Maria João Ramalho

Junior Researcher

Research group: Supramolecular Assemblies

Background: PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of Porto, Portugal

Major research topics

• Development and characterization of nanomaterials for the diagnosis and therapeutics applications
• Engineered nanoparticles to fight drug resistance on glioblastoma multiforme therapy
• Targeting the blood-brain barrier for the treatment of brain diseases
• Biomimetics membrane models for drug-membrane interaction studies

Selected Publications

Ramalho, M. J., Loureiro, J. A., and Pereira, M. C. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles for the Encapsulation and Gastrointestinal Release of Vitamin B9 and Vitamin B12. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4, 7, 6881–6892, 2021.

Ramalho, M. J., Coelho, M. A. N., Loureiro, J. A., and Pereira, M. C. Factorial design as a tool for the optimization of PLGA nanoparticles for the co-delivery of temozolomide and o6-benzylguanine. Pharmaceutics, 11(8), 401, 2019.

Ramalho, M. J., Andrade, S., Coelho, M. A. N., Loureiro, J. A., and Pereira, M. C. Biophysical interaction of temozolomide and its active metabolite with biomembrane models: The relevance of drug-membrane interaction for Glioblastoma Multiform therapy. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 136, 156-163, 2019.

Ramalho, M.J., Sevin, E., Gosselet, F., Lima, J., Coelho, M. A., Loureiro, J.A. and Pereira, M. C. Receptor-mediated PLGA nanoparticles for glioblastoma multiforme treatment. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 545(1–2), 84–92, 2018.

Ramalho, M.J., Loureiro, J.A., Gomes, B., Frasco, M.F., Coelho, M.A.N., and Pereira, M.C. PLGA nanoparticles as a platform for vitamin D-based cancer therapy. Beilstein journal of nanotechnology, 6(1), 1306-1318, 2015.

Selected Projects

 “Bioengineered nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in glioblastoma multiforme therapy” (PMdS - Maratona da Saúde Prize for Cancer Research 2019 Edition). Beginning: 2020. Duration 24 months. Role: Researcher.

“New therapeutic strategy and new biomarker for Alzheimer's disease based on cleavage of the BDNF receptor” (MB-37-2017). Beginning: 2018. Duration 36 months. Role: Research fellow.

"NANOEFEct - Nanoparticle-Enhanced Molecular Fluorescence-endoscopy for Detection of Early-stage Colorectal Adenocarcinomas" (ERA-NET: CANCER12-FP-052). Beginning: 2014. Duration 36 months. Role: Researcher.

"Antibody-directed Liposomes for Alzheimer’s Disease" (PTDC/QUI-BIQ/118076/2010) Beginning: 2012. Duration 36 months. Role: Research fellow