Miguel Oliveira, a researcher at CESAM/DBIO, Beatriz Teixeira and Carolina Frazão, PhD students at CESAM/DBIO, and Mónica Almeida, from CESAM, in collaboration with CICECO–Aveiro Institute of Materials (Ana Violeta Girão, Adriana Pais, and Sónia Santos) and CERES–University of Coimbra (Ricardo Pinto), developed protein-based nanomaterials with potential for future applications in nanomedicine. The work was selected for the cover of the international journal Nanomaterials.
The study, entitled “Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Prepared with Genipin: Size Modulation, Encapsulation, and In Vitro Response”, explores the development of nanomaterials based on bovine serum albumin (BSA), using genipin, a naturally derived cross-linking agent.
The results demonstrate that the preparation conditions enable the modulation of key nanomaterial properties, namely particle size, colloidal stability, and encapsulation capacity. An encapsulation efficiency of approximately 82% was achieved for sertraline, highlighting the potential of these systems as platforms for the delivery of bioactive compounds. The study also included an assessment of the biological response in vitro.
These findings contribute to the development of protein-based nanocarriers and to the knowledge required for the design of future drug delivery strategies. Although further studies are needed to assess the behaviour of these systems in more complex biological models, the work provides a relevant scientific basis for future applications in nanomedicine and the delivery of bioactive compounds.
The research also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration at the University of Aveiro, bringing together expertise from CESAM and CICECO–Aveiro Institute of Materials and, through interinstitutional collaboration, CERES–University of Coimbra. The work reinforces the contribution of CESAM and the University of Aveiro to high-quality research at the interface of nanomaterials, biology, and health, bridging fundamental knowledge with future biomedical applications.
Article: Nanomaterials 2026, 16(17), 1086.
DOI: 10.3390/nano16171086