Maria Helena Amaral
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View article: Development of biomimetic human nails using electrospun keratin nanofibers and nanostructured lipid layers
Development of biomimetic human nails using electrospun keratin nanofibers and nanostructured lipid layers Open
Introduction: Nail infections, particularly onychomycosis, affect approximately 5.5% of the global population, significantly impacting quality of life. Beyond aesthetic concerns, these conditions cause discomfort, functional impairment, an…
View article: Promising Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Melanoma Treatment
Promising Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Melanoma Treatment Open
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer with high lethality and increasing incidence. Current treatments typically involve surgery as the first step, followed by adjuvant treatments, which are necessary in most cases. These adjuvant treatments m…
View article: Comparação de diferentes técnicas de obturação de canais endodônticos validados por microscopia eletrônica
Comparação de diferentes técnicas de obturação de canais endodônticos validados por microscopia eletrônica Open
Objetivo: Avaliar presença de espaço entre material obturador e parede do canal (gaps) e espaços vazios dentro do material obturador (voids) após obturação dos canais com cimento Bio C- sealer e as técnicas híbrida de Tagger (THT) e de ond…
View article: Valorization of Strawberry Tree Berries and Beeswax from Montesinho Natural Park for Cosmetic Industry—A Case Study Formulation
Valorization of Strawberry Tree Berries and Beeswax from Montesinho Natural Park for Cosmetic Industry—A Case Study Formulation Open
Consumers are increasingly concerned about cosmetic ingredients’ origin, looking more than ever to sustainable and greener formulations. The Natural Park of Montesinho, located in Portugal, is characterized by an enormous fauna and flora d…
View article: Rheological and Injectability Evaluation of Sterilized Poloxamer-407-Based Hydrogels Containing Docetaxel-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles
Rheological and Injectability Evaluation of Sterilized Poloxamer-407-Based Hydrogels Containing Docetaxel-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles Open
Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have the potential to increase the bioavailability and reduce the side effects of docetaxel (DTX). However, only a small fraction of nanoparticles given intravenously can reach a solid tumor. In situ-fo…
View article: Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Tumor-Targeted Antibody-Functionalized Nanoparticles
Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Tumor-Targeted Antibody-Functionalized Nanoparticles Open
The specific interaction between cell surface receptors and corresponding antibodies has driven opportunities for developing targeted cancer therapies using nanoparticle systems. It is challenging to design and develop such targeted nanome…
View article: Treatment Advances for Acne Vulgaris: The Scientific Role of Cannabinoids
Treatment Advances for Acne Vulgaris: The Scientific Role of Cannabinoids Open
Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological disorder that impacts the quality of life for millions of people around the world. The multifactorial nature of this disorder requires innovative and effective treatment strategies. Over time, th…
View article: Treatment Advances for Acne Vulgaris: The Scientific Role of Cannabinoids
Treatment Advances for Acne Vulgaris: The Scientific Role of Cannabinoids Open
Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological disorder that impacts the quality of life for millions of people around the world. The multifactorial nature of this disorder requires innovative and effective treatment strategies. Over time, th…
View article: Probable bickerstaff encephalitis due to dengue fever: a case report
Probable bickerstaff encephalitis due to dengue fever: a case report Open
Case presentation: Woman, 64 years old, hypertensive and diabetic, is admitted to a tertiary hospital due to reduced level of consciousness and ophthalmoplegia. Two days before admission, she started with asthenia, nausea, vomiting and fev…
View article: Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Protein Delivery
Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Protein Delivery Open
Proteins and peptides are potential therapeutic agents, but their physiochemical properties make their use as drug substances challenging. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymeric networks that can swell and retain high amounts of water or biol…
View article: Injectable Poloxamer Hydrogels for Local Cancer Therapy
Injectable Poloxamer Hydrogels for Local Cancer Therapy Open
The widespread push to invest in local cancer therapies comes from the need to overcome the limitations of systemic treatment options. In contrast to intravenous administration, local treatments using intratumoral or peritumoral injections…
View article: Acne Vulgaris Topical Therapies: Application of Probiotics as a New Prevention Strategy
Acne Vulgaris Topical Therapies: Application of Probiotics as a New Prevention Strategy Open
The skin microbiome is an essential barrier for preventing the invasion of pathogens and regulating the immune responses. When this barrier is disrupted, several dermatoses, including acne vulgaris, may arise. Most people will experience a…
View article: Effects of Steam Sterilization on the Properties of Stimuli-Responsive Polymer-Based Hydrogels
Effects of Steam Sterilization on the Properties of Stimuli-Responsive Polymer-Based Hydrogels Open
Hydrogels based on stimuli-responsive polymers can change their characteristics in response to small variations in environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, and ionic strength, among others. In the case of some routes of administr…
View article: Chemical and Rheological Characterization of a Facial Mask Containing an Olive Pomace Fraction
Chemical and Rheological Characterization of a Facial Mask Containing an Olive Pomace Fraction Open
Cosmetic interest in agro-industrial byproducts is growing. In fact, many studies have shown that these residues present bioactive compounds with several skincare applications. One example is olive byproducts, such as olive pomace, which h…
View article: Thermo‐Responsive Microemulsions Containing Deep Eutectic‐Based Antibiotic Formulations for Improved Treatment of Resistant Bacterial Ocular Infections
Thermo‐Responsive Microemulsions Containing Deep Eutectic‐Based Antibiotic Formulations for Improved Treatment of Resistant Bacterial Ocular Infections Open
The rise of antibiotic resistant strains, as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), challenges the current treatment of infections. In the case of ocular infections, antibiotic eye drops are commonly prescribed. However, their…
View article: Contaminant Cocktails of High Concern in Honey: Challenges, QuEChERS Extraction and Levels
Contaminant Cocktails of High Concern in Honey: Challenges, QuEChERS Extraction and Levels Open
Environmental pollution is a crucial problem in our society, having nowadays a better understanding of its consequences, which include the increase of contaminant cocktails present in the environment. The contamination of honeybees can occ…
View article: Lipid Nanoparticles Functionalized with Antibodies for Anticancer Drug Therapy
Lipid Nanoparticles Functionalized with Antibodies for Anticancer Drug Therapy Open
Nanotechnology takes the lead in providing new therapeutic options for cancer patients. In the last decades, lipid-based nanoparticles—solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), liposomes, and lipid–polymer hyb…
View article: Narrativas imersivas em meio digital: a websérie “Se eu estivesse aí”
Narrativas imersivas em meio digital: a websérie “Se eu estivesse aí” Open
A websérie “Se eu estivesse aí” chama atenção pela promessa de ser “imersiva em 1ª pessoa e áudio 3D”. Ainda há o uso do Instagram, o que não é usual neste tipo de produção. O contexto da pandemia de Covid-19, tema e também reflexo da cons…
View article: Surface-modified lipid nanocarriers for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB): A current overview of active targeting in brain diseases
Surface-modified lipid nanocarriers for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB): A current overview of active targeting in brain diseases Open
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the access of therapeutic agents to the brain, complicating the treatment of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), glioma, etc. T…
View article: Benefits of skin application of piceatannol—A minireview
Benefits of skin application of piceatannol—A minireview Open
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and has several functions such as barrier against external agents, the maintenance of temperature and homeostatic functions. Skin ageing is a natural process that can be influenced by environ…
View article: Formulation, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Lactoferrin Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Riluzole Delivery to the Brain
Formulation, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Lactoferrin Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Riluzole Delivery to the Brain Open
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a very poor prognosis. Its treatment is hindered by a lack of new therapeutic alternatives and the existence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which restricts the acce…
View article: Use of solid dispersions to increase stability of dithranol in topical formulations
Use of solid dispersions to increase stability of dithranol in topical formulations Open
The present study was planned to improve the stability of dithranol using solid dispersions (SD). Two different SD at a 1:9 ratio of dithranol/excipient were prepared: one of them using glyceryl behenate as excipient and the other using a …
View article: Characterization and stability studies of emulsion systems containing pumice
Characterization and stability studies of emulsion systems containing pumice Open
Emulsions are the most common form of skin care products. However, these systems may exhibit some instability. Therefore, when developing emulsions for topical application it is interesting to verify whether they have suitable physical and…
View article: Semisolid formulations based on solid-in-oil-in-water systems containing proteins
Semisolid formulations based on solid-in-oil-in-water systems containing proteins Open
In recent years, improvements have been made, through biotechnological processes, in the production and development of peptides capable of increasing collagen and elastin synthesis for anti-aging skin care. However, proteins have many limi…
View article: Semisolid formulations based on solid-in-oil-in-water systems containing proteins
Semisolid formulations based on solid-in-oil-in-water systems containing proteins Open
In recent years, improvements have been made, through biotechnological processes, in the production and development of peptides capable of increasing collagen and elastin synthesis for anti-aging skin care. However, proteins have many limi…
View article: Recent Developments in Microfluidic Technologies for Central Nervous System Targeted Studies
Recent Developments in Microfluidic Technologies for Central Nervous System Targeted Studies Open
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) bear a lot of weight in public health. By studying the properties of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its fundamental interactions with the central nervous system (CNS), it is possible to improve the under…
View article: Biotechnology Applied to Cosmetics and Aesthetic Medicines
Biotechnology Applied to Cosmetics and Aesthetic Medicines Open
Biotechnology uses microorganisms and/or enzymes to obtain specific products through fermentative processes and/or genetic engineering techniques. Examples of these products are active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, kojic acid, resv…
View article: Identification and Quantification of Stilbenes (Piceatannol and Resveratrol) in Passiflora edulis By-Products
Identification and Quantification of Stilbenes (Piceatannol and Resveratrol) in Passiflora edulis By-Products Open
Recently, studies on the by-products from the food industry, such as passion fruit seeds, have significantly increased, as these can have an added value, due to their properties, such as potential antioxidant activity. This study was condu…
View article: Current insights on lipid nanocarrier-assisted drug delivery in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Current insights on lipid nanocarrier-assisted drug delivery in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases Open
The central nervous system (CNS) is vulnerable to pathologic processes that lead to the development of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, Multiple sclerosis or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis…
View article: Evaluation of stilbenes content in <em>Passiflora edulis</em> by-products of the food industry
Evaluation of stilbenes content in <em>Passiflora edulis</em> by-products of the food industry Open
It has been reported that the antioxidant activity of the passion fruit seeds oil is comparable to that of ascorbic acid, due to a high content of polyphenols such as stilbenes. The aim of this study was to use the residues from the Madeir…