Publications

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2024
Sarrato, J, Raimundo B, Domingues L, Filipe SR, Lima CJ, Branco PS.  2024.  Synthesis of inverse push-pull coumarin dyes and their application as solvatochromic probes and labelling agents for bacterial cell membranes, SEP. DYES AND PIGMENTS. 228 Abstract
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2023
Silva, AL, Fino I, Ferreira LM, Branco PS.  2023.  Synthesis of 2-(5-(2-Aminopropyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)acetic Acid, a Metabolite of the Drug 5-APB, JUN. MOLBANK. 2023, Number 2 Abstract

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2022
Sarrato, J, Pinto AL, Cruz H, Jordao N, Malta G, Branco PS, Carlos Lima J, Branco LC.  2022.  Effect of Iodide-Based Organic Salts and Ionic Liquid Additives in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance, SEP. NANOMATERIALS. 12, Number 17 Abstract
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2021
Saracino, F, Brinco J, Gago D, Gomes da Silva M, Ferreira RB, Ricardo-da-Silva J, Chagas R, Ferreira LM.  2021.  DCMC as a Promising Alternative to Bentonite in White Wine Stabilization. Impact on Protein Stability and Wine Aromatic Fraction, OCT. MOLECULES. 26, Number 20 Abstract
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Sarrato, J, Pinto AL, Malta G, Rock EH, Pina J, Lima JC, Jorge Parola A, Branco PS.  2021.  New 3-Ethynylaryl Coumarin-Based Dyes for DSSC Applications: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Properties, and Theoretical Calculations, MAY. MOLECULES. 26, Number 10 Abstract
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Branco, S, Mateus EP, Richter Gomes da Silva MD, Mendes D, Araujo Pereira MM, Schuetz S, Paiva MR.  2021.  Olfactory responses of Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) to host and habitat cues, AUG. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY. 145:675-687., Number 7 Abstract

The eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus spp. Schoenherr, 1833 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is considered a major pest of eucalyptus plantations. In regions where control is achieved, success is usually brought by the action of the solitary egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Girault, 1928) (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae). Research was conducted to ascertain which cues might mediate female wasp host location and selection. In Petri dish arenas, females were attracted to Gonipterus platensis Marelli, 1927 egg capsules, to G. platensis mated female faeces and to leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labillardiere, 1799. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry electroantennographic detection analysis was conducted using extracts obtained from leaves of E. globulus, from G. platensis egg capsules, as well as from adults of both sexes and their faeces, in order to detect and identify compounds perceived by the wasp's olfactory system. The parasitoids were shown to detect a wide range of compounds emitted by each one of these sources, and for 31 compounds, antennal response was confirmed by dose-response tests. Further behavioural trials were conducted in Petri dishes in order to decode the effect, on parasitoid behaviour, of selected compounds emitted by E. globulus and of the pheromones, emitted by the weevils on parasitoid behaviour. Attraction was observed to two compounds emitted by E. globulus, namely 1,8-cineole and gamma-terpinene, and to the main component of the male sex/aggregation pheromone, cis-verbenol. To our knowledge, this is the first report of attraction of a parasitoid from the family Mymaridae to a component of its host's sexual/aggregation pheromone. Similarly, to other egg parasitoid species, A. nitens females are likely to use the host plant volatiles as long-range host location cues and to adopt the `infochemical detour' strategy in order to get in the vicinity of their hosts.

2020
Branco, S, Mateus EP, Richter Gomes da Silva MD, Mendes D, Araujo Pereira MM, Schutz S, Paiva MR.  2020.  Identification of pheromone candidates for the eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), FEB. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY. 144:41-53., Number 1-2 Abstract

The eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is a major pest of eucalyptus plantations worldwide. To date, no pheromones have been identified for this species, despite their valuable potential as tools in monitoring or control strategies. Here we report the detection and identification of pheromones candidates of G. platensis. The weevil's volatile compounds were collected by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and monolithic material sorption extraction (MMSE). Using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, eleven insect specific compounds were detected and identified: verbenene, cis-verbenol, trans-verbenol, verbenone, 2-oxo-1,8-cineole, 9-hydroxy-1,8-cineole, 2-alpha-hydroxy-1,8-cineole, 3-oxo-1,8-cineole, 2-beta-hydroxy-1,8-cineole, 3-alpha-hydroxy-1,8-cineole and 7-hydroxy-1,8-cineole. Three of these compounds, verbenene, cis-verbenol and trans-verbenol, were shown to be male-specific. Antennal sensitivity towards ten compounds emitted by G. platensis was detected using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Electroantennographic Detection (GC-MS/EAD). Extracts from virgin males proved to be attractive to virgin females in olfactometer bioassays. Further behavioural bioassays showed that both virgin females and virgin males were attracted to the male-specific compound cis-verbenol and that virgin females were attracted to trans-verbenol. Verbenone was attractive to mated females. Regarding 2-alpha-hydroxy-1.8-cineole and 2-oxo-1,8-cineole, which are produced by both sexes, the alcohol was attractive to virgin males and both the alcohol and the ketone were repellant to mated females. This is, to our knowledge, the first identification of pheromones candidates in Gonipterus spp. and also the first evidence of cineole metabolites acting as semiochemicals.

2018
Sequeira, A, Lourenco A, Ferreira LM, Branco PS, Mendes Z, Lourenco NMT, Figueiredo M, Carvalho LCR.  2018.  A Different Approach to the EGFR Inhibitor Gefitinib Involving Solid-Phase Synthesis, JUN. SYNLETT. 29:1346-1350., Number 10 Abstract
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2017
Gomes da Silva, M, Pereira MMA, Franco R, Dionisio M, Ferreira LM, Branco P, Costa C, Lourenco A, Pereira AS, Mata P, Sotomayor J, Lima C, Vilarigues M, Parola AJ, Laia CAT, Coutinho IB, Branco L, Pereira C, Moro A, Gago S, Basilio N, Marques MM.  2017.  CHEMISTRY - AN EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE. 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND NEW LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES (EDULEARN17). (Chova, LG, Martinez, AL, Torres, IC, Eds.).:2548-2556. Abstract

In the last two decades, it has been observed an increasing low enrolment of students in chemistry teaching courses in secondary schools. On the one hand, because of the negative connotation of chemistry, associated with the potentially toxic and pollutant chemical industry, and on the other hand, that the teaching of this subject is exclusively carried out only in a theoretical classroom environment with almost non-existent practical/experimental component, despite chemistry is an experimental science in its essence. This state of affairs has been reflected in chemistry degrees offered by Portuguese universities throughout the country, which in the application process for each academic year, ended up by never completely fulfilling the number of offered nunerus clausus. Considering that the pedagogical mission of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (FCT-NOVA), in particular its Department of Chemistry (DQ), aims to contribute to the human, scientific and technical development of students, a project has been settled in the last nine years in order to offer to high school students a unique opportunity to arouse in them the interest in Science in general and Chemistry in particular, to stimulate impart on them the joy of curiosity, while at the same time conferring the necessary skills for their future activity as students of higher education or in the labour market. It is also through the close contact with students that method, discipline, and intellectual honesty are transmitted and cultivated. The aim of this Project was thus to promote the study and taste interest for Chemistry, through experimental activities, fitting the Portuguese High School Education curricula, offered to students enrolled in Chemistry subjects attending the 10th, 11th and 12th grades (the latter, compulsory high school degree to apply to University Throughout 2016/17 academic year, DQ-FCT-NOVA will receive, from October to May, 1888 students visits from eleven High Schools distributed among Physical Chemistry for 10th/11th grade and of the 12th grade attending the Chemistry subject. The former are offer one single laboratory activity while the latter participate up to 10 different experimental activities. During 70 practical sessions of 2.5 hours each, with an average attendance of 27 students, the number of higher education school staff involved are 22. Each high school class is accompanied by 1 teacher, who's also proactively contributing to the design of the practical session. The session is carried out in groups of 2/3 students, and the laboratories have a capacity of 24/48 according onto classes sizes. A quality questionnaire is filled by the students in order to monitor the action. In 2015/16, 63 % of the students answered the questionnaire in which more than 90% students were very satisfied with the action. This project has already been implemented for 9 years reflecting a growing collaboration between FCT-NOVA and in High Schools in the vicinity (Setubal District). Above all, this Project allowed most of these schools to continue to motivate students to enrol in 12th grade Chemistry subject. Actually, in the first year of the initiative, many of these schools did not have enough students to open chemistry classes for the 12th grade. After the first initiative, almost all high schools have been able to maintain open 12th grade chemistry classes. On the other hand, FCT-NOVA, namely, the Applied Chemistry course, has been able to fill 100% of the numerus clausus available in the first phase of the application period, which is not the case for other higher education schools courses in Portugal for the same domain - Chemistry.

2016
Vale, JR, Siopa F, Branco PS, Afonso CAM.  2016.  Ring Opening of 6-Azabicyclo{[}3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ols in Water under Mild Conditions, APR. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. 2016:2048-2053., Number 11 Abstract
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2015
Andrade, MS, Silva VS, Lourenco AM, Lobo AM, Rzepa HS.  2015.  Chiroptical Properties of Streptorubin B: The Synergy Between Theory and Experiment, OCT. CHIRALITY. 27:745-751., Number 10 Abstract
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Silva, SA, Bonifacio VDB, Raje VP, Branco PS, Machado PFB, Correia IJ, Aguiar-Ricardo A.  2015.  Design of oligoaziridine-PEG coatings for efficient nanogold cellular biotagging. RSC ADVANCES. 5:10733-10738., Number 14 Abstract
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2014
Barbosa, DJ, Serrat R, Mirra S, Quevedo M, Gomez de Barreda E, Avila J, Ferreira LM, Branco PS, Fernandes E, de Bastos ML, Capela JP, Soriano E, Carvalho F.  2014.  The Mixture of ``Ecstasy{''} and Its Metabolites Impairs Mitochondrial Fusion/Fission Equilibrium and Trafficking in Hippocampal Neurons, at In Vivo Relevant Concentrations, JUN. TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES. 139, Number 2 Abstract
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Lopes, LC, de Carvalho JE, Kakimore M, Vendramini-Costa DB, Medeiros MA, Spindola HM, Avila-Roman J, Lourenco AM, Motilva V.  2014.  Pharmacological characterization of Solanum cernuum Vell.: 31-norcycloartanones with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, JUN. INFLAMMOPHARMACOLOGY. 22:179-185., Number 3 Abstract
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Barbosa, DJ, Capela JP, Silva R, Vilas-Boas V, Ferreira LM, Branco PS, Fernandes E, de Bastos ML, Carvalho F.  2014.  The mixture of ``ecstasy{''} and its metabolites is toxic to human SH-SY5Y differentiated cells at in vivo relevant concentrations, FEB. ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY. 88:455-473., Number 2 Abstract
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Barbosa, DJ, Capela JP, Silva R, Ferreira LM, Branco PS, Fernandes E, Bastos ML, Carvalho F.  2014.  ``Ecstasy{''}-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y differentiated cells: role of hyperthermia and metabolites, FEB. ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY. 88:515-531., Number 2 Abstract
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Sa, S, Gawande MB, Velhinho A, Veiga JP, Bundaleski N, Trigueiro J, Tolstogouzov A, Teodoro OMND, Zboril R, Varma RS, Branco PS.  2014.  Magnetically recyclable magnetite-palladium (Nanocat-Fe-Pd) nanocatalyst for the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction. GREEN CHEMISTRY. 16:3494-3500., Number 7 Abstract
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2013
Vilas-Boasa, V, Silva R, Nunes C, Reis S, Ferreira L, Vieira C, Carvalho F, de Bastos ML, Remiao F.  2013.  Mechanisms of P-gp inhibition and effects on membrane fluidity of a new rifampicin derivative, 1,8-dibenzoyl-rifampicin, JUL 18. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 220:259-266., Number 3 Abstract

Purpose: To assess P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-modulation ability and the mechanisms of P-gp inhibition mediated by a new synthetic rifampicin derivative, 1,8-dibenzoyl-rifampicin (DiBenzRif), in an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), RBE4 cells, and in membrane mimetic models (liposomes). Methods: P-gp expression (western blot) and activity {[}rhodamine 123 accumulation studies] were assessed until 72 h of exposure to DiBenzRif. The effects on intracellular ATP levels and on P-gp ATPase activity were studied using luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay. Membrane fluidity changes were tracked by steady-state anisotropy measurements. Non-P-gp-related rhodamine 123 accumulation was evaluated using liposomes prepared with the main lipids present in RBE4 cell membranes. Results: A significant increase in intracellular rhodamine 123 content was observed in DiBenzRif-treated cells at all tested time-points. This effect was associated with a significant reduction in ATP intracellular levels, the inhibition of P-gp ATPase activity and a significant increase in membrane fluidity. DiBenzRif also favoured rhodamine 123 accumulation in a liposomal model of RBE4 cells, suggesting that it may be useful in increasing intracellular levels of substances that passively diffuse into the cells. Conclusion: DiBenzRif-induced inhibitory effect on P-gp increases xenobiotic accumulation in BBB cells, which may contribute to the development of therapeutic adjuvants to enhance brain penetration of drugs. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vilas-Boas, V, Silva R, Palmeira A, Sousa E, Ferreira LM, Branco PS, Carvalho F, de Bastos ML, Remiao F.  2013.  Development of Novel Rifampicin-Derived P-Glycoprotein Activators/Inducers. Synthesis, In Silico Analysis and Application in the RBE4 Cell Model, Using Paraquat as Substrate, AUG 26. PLOS ONE. 8, Number 8 Abstract

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a 170 kDa transmembrane protein involved in the outward transport of many structurally unrelated substrates. P-gp activation/induction may function as an antidotal pathway to prevent the cytotoxicity of these substrates. In the present study we aimed at testing rifampicin (Rif) and three newly synthesized Rif derivatives (a mono-methoxylated derivative, MeORif, a peracetylated derivative, PerAcRif, and a reduced derivative, RedRif) to establish their ability to modulate P-gp expression and activity in a cellular model of the rat's blood-brain barrier, the RBE4 cell line P-gp expression was assessed by western blot using C219 anti-P-gp antibody. P-gp function was evaluated by flow cytometry measuring the accumulation of rhodamine123. Whenever P-gp activation/induction ability was detected in a tested compound, its antidotal effect was further tested using paraquat as cytotoxicity model. Interactions between Rif or its derivatives and P-gp were also investigated by computational analysis. Rif led to a significant increase in P-gp expression at 72 h and RedRif significantly increased both P-gp expression and activity. No significant differences were observed for the other derivatives. Pre-or simultaneous treatment with RedRif protected cells against paraquat-induced cytotoxicity, an effect reverted by GF120918, a P-gp inhibitor, corroborating the observed P-gp activation ability. Interaction of RedRif with P-gp drug-binding pocket was consistent with an activation mechanism of action, which was confirmed with docking studies. Therefore, RedRif protection against paraquat-induced cytotoxicity in RBE4 cells, through P-gp activation/induction, suggests that it may be useful as an antidote for cytotoxic substrates of P-gp.

Gawande, MB, Branco PS, Nogueira ID, Ghumman ACA, Bundaleski N, Santos A, Teodoro OMND, Luque R.  2013.  Catalytic applications of a versatile magnetically separable Fe-Mo (Nanocat-Fe-Mo) nanocatalyst. GREEN CHEMISTRY. 15:682-689., Number 3 Abstract
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2012
Gawande, MB, Rathi AK, Branco PS, Nogueira ID, Velhinho A, Shrikhande JJ, Indulkar UU, Jayaram RV, Ghumman ACA, Bundaleski N, Teodoro OMND.  2012.  Regio- and Chemoselective Reduction of Nitroarenes and Carbonyl Compounds over Recyclable Magnetic Ferrite-Nickel Nanoparticles (Fe3O4-Ni) by Using Glycerol as a Hydrogen Source, OCT. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL. 18:12628-12632., Number 40 Abstract
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Siopa, F, Pereira AS, Ferreira LM, Matilde Marques M, Branco PS.  2012.  Synthesis of catecholamine conjugates with nitrogen-centered bionucleophiles, OCT. BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY. 44:19-24. Abstract
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Barbosa, J, Barbosa DJ, Capela JP, Oliveira JMA, Silva R, Ferreira LM, Siopa F, Branco PS, Fernandes E, Duarte JA, de Lourdes Bastos M, Carvalho F, Carvalho D.  2012.  Pro-oxidant effects of Ecstasy and its metabolites in mouse brain synaptosomes, FEB. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 165:1017-1033., Number 4B Abstract
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2011
Vilas-Boas, V, Silva R, Vieira C, Martins I, Ferreira L, Branco P, Remiao F.  2011.  P-glycoprotein activity assessment in rat brain endothelial cells-A search for new rifampicin-derived p-glycoprotein inducers, AUG 28. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 205:S94-S95., Number 1: European Soc Toxicol Abstract
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Gawande, MB, Branco PS, Parghi K, Shrikhande JJ, Pandey RK, Ghumman CAA, Bundaleski N, Teodoro OMND, Jayaram RV.  2011.  Synthesis and characterization of versatile MgO-ZrO2 mixed metal oxide nanoparticles and their applications. CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. 1:1653-1664., Number 9 Abstract
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