Research group
BioPol4fun - Innovation in biopolymer based functional materials and bioactive compounds
Follow the group activities at:
Selected Publications
Ongoing Supervisions
Inês da Silva Lito Farias
PhD Student
Joana C. Almeida
Junior Researcher
Maria do Céu Esteves Amaral Teixeira
PhD Student
Vasco António Marinho Valente
PhD StudentProjects
Bioeconomia para Têxtil e Vestuário (BE@T)
PartnerIndustry National
Apoiada pelo Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR), a indústria têxtil nacional vai investir 138 milhões de euros na bioeconomia sustentável, procurando a mudança de paradigma para o setor e a criação de produtos de alto valor ...From Fossil To Forest (FF2F (Biocomposites))
PartnerIndustry National
This Innovation Pact is aimed at developing cellulose-based packaging and products to replace fossil-based plastics. In this context, it comprises the following six work packages: (1) high yield pulp and brown paper; (2) paper with increased mechanical strength; (3) paper with barrier properties; (4) biocomposites; (5) paper sensors for intellig...Inovação na Fileira da Resina Natural para Reforço da Bioeconomia Nacional (RN21)
PartnerIndustry National
A transição para uma economia mais sustentável, oferece inúmeras oportunidades para revitalizar os setores mais tradicionais da economia portuguesa, onde destacamos a produção e transformação da resina natural.O Projeto Integrado RN21 – Ino...Pacto da Bioeconomia azul (BIOECOAZUL (Termoendurecíveis))
PartnerIndustry National
The world needs a new business model capable of economic growth decoupling raw materials from natural resources. Thus the Blue Bioeconomy Pact has embraced the challenge of reindustrialising Portuguese industries with the integration of blue biotechnology solutions in the value chains, enhancing the sustainable use of marine bio-resources to inc...Pacto da Bioeconomia azul (BIOECOAZUL (Termoplásticos a desenvolver))
PartnerIndustry National
The world needs a new business model capable of economic growth decoupling raw materials from natural resources. Thus the Blue Bioeconomy Pact has embraced the challenge of reindustrialising Portuguese industries with the integration of blue biotechnology solutions in the value chains, enhancing the sustainable use of marine bio-resources to inc...Pacto da Bioeconomia azul (BIOECOAZUL (Plásticos já existentes))
PartnerIndustry National
The world needs a new business model capable of economic growth decoupling raw materials from natural resources. Thus the Blue Bioeconomy Pact has embraced the challenge of reindustrialising Portuguese industries with the integration of blue biotechnology solutions in the value chains, enhancing the sustainable use of marine bio-resources to inc...Cell4Janus - Engineering self-propelled cellulose-based Janus microrobots (Cell4Janus)
CoordinatorFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
The goal of the Cell4Janus project is to develop, characterize, and assess the performance of a new generation of cellulose-based materials endowed with mobility. The novelty of this proposal lies in the microfluidics-assisted fabrication of multifunctional cellulose-derived microparticles through dissolution in green-oriented neoteric solvent s...Desenvolvimento de rolhas de cortiça produzidas por processos mais verdes e sustentáveis (GCORK)
PartnerIndustry National
"O Projeto GCORK tem por objetivo capacitar a Amorim Cork a ser a primeira empresa a lançar no mercado uma gama de rolhas de cortiça aglomerada com colas e tratamentos de superfície Bio, produzidas por processos mais verdes e mais sustentáveis. Este produto será extremamente inovador po...Engenharia de nanofibras de origem biológica para o desenvolvimento de biotintas nanoestruturadas de elevada performance para bio-impressão 3-D (NANOBIOINKS)
PartnerFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
European network of FURan based chemicals and materials FOR a Sustainable development (FUR4Sustain)
PartnerEuropean Comission
Modern society relies on a huge quantity of polymeric materials. However, today, these materials are still almost exclusively based on fossil-resources and evolution to a more sustainable model of development is required. In this perspective, biomass and, in particular carbohydrates from, for example, low value biomass wa...FLUI - Sistemas de extrusão duplo paralelo de ácido polilático com injeção modular de compostos bioativos para a produção de filmes flexíveis mono e multi-camada biofuncionais para embalagens de produtos alimentares a partir de resíduos lenho-celulós (FLUI)
Local CoordinatorIndustry National
Green chemicals and technologies for the wood-to-textile value chain. (GRETE)
PartnerEuropean Comission
The GRETE project will tackle the challenges caused by increased global demand for sustainable textile fibres by offering new breakthroughs in the wood-to-textile value chain. The substitution of cotton by man-made cellulose fibres is also necessary because of sustainability issues. Currently the raw material base for the production of man-made ...Publications
Nanocomposite hydrogel-based bioinks composed of a fucose-rich polysaccharide and nanocellulose fibers for 3D-bioprinting applications
N.S. Lameirinhas, J.P.F. Carvalho, M.C. Teixeira, J.L. Luís, A. Esmail, R.J.B. Pinto, H. Oliveira, F. Freitas, J.M. Oliveira, C. Vilela, A.J.D. Silvestre, C.S.R. Freire
2025, Bioprinting, 45.
Co-cultivation of Komagataeibacter sp. and Lacticaseibacillus sp. strains to produce bacterial nanocellulose-hyaluronic acid nanocomposite membranes for skin wound healing applications
M. Brugnoli M, J.P.F. Carvalho, M.P. Arena, C. Vilela, C.S. R. Freire, M. Gullo
2025, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 299.
All-cellulose hydrogel-based bioinks for the versatile 3D bioprinting of different cell lines
J.P.F. Carvalho, N.S. Lameirinhas, M.C. Teixeira, J.L. Luís, H. Oliveira, J.M. Oliveira, A.J.D. Silvestre, C. Vilela, C.S.R. Freire
2025, Biomacromolecules , 26.
Functionalization of a poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch film with olive leaf extract and its impact on postharvest green pepper quality
L. Verano-Naranjo, C. Cejudo-Bastante, L. Casas, C. Lasanta, C.S.R. Freire, C. Vilela, C. Mantell
2025, Journal of Food Engineering , 397.
Biofabrication of HepG2 cells-laden 3D structures using nanocellulose-reinforced gelatin-based hydrogel bioinks: materials characterization, cell viability assessment, and metabolomic analysis
N.S. Lameirinhas, M.C. Teixeira, J.P.F. Carvalho, B.F.A. Valente, J.L. Luís, I.F. Duarte, R.J.B. Pinto, H. Oliveira, J.M. Oliveira, A.J.D. Silvestre, C. Vilela, C.S.R. Freire
2025, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering , 11.
Carboxymethylcellulose-fucoidan dissolvable microneedle patches for minimally invasive melanoma treatment: demonstration on a 3D bioprinted A375 cell line model
A.C.Q. Silva, M.C. Teixeira, A. Jesus, P.C. Costa, I.F. Almeida, P. Dias-Pereira, I. Correia-Sá, H. Oliveira, A.J.D. Silvestre, C. Vilela, C.S.R. Freire
2025, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules , 319.
Xylan-chitosan based films with deep eutectic solvents for wound healing applications
J.M. Silva, J.P.F. Carvalho, M.C. Teixeira, W.M. Facchinatto, M.D. Braz, A. Almeida, H. Oliveira, C. Vilela, P.C. Branco, J. Martins, M.G. Freire, C.S.R. Freire, A.J.D. Silvestre
2025, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules , 320, 145482.
Single polysaccharide dissolvable microneedles for painless local anesthesia: fabrication, characterization and in vitro neuronal imaging
J.M.S.P. Leite, A.C.Q. Silva, A. Jesus, B.C Cruz, S.I. Vieira, P. Dias-Pereira, P.C. Costa, I.F. Almeida, I. Correia-Sá, A.J.D. Silvestre, B. Neves, C. Vilela, C.S.R. Freire
2025, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 11.
Functional biopolymeric materials for active food packaging: the case of monolayer films of thermoplastic starch and olive leaf extract
R. Sousa, J.M. Silva, L. Verano-Naranjo, C. Cejudo-Bastante, W.M. Facchinatto, A. Almeida, A.J.D. Silvestre, C.S.R. Freire, C. Vilela
2025, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology , 13, 1672740.
A sustainable approach to produce light-colored rosin and rosin esters during processing using natural antioxidants
N. Seixas, J. Serrano, S. Pinto, B. Araújo, B. Viola, C. Vilela, S.A.O. Santos, C.S.R. Freire, A.J.D. Silvestre
2025, Industrial Crops and Products , 238, 122345.
Advanced Nanocellulose-Based Materials: Production, Properties and Applications
C. Vilela; C.S.R. Freire
2022, MDPI.
ISBN:
978-3-0365-3190-8
Advanced Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites and Hybrid Materials
Armando J. D. Silvestre; Carmen S.R. Freire; Carla Vilela
2021, Basel, MDPI.
ISBN:
978-3-0365-0511-4
Polysaccharide Based Hybrid Materials, Metals and Metal Oxides, Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes
Carla Vilela, Ricardo J. B. Pinto, Susana Pinto, Paula Marques, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Carmen S. R. Freire
2018, Springer.
ISBN:
978-3-030-00347-0
Active packaging
In Galanakis, Charis (Eds.), Sustainable Food Processing and Engineering Challenges
Carvalho, João P.F.; Freire, Carmen S.R.; Vilela, Carla
2021, Academic Press.
ISBN:
9780128227145
Modification of textiles for functional applications
In Md. Ibrahim H. Mondal (Eds.), Fundamentals of Natural Fibres and Textiles
Ana C. Q. Silva, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Carmen S. R. Freire, Carla Vilela
2021, 303-365, Elsevier.
ISBN:
9780128214831
Development and applications of cellulose nanofibres based polymer nanocomposites
In Ehsan Bafekrpour (Eds.), Advanced Composite Materials: Properties and Applications
Carla Vilela, Ricardo J. B. Pinto, Ana R. P. Figueiredo, Carlos Pascoal Neto, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Carmen S. R. Freire
2017, 1-65, Warsaw/Berlin, De Gruyter Open.
ISBN:
9783110574432
Polyethylene Terephthalate: Copolyesters, Composites, and Renewable Alternatives
In P. M. Visakh Mong Liang (Eds.), Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Based Blends, Composites and Nanocomposites.
Andreia F. Sousa, Carla Vilela, Marina Matos, Carmen S.R. Freire, Armando J.D. Silvestre, Jorge F.J. Coelho
2015, 111-139, Elsevier Science Ltd.
ISBN:
9780323313063
2 Bacterial Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Roadmap for Innovative Materials
Nanocellulose Polymer Nanocomposites: Fundamentals and Applications
A. R. P. Figueiredo, C. Vilela, C. Pascoal Neto, A.J.D. Silvestre and C.S.R. Freire
2014, Scrivener, Willey.
ISBN:
978-1-118-87190-4
Advanced Nanocellulose-Based Materials: Production, Properties and Applications
C. Vilela; C.S.R. Freire
2022, MDPI.
ISBN:
978-3-0365-3190-8
Advanced Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites and Hybrid Materials
Armando J. D. Silvestre; Carmen S.R. Freire; Carla Vilela
2021, Basel, MDPI.
ISBN:
978-3-0365-0511-4
Polysaccharide Based Hybrid Materials, Metals and Metal Oxides, Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes
Carla Vilela, Ricardo J. B. Pinto, Susana Pinto, Paula Marques, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Carmen S. R. Freire
2018, Springer.
ISBN:
978-3-030-00347-0
Novel multilayered nanostructured drug delivery systems obtained by layer-by-layer assembly of cellulose nanocrystals
Maia. M, Vilela. C, Pinto. R, Valente. B, Carvalho. T, Freire. C
2018.
Biosorbent films based on nanocellulose and lysozyme nanofibers for efficient removal of mercury (II) from natural waters
Silva, N; Figueira, P; Vilela, C; Pinto, R; Marrucho, I; Periera, M; Freire, C
2018, ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 255.
Cellulose nanofibrils modified with latex nanoparticles as reinforcement for biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)-based composites
C. Vilela, J. Engström, B.F.A. Valente, M. Jawerth, A. Carlmark, C.S.R. Freire
.