Biopolymers and Surfactant Systems
In this research area we are particularly interested on the dissolution and regeneration of natural polysaccharides (such as cellulose,lignin and chitin) and development of biocomposites, physical-chemical aspects of colloidal polymer-surfactant systems, supramolecular host-guest interactions and rheological properties of complex fluids and hydrogels.
Research interests:
- Development and characterization of new solvents for cellulose dissolution and regeneration;
- Aggregation properties of surfactants and polymers in equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions;
- Complex fluids and shear induced multilamellar vesicles;
- Rheology of polysaccharide liquid crystals;
- Development of physical and chemical polysaccharide-based hydrogels for probiotic encapsulation;
- Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose-based biocomposites;
- Host-guest interaction in cyclodextrin doped systems.
Relevant publications:
Medronho B. and Valente AJM. 2015. Chapter: 窶扞nteractions entre les agents tensio-actifs ﾃ base de sucre et les cyclodextrines窶 in the book 窶戮yclodextrines: propriﾃｩtﾃｩs, chimie et applications窶- Editors: Nadia Morin-Crini, Sophie Fourmentin and Grﾃｩgorio Crini . ISBN: 978-2-84867-520-6
Medronho B., Duarte D., Alves L., Antunes F.E., Romano A., Valente AJM. 2016. The role of cyclodextrin-tetrabutylammonium complexation on the cellulose dissolution. Carbohydrate Polymers, 140: 136-143, DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.12.026
Medronho B., Duarte D., Alves L., Antunes F.E., Romano A., Lindman B. 2015. Probing Cellulose Amphiphilicity. Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal, 30: 58-66, DOI: 10.3183/NPPRJ-2015-30-01-p058-066
Alves L., Medronho B., Antunes F. E., Romano A., Miguel M.G., Lindman B. 2015. On the role of hydrophobic interactions in cellulose dissolution and regeneration: colloidal aggregates and molecular solutions. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 483: 257-263, DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2015.03.011
