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Joana Pinto da Silva is a PhD Student in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Algarve (Portugal), where she is developing her research work as a member of the Drug Delivery Lab. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Algarve, obtained in 2020. She was awarded a PhD fellowship in 2021 by the Foundation for Science and Technology, in Portugal. Joana spent a 6-month period performing research experiments at the University of Navarra. Her work mainly focuses on dry powder development for application as an inhalable platform for immunisation against respiratory infections. As a member of the Drug Delivery Lab group, she explores different carriers and excipients for several applications, mainly focusing on pulmonary delivery strategies.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Joana Pinto da Silva

Citation names

  • Pinto-da-Silva, Joana

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
9318-BAE4-B025
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7706-1544

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Pharmacology and pharmacy
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Gene-based Diagnostics and Therapeutic Interventions
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Spanish; Castilian Intermediate (B1) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2021/11/01 - 2025/11/01
Ongoing
 Ciências Biomédicas (Doutoramento)
Universidade do Algarve, Portugal
"Repurposing bacterial lysates as immunomodulators for pulmonary administration as a strategy in prevention of respiratory infections " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2018/09 - 2020/11/26
Concluded
 Ciências Biomédicas - Mecanismos de Doenças (Mestrado)
Universidade do Algarve Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Portugal
"Estudo do papel de uma proteína ligante de RNA num modelo animal das doenças de poliglutaminas" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2015/09 - 2018/09
Concluded
 Ciências Biomédicas (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Algarve Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Portugal
"Infeção por HPV no trato genital inferior" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/11/01 - 2025/11/01 Researcher (Research) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Centro de Ciências do Mar, Portugal
2019/01/07 - 2019/02/01 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade do Algarve Centro de Investigação em Biomedicina, Portugal
Universidade do Algarve Centro de Investigação em Biomedicina, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/11/01 - 2025/11/01 PhD student Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade do Algarve, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2021/11/01 - 2025/11/01 Repurposing bacterial lysates as immunomodulators for pulmonary administration as a strategy in prevention of respiratory infections
2021.05769.BD
PhD Student Fellow
Centro de Ciências do Mar, Portugal

Universidad de Navarra - Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Spain
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2024/09 - 2025/06 In vivo assessment of bacterial lysate-loaded locust bean gum microparticles aimed at respiratory disease prevention upon inhalation
-
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade do Algarve, Portugal
 Aerosol Society
Ongoing

Contract

Designation Funders
2019/10 - 2020/11/26 Overexpression of the RNA-binding protein X as a therapeutic strategy to Machado-Joseph disease and other Polyglutamine diseases.
AFM-Telethon-22424
Researcher
Universidade do Algarve Centro de Investigação em Biomedicina, Portugal
 Associação Francesa de Miopatias (AFM)-Telethon
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Chiarentin, Lucas; Vitorino, Carla; Figueiras, Ana; MP, Almeida; Serralheiro, Ana ; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Grenha, Ana. Corresponding author: Grenha, Ana. "Spray-Dried Locust Bean Gum Microparticles for Immunomodulation of the Lung". Paper presented in Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference 2024, Edinburgh, 2025.
    10.1177/19412711251372775
  2. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Almeida, Maria Patrícia; Serralheiro, Ana ; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Grenha, Ana. "Cytotoxicity assessment of locust bean gum microparticles aimed at pulmonary delivery of bacterial lysates". Paper presented in V International Congress in Health Sciences Research: from Molecule to Community,, Covilhã, 2025.
    Accepted
  3. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Berzosa, Melibea; Delgado-López, Alberto; GAMAZO, CARLOS; Grenha, Ana. Corresponding author: Pinto-da-Silva, Joana. "Repurposing bacterial lysates: an inhalation approach for respiratory infection management". Paper presented in Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference, Edinburgh, 2023.
    Accepted
  4. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Berzosa, Melibea; Delgado-López, Alberto; GAMAZO, CARLOS; Grenha, Ana. "Repositioning Bacterial Lysates: Inhalation as a Strategy in the Management of Respiratory Diseases". Paper presented in X Congresso Iberoamericano de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Coimbra, 2023.
    Published
  5. Zofia Nuc; Brusotti G.; Moro P.; Grenha A.; Pontes J. F.; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Rosa da Costa A.M.; et al. "CRUSTACEANS FROM POLISH WATERS AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN". Paper presented in 14th International Conference of the European Chitin Society (EUCHIS 2023), Fjallabyggð, 2023.
  6. Joana Pinto da Silva; Joana Cruz; Ana Grenha. "Locust bean gum microparticles as carriers for lung delivery of bacterial lysates". Paper presented in Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference, Edinburgh, 2023.
    Published • 10.1089/jamp.2023.ab01.abstracts
Conference poster
  1. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; MP, Almeida; Serralheiro, Ana ; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Grenha, Ana. "Repositioning Bacterial Lysates via Locust Bean Gum Spray-Dried Microparticles for Pulmonary Delivery". Paper presented in 23rd International Symposium on Microencapsulation, 2025.
  2. Cámara-Martos, Fernando; Rubio, Esther Rincón; Grenha, Ana; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Victor, Eduardo Espinosa. "Benzyl – Isothiocyanate – loaded pickering emulsions in white mustard (Sina-pis alba) sauce: A delivery system for improving the bioaccessibility". Paper presented in 23rd International Symposium on Microencapsulation, 2025.
  3. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; M. P. Almeida; A. Serralheiro; A. Rosa da Costa; A. Grenha. "In Vitro Safety Evaluation of Locust Bean Gum Microparticles for Respiratory Immunization". Paper presented in 10th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Conference, 2025.
  4. Vieira, BA; Baía, I; Paninho, AI; Carreira, J; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Barreira, L; Macedo, A; et al. "Valorisation of Macroalgae as a Sustainable Source of Vitamin K1 for Supplementation and Skin Health". Paper presented in 1st International Congress on Algae Biotechnology, 2025.
  5. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Chiarentin, Lucas; Vitorino, Carla; Figueiras, Ana; MP, Almeida; Serralheiro, Ana ; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Grenha, Ana. Corresponding author: Pinto-da-Silva, Joana. "Spray-Dried Locust Bean Gum Microparticles for Targeted Lung Immunization". Paper presented in 12th Galenus Workshop: Bioengineering the future of drug delivery, 2025.
  6. MP, Almeida; Pontes, Jorge F.; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Borges dos Santos, Rui M.; Grenha, Ana. Corresponding author: MP, Almeida. "Development of a Dry Powder Aerosolization Device Designed for In Vitro Applications". Paper presented in 12th Galenus Workshop: Bioengineering the future of drug delivery, 2025.
  7. Serralheiro, Ana ; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Almeida, Maria Patrícia; Vilchez, Laura Rabasco; Luna, Ana Hinojosa; Martos, Fernando Cámara; Grenha, Ana. "Evaluation of anticancer activity of allyl and benzyl – isothiocyanate from mustard varieties using an in vitro gastrointestinal cell model". Paper presented in International Congress in Health Sciences Research: from Molecule to Community, 2025.
  8. MP, Almeida; Palombini, Stefano; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Grenha, Ana; Braz, Luis. Corresponding author: MP, Almeida. "Locust bean gum in the production of microparticles for oral delivery". Paper presented in V International Congress in Health Science Research: from molecule to community, 2025.
  9. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Grenha, Ana. "Inhalable locust bean gum microparticles for the delivery of bacterial lysates to prevent respiratory infections". Paper presented in 4th SPLC-CRS Young Scientists Meeting, 2025.
  10. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Chiarentin, Lucas; Vitorino, Carla; Figueiras, Ana; Almeida, Maria Patrícia; Serralheiro, Ana ; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Grenha, Ana. "Spray-dried locust bean gum microparticles for immunomodulation of the lung". Paper presented in Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference 2024, 2024.
  11. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Figueiras, Ana; Grenha, Ana. "Pulmonary delivery of bacterial lysates mediated by locust bean gum microparticles". Paper presented in 9th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Workshop, 2024.
  12. Grenha, Ana; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Pérez-Rodríguez, F; Almeida, MP; Cámara-Martos, F. "Microencapsulation of benzyl - isothiocyanate by spray-drying as a tool to improve bioaccessibility in white mustard (Sinapis alba)". Paper presented in 8th International Conference on Food Digestion, 2024.
  13. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Figueiras, Ana; Grenha, Ana. "Non-toxic mucoadhesive locust bean gum microparticles for delivery of bacterial lysates to prevent respiratory diseases". Paper presented in XVth Spanish-Portuguese Conference on Controlled Drug Delivery - New Horizons in Drug Delivery, 2024.
  14. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Braz, Luis; Grenha, Ana. "New Dry Powder Aerosolization Device Designed for In Vitro Applications - Validation Tests". Paper presented in X Congresso Iberoamericano de Ciências Farmacêuticas, 2023.
  15. Setas, Sofia; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Oliveria, Marta; Grenha, Ana; Barreira, Luísa; Serralheiro, Ana . Corresponding author: Setas, Sofia. "Avaliação da citotoxicidade de extratos de uma microalga marinha num modelo celular de cancro colorretal". Paper presented in X Congresso Iberoamericano de Ciências Farmacêuticas, 2023.
  16. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Cruz Silva, Joana; Berzosa, Melibea; Delgado-López, Alberto; GAMAZO, CARLOS; Grenha, Ana. "Microencapsulation of bacterial lysates by spray-drying: microparticle characterisation and antigen stability". Paper presented in EUFEPS Annual Meeting, 2023.
  17. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Cruz Silva, Joana; Grenha, Ana. "Locust bean gum microparticles as carriers for lung delivery of bacterial lysates". Paper presented in Drug Delivery to the Lungs 2022, 2022.
    10.1089/jamp.2023.ab01.abstracts
  18. Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Cruz, Joana; Grenha, Ana. "Development of an inhalable formulation of bacterial lysates for application in the context of respiratory infections". Paper presented in 8th Galenus International Workshop Valencia “The shape of things to come - Drug delivery systems from head to toe”, 2022.
Journal article
  1. Jorge F. Pontes; Filipa Guerreiro; Joana P. Silva; Maria P. Almeida; Annalisa Rosso; Ana M. Rosa da Costa; Géraldine Agusti; et al. "Locust bean gum (LBG) – A potential excipient for inhalation purposes: Excipient characterisation and in vitro and in vivo toxicological evaluation". Carbohydrate Polymers (2025): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123729.
    10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123729
  2. Rincón, E.; Grenha, A.; Pinto-da-Silva, Joana; Espinosa, E.; Lafont-Déniz, F.; Almeida, M.P.; Cámara-Martos, F.. "Improving benzyl – Isothiocyanate bioaccessibility in white mustard (Sinapis alba) sauce through spray – Drying microencapsulation and Pickering emulsions". Food Research International (2025): 116091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116091.
    Open access • 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116091
  3. Zofia Nuc; Gloria Brusotti; Laura Catenacci; Ana Grenha; Jorge F. Pontes; Joana Pinto da Silva; Ana Maria Rosa da Costa; et al. "Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) and Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) as New, Alternative Sources of Chitin and Chitosan". Water (2023): https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173024.
    10.3390/w15173024
  4. Rebekah Koppenol; André Conceição; Inês T Afonso; Ricardo Afonso-Reis; Rafael G Costa; Sandra Tomé; Diogo Teixeira; et al. "The stress granule protein G3BP1 alleviates spinocerebellar ataxia-associated deficits". Brain (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac473.
    Open access • 10.1093/brain/awac473
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Silva, Joana. "Estudo do papel de uma proteína ligante de RNA num modelo animal das doenças de poliglutaminas". Master, Universidade do Algarve Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/15532.

Intellectual property

Provisional application for patent
  1. 2022. "Inhalable microparticles of bacterial lysates for prevention of respiratory infections".
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2025/09/12 Repositioning Bacterial Lysates via Locust Bean Gum Spray-Dried Microparticles for Pulmonary Delivery 23rd International Symposium on Microencapsulation
International Microencapsulation Society (Ferrara, Italy)
2025/06/12 In Vitro Safety Evaluation of Locust Bean Gum Microparticles for Respiratory Immunization 10th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Conference
Istanbul University (Istanbul, Turkey)
2025/05/13 Engineeering polysaccharides to improve lung inhalation strategies 2025 EAFP Annual Conference
European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (Coimbra, Portugal)
2025/03/21 Cytotoxicity assessment of locust bean gum microparticles aimed at pulmonary delivery of bacterial lysates V International Congress in Health Science Research: from molecule to community
Universidade da Beira Interior (Covilhã, Portugal)
2024/02/14 Addressing the shortage of excipients approved for inhalation: In vitro and in vivo assessment of the toxicity of polysaccharides XVth Spanish-Portuguese Conference on Controlled Drug Delivery - New Horizons in Drug Delivery
The Spanish Portuguese Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (Lisbon, Portugal)
2023/12/06 Repurposing bacterial lysates: an inhalation approach for respiratory infection management Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference
The Aerosol Society (Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
2023/10/27 Repositioning Bacterial Lysates: Inhalation as a Strategy in the Management of Respiratory Diseases X Congresso Iberoamericano de Ciências Farmacêuticas
Conferencia Iberoamericana de Faculdades de Farmacia A.C. (Coimbra, Portugal)
2023/05/31 Microencapsulation of bacterial lysates by spray-drying: microparticle characterisation and antigen stability EUFEPS Annual Meeting
European Federation for Pharmaceutcial Sciences (Lisbon, Portugal)
2022/10/05 Repurposing bacterial lysates as immunomodulators. Studies in animal models Training sessions/workshops
CIMA (Center for Applied Medical Research), University of Navarre (Pamplona, Spain)
2021/02/18 Rbp-x protein mitigates motor deficits in different mice models of polyglutamine diseases 51ª Reunião da Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia
Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa (Lisboa)
2020/11/13 On the role of an RNA-binding protein in a transgenic mouse model of Polyglutamine diseases LabClub seminar
Centre for Biomedical Research (Faro, Portugal)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/09/11 - 2024/09/13 New Researcher Network Summer Event
Meeting
 New Researcher Network Summer Event
Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference, United Kingdom
2024/04/17 - 2024/04/19 9th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Workshop Hands-on Workshops: PBPK modelling - Dr. Will Ganley (Nanopharm, UK) Aerosol Particle Characterisation – Drs. Clair Brooks & Matt Fenn (Copley, UK) Microdosing – Mr. Gerhard Neumaier (Miccados, Germany)
Workshop
 9th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Workshop
The University of Dublin Trinity College, Ireland
2022/04/27 - 2022/04/29 Ethosomes, Spray-drying, skin preparation. Human and porcine skin preparation for Franz Cells. Set-up of Franz Cells. Tape-Stripping and Differential Stripping. Microdialysis for Brain Drug Delivery. Stereotaxic surgery.
Workshop
 8th Galenus International Workshop Valencia: "The shape of things to come - Drug delivery systems from head to toe"
Galenus Foundation, Austria

Universitat de València Facultat de Farmàcia, Spain

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2022/12/26 - Current Spanish-Portuguese Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (SPLC-CRS) Member
2020/11/08 - Current Associação Nacional de Ciências Biomédicas (ANCiB) Member

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2024/03/11 - 2024/04/19 Avaliação da toxicidade celular de micropartículas para inalação no contexto de prevenção de doenças respiratórias Teresa Carvalho
2023/05/22 - 2023/06/16 Micropartículas com antigénio como imunomoduladores: avaliação do perfil de libertação e de citotoxicidade Teresa Carvalho
2023/03/28 - 2023/05/19 Avaliação da citotoxicidade de extratos de uma microalga marinha num modelo celular de cancro colorretal Sofia Setas
2022/03/16 - 2022/04/28 Desenvolvimento de uma vacina de administração pulmonar Cláudia Branco, Medical Student
2022/01/24 - 2022/03/17 Biocompatybility of chitosan obtained from selected crustaceans from Poland Zofia Nuc, PhD student
Distinctions

Award

2025 Best Oral Presentation at V International Congress in Health Science Research
Universidade da Beira Interior Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Portugal
2025 Best Poster Award at the 10th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Conference
2025 5-Minute Project Contest Award
AAPS Italian University Network Student Chapter, Italy
2024 Best Poster Award at the 9th Pulmonary Drug Delivery Workshop