Ana Stüve Email & Phone Number

Porto, Pt

Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal

For my Master's thesis at the Institute of Science and Technology (I3S), I focused on creating a novel hydrogel coating to enhance the biocompatibility of neural electrodes used in long-term implants. The core of my research involved:🧪 Hydrogel Development: Engineering a hydrogel specifically designed to interface smoothly with neural tissue, minimizing adverse reactions and improving device integration.🧪 Comprehensive Analysis: Conducting thorough physical and chemical… Show more For my Master's thesis at the Institute of Science and Technology (I3S), I focused on creating a novel hydrogel coating to enhance the biocompatibility of neural electrodes used in long-term implants. The core of my research involved:🧪 Hydrogel Development: Engineering a hydrogel specifically designed to interface smoothly with neural tissue, minimizing adverse reactions and improving device integration.🧪 Comprehensive Analysis: Conducting thorough physical and chemical evaluations of the hydrogel, including its structure and interactions with biological systems. Techniques utilized included atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).🧪 Biocompatibility Testing: Assessing the hydrogel's biological performance through cell culture experiments with primary cortical neurons from mice, ensuring the material's suitability for its intended medical application.🧪 Professional Skills: Throughout this project, I applied my creativity and organizational skills, managed my time effectively, collaborated with a team, conducted extensive literature reviews, and developed my scientific writing.This project not only advanced my technical expertise in biomaterials but also reinforced my ability to manage complex projects and work collaboratively towards innovative solutions. Show less

Porto, Portugal

Promote academic, recreational and personal development activities and events for bioengineering students. Helped to create the graphic content and promotion of X, XI, and XII Symposium on Bioengineering.

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

I had the privilege of interning at the MERLN Institute through the ERASMUS+ program, where I contributed to an innovative project focused on developing mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based films for the study of ligand crosstalk. Key aspects of my role included:🧪 Project Focus: Conduct the development and characterization of RGD-conjugated films to advance our understanding of ligand interactions.🧪 Innovation in Delivery: Pioneering the incorporation of soluble factors into the… Show more I had the privilege of interning at the MERLN Institute through the ERASMUS+ program, where I contributed to an innovative project focused on developing mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based films for the study of ligand crosstalk. Key aspects of my role included:🧪 Project Focus: Conduct the development and characterization of RGD-conjugated films to advance our understanding of ligand interactions.🧪 Innovation in Delivery: Pioneering the incorporation of soluble factors into the films and meticulously analyzing their release profiles to optimize delivery mechanisms.🧪 Skill Enhancement: Acquiring specialized skills in material synthesis and characterization, mastering techniques such as dynamic light scattering, spin coating, fluorometry, and the use of a plasma cleaner.🧪 Collaborative Excellence: Demonstrating strong teamwork capabilities, meticulous laboratory practices, and a keen analytical approach to interpreting results. I also honed my skills in documentation and effectively communicated complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Show less