We are passionate to explore how bio-based polymers, alone or as composites, can yield functional materials. In particular, the combination of peptidomimetics with functional materials give rise to Affinity Functional Materials, which we explore for Bioseparation and Diagnostic applications.

The combination of biological polymers with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, further decorated with peptidomimetics, enabled the creation of MRI contrast agents and macroporous magnetically-actuated materials for antibody purification.

To learn more about these topics, please consult our publications:

Palma, SICJ, Fernandes AR, Roque ACA.  2016.  An affinity triggered MRI nanoprobe for pH-dependent cell labeling. RSC Adv.. 6:113503–113512., Number 114

Fernandes, CSM, Gonçalves B, Sousa M, Martins DL, Barroso T, Pina AS, Peixoto C, Aguiar-Ricardo A, Roque ACA.  2015.  Biobased Monoliths for Adenovirus Purification. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 7(12):6605-6612

Palma, SI, Rodrigues CA, Carvalho A, Morales PM, Freitas F, Fernandes AR, Cabral JS, Roque ACA.  2015.  A value-added exopolysaccharide as a coating agent for MRI nanoprobes. Nanoscale. (7):14272-14283

Palma, SICJ, Carvalho A, Silva J, Martins P, Marciello M, Fernandes AR, del Puerto Morales M, Roque ACA.  2015.  Covalent coupling of gum arabic onto superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for MRI cell labeling: physicochemical and in vitro characterization. Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging. 10:320–328

Barroso, T, Casimiro T, Ferraria A, Mattioli F, Aguiar-Ricardo A, Roque ACA.  2014.  Hybrid monoliths for magnetically-driven protein separations. Adv. Funct. Mater.. 24(28):4528–4541

Dhadge, VL, Rosa S, Azevedo A, Aires-Barros R, Roque ACA.  2014.  Magnetic Aqueous Two Phase Fishing: An Hybrid Process Technology for Antibody Purification. J. Chromatogr. A. 1339:59-64