A5083459017- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Click Chemistry and Applications
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Applications
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
University of Lisbon
2015-2025
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
2024-2025
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes
2020-2024
Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
2021
National Legal Medicine Institute
2020
University of Surrey
2009-2012
Biopeptide (United States)
2008-2010
New York Medical College
2008
Aqueous dispersions of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are now widely used for biomedical applications. Their stability in different vitro or vivo environments, however, depends on a wide range parameters, such as pH and salt concentrations the surrounding medium, length, aspect ratio, surface charge, functionalization applied CNTs. Although many these aspects have been investigated separately, no study is available literature to date, which examines parameters simultaneously....
The biomedical application of discrete supramolecular metal-based structures, specifically self-assembled metallacages, is still an emergent field study. Capitalizing on the knowledge gained in recent years development 3-dimensional (3D) metallacages as novel drug delivery systems and theranostic agents, we explore here possibility to target [Pd2L4]4+ cages (L = 3,5-bis(3-ethynylpyridine)phenyl ligand) brain. In detail, a new water-soluble homoleptic cage (CPepH3) tethered blood brain...
Abstract Blood–brain barrier (BBB) peptide-shuttles (BBBpS) are able to translocate the BBB and reach brain. Despite importance of brain targeting in pharmacology, BBBpS poorly characterized. Currently, their development relies on empiric assumption that cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), with proven ability traverse lipid membranes, will likewise behave as a BBBpS. The relationship between CPPs/BBBpS remains elusive and, best our knowledge, has not hitherto been subject thorough experimental...
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid β (Aβ)-triggered cleavage of TrkB-FL impairs brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, thereby compromising neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic transmission plasticity. Using cerebrospinal fluid postmortem human brain samples, we show that occurs from the early stages increases as a function pathology severity. To explore therapeutic potential this mechanism, designed small TAT-fused peptides screened their ability to prevent...
Abstract Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are widely used in magnetic hyperthermia, where their therapeutic efficacy depends on efficient heat generation. However, intracellular uptake of SPIONs has been shown to reduce dissipation capacity, limiting hyperthermia performance. To address this challenge, we explored the use small-molecule endocytosis inhibitors block SPIONs’ vitro . stabilized with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) were evaluated an advanced cutaneous...
Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) form an intricate cellular network known as the interactome, which is essential for various processes, such gene regulation, signal transduction, and metabolic pathways. The dysregulation of this has been closely linked to disease states. In cancer, these aberrant PPIs, termed oncogenic PPIs (OncoPPIs), are involved in tumour formation proliferation. Therefore, inhibition OncoPPIs becomes a strategy targeted cancer therapy. Small molecule inhibitors have...
Abstract Background Nanocarriers targeting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are promising drug delivery systems to enhance penetration of therapeutic molecules into brain. Immunotherapy, particularly monoclonal antibodies designed bind amyloid-beta peptides have become a strategy for Alzheimer’s disease, but ensuring efficacy and safety is challenging crucial these therapies. Our aim was develop an innovative nanocarriers conjugated with PepH3, cationic peptide derived from Dengue virus type-2...
ABSTRACT Mucosal immunization is advantageous over other routes of antigen delivery because it can induce both mucosal and systemic immune responses. Our goal was to develop a vehicle based on bacteria generally regarded as safe, such Lactobacillus spp. In this study, we used the Lyme disease mouse model proof concept. We demonstrate that an oral vaccine live recombinant plantarum protects mice from tick-transmitted Borrelia burgdorferi infection. method expressing antigens in L. induces...
Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) prepared by catalytic chemical vapour deposition were functionalized in such a way that they optimally designed as nano-vector for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), which is great interest biomedical research and drug development. DWNTs initially oxidized coated with polypeptide (Poly(Lys:Phe)), was then conjugated to thiol-modified siRNA using heterobifunctional cross-linker. The obtained oxDWNT–siRNA characterized Raman spectroscopy...
The delivery of therapeutic molecules to the central nervous system is hampered by poor across blood-brain barrier (BBB). Several strategies have been proposed enhance transport into brain, including invasive techniques and receptor-mediated (RMT). Both approaches several drawbacks, such as BBB disruption, receptor saturation, off-target effects, raising safety issues. Herein, we show that specific domains Dengue virus type 2 capsid protein (DEN2C) can be used trans-BBB peptide vectors....
Passing through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to treat neurological conditions is one of main hurdles in modern medicine. Many drugs with promising vitro profiles become ineffective vivo due BBB restrictive permeability. In particular, this includes such as antiviral porphyrins, ability fight brain-resident viruses causing diseases HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). last two decades, shuttles, particularly peptide-based ones, have shown promise carrying various payloads across...
Abstract Efforts to develop carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nano‐vehicles for precise and controlled drug gene delivery, well markers in vivo biomedical imaging, are currently hampered by uncertainties with regard their cellular uptake, fate the body, safety. All of these processes likely be affected purity CNT preparation, size concentration CNTs used, parameters that often poorly biological experiments. It is demonstrated herein under experimental conditions standard transfection methods, DWNTs...
Multifunctional carbon nanotubes are promising for biomedical applications as their nano-size, together with physical stability, gives access into the cell and various cellular compartments including nucleus. However, direct label-free detection of nanotube uptake cells is a challenging task. The atomic force microscope (AFM) capable resolving details surfaces at nanometer scale thus allows following docking to biological membranes. Here we present topographical AFM images non-covalently...
The characterization of biologically active peptides relies heavily on the study their efficacy, toxicity, mechanism action, cellular uptake, or intracellular location, using both in vitro and vivo studies. These studies frequently depend use fluorescence-based techniques. Since most are not intrinsically fluorescent, they conjugated to a fluorophore. conjugation may interfere with peptide properties, thus biasing results. selection suitable fluorophore is highly relevant. Here,...
The capacity to transport therapeutic molecules across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a breakthrough in development of tools for treatment many central nervous system (CNS)-associated diseases. BBB, while being protective against infectious agents, hinders brain uptake drugs. Hence, finding safe shuttles able overcome BBB is utmost importance. Herein, we identify new BBB-translocating peptide with unique properties. For years it was thought that cationic sequences were mandatory...