GRADUATE SCHOOL OF

SCIENCES & ENGINEERING SEMINAR

Speaker: João F. Mano

Title: “Soft polymeric microdevices for the incorporation of cells and therapeutic molecules”

Date:  27 April 2018

Cookie and Tea: 13:45

Time: 14:00-15:00

Place: CASE Z48

Host: Assoc. Prof. Seda Kızılel

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Abstract:

“The encapsulation of therapeutic molecules in microparticles have been widely used to develop controlled drug delivery devices. More sophisticated strategies have also been employed to encapsulate cells in spherical matrices using distinct biomaterials, to be explored in cell and tissue engineering. We propose distinct enabling technologies that could be used to encapsulate both molecules and cells in geometrically controlled micro-compartments. Superhydrophobic surfaces serve as platforms to process basic units of hydrogels in mild conditions, permitting the encapsulation of living cells and other biological cargo with high efficiency. In another strategy, capsules are fabricated using the so-called layer-by-layer technology, where the consecutive layers are well stabilized by electrostatic interactions or other weak forces. By using spherical templates containing cells it is possible to produce liquefied capsules that may entrap viable cells. The presence of solid microparticles inside such capsules offers adequate surface area for adherent cell attachment (with controlled mechanical properties) increasing the biological performance of these hierarchical systems, while maintain both permeability and injectability. The liquid environment allows for a free-organization in the space of the cells towards the formation of new microtissues.”

Bio:

 BriefCV_JFMano_March_2018

João F. Mano (CEng, PhD, DSc) is a full professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Aveiro (Portugal). During his career he has been teaching courses related to biomaterials science and technology, tissue engineering and physical chemistry of polymers and materials, in both undergraduate and graduate levels. He is the director of the Master Degree in Biotechnology at the Univ. of Aveiro. He has also an appointment as Visiting Professor (classe exceptionelle) at University of Lorraine (France). He published educational-related papers in peerreviewed international journals and was involved in several training/educational activities. He belongs to the associate laboratory CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials where he is directing the COMPASS Research Group. His current research interests include the use of biomaterials and cells towards the development of transdisciplinary concepts especially aimed at being used in regenerative and personalised medicine. In particular, biomimetic and nano/microtechnology approaches have been applied to natural-derived biomaterials and surfaces in order to obtain biomedical devices with improved structural and (multi-)functional properties, or in the engineering of microenvironments to control cell behaviour and organization, to be used in therapies or in drug screening.