, gels), thin layers on reflective surfaces, and liquids. The available accessories allow for different analytical methods, namely:

  • Transmittance
  • ATR (Attenuated total reflectance)
  • IRRAS (Infra-red reflectance absorption spectroscopy), which requires a reflective surface

 

Responsible for the assays: Ricardo Vidal

 

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (Q-Sense, NanoScience Instrument) 

The Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is used for measuring small changes in mass on the surface of a quartz crystal. It is based on the principle that the resonant frequency of a quartz crystal is proportional to its mass. When mass is added to or removed from the crystal surface, the resonant frequency shifts and this shift can be used to quantify the mass change.

 

The technician responsible: Manuela Brás

Services

Services

There are two categories of clients: internal and external. The clients can use the facilities on a fee –for-service basis (under revision, please contact the technical staff).

A Quality System is implemented at BN, according to ISO standards and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). This contributes to ensure the provision of strict procedures followed at BN facility, thus enabling each technique to be performed according to high quality standards. Prices are under revision.

Rules for Users

Advanced training is given by expert technicians in each characterization technique. Regarding the training the users are classified in two categories:

  • Qualified users – the researchers that have qualifications to run the equipment independently, having received specialized training on the equipment by the technician in charge
  • Non-qualified users – the researchers that do not have qualifications to run the equipment independently, being necessary the support of the responsible specialized technician to perform the assay.

Note: If a non-qualified user requests a long duration assay, the specialized technician responsible for the equipment will provide the specific training and the trainee will continue the assays by her/ himself as a qualified user.

All clients are encouraged to receive training and therefore became qualified users; only when the assay will be either very short or very sporadic, the client can be non-qualified user.

The qualified users have the following duties:

  • they must do the equipment reservation in the scheduler of the i3s portal (portal.i3s.up.pt), after the training period being considered enough and approved by the responsible technician;
  • It is forbidden to use the facility without booking;
  • ALL qualified users are required to work under our standard operating procedures;
  • the pre-requisites for the assays are known and understood;
    the tests must be done according to the Quality management requirements implemented at BN;
  • qualified users must register and sign the registry equipment file;
  • qualified users are responsible for leaving the equipment in optimal conditions for the following users;
  • the preservation of samples is responsibility of the qualified users;
  • the results obtained are not subjected to a report, unless it is requested in the beginning of the assay, to the technician in charge of the equipment;
  • qualified users have to record each session in the registration book available for each equipment and keep the equipment and the working areas clean;
  • qualified users must switch off the equipment if nobody is going to use it afterwards;
  • if a qualified user books a session and then decides not to attend, the user must cancel the reservation as soon as possible; this will assure the optimization of the equipment usage;>
  • qualified users are responsible for copying their own data (VERY IMPORTANT: check the storage device for viruses before CONNECTING TO THE COMPUTERS OF THE FACILITY). It is recommended, if applicable, to send data by e-mail or save in profile disk, if possible Qualified users should always accompany the shutdown procedure of the equipment until the end and not leave the computers/ monitors on, when being the last user of the day;
  • if qualified users do not use the time scheduled in the equipment and did not cancel the reservation on time, the session will be paid nevertheless.

WARNING: PLEASE INFORM THE TECHNICIAN-IN-CHARGE IMMEDIATELY about any problems you might have had with the equipment or the workstations, for them to be fixed as soon as possible!! You can do it personally or by the email

Output and Acknowledgements

Please send us the reference of your published work in which you have used our scientific platform. That information will appear in our Publications section. For acknowledgement purposes see the guidelines at: https://portal.i3s.up.pt/index.php?id=142. This is mandatory in all the scientific production where this scientific platform was used.

Training

Past Training Actions

Atomic Force Microscopy applied to Life Sciences Course | 3rd edition

25-27 October 2023 | i3S, Porto, Portugal

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool to study human pathology, that can work in physiological conditions using different molecules and cell/ tissue. In this training, participants will be introduced to the AFM coupled with an Inverted fluorescence microscope, having the opportunity to learn about the determination of morphometric parameters and the characterization of biomechanical properties of cells. Participants will learn how to use different software for the analysis of the data arising from these studies. Applets software will be used to analyze the force-distance curves, to calculate the mechanical properties of the samples.

Course Atomic Force Microscopy applied to Life Sciences | 2nd Ed.

6-8 November 2019 | i3S

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been revealed as a powerful tool to study human pathology, in fields ranging from cancer to cardiovascular and infection diseases, since it is suitable for performing studies on different molecules, and cell/ tissue types in physiological conditions. The main principle is based on the interatomic forces established between a probe tip and the sample causing the cantilever to deflect as the samples’ surface topography changes. Laser light reflected from the back of the cantilever measures the deflection of the cantilever and the force applied.

In this lab session, the participants will be introduced to the AFM/IFM techniques, having the opportunity to learn about the determination of morphometric parameters to the characterization of biomechanical properties of cells.

As well, students will learn how to use different software for the analysis of the data arising from these studies. Applets software will be used to analyze the Thermal tune data to obtain the force constant of the cantilevers and to analyze AFM force-distance curves, to calculate the mechanical properties of the samples.

 

Workshop in Atomic Force Microscopy coupled to Inverted Fluorescence Microscopy
15-17 November 2017 | i3S, Lab 222 S2 and Room 2

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been revealed as a powerful tool to study human pathology, in fields ranging from cancer, cardiovascular, and blood diseases, since it is suitable to perform studies on different molecules, and cell/ tissue types at physiological conditions. The main principle is based on the interatomic forces established between a probe tip and the sample causing the cantilever to deflect as the samples’ surface topography changes. A laser light reflected from the back of the cantilever measures the deflection of the cantilever. In this lab session the participants will be introduced to the AFM/IFM techniques, having the opportunity to learn about the determination of morphometric parameters to the characterization of biomechanical properties of cells. As well, students will learn how to use different software for the analysis of the data arising from these studies. Applets software will be used to analyze the Thermal tune data to obtain the force constant of the cantilevers and to analyze AFM force-distance curves, to calculate the mechanical properties of the samples.

 

Publications

Publications

Brás MM, Cruz TB, Maia AF, Oliveira MJ, Sousa SR, Granja PL, Radmacher M Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker. Cancers. 2022, 14(20):5053. doi: 10.3390/cancers14205053

Bras MM, Sousa RS, Carneiro F, Radmacher M, Granja PL, Mechanobiology of Colorectal Cancer. Cancers 14(8):1945, 2022; doi: 10.3390/cancers14081945

Brás MM, Radmacher M, Sousa SR, Granja PL Melanoma in the Eyes of Mechanobiology Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 (8):54. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00054.

Selvaggio G, Canato S, Pawar A, Monteiro PT, Guerreiro PS, Brás MM, Janody F, Chaouiya C., Hybrid Epithelial-Mesenchymal Phenotypes Are Controlled by Microenvironmental Factors. Cancer research 80: 2407-2420, 2020; doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-3147 PMID: 32217696

Sara I. Faria, Rita Teixeira-Santos, Luciana C. Gomes, Elisabete R. Silva, João Morais, Vítor Vasconcelos and Filipe J. M. Mergulhão. Experimental Assessment of the Performance of Two Marine Coatings to Curb Biofilm Formation of Microfoulers. Coatings 2020, 10, 893; doi:10.3390/coatings10090893.

Bruna Costa, Rita Mota, Paula Tamagnini, M. Cristina L. Martins and Fabíola Costa. Natural Cyanobacterial Polymer-Based Coating as a Preventive Strategy to Avoid Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, Mar. Drugs 2020, 18, 279; doi:10.3390/md18060279

Patrícia C. Henriques, Andreia T. Pereira, Ana L. Pires, André M. Pereira, Fernão D. Magalhães and Inês C. Gonçalves, Graphene Surfaces Interaction with Proteins, Bacteria, Mammalian Cells, and Blood Constituents: The Impact of Graphene Platelet Oxidation and Thickness, ACS Appl.Mater. Interfaces 2020, 12, 18

Parreira P, Monteiro C, Graça V, Gomes J, Maia S, Gomes P, Gonçalves IC, Martins MCL. Immobilized Antimicrobial Peptides for Gastric Infection Management. Scientific Reports. 2019. 9:18212

Monteiro C, Costa F, Pirttilä AM, Tejesvi MV, Martins MCL, Prevention of urinary catheter aciated infections by coating antimicrobial peptides from crowberry endophytes. Scientific Reports. 2019.9. 10753

Andreia T. Pereira, Patrícia C. Henriques, Paulo C. Costa, Maria Cristina L. Martins, Fernão D. Magalhães, Inês C. Gonçalves. Graphene oxide-reinforced poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels with extreme stiffness and high-strength. Composites Science and Technology 2019;184:107819.

Costa B, Mota R, Parreira P, Tamagnini P, Martins MCL, Costa F. Broad-Spectrum Anti-adhesive Coating Based on an Extracellular Polymer from a Marine Cyanobacterium. Marine Drugs. 2019 Apr 24;17(4). pii: E243. doi: 10.3390/md17040243

Costa B, Mota R, Parreira P, Tamagnini P, Martins MCL, Costa F. Broad-Spectrum Anti-adhesive Coating Based on an Extracellular Polymer from a Marine Cyanobacterium. Marine Drugs. 2019 Apr 24;17(4). pii: E243. doi: 10.3390/md17040243sso

Barros D, Conde-Soua E, Gonçalves AM, Han WM, García AJ, Amaral IF, Pêgo AP. Engineering Hydrogels with Affinity-Bound Laminin as 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture Systems. Biomaterials Science 2019; 7, 5338-5349 (DOI: 10.1039/C9BM00348G)

Barros D, Parreira P, Furtado J, Ferreira-da-Silva F, Conde-Sousa E, Garcia AJ, Martins MCL, Amaral IF, Pêgo AP. An affinity-based approach to engineer laminin-presenting cell instructive microenvironments. Biomaterials. 2019; 192:601-11. (DOI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.10.039)

Catarina C. Coelhoa, Rita Araújo, Paulo A. Quadros , Susana R. Sousa, Fernando J. Monteiroa. Antibacterial bone substitute of hydroxyapatite and magnesium oxide to prevent dental and orthopaedic infections, Materials Science and Engineering: C, Volume 97, April 2019, Pages 529-538

D. Barros, P. Parreira, J. Furtado, F. Ferreira-da-Silva, E. Conde-Sousa, A.J. García, M.C.L. Martins, I.F. Amaral, A.P. Pêgo, An Affinity-Based Approach to Engineer Laminin-Presenting Cell Instructive Microenvironments, Biomaterials, 192. 2019, 601–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.10.039

Elisa Santovitoa, Jose das Neves , Donato Grecoa, Vito D’Ascanioa, Bruno Sarmentob, Antonio Francesco Logriecoa and Giuseppina Avantaggiato. Antimicrobial properties of rosin acids-loaded nanoparticles against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens. ARTIFICIAL CELLS, NANOMEDICINE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018, VOL. 46, NO. S3, S414–S422 https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2018.1496924

Rita N. Gomes, Ines Borges, Andreia T. Pereira, Andre F. Maia, Manuel Pestana, Fernao D. Magalhães , Artur M. Pinto , Ines C. GonçalvesAntimicrobial graphene nanoplatelets coatings for silicone catheters. Carbon Volume 139, November 2018, Pages 635-647

Gomes, C. P., Leiro, V., Lopes, C. D., Spencer, A. P., Pêgo, A. P. Fine tuning neuronal targeting of nanoparticles by adjusting the ligand grafting density and combining PEG spacers of different length. Acta Biomaterialia. (2018).

P.M.D. Moreno, A.R. Ferreira, D. Salvador, M.T. Rodrigues, M. Torrado, E.D. Carvalho, U. Tedebark, M.M. Sousa, I.F. Amaral, J. Wengel, A.P. Pêgo, Hydrogel-assisted antisense LNA gapmer delivery for in situ gene silencing in spinal cord injury, Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acid, 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.03.009

Carla P. Gomes, Cátia D. F. Lopes, Michael Leitner, Andreas Ebner, Peter Hinterdorfer, and Ana P. Pêgo. Atomic Force Microscopy as a Tool to Assess the Specificity of Targeted Nanoparticles in Biological Models of High Complexity, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2017, 1700597.

Karabiyik C, Fernandes R, Figueiredo FR, Socodato R, Lambertsen KL, Relvas JB, Santos SD. 2017 Neuronal Rho GTPase Rac1 elimination confers neuroprotection in a mouse model of permanent ischemic stroke. Brain Pathol.

Leiro, V., Garcia, J.P., Moreno, P., Spencer, A.P., Fernandez-Villamarin, M., Riguera, R., Fernandez-Megia, E., Pêgo, A.P. 2017 “Biodegradable PEG-GATGE dendritic block copolymers: Synthesis and Biofunctionality Assessment as Vectors of siRNA”. Journal of Materials Chemistry B. 5, 4901-4917.

Costa F, Sousa DM, Lamghari M, Gomes P, Martins MCL. N-acetylcysteine-functionalization coating avoids bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7;17374; 1-13

Felgueiras HP, Wang LM; Ren KF; Querido M; Jin Q; Barbosa MA; Ji J; Martins MCL. Octadecyl chains immobilized onto hyaluronic acid coatings by thiol-ene "click chemistry" increase the surface antimicrobial properties and prevent platelet adhesion and activation to polyurethane. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2017; 9 (9) 7979–7989

Seabra CL, Nunes C, Gomez-Lazaro, Correia M, Machado JC, Gonçalves IC, ReisCA,Reis S, Martins MCL.Docosahexaenoic acid loaded lipid nanoparticles with bactericidal activity against Helicobacter pylori. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2017; 519; 128-137

J.R. Dias, S. Baptista-Silva, C.M.T. de Oliveira, A. Sousa, A.L. Oliveira, P.J. Bártolo, P.L. Granja, In situ crosslinked electrospun gelatin nanofibers for skin regeneration, European Polymer Journal, Volume 95, 2017, Pages 161-173

Castro F, Pinto ML, Silva AM, Pereira CL, Teixeira GQ, Gomez-Lazaro M, Santos SG, Barbosa MA, Gonçalves RM, Oliveira MJ. Pro-inflammatory chitosan/poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles modulate human antigen-presenting cells phenotype and revert their pro-invasive capacity. Acta Biomater. 2017 Nov;63:96-109.

Antunes JC, Pereira CL, Teixeira GQ, Silva RV, Caldeira J, Grad S, Gonçalves RM, Barbosa MA, Poly(γ-glutamic acid) and poly(γ-glutamic acid)-based nanocomplexes enhance type II collagen production in intervertebral disc.J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2017 Jan;28(1):6

Andreia M. Silva, Maria I. Almeida, José H. Teixeira, André F. Maia, George A. Calin, Mário A. Barbosa, Susana G. Santos 2017, Dendritic Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles mediate Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell recruitment. Under minor revision in Scientific Reports.

Antunes JC, Pereira CL, Teixeira GQ, Silva RV, Caldeira J, Grad S, Gonçalves RM, Barbosa MA, Poly(g-glutamic acid) and poly(g-glutamic acid)-based nanocomplexes enhance type II collagen production in intervertebral disc, J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2017;28(1):6.

Oliveira MI, Pinto ML, Gonçalves RM, Martins MC, Santos SG, Barbosa MA. Adsorbed Fibrinogen stimulates TLR-4 on monocytes and induces BMP-2 expression. Acta Biomater. 2017 Feb;49:296-305.

I.C. Gonçalves, A. Magalhães, A.M.S. Costa, J.R. Oliveira, P.C. Henriques, P. Gomes, C.A. Reis, M.C.L. Martins. Bacteria-targeted biomaterials: glycan-coated microspheres to bind Helicobacter pylori. Acta Biomaterialia 2016; 33:40–50

Teixeira GQ, Leite Pereira C, Castro F, Ferreira JR, Gomez-Lazaro M, Aguiar P, Barbosa MA, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Goncalves RM, Anti-inflammatory Chitosan/Poly-?-glutamic acid nanoparticles control inflammation while remodeling extracellular matrix in degenerated intervertebral disc. Acta Biomater. 2016; 42:168-79

Daniel M. Vasconcelos, Raquel M Gonc?alves, Catarina R Almeida, Ine?s O Pereira, Marta I Oliveira, Nuno Neves, Andreia M Silva, Anto?nio C Ribeiro, Carla Cunha, Ana R Almeida, Cristina C. Ribeiro, Ana M. Gil, Elisabeth Seebach, Katharyna L. Kynast, Wiltrud Richter, Meriem Lamghari, Susana G Santos and Ma?rio A Barbosa, "Fibrinogen scaffolds with immunomodulatory properties promote in vivo bone regeneration”, Biomaterials 2016;111:163-178.

Cunha-Reis C, Machado A, Barreiros L, Araújo F, Nunes R, Seabra V, Ferreira D, Segundo MA, Sarmento B, das Neves J. Nanoparticles-in-film for the combined vaginal delivery of anti-HIV microbicide drugs. J Control Release. 2016 Dec 10;243:43-53.

Braz L Grenha A, Ferreira D, Rosa da Costa AM, Gamazo C, Sarmento B, Chitosan/sulfated locust bean gum nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo evaluation towards an application in oral immunization. Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 Dec 31;96:786-79

Abreu CM, Paula HC, Seabra V, Feitosa JP, Sarmento B, de Paula RCSynthesis and characterization of non-toxic and thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted cashew gum nanoparticles as a potential epirubicin delivery matrix. Carbohydr Polym. 2016 Dec 10; 154: 77-85.

Goes CP, Varela-Moreira A, Leiro V,Lopes CD, Moreno PM, Gomez-Lazaro M, Pêgo AP. A high-throughput bioimaging study to assess the impact of chitosan-based nanoparticle degradation on DNA delivery performance. Acta Biomater. 2016 Dec;46:129-140.

Rodrigues F, Alves AC, Nunes C, Sarmento B, Amaral MH, Reis S, Oliveira MB. Permeation of topically applied caffeine from a food by-product in cosmetic formulations: Is nanoscale in vitro approach an option? Int J Pharm. 2016 Nov 20;513(1-2):496-503.

Fonte P, Andrade F, Azevedo C, Pinto J, Seabra V, van de Weert M, Reis S, Sarmento B. Effect of the Freezing Step in the Stability and Bioactivity of Protein-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles Upon Lyophilization. Pharm Res. 2016 Nov;33(11):2777-93.

Sgorla D, <Bunhak ÉJ, Cavalcanti OA, Fonte P, Sarmento B. Exploitation of lipid-polymeric matrices at nanoscale for drug delivery applications. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2016 Sep;13(9):1301-9

Laranjeira MS, Moço A, Ferreira J, Coimbra S, Costa E, Santos-Silva A, Ferreira PJ, Monteiro FJ Different hydroxyapatite magnetic nanoparticles for medical imaging: Its effects on hemostatic, hemolytic activity and cellular cytotoxicity. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016

Machado A, Cunha-Reis C, Araújo F, Nunes R, Seabra V, Ferreira D, das Neves J, Sarmento B Development and in vivo safety assessment of tenofovir-loaded nanoparticles-in-film as a novel vaginal microbicide delivery system. Acta Biomater. 2016 Oct 15;44:332-40.

Felgueiras HP,Murthy NS, , Brás MM, Migonney V, Kohn J, Competitive Adsorption of Plasma Proteins Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2016,

Ribeiro M, Ferraz MP, Monteiro FJ, Fernandes MH, Beppu MM, Mantione D, Sardon H. Antibacterial silk fibroin/nanohydroxyapatite hydrogels with silver and gold nanoparticles for bone regeneration. Nanomedicine. 2016 Aug 31; 13(1):231-239.

González-Delgado JA, Castro PM, Machado A, Araújo F,Rodrigues F, Korsak B, Ferreira M, Tomé JP, Sarmento B. Hydrogels containing porphyrin-loaded nanoparticles for topical photodynamic applications. Int J Pharm. 2016 Aug 20;510(1):221-31.

das Neves J, Nunes R, Rodrigues F, Sarmento B. Nanomedicine in the development of anti-HIV microbicides. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2016 Aug 1;103:57-75. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.01.017

 

 

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PPBI - Portuguese Platform of BioImage