Email: bertafe.up.pt

Phone: +351 22 508 2262

Room: E221

Laboratory: E204B

Assistant Researcher

Research group: Supramolecular Assemblies

Background: PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering – Faculty of Engineering of Porto, Portugal

Berta Estevinho

Major research topics

• Microencapsulation of active and natural compounds such as: vitamins, enzymes, cells, flavours, polyphenols, essential oils, and natural antioxidants
• Microencapsulation by a spray drying process
• Controlled release studies
• Use of biopolymers as encapsulating agents
• Characterization of microparticles
• Development of controlled delivery functional systems of active and natural compounds with therapeutic, nutritional and technological interest

Selected Publications

Gonçalves, A., Rocha, F., Estevinho, B. N. “Co-encapsulation of retinoic acid, curcumin and resveratrol by spray-drying of alginic acid sodium-based emulsions and ethyl cellulose-based solutions: Impact on the co-delivery profiles”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, (2023) 224, 1217–1227.

Gonçalves, A. Estevinho, B.N., Rocha, F. “Spray-drying of oil-in-water emulsions for encapsulation of retinoic acid: Polysaccharide- and protein-based microparticles characterization and controlled release studies”, Food Hydrocolloids, (2022), 124, 107193.

Coelho, S.C.,  Laget, S., Benaut, P., Rocha, F., Estevinho, B. N.  “A new approach to the production of zein microstructures with vitamin B12, by electrospinning and spray drying techniques”, Powder Technology, (2021), 392, 47–57.

Estevinho, B. N., Horciu, I.-L.,  Blaga, A.-C., Rocha, F., “Development of Controlled Delivery Functional Systems by Microencapsulation of Different Extracts of Plants: Hypericum perforatum L., Salvia officinalis L. and Syzygium aromaticum”, Food and Bioprocess Technology, 14(8), 1503–1517, 2021.

Estevinho, B.N., Samaniego,N., Talens-Perales, D., Fabra, M.J. ,  López-Rubio, A., Polaina, J., Marín-Navarro, J., “Development of enzymatically-active bacterial cellulose membranes through stable immobilization of an engineered β-galactosidase”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, (2018), 115, 476-482.

Selected Projects

"Sustainable practices for Soil health & horticultural products quality improvement in the Entre Douro e Minho Region (S4Hort_Soil&Food)" (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000074), funded by CCRN - Comissão de Coordenação da Região Norte, Beginning 2021. Duration 24 months. Role: Researcher.

"Development of controlled delivery functional systems by microencapsulation of natural and active compounds with therapeutic, nutritional and technological interest – Microdelivery" (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028715), funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Role: Principal researcher. Beginning 2018. Duration 36 months.

"Characterization and application of the novel molinate hydrolase (MolA) in bioremediation processes" (PTDC/AAG-TEC/3909/2012), funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Role: Researcher - 30%. Beginning 2013. Duration: 24 months.