Digoxin is a hydrophobic drug used for the treatment of heart failure that possesses a narrow therapeutic index, which raises safety concerns for toxicity. This is of utmost relevance in specific populations, such as the elderly. This study aimed to demonstrate the potential of the sodium alginate films as buccal drug delivery system containing zein nanoparticles incorporated with digoxin to reduce the number o...
Silk is a natural composite fiber composed mainly of hydrophobic fibroin and hydrophilic sericin, produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori. In the textile industry, the cocoons of B. mori are processed into silk fabric, where the sericin is substantially removed and usually discarded in wastewater. This wastewater pollutes the environment and water sources. However, sericin has been recognized as a potential biomat...
Today, none of the wound dressings available on the market is fully capable of reproducing all the features of native skin. Herein, an asymmetric electrospun membrane was produced to mimic both layers of skin. It comprises a top dense layer (manufactured with polycaprolactone) that was designed to provide mechanical support to the wound and a bottom porous layer (composed of chitosan and Aloe Vera) aimed to imp...
Today, none of the wound dressings available on the market is fully capable of reproducing all the features of native skin. Herein, an asymmetric electrospun membrane was produced to mimic both layers of skin. It comprises a top dense layer (manufactured with polycaprolactone) that was designed to provide mechanical support to the wound and a bottom porous layer (composed of chitosan and Aloe Vera) aimed to imp...
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) have high rates of morbidity and mortality associated. Despite the successful treatment of some SSTIs, those affecting the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle delay the healing process and can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, more effective treatments are required to deal with such pathological situations. Recently, wound dressings loaded with antimicrob...
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) have high rates of morbidity and mortality associated. Despite the successful treatment of some SSTIs, those affecting the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle delay the healing process and can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, more effective treatments are required to deal with such pathological situations. Recently, wound dressings loaded with antimicrob...
Os recentes avanços na biotecnologia permitem superar vários obstáculos tecnológicos encontrados em aplicações industriais que necessitam de uma profunda compreensão dos mecanismos relacionados com o crescimento e controlo celular no sentido de encontrar bioprocessos eficientes e de baixo custo. Durante as epidemias sazonais, o vírus da influenza é uma ameaça contínua devido ao seu potencial para causar pandemi...
Os recentes avanços na biotecnologia permitem superar vários obstáculos tecnológicos encontrados em aplicações industriais que necessitam de uma profunda compreensão dos mecanismos relacionados com o crescimento e controlo celular no sentido de encontrar bioprocessos eficientes e de baixo custo. Durante as epidemias sazonais, o vírus da influenza é uma ameaça contínua devido ao seu potencial para causar pandemi...
While developing tissue engineering strategies, inflammatory response caused by biomaterials is an unavoidable aspect to be taken into consideration, as it may be an early limiting step of tissue regeneration approaches. We demonstrate the application of flat and flexible films exhibiting patterned high-contrast wettability regions as implantable platforms for the high-content in vivo study of inflammatory resp...
Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiations is well known as an important factor on skin cancer development. In Portugal, outdoor workers are too long exposed to the sun, and consequently to the ultraviolet radiation effects. Sun protection behaviors are important to the prevention of skin cancer.