Browsing by Author "Tubino, Matthieu"
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- Insights into protein-ionic liquid interactions aiming at macromolecule delivery systemsPublication . Harada, Liliam; Pereira, Jorge; Campos, Welida; Silva, Erica; Moutinho, Carla; Vila, Marta; Oliveira Jr., José; Teixeira, José; Balcão, Victor; Tubino, MatthieuOver the last few years, researchers have started to explore a particular class of compounds defined as ionic liquids (ILs) in attempts to use their unique characteristics. Since ILs have a very low vapor pressure, these fascinating compounds hold great potential as high performance chemicals for several applications in the (bio)pharmaceutical industry. In general, and unlike common organic solvents with comparable polarities, ILs are quite compatible with enzymes (enhancing their structural and chemical stability) and other proteins, since they can promote higher selectivities, faster reaction rates and greater enzyme stabilities in biocatalytic reactions providing, at the same time, a path for the structural and functional stabilization of protein entities. ILs appear to enhance the delivery of macromolecules, particularly protein entities, and their interactions with ILs will be tackled in detail in this review paper.
- Structural and functional stabilization of phage particles in carbohydrate matrices for bacterial biosensingPublication . Balcão, Victor; Moreira, Ana R.; Moutinho, Carla; Chaud, Marco V.; Tubino, Matthieu; Vila, Marta M.D.C.Infections associated with health care services are nowadays widespread and, associated to the progressive emergence of microorganisms resistant to conventional chemical antibiotics, are major causes of morbidity and mortality. One of the most representative microorganisms in this scenario is the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which alone is responsible for ca. 13-15% of all nosocomial infections. Bacteriophages have been reported as a potentially useful tool in the diagnosis of bacterial diseases, since they specifically recognize and lyse bacterial isolates thus confirming the presence of viable cells. In the present research effort, immobilization of these biological (although metabolically inert) entities was achieved via entrapment within (optimized) porous (bio)polymeric matrices of alginate and agar, aiming at their full structural and functional stabilization. Such phage-impregnated polymeric matrices are intended for future use as chromogenic hydrogels sensitive to color changes evolving from reaction with (released) intracytoplasmatic moieties, as a detection kit for P. aeruginosa cells.