Biocomposites Group

Biocomposites group exists since 2006. Presently (2020) it includes 7 PhD’s, 3 PhD students, and undergraduate students. The main objectives of our research group are tissue regeneration and strategies to fight bacterial infections and we have increasingly focused on the use of biomaterials and devices for cancer research. Several biomaterials to promote bone and skin regeneration have been developed, often in the presence of immunomodulators, and using in vitro characterization of different cell types (osteoblasts, fibroblasts, osteoclasts, MSCs, endothelial cells, cancer cells). As an alternative to antibiotic approaches, we have been studying biomaterials loaded with antimicrobial agents (metal oxides and bacteriophages) in an effort to reduce antibiotic resistance. We use several in vivo models adjusted to each particular study. We also have a growing interest in associating biomaterials and devices to cancer theranostics, to localize and adhere to cancer cells, apply hyperthermic treatment and/or locally release chemotherapeutic agents, and apply microfluidic-assisted strategies to improve the current approaches for liquid biopsies. We keep close collaborations with groups in Portugal, both academic and industrial, and also with groups from Spain, France, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Holland, Italy, Germany, and we are constantly seeking collaborations with other research groups and with industry. We mostly focus on approaches, especially medical device prototypes, that might have the potential to reach the market and have an impact on helping patients to improve their quality of life, consequently we try to have strong cooperation with industrial partners and with clinicians.