???global.info.a_carregar???
Vera Catarina Ferreira de Sousa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry (2017) and Master’s degree in Molecular Biomedicine (2019) at the University of Aveiro, where she developed early expertise in photodynamic therapy and microbial inactivation, resulting in peer-reviewed publications (doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040221, doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103994). She joined the COMPASS Research Group at CICECO in 2020 as a research fellow, focusing on the rational molecular design and development of supramolecular systems for biomedical applications. Within this project, she co-authored a publication (doi:10.1002/ejoc.202100786). In 2021, she began her PhD in Chemistry within the same group, focusing on DNA-inspired supramolecular hydrogels. Her doctoral research has produced several peer-reviewed publications (10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01682, 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00433, 10.1021/acsnano.5c10088), a granted national patent (https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/089428023/publication/PT118039A?q=pn%3DPT118039A), and multiple oral and poster communications at high-level national and international scientific conferences. As part of her PhD training, she was a Visiting PhD Student at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) under the supervision of Prof. Bert Meijer and Prof. Patricia Dankers, where she worked on supramolecular synthetic polymers and optimized their assembly processes for the development of advanced hydrogels.
Read full resume ↓
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Vera Sousa

Citation names

  • Vera Sousa

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
EC11-51EC-B46F
ORCID iD
0000-0002-0485-3233
Researcher Id
AAJ-1839-2020

Email addresses

  • vcfs@ua.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Biomaterials
  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences - Polymer Science

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2021/07/01 - 2025/07/01
Ongoing
 Química (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2017/10/17 - 2019/12/18
Concluded
 Biomedicina Molecular (Mestrado)
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Ciências Médicas, Portugal
"Cationic porphyrinic photosensitizers in the inactivation of Candida albicans in blood" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2014/11/09 - 2017/09/07
Concluded
 Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Química, Portugal
 13
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2020/02/10 - 2021/06/21 SUPRASORT-Dispositivos Supramoleculares Auto-Regulados baseados na Complementaridade dos Pares de Base do ADN: Uma Tecnologia Biomimética e com Reconhecimento Molecular para Isolar Células Específicas para Aplicações Biomédicas
PTDC/QUI-OUT/30658/2017
Master Student Fellow
Universidade de Aveiro CICECO, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing

Other

Designation Funders
2023/01 - 2025/12 Supralife-Supramolecular Multifunctional Biomaterials to Interface with Living Systems
No. 101079482
Project Team Member
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Vera Sousa; Luís P. G. Monteiro; Rodrigues, João M. M.; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "G-quadruplex hydrogels from PNIPAAm-Styrene random copolymers assembled at room temperature for advanced biomedical applications". 2025.
    Accepted
  2. Vera Sousa; Sobreiro-Almeida, Rita; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Dynamic protein-based G-quadruplex-derived supramolecular hydrogels as stable bioinks for healthcare". Paper presented in 12th World Biomaterials Congress, Daegu, 2024.
    Accepted
  3. Vera Sousa; Sobreiro-Almeida, Rita; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Exploring the use of protein-based G-quadruplex-derived supramolecular hydrogels as dynamic and stable bioinks for biomedical applications". Paper presented in Research Summit, Aveiro, 2024.
    Accepted
  4. Vera Sousa; Sobreiro-Almeida, Rita; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Dynamic protein-based G-quadruplex-derived supramolecular hydrogels as stable bioinks for healthcare". 2024.
    Accepted
  5. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Edgar J. Castanheira; Igor Marques; João M. M. Rodrigues; Vítor Félix; João Borges; João F. Mano. "G-quadruplex based perfusable supramolecular hydrogels for bioapplications". Paper presented in IUPAC|CHAINS2023, The Hauge, 2023.
    Accepted
  6. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Edgar J. Castanheira; Igor Marques; João M. M. Rodrigues; Vítor Félix; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Dynamic HA-functionalized G-quadruplex-based supramolecular hydrogels to bioengineer perfusable 3D constructs". Paper presented in Research Summit, Aveiro, 2023.
    Accepted
  7. Vera Sousa; Bert Meijer; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Chemically programmable and adaptive soft supramolecular multicomponent biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration". Paper presented in Research Summit, Aveiro, 2022.
    Accepted
  8. Vera Sousa; Carmen M. Machado; Cristiana F. V. Sousa; Djenisa H. A. Rocha; Vera L. M. Silva ; Artur M. S. Silva; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Customizable and regioselective N-H functionalization of nucleobases towards advanced biopolymer conjugates for biomedicine". Paper presented in IUPAC WORLD CHEMISTRY CONGRESS 2021 VIRTUAL, 2021.
    Accepted
  9. Vera Sousa; Carmen M. Machado; Cristiana F. V. Sousa; Djenisa H. A. Rocha; Vera L. M. Silva ; Artur M. S. Silva; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Regioselective NH functionalization of DNA nucleobases towards advanced biopolymer conjugates for biomedical applications". Paper presented in 7th Portuguese Young Chemists Meeting, Bragança, 2021.
    Accepted
Conference poster
  1. Luís C. Almeida; A. M. Almeida; Vera Sousa; Mano, Joao F.; João Borges. "Stimuli-responsive supramolecular hydrogels via dynamic boronate ester bonds for 3D cell culture". Paper presented in Supralife Final International Conference, 2025.
  2. Vera Sousa; Sobreiro-Almeida, Rita; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Dynamic and stable protein-based G-quadruplex-derived supramolecular hydrogels as bioinks for biomedical applications". Paper presented in Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Bioinspired Materials, 2024.
  3. Vera Sousa; Sobreiro-Almeida, Rita; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Dynamic and stable protein-based G-quadruplex-derived supramolecular hydrogels as bioinks for biomedical applications". Paper presented in Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Bioinspired Materials, 2024.
  4. Lopes, Maria; Vera Sousa; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "Photo-cross-linkable peptide-based hydrogel with tunable microstructure and mechanical properties for tissue engineering strategies". Paper presented in Supralife Second School, 2024.
  5. Vera Sousa; Adérito J.R. Amaral; Edgar J. Castanheira; João M. M. Rodrigues; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Hyaluronic acid-functionalized G-quadruplex based perfusable hydrogels for regenerative medicine". Paper presented in Jornadas CICECO, 2023.
  6. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Castanheira, Edgar J.; Marques, Igor; João M. M. Rodrigues; Félix, Vítor; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. "G-quadruplex based supramolecular hydrogels as versatile perfusable platforms for bioapplications". Paper presented in Jornadas CICECO 2023, 2023.
  7. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Edgar J. Castanheira; Igor Marques; João M. M. Rodrigues; Vítor Félix; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Supramolecular hyaluronic acid-functionalized G-quadruplex based perfusable hydrogels for bioapplications". Paper presented in 1st Iberian Symposium on Functional Organic Polymers, 2023.
  8. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Edgar J. Castanheira; Igor Marques; João M. M. Rodrigues; Vítor Félix; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Hyaluronic acid-functionalized G-quadruplex perfusable supramolecular hydrogels embedded in photoctosslinkable matrix for regenerative". Paper presented in Supralife First School, 2023.
  9. Vera Sousa; Carmen M. Machado; Cristiana F. V. Sousa; Djenisa H. A. Rocha; Vera L. M. Silva ; Artur M. S. Silva; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Regioselective functionalization of DNA nucleobases towards a library of nucleobase derivatives for biomedicine". Paper presented in Jornadas CICECO 2021, 2021.
  10. Vera Sousa; Ana T.P.C. Gomes; Maria A. F. Faustino; Maria G. P. M. S. Neves; Adelaide Almeida. "Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy as an alternative therapeutic approach for inactivation of C. albicans in blood". Paper presented in One health day, 2019.
  11. Vera Sousa; Ana T.P.C. Gomes; Maria A.F. Faustino; Maria G.P.M.S. Neves; Adelaide Almeida. "Photodynamic inactivation of Candida albicans in blood". Paper presented in 2019 ESP-IUPB World Congress on Light and Life, 2019.
Journal article
  1. Sousa, Vera; Ladeira, Bruno; Garanger, Elisabeth; Lecommandoux, Sébastien; Meijer, E. W.; Dankers, Patricia Y. W.; Mano, João F.; Borges, João. "Merging Natural Biopolymers with Supramolecular Chemistry: Emulating the Native Extracellular Matrix’s Complexity". ACS Nano 19 33 (2025): 29833-29859. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c10088.
    10.1021/acsnano.5c10088
  2. Sousa, Vera; Monteiro, Luís P. G.; Rocha, Djenisa H. A.; Rodrigues, João M. M.; Borges, João; Mano, João F.. "Marine-Origin Polysaccharides and Their Chemically Modified Derivatives as Sources of Advanced Biofunctional Materials for Biomedical Applications". Biomacromolecules 26 8 (2025): 4735-4772. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01682.
    10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01682
  3. Sousa, Vera; Amaral, Adérito J. R.; Castanheira, Edgar J.; Marques, Igor; Rodrigues, João M. M.; Félix, Vítor; Borges, João; Mano, João F.. "Self-Supporting Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized G-Quadruplex-Based Perfusable Multicomponent Hydrogels Embedded in Photo-Cross-Linkable Matrices for Bioapplications". Biomacromolecules 24 7 (2023): 3380-3396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00433.
    10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00433
  4. Djenisa H. A. Rocha; Carmen M. Machado; Vera Sousa; Cristiana F. V. Sousa; Vera L. M. Silva ; Artur M. S. Silva; João Borges; João F. Mano. "Customizable and Regioselective One-Pot N-H Functionalization of DNA Nucleobases to Create a Library of Nucleobase Derivatives for Biomedical Application". Eur. J. Org. Chem (2021): doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202100786.
    Published
  5. Eddahmi, Mohammed; Vera Sousa; Moura, Nuno M.M.; Dias, Cristina J.; Bouissane, Latifa; Faustino, Maria A.F.; Cavaleiro, José A.S.; et al. "New nitroindazole-porphyrin conjugates: Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties". Bioorganic Chemistry 101 (2020): 103994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103994.
    Published • 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103994
  6. Vera Sousa; Ana T.P.C. Gomes; Américo Freitas; Maria A. F. Faustino; Maria G. P. M. S. Neves; Adelaide Almeida. "Photodynamic Inactivation of Candida albicans in Blood Plasma and Whole Blood". Antibiotics 8 4 (2019): 221. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8040221.
    Published • 10.3390/antibiotics8040221
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Vera Sousa. "Cationic porphyrinic photosensitizers in the inactivation of Candida albicans in blood". Master, Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Ciências Médicas, 2019.

Intellectual property

Patent
  1. João F. Mano; João Borges; Vera Sousa; Djenisa H. A. Rocha. 2023. "HIDROGÉIS SUPRAMOLECULARES DE G-QUADRUPLEXOS, PROCESSOS DE PRODUÇÃO E USO DOS MESMOS". Portugal.
    Granted/Issued

Other

Other output
  1. Replication Data for: Self-supporting hyaluronic acid-functionalised G-quadruplex based perfusable multicomponent hydrogels embedded in photocrosslinkable matrices for bioapplications. Replication Data for: Self-supporting hyaluronic acid-functionalised G-quadruplex based perfusable multicomponent hydrogels embedded in photocrosslinkable matrices for bioapplications. 2023. Vera Sousa; Adérito J. R. Amaral; Castanheira, Edgar J.; Marques, Igor; João M. M. Rodrigues; Félix, Vítor; João Borges; Mano, Joao F.. https://dunas.ua.pt/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.48527/BNBQJY.
    10.48527/BNBQJY
Activities

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2024/03/10 - 2024/03/15 SupraLife Second School (2024/03/10 - 2024/03/15)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2023/03/19 - 2023/03/24 Supralife First School (2023/03/19 - 2023/03/24)
Conference
 Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2023/03/19 - 2023/03/24 SupraLife First School (2023/03/19)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2018/11/13 - 2018/11/13 Signaling afternoon In a pedagogical afternoon, which focuses on signaling pathways, we intend to show the importance of them in the most diverse areas of biomedicine and how they contribute to some pathologies. (2020/11/13)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Ciências Médicas, Portugal
2015 - 2015 Volunteer at the Chemistry Olympiads (2015)
Call (Other)
 Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Química, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/11/15 - 2024/11/18 Supralife Second Retrit
2023/10/24 - 2023/10/25 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP | EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Workshop
2023/09/29 - 2023/10/03 Supralife First Retreat

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2020/09/07 - 2020/10/02 Intermediate Level II - B2.2 (QECR - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) of the Free English Course Curso Livre de Inglês (Diploma de especialização) Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2024 Best Oral Presentation
Supralife Second School, Portugal
2019 European Society for Photobiology (ESP) Fellowship