Project “Development of controlled delivery functional systems by microencapsulation of natural and active compounds with therapeutic, nutritional and technological interest” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028715). Main duties include:- Development and physico-chemical characterisation of polymeric structures for food and nutraceutical applications as biomolecules carriers.

Researcher responsible for the investigation of the efficacy of functionalized AuNPs/biomolecules against pancreatic, colon and non-small-lung carcinoma cells. Main responsibilities include:- Development and characterization of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems;- In vitro evaluation of nanosystems action in human cell lines.Team member in an EU project "Nanoparticle-Enhanced molecular Fluorescence-Endoscopy for detection of early-stage colorectal adenocarcinomas" which was co-financed by Portuguese Cancer League. Main objectives include:- Development of fluorescent AuNPs for detection of early-stage colorectal adenocarcinoma;- Physico-chemical characterisation of the nanosystems.Work in collaboration with European partners such as Medical University Innsbruck, SINTEF, University Clinic Erlangen and CESAR.

Project "Biomolecules delivery by functionalized inorganic/organic nanoparticles" (PTDC/QUI/BIQ/115449/2009)Main objectives include:- Development of functionalized gold and gold-polysaccharide (chitosan-gum Arabic) nanoparticles in order to: enhance the drug therapeutic efficacy in cells leading to effective combination therapies against cancer and low toxicity; deliver the anticancer drugs to specific sites and understand the internalization mechanism of the particles by cancer cells.Main responsibilities are:- Preparation and characterization of the nanosystems;- Evaluation of systems toxicity in prostate and pancreatic cells.Work in collaboration with Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales (Spain); i3S (Portugal); and Oslo University Hospital (Norway) for 6 months through YGGDRASIL mobility programme.