Browsing by Author "Madureira, Sara"
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- Magnetic bone tissue engineering: reviewing the effects of magnetic stimulation on bone regeneration and angiogenesisPublication . Ribeiro, Tiago P.; Flores, Miguel; Madureira, Sara; Zanotto, Francesca; Monteiro, Fernando J.; Laranjeira, Marta S.Bone tissue engineering emerged as a solution to treat critical bone defects, aiding in tissue regeneration and implant integration. Mainly, this field is based on the development of scaffolds and coatings that stimulate cells to proliferate and differentiate in order to create a biologically active bone substitute. In terms of materials, several polymeric and ceramic scaffolds have been developed and their properties tailored with the objective to promote bone regeneration. These scaffolds usually provide physical support for cells to adhere, while giving chemical and physical stimuli for cell proliferation and differentiation. Among the different cells that compose the bone tissue, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, stem cells, and endothelial cells are the most relevant in bone remodeling and regeneration, being the most studied in terms of scaffold–cell interactions. Besides the intrinsic properties of bone substitutes, magnetic stimulation has been recently described as an aid in bone regeneration. External magnetic stimulation induced additional physical stimulation in cells, which in combination with different scaffolds, can lead to a faster regeneration. This can be achieved by external magnetic fields alone, or by their combination with magnetic materials such as nanoparticles, biocomposites, and coatings. Thus, this review is designed to summarize the studies on magnetic stimulation for bone regeneration. While providing information regarding the effects of magnetic fields on cells involved in bone tissue, this review discusses the advances made regarding the combination of magnetic fields with magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic scaffolds, and coatings and their subsequent influence on cells to reach optimal bone regeneration. In conclusion, several research works suggest that magnetic fields may play a role in regulating the growth of blood vessels, which are critical for tissue healing and regeneration. While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between magnetism, bone cells, and angiogenesis, these findings promise to develop new therapies and treatments for various conditions, from bone fractures to osteoporosis.
- Practices, values and attitudes of young people: a case study based on students of the University of MinhoPublication . Madureira, Sara; Duque, Eduardo; Vázquez, DuránAnalyzing the behaviors, values and attitudes of youth allows us to make a merciless examination of our time, helping to understand the tangled roots of our collective experience, so that, when analyzing their options, we are not only studying the present time, but also to envision the future of our society. Having said that, the present study aims to analyze the practices, values and attitudes of young people in order to better understand their current evaluative and religious tendencies. Through a quantitative methodology, students at the University of Minho were surveyed, aged between 18 and 35 years. From the conclusions it appears that young people look for more individualistic and less social occupations, allowing them moments of personal satisfaction. Regarding their religious and evaluative dimension, it was found that little or no participation in religious services and that they show high levels of justification for certain behaviors, appearing to react openly to practices that are normally disapproved of by society. Environmental Protection, Racism and Xenophobia and Gender Violence are the current topics that deserve greater concern on the part of young university students.
- Tackling current production of HAp and HAp-driven biomaterialsPublication . Veiga, Anabela; Madureira, Sara; Costa, João B.; Castro, Filipa; Rocha, Fernando; Oliveira, Ana L.Hydroxyapatite (HAp)-based biomaterials are well-established for biomedical applications due to their extensive research work and clinical track record. Recent efforts have been focusing on the development of enhanced HAp systems, through combination with other materials, growth factors, and cells. However, manufacturing reproducible materials and process scalability are still major challenges. 3D printing emerged in the last decade as a technology that allows obtaining complex structures, using HAp as a core material or by incorporating it in other organic or inorganic matrices to obtain high resolution and on-demand production. While this approach has potential, there are limitations associated with the HAp characteristics (such as particle size distribution, size, crystallinity and morphology) used during printing that need to be overcome. In this context, manufacturing high volumes of HAp with uniform properties can be achieved using continuous production, which allows for the development of highly tailored materials that can be used for 3D-printing. This review discusses the latest trends in HAp production-derived performance materials. Moreover, it fills the gap in current papers by exploring the steps required for research-clinical-industry transitions.
- Tannic acid tailored-made microsystems for wound infectionPublication . Guimarães, Inês; Costa, Raquel; Madureira, Sara; Borges, Sandra; Oliveira, Ana L.; Pintado, Manuela; Baptista-Silva, SaraDifficult-to-treat infections make complex wounds a problem of great clinical and socio-economic impact. Moreover, model therapies of wound care are increasing antibiotic resistance and becoming a critical problem, beyond healing. Therefore, phytochemicals are promising alternatives, with both antimicrobial and antioxidant activities to heal, strike infection, and the inherent microbial resistance. Hereupon, chitosan (CS)-based microparticles (as CM) were designed and developed as carriers of tannic acid (TA). These CMTA were designed to improve TA stability, bioavailability, and delivery in situ. The CMTA were prepared by spray dryer technique and were characterized regarding encapsulation efficiency, kinetic release, and morphology. Antimicrobial potential was evaluated against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, as common wound pathogens, and the agar diffusion inhibition growth zones were tested for antimicrobial profile. Biocompatibility tests were performed using human dermal fibroblasts. CMTA had a satisfactory product yield of ca. 32% and high encapsulation efficiency of ca. 99%. Diameters were lower than 10 μm, and the particles showed a spherical morphology. The developed microsystems were also antimicrobial for representative Gram+, Gram−, and yeast as common wound contaminants. CMTA improved cell viability (ca. 73%) and proliferation (ca. 70%) compared to free TA in solution and even compared to the physical mixture of CS and TA in dermal fibroblasts.
- Tea tree loaded collagen/hap aerogel construct for chronic wound healingPublication . Madureira, Sara; Ventura, José; Sousa, Miguel; Oliveira, Ana Leite
- TEX4WOUNDS: development of advanced textile materials for wound carePublication . Madureira, Sara; Baptista-Silva, Sara; Alves, Paulo; Vilaça, Helena; Bonifácio, Graça; Sousa, Miguel; Oliveira, Ana L.