Diana P. Ferreira

University of Minho · Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Têxtil (2C2T)

Immobilization of peptides onto nanofiber dress-ings holds significant potential for chronic wound treatment. However, it is necessary to understand the adsorptive capacity of the produced substrates and the binding affinity of the peptides to determine the interface success. This study aims at exploring for the first time the influence of electros...

Global textile consumption has increased significantly in the last decades and, consequently, millions of tons of textile waste have been discarded every year. Landfills and incinerators are their main fates, causing several and significant environmental problems. Cotton, second to polyester, is the most widely used fibre in the textile industry. T...

Natural fibres have garnered substantial attention because of their eco-friendly attributes and versatility, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic ones. This review surveys plant fibres, including flax, hemp, jute, banana, and pineapple, emphasizing their diverse properties and applications in nonwoven materials. This research also examin...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been considered a promising treatment for several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. Localized drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanofibers produced by electrospinning have emerged as a powerful platform to carry and deliver photosensitizers (PSs) onto or adjacent to the tumor site, thereby promoting high...

A simple method for obtaining triplet-triplet absorption (TTA) spectra and triplet state (T1) lifetimes of long-lived triplets is presented and demonstrated with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon coronene (both normal and perdeuterated forms) in a polymer matrix at room temperature. The TTA spectra obtained with a camera flash and a spectropho...

Understanding peptide adsorption kinetics onto biomaterial surfaces is crucial for developing wound treatments. This study aims to explore the influence of cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on peptide adsorption via quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), using a cyclic peptide, Tiger 17, and a linear,...

Cellulose has been intensively investigated for biomedical applications, because of its excellent properties, like biodegradability, biocompatibility, abundant availability of renewable resources and cost-effectiveness. Among all sources of cellulose, marine macroalgae or seaweeds, are acquiring tremendous attention, due to their high availability...

Water security and industrial wastewater treatment are significant global concerns. One of the main issues with environmental contamination has been the discharge of dye wastewater from the textile and dye industries, contributing to an ever-growing problem with water pollution, poisoning water supplies, and harming the ecosystem. The traditional a...

Each year, millions of tons of clothing are both produced and discarded, exerting a substantial impact on the environment and public health. Even when textile waste is disposed of in landfills, it persistently adds to pollution in the air, water, and soil. This review explores the diverse implications of textile waste, examining circular economy pr...

Pineapple leaves can provide competitive and high-quality fibers for textile purposes. Despite pineapple being cultivated in the Portugues islands there is still a technology gap for the extraction and treatment of Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PALF) in Europe. Since Azorean Pineapple differs significantly from other plants in the bromeliad family, the pr...

Cancer remains one of the most challenging health problems worldwide, and localized therapeutic approaches based on micro/nanofibers have shown potential for its treatment. Micro/nanofibers offer several advantages as a drug delivery system, such as high surface area, tunable pore size, and sustained release properties, which can improve drug effic...

Tendon and ligament traumatic injuries are among the most common diagnosed musculoskeletal problems. Such injuries limit joint mobility, reduce musculoskeletal performance, and most importantly, lower people’s comfort. Currently, there are various treatments that are used to treat this type of injury, from surgical to conservative treatments. Howev...

Core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) based on metal oxides, namely magnesium oxide (MgO) and silica (SiO2), are a fantastic alternative for natural fib- ers’ functionalization. In this work, flax fibers were functionalized with MgO and MgO–SiO 2 core–shell NPs to achieve multifunctionality. The flax fabrics were functionalized with both NPs by a simple i...

Infection is a major issue in chronic wound care. Different dressings have been developed to prevent microbial propagation, but an effective, all-in-one (cytocompatible, antimicrobial and promoter of healing) solution is still to be uncovered. In this research, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous mats reinforced with cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), at...

In this study, lignocellulosic fibers from Agave salmiana –an important socio-economical species endemic to Mexico– were used to reinforce thermoplastic maize starch (TPS). Fibers from young raw leaves (YRL) and old roasted leaves (ORL) were obtained according to the traditional methods used by small producers. The formulations of biocomposites wer...

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising approach for the treatment of a broad range of diseases, including oncological and infectious diseases. This minimally invasive and localized therapy is based on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) able to destroy cancer cells and inactivate pathogens by combining the use of ph...

Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for disposable facemasks has become a global issue. Unfortunately, the use of these products has negative effects on the environment, and therefore, the use of biodegradable materials is a powerful strategy to overcome this challenge. Aligned with this concept, in this work, biodegradable f...

In recent years, an unprecedented increase in the development of products and technologies to protect the human being has been observed. Now, more than ever, the world population is exposed to several threats, harmful to their well-being and health. Chemical and biological hazardous agents stand out as one of the biggest threats, not only for the m...

This book compiles papers submitted under the scope of AuxDefense 2020 — 2nd World Conference on Advanced Materials for Defense [Online Edition]. This conference was focused on the latest scientific and technical novelties in advanced materials and technologies for Defense and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection.

In this work, natural-based and biodegradable nanofibers were produced by electrospinning for drug delivery and wound dressing applications, using gelatin (Gel), chitosan (CS), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and natural propolis extract. The polymeric formulations and electrospinning parameters were optimized, resulting in the development of Gel/CS n...

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of chitosan/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) films to be used as active pads for meat packages to prolong its shelf-life and preserve its properties over time. Several CNC concentrations (5, 10, 25, and 50 wt%) were tested and the films were produced by solvent casting. The developed samples were characterized...

Over the years, the development of adaptable monitoring systems to be integrated into soldiers’ body gear, making them as comfortable and lightweight as possible (avoiding the use of rigid electronics), has become essential. Electrospun microfibers are a great material for this application due to their excellent properties, especially their flexibi...

Fibrous based materials with exceptional functionalities have become a target of interest for researchers worldwide. One promising strategy for the development of active fibrous structures with improved functions is their functionalization with nanoparticles (NPs). In this work, jute fabrics were functionalized with calcium oxide (CaO) and silica (...

From the beginning of the 21st century, the fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) market is growing by 25% per year, where most of the components are applied in the transportation sector followed by civil engineering, totaling up to 76% of the global market of FRPC between 2004 and 2006. All the predictions point out that FRPC will experience...

The combination of biodegradable fibers at nanoscale with plant-based extracts is attracting increasing attention to produce wound dressing systems. In this work, nanofibers based on chitosan (CS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and acacia plant-based extract were developed by electrospinning. Firstly, the polymeric formul...

Graphene and its derivatives have shown outstanding potential in many fields and textile/composites industry are not an exception. Giving their extraordinary properties, Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) are excellent candidates for providing new functionalities to fibers and composites. In this work, natural fabrics (flax) were functionalized with chi...

This document intends to be a contribution to the harmonization of the information available in relation to protective gowns and aprons, addressing aspects such as types of protection required according to the risk agents, materials and processes involved in their preparation and the standardization applied to validation/certification of its perfor...

This document intends to be a contribution to the harmonization of the information available in relation to respiratory protection systems (masks) gowns and aprons, addressing aspects such as types of protection. required according to the risk agents, materials and processes involved in their preparation and the standardization applied to validatio...

Photodynamic therapy is an innovative treatment approach broadly directed towards oncological diseases. Its applicability and efficiency are closely related to the interaction of three main components, namely a photosensitizer, light and molecular triplet oxygen, which should drive cell death. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that squara...

A thermoplastic starch (TPS) was produced, starting with potato starch, glycerol and acetic acid, to shape it in films of thickness around 100 microns. To TPS iron waste filing particles, in the amount of 12% the weight of starch, were introduced in different modalities: as received, reduced in size by the use of a mortar, after treatment with hydr...

Photodynamic therapy is a promising noninvasive approach for the treatment of oncological and nononcological diseases which has attempted to address the shortcomings and disadvantages of conventional cancer therapies. Given the scarcity of photosensitizers that exhibit desirable characteristics for its potential application in this therapeutic stra...

Photodynamic therapy is a medical modality developed for the treatment of several diseases of oncological and non-oncological etiology that requires the presence of a photosensitizer, light and molecular oxygen, which combined will trigger physicochemical reactions responsible for reactive oxygen species production. Given the scarcity of photosensi...

The search to replace conventional cancer treatment therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery has led over the last ten years, to a substantial effort in the development of several classes of photodynamic therapy photosensitizers with desired photophysicochemical and photobiological properties. Herein we report the synthesis of 6-io...

Since the beginning of the 20th century sportswear has a major contribution to the impact of fashion on our lives. Nowadays, the embracing of sportswear fashion/ looks is undoubtedly noticeable, as the modern consumer searches for high comfort and linear aesthetics for its clothes. This compromise lead to the arise of the athleisure trend. Athleisu...

In the present work, 100% cotton knitted fabrics were functionalized with ZnO nanoparticles, in order to enhance the hydrophobic properties of the fibers surface. The incorporation methods of ZnO NPs and different types of cotton samples (including polymer coated, and uncoated with and without a nonionic pretreatment) were evaluated, in order to un...

Multifunctional fibrous systems were developed within this research work, giving special importance to the electrical conductivity and antibacterial activity. The functionalization of several natural fibres (jute, sisal, coir, flax and cotton) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was successfully achieved using a sustainable and eco-friendly method,...

he aim of this research was to develop fibrous structures using flax, functionalized with calcium oxide nanoparticles, with degradation properties and antibacterial activity. Flax samples were successfully functionalized with CaO nanoparticles (CaO NPs) and characterized by ATR-FTIR, FESEM, EDX and TGA techniques. ATR-FTIR and FESEM results clearly...

Unsymmetrical porphyrins were rationally-designed and synthesized to investigate the relation between their structure, properties and adsorption geometries, and their relative performance as dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Photophysics, electrochemical and TiO2 anchoring properties of the new unsymmetrical N-glycolic acid amino phenyl porphyrin...

In this research, composites based on thermoplastic olefin (TPO) elastomers reinforced with natural fibers were developed, having had very interesting results, aiming toward an application in the automotive industry, for manufacturing car interior components. For the first time, sisal and coir fibers were used as reinforcement of TPO composites. Th...

Due to the increased concern about environmental sustainability, the use of biobased composites in automotive, construction, packaging and medical applications is in full growth. In order to improve the overall properties of these green composites, the addition of carbon-based materials as reinforcement is attracting attention. The use of graphene...

Cellulosic fibre-based smart materials exhibiting multiple capabilities are getting tremendous attention due to their wide application areas. In this work, multifunctional flax fabrics with piezoresistive response were developed through the combined functionalization with silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Biodegradable polyethyl...

Over the past few years, fibrous materials have found widespread applications in different technological areas including the automotive industry due to their versatile properties. Natural fibers, in particular, are cheap, abundant, biocompatible, and biodegradable, which has motivated many researchers worldwide to explore their potential applicatio...

This paper provides new insights regarding jute fibers functionalization with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with improved conductivity values and highlights the sustainability of the processes involved. These NPs were applied onto jute fabrics by two different sustainable methods: ultraviolet (UV) photoreduction and by using polyethylene glycol (PE...

Several new dyes derivatives of the “rhodamine-like” 6-(N,N-diethylamino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxanthylium heterocyclic system displaying absorption within the near-infrared were synthesized. The photochemical behaviour of these molecules was evaluated in dichloromethane, regarding their ground state absorption properties, fluorescence emission quantum...

Mesoporous silica, SBA-15, decorated with different amounts of TiO2 (anatase) were prepared by a sol-gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment and calcination, in the presence of a soft template, copolymer Pluronic 123. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the SiO2 precursor and commercially available TiO2 anatase nanoparticles as the su...

It was demonstrated that the galvanostatic polarization of graphite electrodes in a two separated compartments cell generates simultaneously and straightforwardly, without further separation and functionalization, two distinct sets of hydrophilic carbon nanomaterials (EHC - Electrogenerated Hydrophilic Carbon), in anodic and cathodic compartments,...

New unsymmetrical aminosquarylium cyanine dyes were synthesized and their potential as photosensitizers evaluated. New dyes, derived from benzothiazole and quinoline, were prepared by nucleophilic substitution of the corresponding O-methylated, the key intermediate that was obtained by methylation with CF3SO3CH3 of the related zwitterionic unsymmet...

One-dimensional (1D) titanate based nanomaterials were synthesized following an alkaline hydrothermal approach of commercial TiO2 nanopowder. The morphological features of all materials were monitored by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and also Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique. In addition...

Hybrid chitosan-TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by means of in situ generation of TiO2 through a non-hydrolytic sol–gel process, using tetrabutyl titanate, as a precursor, tert-butanol as solvent, and chitosan as a template. TiO2 nanoparticles in the anatase and amorphous forms, with sizes ranging from 5 to 15 nm were generated according to the h...

Nanocomposites TiO 2 -CdS with different relative contents of CdS (molar ratios Cd/Ti = 0.02, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5) were studied. The structural, photophysical, and chemical properties were investigated using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, GSDR, and LIL. XRD and Raman results confirmed the presence of TiO 2 and CdS with intensities dependen...

The oldest kilns producing tin glaze wares discovered in the region of Lisbon were located in the south shore of Tagus river at Santo António da Charneca (SAC) and Mata da Machada (MM). Firing this type of pottery from the fourth quarter of the 15th century to mid-16th century, they were located about 20 km away from central Lisbon. Many other exam...

Sherds representative of the three Portuguese faience production centres of the 17th century – Lisbon, Coimbra and Vila Nova were studied with the use of mostly non-invasive spectroscopies, namely: Ground State Diffuse Reflectance Absorption (GSDR), micro-Raman, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and Proton Induced X-Ray (PIXE) or X-Ray Fluorescenc...

The first archaeological evidence reported for tile production in Portugal was discovered in Santo António da Charneca (SAC), late 15th or early 16th centuries' pottery kiln, south riverside of Tagus River. Samples from this kiln were studied with the use of non-invasive spectroscopies, namely, μ-Raman, ground-state diffuse reflectance absorption,...

Li-, N-doped and codoped TiO2 powders and thin films, deposited on glass substrate using dip-coating method and Ti(OBu)(4) as precursor, were prepared and their structural properties were investigated using grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD), Raman spectroscopy, time resolved luminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ground state di...

TiO2 nanoparticles, doped or co-doped with bismuth and/or yttrium (Bi/Y), were obtained by a sol–gel approach. GXRD and Raman revealed that TiO2 is under the form of anatase and that the introduction of the doping elements decreases its crystallinity. XPS studies confirmed, directly, the presence of dopant-OTi bonds, at least for the Y case. Ground...

The present study investigates the photochemical properties of potential photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, namely four commercial heptamethinecyanine dyes (IR125, IR780, IR813, IR820). Spectroscopic studies were made by means of laser induced fluorescence and laser flash photolysis in order to obtain fluorescence quantum yields and transie...

This study presents several new squarylium dyes derived from benzothiazole and benzoselenazole with several structural variations, namely the nature of the heteroaromatic ring and the length of the N,N'-dialkyl groups. Before being investigated in connection with their effect on living cells and/or tissues, these novel compounds were characterized,...