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Cristiana Pires (CP) completed her graduation in Medicinal Chemistry at University of Coimbra in 2018. In that same year, she has received a PhD grant in Chemistry, with a specialization in Biological Chemistry, also at the University of Coimbra, enabling the initiation of a new research project. Throughout her journey, she has developing skills in cell culture techniques, and the characterization of in vitro cell monolayers designed to mimic biological barriers such as Caco-2 and MDCK cell lines. Additionally, she has gathered experience in the determination of compounds permeability through these cell monolayers. Currently, CP research interest are focused on improving the accuracy and reliability of permeability data obtained from these in vitro models, thereby facilitating their use into in silico methodologies for predicting permeability based on molecular structure. In pursuit of this objective, she has undertaken a systematically review and evaluation of the several sources contributing for the permeability data variability in assays using the cell monolayers. In a way to find strategies, she has proposed the re-utilization of cell monolayers for additional permeability assays as a strategic approach that has the potential to increase the throughput of the permeability assessments. The initial validation studies of this new methodology has resulted in the publication of a scientific paper. Furthermore, CP has actively engaged in collaborative research projects on-going in her research group, particularly focused in the study of the bioavailability of bioactive compounds from natural plant extracts connected with the concept of functional food. Her substantive contributions to these collective projects have been recognized through her co-authorship of five scientific publications, thereby highlighting her multifaceted expertise. Technical skills >> Cell Culture; Permeability assays; Toxicity assays; High-Performance Liquid Chromatography; Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Cristiana Lages Pires

Citation names

  • Pires, Cristiana L.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
591E-46F5-47CC
ORCID iD
0000-0002-9098-5848

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biophysics
  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences - Analytical Chemistry
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Medicinal Chemistry

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Upper intermediate (B2) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Upper intermediate (B2)
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
Education
Degree Classification
2018/09/01 - 2024
Ongoing
PhD student in Chemsitry, specialization in Biological Chemistry (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"IMPROVING THE ACCURACY OF PERMEABILITY DATA TO GAIN PREDICTIVE POWER: ASSESSING SOURCES OF VARIABILITY IN ASSAYS USING CELL MONOLAYERS" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2015 - 2018
Concluded
Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Permeability through Caco-2 cell monolayers as a model for BBB: implementation and preliminary evaluation using model compounds" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
18
2015
Concluded
Bachelor in Medicinal Chemistry (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Thermal Denaturation of protein Transthyretin in the presence of Guanidine Thiocyanate" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
15
Affiliation

Others

Category
Host institution
Employer
2018/09/01 - 2024 PhD Fellow Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra, Portugal
2018/04/02 - 2018/08/02 Research Fellow of the FCT-financed project "Unraveling the Rules of Passive Permeation through the Blood-Brain Barrier" Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra, Portugal
2017/09/13 - 2018/02/28 Scientific internship in Biological Membranes Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2015/02/15 - 2015/06/08 Scientific Traineeship in Proteins Stability Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2018/09/01 - 2024/09/01 IMPROVING THE ACCURACY OF PERMEABILITY DATA TO GAIN PREDICTIVE POWER: ASSESSING SOURCES OF VARIABILITY IN ASSAYS USING CELL MONOLAYERS
SFRH/BD/138873/2018
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/04/02 - 2018/08/02 Unraveling the Rules of Passive Permeation through the Blood-Brain Barrier
PTDC/DTPFTO/2784/2014
Research Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference paper
  1. Cristiana L. Pires; Susana F. Nascimento; Elsa T. Rodrigues; Lia P. Godinho; Catarina Churro; Miguel A. Pardal; Maria João Moreno. "Bioavailability and Biotransformation of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins Assessed by Permeability Assays Using Caco-2 Monolayers". 2022.
    Published • 10.3390/BiTaP-12880
Journal article
  1. Cristiana L. Pires; Susana Rosa; Ana L. M. Batista de Carvalho; Lino Ferreira; Maria Paula M. Marques; Maria João Moreno. Corresponding author: Maria João Moreno. "Re-use of Caco-2 monolayers for a higher throughput assessment of drug permeability – methodology and validation for passive permeation". Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2024):
    Submitted
  2. Iris Correia; Madalena Antunes; Carla Tecelão; Marta Neves; Cristiana L. Pires; Pedro F. Cruz; Maria Rodrigues; et al. "Nutritive Value and Bioactivities of a Halophyte Edible Plant: Crithmum maritimum L. (Sea Fennel)". Plants (2024): https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030427.
    Published • 10.3390/plants13030427
  3. Sebastião, Fernando; Daniela C. Vaz; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Moreno, Maria João; Brito, Rui M. M.; Cotrim, Luís; et al. "Nutrient-efficient catfish-based aquaponics for producing lamb's lettuce at two light intensities". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2023):
    Published
  4. Cristiana L. Pires; Inês M. V. Silva; Manuel A. Coimbra; Maria João Moreno; Filipe Coreta-Gomes. "Effect of Coffee on the Bioavailability of Sterols". Foods (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11192935.
    Published • 10.3390/foods11192935
  5. Primitivo, Maria João; Neves, Marta; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Brito, Catarina; Rodrigues, Ana C.; de Carvalho, Carla C.C.R.; et al. "Edible flowers of Helichrysum italicum: Composition, nutritive value, and bioactivities". Food Research International 157 (2022): 111399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111399.
    Published • 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111399
  6. Cristiana L. Pires; Catarina Praça; Patrícia A. T. Martins; Ana Batista de Carvalho; Lino Ferreira; MPM Marques; Maria João Pedrosa Ferreira Moreno Silvestre. "Re-Use of Caco-2 Monolayers in Permeability Assays-Validation Regarding Cell Monolayer Integrity". Pharmaceutics (2021): https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/10/1563.
    Published • 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101563
  7. Rodrigues, Elsa T.; Nascimento, Susana F.; Pires, Cristiana L.; Godinho, Lia P.; Churro, Catarina; Moreno, Maria João; Pardal, Miguel A.. "Determination of intestinal absorption of the paralytic shellfish toxin GTX-5 using the Caco-2 human cell model". Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15342-y.
    Published • 10.1007/s11356-021-15342-y
  8. Brito, Catarina; Bertotti, Taciana; Primitivo, Maria João; Neves, Marta; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Martins, Patrícia A.T.; et al. "Corema album spp: Edible wild crowberries with a high content in minerals and organic acids". Food Chemistry 345 (2021): 128732. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128732.
    Open access • Published • 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128732
  9. Martins, Patrícia A.T.; Domingues, Neuza; Pires, Cristiana; Alves, Ana Maria; Palmeira, Tiago; Samelo, Jaime; Cardoso, Renato; Velazquez-Campoy, Adrian; Moreno, Maria João. "Molecular crowding effects on the distribution of amphiphiles in biological media". Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 180 (2019): 319-325. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.04.065.
    Published • 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.04.065
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2022/09/08 Bioavailability and biotransformation of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins assessed by permeability assays using human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers Biosystems in Toxicology and Pharmacology – Current challenges
ESTG-Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event
Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/03/06 - 2023/03/09 Presentation of a poster entitled: Re-use of Caco-2 monolayers in permeability assays: validation regarding cell monolayer integrity, biochemistry, and function
Congress
ACS publications symposium| Biological and Medicinal chemistry
American Chemical Society, United States
2022/06/20 - 2022/06/21 Presentation of a poster entitled: Validation of the re-use of Caco-2 monolayers for multiple permeability assays
Congress
8th International Iberian Biophysics Congress
Spanish Biophysical Society, Spain
2021/06/14 - 2021/06/16 Presentation of a poster entitled: Re-use of Caco-2 monolayers in permeability assays – validation regarding cell monolayer integrity
Congress
7th International Iberian Biophysics Congress
Portuguese Biophysical Society, Portugal
2019/10/11 - 2019/10/13 Workshop on Biological Chemistry 2019 , covering recent scientific developments on Lipid/Protein interactions and their importance for Life
Meeting
WBC 2019 - Lipids & Proteins - Interactions for Life
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2018/02/16 - 2018/02/17 Mini-symposium on P-glycoprotein: the role of P-glycoprotein in cancer drug resistance (ABC transporters)
Symposium
Mini-symposium on P-glycoprotein
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Química, Portugal
2017/04/07 - 2017/04/10 V ENEQUI -Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Química
Meeting
V ENEQUI -Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Química
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2014/11/06 - 2014/11/07 National congress covering scientific discussions about brain disorders such as Parkinson, Alzheimer’s and depression
Congress
VIII Scientific Congress of the NEF/AAC: "Brain and Dysfunctions"
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2021 - Current Portuguese Biophysics Society Member
Distinctions

Award

2018 PhD Fellowship - SFRH/BD/138873/2018
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal