15 documents found, page 1 of 2
Humidity induces changes in the dimensions of hydrogel-coated wool yarns
Wang, Lanlan; Cavaco-Paulo, Artur; Xu, B.; Sá, M.Polymeric hydrogel based on acrylic acid (AA) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) was prepared by photopolymerization reaction, using nano-alumina as the inorganic crosslinker. Hydrogel-coated wool yarns determine their dimensional changes under humidity conditions. Surface morphology of the hydrogel-coated wool yarns was carried out using SEM microscopy. The hydrogel was further characterized by Fourier transfor...
Practical insights on enzyme stabilization
Silva, Carla; Sá, M.; Jing Su; Fu, Jiajia; Cavaco-Paulo, ArturEnzymes are efficient catalysts designed by nature to work in physiological environments of living systems. The best operational conditions to access and convert substrates at the industrial level are different from nature and normally extreme. Strategies to isolate enzymes from extremophiles can redefine new operational conditions, however not always solving all industrial requirements. The stability of enzyme...
Effect of a peptide in cosmetic formulations for hair volume control
Cruz, Célia F.; Ribeiro, Artur J.; Sá, M.; Cavaco-Paulo, ArturObjective The capacity of hair to absorb water causes changes in its physical and cosmetic properties under different environmental conditions. Hence, the control of hair volume in variable relative humidity settings is an important topic in cosmetics. The behaviour of two types of hair, Caucasian and Asian, was studied regarding their volume change in different relative humidity conditions. The ability of a pe...
Ultrasound-assisted swelling of bacterial cellulose
Song, J.; Su, Jing; Loureiro, Ana; Sá, M.; Cavaco-Paulo, Artur; Kim, Hye Rim; Silva, CarlaBacterial cellulose (BC) was obtained by static cultivation using commercial BC gel from scoby. BC membranes (oven dried and freeze-dried) were swelled with 8% NaOH, in absence and in presence of ultrasound (US), for 30, 60 and 90 min. The influence of swelling conditions on both physico-chemical properties and molecules entrapment was evaluated. Considering the highest levels of entrapment, an optimum swelling...
Changing the shape of hair with keratin peptides
Cruz, Célia F.; Sá, M.; Antunes, Egipto; Osorio, H.; Ribeiro, Artur; Cavaco-Paulo, ArturChemical straightening of curly human hair fibres involves the use of strong reducing agents at alkaline pH. Human hair is made of keratin, and the fixation of fibre shape involves the reduction and reformation of new disulphide bonds between keratin molecules. Here, we propose an alternative and green methodology using keratin peptide sequences (10-13 residues) derived from the human genome. In a previous stud...
Permeation of skin with (C60) fullerene dispersions
Sá, M.; Azóia, Nuno G.; Melle-Franco, Manuel; Ribeiro, Artur; Cavaco-Paulo, ArturDispersions in transcutol/isopropyl myristate make C60 fullerene molecules suitable for transdermal delivery. We found that C60 can successfully permeate the skin using pig skin in Franz diffusion cells. Molecular dynamics simulations and transmission electron microscopy confirmed these observations. Basic cosmetic formulations with transcutol/ isopropyl myristate without harsh organic solvents show a high pote...
Infantile Refsum Disease: Influence of Dietary Treatment on Plasma Phytanic Aci...
Sá, M.; Rocha, J.; Almeida, M.; Carmona, C.; Martins, E.; Miranda, V.; Coutinho, M.; Ferreira, R.; Pacheco, S.; Laranjeira, F.; Ribeiro, I.; Fortuna, A.Infantile Refsum disease (IRD) is one of the less severe of Zellweger spectrum disorders (ZSDs), a group of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders resulting from a generalized peroxisomal function impairment. Increased plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and phytanic acid are biomarkers used in IRD diagnosis. Furthermore, an increased plasma level of phytanic acid is known to be associated with neuro...
Assessment of a protease inhibitor peptide for anti-ageing
Sá, M.; Azóia, Nuno G.; Carvalho, Ana C.; Silva, C.; Matamá, Maria Teresa; Gomes, Andreia C; Cavaco-Paulo, ArturAgeing and skin exposure to UV radiation induces production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and human neutrophil elastase (HNE). These enzymes are known to break down the extracellular matrix (ECM) which leads to wrinkle formation. Here, we demonstrated the potential of a solid-in-oil nanodispersion containing a competitive inhibitor peptide of HNE mixed with hyaluronic acid (HA), displaying ...
Vasculite de hipersensibilidade após terapêutica com metilfenidato - Caso clínico
Sá, M.; Faria, C.; Alves, M.; Macedo, L.; Carvalho, S.Introdução: Vasculite de hipersensibilidade é um processo inflamatório dos pequenos vasos secundário à formação e deposição endotelial de imunocomplexos. Caso Clínico: Descreve-se um caso de uma adolescente de 15 anos, recentemente medicada com metilfenidato por perturbação de hiperatividade e défice de atenção que apresentou episódios recorrentes de dor a nível dos pés associada a lesões purpúricas da extremid...
Pregnancy after uterine artery embolization: a case report in a woman with leio...
Lopes, H.; Sá, M.; Rodrigues, R.Background. Several pregnancies have been reported after embolization of uterine artery. This procedure is an accepted nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids but its safety in women desiring future childbearing is not well established. Case Report. We present a 40-year-old woman with leiomyomata who became pregnant after previously undergone uterine artery embolization for three times. The place...