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Gold(III) bisdithiolate complexes have been shown as potential antimicrobial and antitumoral agents. In particular, the complex [Au(cdc)2]− (cdc=cyanodithioimido carbonate) displayed antimicrobial and outstanding antitumor activity against the ovarian cancer cells A2780 and A2780cisR, which are sensitive and resistant to cisplatin, respectively. Yet, poor water solubility may hinder its clinical use. Block copolymer micelles (BCMs) have demonstrated great potential as nanocarriers capable of delivering hydrophobic drugs, increasing their solubility and stability, and improving their bioavailability and circulation time in blood, with reduced side effects. In this work, published in the journal Pharmaceutics, the potential of BCM-[Au(cdc)2] as a novel drug-delivery system was addressed. The BCM-[Au(cdc)2] micelles were prepared with a loading efficiency of 64.6% and a loading content of 35.3 mg [Au(cdc)2]−/gBCM, they were also homogenous and good candidates for drug delivery. Cytotoxic activity studies against A2780/A2780cisR cells showed that BCM-[Au(cdc)2] maintained relevant cytotoxic activity comparable to the cytotoxicity observed for the same concentration of gold complexes. The Au uptake in A2780 cells, determined by PIXE, was ca. 17% higher for BCMs-[Au(cdc)2] compared to [Au(cdc)2]−. The BCMs-[Au(cdc)2] presented also antimicrobial activity against S. aureus Newman and C. glabrata CBS138. In summary this paper shows the results of the potential of BCM-[Au(cdc)2] for drug delivery and its promising anticancer and antimicrobial activities.

This study was led by Dr. Célia Fernandes and Dr. Fernanda Marques, both from Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico. The iBB members Teresa Pinheiro, Jorge Leitão and Sílvia Sousa collaborated in this work performing the cellular uptake analysis and the antimicrobial activities of BCMs.

Enzymes may be the right catalysts for efficient and clean processes, contributing to energy savings and negligible by-products and waste. Following the success of the Special Issue on “Biocatalysis, Enzyme and Process Engineering” in Processes (MDPI), the editors Pedro Fernandes and Carla C. C. R. de Carvalho wrote an editorial paper discussing the different papers published on this subject.

Organized at Instituto Superior Técnico by Isabel Sá-Correia and Jorge Leitão, a joint workshop of two FCT-funded doctoral programs in which  DBE and iBB participate or direct, AEM-Applied and Environmental Microbiology and BIOTECnico- Biotechnology and Biosciences, took place at the Zoom platform on February 15 (dedicated to AEM) and 16 (dedicated to BIOTECnico). The external supervisory committee (ESC) of the two programs were present and participated very actively. They are highly renowned academics in the areas of the PhD programs: Tom Coyne from Gent University, William de Vos from Wageningen University, Jack Pronk from Delft University, Prof Steve Oliver, University of  Cambridge, Michael Hoare, University College London. 

PhD students and alumni of both programs were present and program that we set up via Zoom allowed us to demonstrate the work carried out in terms of advanced training in the framework of BIOTECnico and AEM programs. The ESCs were very impressed about the way how “the two fabulous programs were designed and managed and built a culture that encourages PhD candidates to take initiative, grow and prosper.” Congratulations to the directive boards of both programs, the students, the alumni, and their supervisors and collaborators.

A Wednesday afternoon spent learning about cutting-edge science while enjoying a beer with friends in a "Hygge" setting is undoubtedly appealing. This is the value proposition from the “PubHD” initiative. In this week’s edition, the IBB/IST will be represented by Rui Oliveira-Silva.

To enhance the performance of (bio)sensors and obtain information about a given system at a specific time, Rui concentrated on the development of nanomaterials during his doctoral studies. The availability of these (bio)sensors, enable early detection, process control of pharmaceuticals, or assess the effectiveness therapies and to follow-up patients. These (bio)sensors render information that was previously impossible, and are increasingly crucial in contemporary precision medicine.

A new article provides a genome-based roadmap to facilitate the selection of coral probiotics, also known as Beneficial Microbes for Corals (BMCs), and was just published in mSystems. Probiotics are starting to be investigated as a potential medicine for corals, marine animals that are threatened with extinction by the advance of climate change. Laboratory experiments have already proved the concept that coral probiotics mitigate coral bleaching and reduce coral mortality. This study now employed comparative genomics to identify exclusive BMC traits associated with specific probiotic strains and proposed new BMC mechanisms. The work was led by Prof Raquel Peixoto and her team from KAUST University at the Red Sea and received guidance on genomics of coral-associated bacteria from iBB/DBE researcher Dr Tina Keller-Costa.

Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy are routine tools in basic and applied biological sciences. An expanding library of organic fluorophores and fluorescent proteins with radically different properties are available, offering great flexibility to the user of fluorescence methods. Still, a considerable fraction of casual users of fluorescence tools do not follow rational considerations when selecting a probe. In a recently published book chapter, Fábio Fernandes (iBB) and Maria Sarmento (IMM) provide an overview of the most important factors to weight when selecting a fluorophore. A list of different fluorophores and a summary of their properties and labeling strategies is presented as a tool to assist in the process of choosing a fluorescent probe.

Biosurfactants, particularly mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), have excellent biochemical properties and a wide range of potential applications. However, for use at an industrial level, it is necessary to develop more sustainable production processes, both in terms of the environment and economy. In this regard, the study “Production of mannosylerythritol lipids using oils from oleaginous microalgae: two sequential microorganism culture approach” led by iBB team, with Tiago Coelho, Miguel Nascimento, Nuno Faria, Frederico Fereira, together with LNEG team, Alberto Reis and Luísa Gouveia, was just published in Microorganisms journal. It reports, for the first time, the production of MELs using oils produced from microalgae. The bio-oil was extracted from Neochloris oleoabundans and evaluated for its use as a sole carbon source or as a co-substrate strategy, using D-glucose as an additional carbon source, on Moesziomyces spp. cultures to support cell growth and induce the production of MELs. Both M. antarcticus and M. aphidis were able to grow and produce MELs using algae-derived bio-oils as carbon sources and, interestingly, there were no significant differences in productivity when oils from microalgae or vegetable oils were used as carbon sources. These results provide new perspectives for the production of MELs in systems that combine different microorganisms.

Human adult stem cells and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells represent promising tools to understand human biology, development, and disease. Under a permissive environment, stem cell derivatives can self-organize and reconstruct their native environment, resulting in the creation of organ-like entities known as organoids. Although organoids represent a breakthrough in the stem cell field, there are still considerable shortcomings preventing their widespread use, namely their variability, limited function, and reductionist size. In this recently published review article in Trends in Biotechnology, Miguel Tenreiro (Ph.D. student in Bioengineering), Prof. Margarida Diogo, and co-authors from iBB highlight emerging technologies to fill in the gaps in organoid design and provide insights on how they can be best utilized to fulfill the potential of organoids.

Join us at the 2023 British-Iberian Bioelectronics Workshop (BIBio-e) on the 17th of February of 2023 at the Pavilion of Knowledge of Lisbon to learn how!

This workshop will host top scientists from the UK and the Iberian Peninsula to share their work and address future challenges in bioelectronics with a session dedicated to early-career researchers. BIBio-e will also feature a session dedicated at elucidating a roadmap for our bilateral cooperation and competitiveness in this area to address major societal challenges. See the full program below!

Participation at this workshop is free of charge, however registration is required as attendance is limited to encourage interaction between participants. To attend and/or submit and abstract, click here.

BIBio-e is organised by Frankie Rawson (University of Nottingham) and Paola Sanjuan Alberte (Instituto Superior Tecnico) with the support of the BBSRC Bilateral Research Fund.

The December 16, 2022 Episode of 110 Stories | 110 Técnico objects is dedicated to Técnico’s first registered patent. That 1985´s  patent, entitled "PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NATURAL SPARKLING WINES BY MEANS OF IMMOBILIZED YEAST" also belongs to the history of iBB. Indeed, iBB is the current research unit of the excellent lineage originating from the Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering/CEBQ-Center of Biological and Chemical Engineering. The first author was Júlio Maggiolly Novais, the founding director of that IST research unit. The other IST authors were Isabel Sá-Correia, Joaquim S Cabral and Manuela Cadete. In addition to IST, there were two other applicants: Instituto Superior de Agronomia (co-author: Prof Virgílio Loureiro) and Caves Raposeira LDA.
In this episode of the podcast, two of the authors intervened and explained the objectives and innovation related to the patent. The innovation consisted of immobilizing (sequestering in in an agar-agar gel) the yeast cells that carry out the secondary alcoholic fermentation in the bottle, typical of champagne production (to create the typical "bubbles" of CO2 gas). The objective was to make unnecessary the manual rotation of sparkling wine bottles, for three weeks, to remove the yeasts which, when free, accumulate in high concentrations making the drink very cloudy. During the podcast, it was also recalled the bottling carried out at Caves da Raposeira, applying the methods developed at the Técnico's laboratory to the reality of sparkling wine production. 

Marine bacteria present enzymatic activities that result from extensive evolution necessary for cell survival under the harsh and continuously changing conditions found in the marine environment. Metagenomic techniques and cultivation of not-yet-cultured bacteria, combined with high-throughput screening techniques, have allowed the identification of new biocatalysts and the development of industrial processes. In a recently published paper, Carlos J.C. Rodrigues and Carla C.C.R. de Carvalho (iBB) review the latest studies related to growth of marine bacteria under laboratorial conditions, screening techniques, and bioprocess development.

As current treatments for periodontitis have failed to promote tissue repair and the coordinated regeneration of the whole periodontium, innovative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve the clinical outcomes. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds are particularly promising for applications in periodontal regeneration since they are able to mimic the native tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) features such as the size and alignment of the fibers present in the periodontal ligament (PDL). In this article recently published in the journal Nanomaterials, iBB researchers MSc Mafalda Santos, Dr. Marta Carvalho and Dr. João Silva provided an overview of the current state of the art of the application of electrospun nanofibers in periodontal regeneration, either as guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes or as scaffolds for tissue engineering strategies.

The insufficient UV photoprotection of approved sunscreens and the negative impact of their compositions on ecosystems and human health makes the utility of sunscreen questionable. Therefore, discovering UV filters with significant antioxidant activity and improved topical performance and photostability is crucial. The use of nanosized natural molecules incorporated in sunscreens has been a scientific hot topic, since they provide a synergistic effect with synthetic UV filters, improving overall SPF and antioxidant activity, higher epidermis retention, and less toxicity. Pedro Fonte from iBB and colleagues reviewed about formulations containing nanosized flavonoids with improved safety and UVA photoprotection becoming promising sunscreens.

Mónica da Luz Galocha defended her PhD thesis in Biotechnology and Biosciences, titled “Unveiling new pathways of genomic evolution towards drug resistance in Candida glabrata”, on the 13th of February 2023, at Instituto Superior Técnico. During the previous four years, and under the supervision of Miguel Cacho Teixeira from iBB, Mónica studied the genomic basis of the evolution towards antifungal drug resistance in the fungal pathogen Candida glabrata, uncovering fascinating new mechanisms of azole drug import and transcriptome-wide remodelling in the dependency of mediator complex components.

On the 16th of February 2023, Joaquim Cabral, former presidente of iBB,  gives a lecture at Sessão da Classe de Ciências of Academia das Ciências de Lisboa. This lecture will be entitled “The Role of Bioprocess Engineering and Cellular Therapies and Regenerative Medicine”. This session will be chaired by Professor Carlos Salema and will also feature a lecture given by Professor Conceição Peleteiro and several guests.