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Natália Vilaça holds a PhD degree in Chemistry (2018), M.Sc. degree in Chemical Analysis and Characterization Techniques (2012) and B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry (2010) from the University of Minho, Portugal. Her 7+ years of work in Chemistry, Material Science and Life Science has centered on design, synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of nanomaterials for cancer therapies and environmental applications. Particular emphasis is placed on drug delivery systems (DDS) based on zeolites, cell-nanomaterials interactions, functionalization of nanomaterials, and in vitro and in vivo assays. After her M.Sc. she spent 9 months as a research fellow at Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Lisbon and 3 months at University of Trás-Os-Montes e Alto Douro. After her PhD she spent one year and half working as a postdoctoral fellow at International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) where she worked on the functionalization of nanomaterials and development of coatings with anti-biofouling properties. Published 9 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and presented her work in 19 international/national conferences.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
NATÁLIA SOFIA BRANDÃO VILAÇA

Citation names

  • VILAÇA, NATÁLIA

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
D310-EF81-D453
ORCID iD
0000-0002-5121-598X

Email addresses

  • natalia.vilaca@i3bs.uminho.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • AvePark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Braga, Braga, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
  • Engineering and Technology - Nano-technology - Nano-materials
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Biomaterials
  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences - Analytical Chemistry
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Technologies Involving the Manipulation of Cells, Tissues, Organs or the Whole Organism
  • Engineering and Technology - Environmental Biotechnology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
French Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Education
Degree Classification
2014 - 2018
Concluded
 Ciências (Doutoramento)
Major in Química
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
"Zeolite structures as cancer-targeted drug delivery carriers" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Very good
2010 - 2012
Concluded
 Técnicas de Caracterização e Análise Química (Mestrado)
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
"Encapsulamento de fármacos em zeólitos para utilização no tratamento do carcinoma do colorretal" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2007 - 2010
Concluded
 Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
 14
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2020/10/01 - Current Contracted Researcher (Research) Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Portugal
Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Portugal
2018/09/17 - 2020/03/16 Contracted Researcher (Research) International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
2013/10/15 - 2014/01/15 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
2013/01/15 - 2013/09/30 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2014/04/01 - 2018/04/27 Fellow of Doctorate by FCT (SFRH/BD/97797/2013) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2015/02 - 2015/06 Scientific stay at Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, France
2013/10/01 - 2013/12/31 Researcher grant in the project PTDC/AGR-AAM/102006/2008 Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
2013/01/01 - 2013/09/30 Researcher grant in the project PTDC/CTM/098688/2008 Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2013/10/01 - 2013/12/31 Effect of phytochemicals on organic matter transformation and on key processes of carbon and nitrogen cycles in soil
PTDC/AGR-AAM/102006/2008
Research Fellow
Concluded
2013/01/01 - 2013/09/30 Production of coextrudates containing polymorphs of micro and nanoparticles of drugs for a transdermal patch and an oral laminate
PTDC/CTM/098688/2008
Research Fellow
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2020/10/01 - Current CANCER_CAGE – Smart Carbohydrate Nanonets for selective anticancer therapies
PTDC/NAN-MAT/28468/2017
Post-doc
Laboratório Associado ICVS 3B's, Portugal
Ongoing
2019/11/17 - 2020/03/16 Anti-biofouling coatings for river devices
KET4CP
Post-doc
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
2018/09/17 - 2019/11/16 pBio4.0: Prevenir o Biofouling em Sistemas de Membranas
POCI-01-0247-FEDER-033298
Post-doc
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "413 Enhancing 5-FU Activity in Colorectal Carcinoma-derived Cell Lines – Combination With Monocarboxylate Transporter Inhibitors and Encapsulation into Zeolites". 2012.
    10.1016/s0959-8049(12)71095-x
Conference poster
  1. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "In vitro and in vivo efficacy evaluation of drug delivery systems based on zeolites". Paper presented in NanoMed Europe 2019, 2019.
  2. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "5 fluorouracil encapsulated into zeolites as nanocarriers for cancer therapy,". Paper presented in 21st International Symposium on Microencapsulation, 2017.
  3. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Investigation of the internalization mechanisms of zeolite L nanoparticles in breast cells". Paper presented in 1st ICVS Open Day, 2017.
  4. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Internalization of zeolites as carriers for cellular delivery". Paper presented in 10º Encontro Nacional de Catálise e Materiais Porosos, 2016.
  5. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Effect of surface functionalization of zeolite L on cellular uptake in breast cancer and epithelial mammary cells". Paper presented in 2nd ASPIC International Congress, 2016.
  6. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Internalization and cytotoxicity of zeolites in breast cancer cells". Paper presented in AFM Biomed Conference, 2016.
  7. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Stimuli responsive hybrid organic inorganic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for biomedical applications". Paper presented in Biointerfaces International 2016, 2016.
  8. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Zeolites as drug delivery systems for encapsulation of 5 fluorouracil in vivo an in vitro model of colorectal cancer". Paper presented in 1st ASPIC International Congress, 2014.
  9. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Zeolites as helpful tools in carcinoma therapy". Paper presented in E3 Forum, 2014.
  10. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Zeolites: Promising candidates for drug delivery systems (DDSs)". Paper presented in Vth International Conference on Molecular Materials - MOLMAT, 2012.
  11. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Enhancing 5 FU activity in colorectal carcinoma derived cell lines combination with monocarboxylate transporter inhibitors and encapsulation into zeolites". Paper presented in EACR-22 from Basic Research to Personalised Cancer Treatment, 2012.
  12. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Drug delivery systems for colorectal carcinoma treatment based on zeolites a promising material". Paper presented in II Encontro TCAQ, 2012.
  13. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Using zeolites as systems for drug delivery in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma". Paper presented in Encontro ICVS/3B's, 2012.
  14. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Anticancer drugs encapsulated in zeolites". Paper presented in VI International Materials Symposium MATERIAIS 2011, 2011.
  15. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "DDS based in anticancer drugs encapsulated in zeolites". Paper presented in EuroNanoForum 2011, 2011.
Journal article
  1. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Surface functionalization of zeolite-based drug delivery systems enhances their antitumoral activity in vivo". Materials Science and Engineering: C (2020): 111721-111721. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111721.
    10.1016/j.msec.2020.111721
  2. Natália Vilaça; Juan Gallo; Rui Fernandes; Francisco Figueiredo; António M. Fonseca; Fátima Baltazar; Isabel C. Neves; Manuel Bañobre-López. "Synthesis, characterization and in vitro validation of a magnetic zeolite nanocomposite with T2-MRI properties towards theranostic applications". Journal of Materials Chemistry B (2019): https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TB00078J.
    10.1039/C9TB00078J
  3. Natália Vilaça; Ricardo Totovao; Eko Adi Prasetyanto; Vera Miranda-Gonçalves; Filipa Morais-Santos; Rui Fernandes; Francisco Figueiredo; et al. "Internalization studies on zeolite nanoparticles using human cells". Journal of Materials Chemistry B (2018): https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TB02534C.
    10.1039/C7TB02534C
  4. Natália Vilaça; Ana F. Machado; Filipa Morais-Santos; Ricardo Amorim; A. Patrícia Neto; Enora Logodin; Manuel F. R. Pereira; et al. "Comparison of different silica microporous structures as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of solid tumors". RSC Advances 7 22 (2017): 13104-13111. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA01028A.
    10.1039/C7RA01028A
  5. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Micro- and Mesoporous Structures as Drug Delivery Carriers for Salicylic Acid". The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2015): http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp5117849.
    10.1021/jp5117849
  6. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "In vitro and in vivo studies of temozolomide loading in zeolite structures as drug delivery systems for glioblastoma". RSC Advances (2015): http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5ra03871e.
    10.1039/c5ra03871e
  7. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil encapsulated in zeolites as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma". Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (2013): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.07.042.
    10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.07.042
  8. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Zeolite Structures Loading with an Anticancer Compound As Drug Delivery Systems". The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2012): http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp3093868.
    10.1021/jp3093868
  9. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Encapsulation of a-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid into a NaY zeolite". Journal of Materials Science (2011): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5722-2.
    10.1007/s10853-011-5722-2
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Zeolite structures as cancer-targeted drug delivery carriers". PhD, 2014.
  2. VILAÇA, NATÁLIA. "Encapsulamento de fármacos em zeólitos para utilização no tratamento do carcinoma do colorretal". Master, Universidade do Minho, 2012.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2017 5-fluorouracil encapsulated into zeolites as nanocarriers for cancer therapy, 21st International Symposium on Microencapsulation
2013 Zeolites as suitable Drug Delivery Systems for anticancer drugs in in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma SPSAS Advances in molecular oncology Translating molecular biology into cancer treatment
2010 Nanoporosity of zeolites Promising candidate for drug delivery XVI Encontro Luso-Galego

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2019/06 - Current Organization of a Nanochem Group's Meeting to discuss ideas for future research. (2019/06 - 2019/06)
Meeting
 International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2019 - 2019 European Researchers' Night European Researchers' Night
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
2019 - 2019 World cancer day World Cancer Day 2019
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
2017 - 2017 Nano World Cancer Day Nano world cancer day
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal
2013 - 2013 Seminário em Técnicas Avançadas para Caracterização de Materiais
Seminar
 Seminário: Técnicas Avançadas para Caracterização de Materiais
Paralab, SA, Portugal
2013 - 2013 Seminário em Técnicas Instrumentais e Analíticas em Ciências Farmacêuticas: ensaios de biodisponibilidade, bioequivalência e ensaios de dissolução.
Seminar
 Seminário: Técnicas Instrumentais e Analíticas em Ciências Farmacêuticas
Paralab, SA, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2017 - 2017 Drug release studies Ana Raquel Bertão
2016 - 2016 Drug release studies Enora Logodin