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Research Project
Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences
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Publications
The impact of Flavonoid-Loaded nanoparticles in the UV protection and safety profile of topical sunscreens
Publication . Fonseca, Magda; Rehman, Mubashar; Soares, Raquel; Fonte, Pedro
Excessive UV radiation exposure is harmful to skin cells since sunburn is accompanied by oxidative burst, leading to a rapid increase in skin cancer. However, the insufficient UV photoprotection of approved sunscreens and the negative impact of their compositions on ecosystems and human health makes the utility of sunscreen a questionable recommendation. Therefore, discovering UV filters with significant antioxidant activity and improved topical performance and photostability is an urgent need. Recently, the use of nanosized natural molecules incorporated in sunscreens has been a scientific hot topic, as it has been suggested that they provide a synergistic effect with synthetic UV filters, improving overall SPF and antioxidant activity, higher retention on the epidermis, and less toxicity. The aim of this review was to verify the usefulness of sunscreens incorporating flavonoid-loaded nanoparticles. A literature review was performed, where original and review articles published in the last 6 years were analyzed. Formulations containing nanosized flavonoids with improved UVA photoprotection and safer toxicological profiles, associated or not with synthetic filters, are promising sunscreens and more clinical investigation must be performed to validate these findings.
Insights into nanomedicine for head and neck cancer diagnosis and treatment
Publication . Viegas, Cláudia Sofia; Pereira, Daniela S. M.; Fonte, Pedro
Head and neck cancers rank sixth among the most common cancers today, and the survival rate has remained virtually unchanged over the past 25 years, due to late diagnosis and ineffective treatments. They have two main risk factors, tobacco and alcohol, and human papillomavirus infection is a secondary risk factor. These cancers affect areas of the body that are fundamental for the five senses. Therefore, it is necessary to treat them effectively and non-invasively as early as possible, in order to do not compromise vital functions, which is not always possible with conventional treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy). In this sense, nanomedicine plays a key role in the treatment and diagnosis of head and neck cancers. Nanomedicine involves using nanocarriers to deliver drugs to sites of action and reducing the necessary doses and possible side effects. The main purpose of this review is to give an overview of the applications of nanocarrier systems to the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer. Herein, several types of delivery strategies, radiation enhancement, inside-out hyperthermia, and theragnostic approaches are addressed.
Lipid-based carriers for food ingredients delivery
Publication . Barroso, Livia; Viegas, Cláudia; Vieira, Joao; Ferreira-Pego, Cintia; Costa, Joyce; Fonte, Pedro
The encapsulation in the food industry has gained relevant importance, mainly due to its contribution to solve food problems by reducing the loss of nutrients, prolong the shelf-life, and improve food quality and safety. The lipid-based delivery systems as microemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers are widely used to deliver food ingredients due to their ability to protect and deliver it, enhancing its functionality and bioavailability. Despite the benefits on delivering food ingredients the toxicity profile of such carriers is usually neglected. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed overview on the application of lipid-based carriers to deliver food ingredients. Herein, the encapsulation advantages and disadvantages, and microencapsulation techniques used to obtain lipid-based carriers are discussed. More importantly, the different types of lipid-based carriers used for food ingredients delivery are thoroughly scrutinized, as well as their application in foods and possible toxicity concerns.
Chitosan nanoparticles: a versatile platform for biomedical applications
Publication . Bashir, Showkeen Muzamil; Ahmed Rather, Gulzar; Patrício, Ana; Haq, Zulfiqar; Sheikh, Amir Amin; Shah, Mohd Zahoor ul Haq; Singh, Hemant; Khan, Azmat Alam; Imtiyaz, Sofi; Ahmad, Sheikh Bilal; Nabi, Showket; Rakhshan, Rabia; Hassan, Saqib; Fonte, Pedro
Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer that has been extensively explored in recent decades. The Food and Drug Administration has approved chitosan for wound treatment and nutritional use. Furthermore, chitosan has paved the way for advancements in different biomedical applications including as a nanocarrier and tissue-engineering scaffold. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, and haemostatic properties make it an excellent option for wound dressings. Because of its hydrophilic nature, chitosan is an ideal starting material for biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels. To suit specific application demands, chitosan can be combined with fillers, such as hydroxyapatite, to modify the mechanical characteristics of pH-sensitive hydrogels. Furthermore, the cationic characteristics of chitosan have made it a popular choice for gene delivery and cancer therapy. Thus, the use of chitosan nanoparticles in developing novel drug delivery systems has received special attention. This review aims to provide an overview of chitosan-based nanoparticles, focusing on their versatile properties and different applications in biomedical sciences and engineering.
Intranasal drug delivery for treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Publication . Fonseca, Leonor Cancela; Lopes, Joao; Vieira, Joao; Viegas, Claudia; Oliveira, Claudia S.; Hartmann, Rafael P.; Fonte, Pedro
The Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition with severe consequences interfering with patient quality of life. It is characterized as a progressive and irreversible brain disorder hampering memory and thinking, affecting the capacity to perform daily tasks leading to physical and cognitive incapacitation. The conventional treatment occurs by the oral route, but it presents relevant drawbacks such as low bioavailability, fast metabolism, limited brain exposure, and undesirable side effects. The intranasal route has been proposed as a promising alternative to deliver drugs and improve the Alzheimer's disease treatment. Still, there is not a clear alternative delivery system available in the market with advantageous bioavailability and safety. The aim of this review is to perform an overview on the strategies for drug intranasal delivery for Alzheimer's disease treatment. The advantages and disadvantages of this delivery route and the delivery systems developed so far are discussed. A special focus is given on the use of permeation enhancers, the types of intranasal drug delivery devices, as well as possible toxicity concerns.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UIDB/04565/2020