João Carlos Silva

PhD student (Bioengineering – Cell Therapies and Regenerative Medicine)


Research Activities

 

My research work is focused in the development of a new platform comprising 3D hierarchical scaffolds, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) and bioreactor prototypes for the production of native-like articular cartilage. This project will employ the use of different biomanufacturing techniques such as extrusion, hydrogel synthesis and electrospinning to produce scaffolds able to mimic the complex stratified architecture of articular cartilage with different mechanical properties, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and cell organization according with tissue location. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) known to have a role in the chondrogenic process will be studied and further incorporated within the scaffold structure. In addition, bioreactor prototypes able to provide different biophysical stimuli such as mechanical compressive loading and shear stress to promote chondrogenesis will be developed. We believe that our integrated strategy will play an important role in defining the optimal conditions for articular cartilage tissue engineering strategies.

 

Selected Publications

Silva, J.C., Moura, C.S., Cabral, J.M.S., Linhardt, R.J., Ferreira, F.C., “Integrated approach combining mesenchymal stem cells, hierarchical scaffolds and bioreactors for articular cartilage repair”, 5th Advanced Course on Regenerative Medicine, Marinha Grande – Portugal| November 2015 (Oral Communication).

Aroso, I.M., Silva, J.C., Mano, F., Sá-Nogueira, I., Barreiros, S., Reis, R.L., Paiva, A., Duarte, A.R.C., “Dissolution enhancement of active pharmaceutical ingredients by therapeutic deep eutectic systems”, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 98, pp 57-66 (2016).

Silva, J.C., Aroso, I.M., Mano, F., Sá-Nogueira, I., Barreiros, S., Reis, R.L., Paiva, A., Duarte, A.R.C., “Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvents as Solubility Enhancers for Different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients”, 4th TERMIS World Congress, Boston, MA – USA| September 2015 (Poster Communication).

Silva, J.C., Barros, A.A., Aroso, I.M., Silva, T.H., Mano, J.F., Duarte, A.R.C., Reis, R.L., “Collagen/Gelatin extraction from marine sponges – a green technology approach”, Term Stem 2014 Conference, Porto – Portugal| October 2014 (Oral Communication).

 

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