Ana Cristina Rodrigues (0014-460F-433D)

Curriculum Vitae

Ana Cristina Rodrigues

Ana Cristina Rodrigues. Completed the PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2020/07/21 by Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho and Master in Integrated Master in Biological Engineering in 2010/10/15 by Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho. Her main areas of work since 2013, were the production and optimization of bacterial cellulose by fermentation in static and agitated culture using different strains, substrates and bioreactors (airlift and nanobubbles), developed its formulation into a powder additive and its use as a stabilizer, emulsifier and studies using bacterial cellulose as a drug delivery system for bioactive agents namely vitamin D3 encapsulated in hyaluronic acid nanogels for wound healing applications. Published 15 articles in specialized journals and performed 8 oral presentations and 7 posters in scientific conferences. Has 3 section(s) of books. Organized 1 event(s). Co-supervised 1 work(s) of course completion of LSc/BSc during her PhD student. She participated in 10 different research projects. In more detailed within the scope of bacterial cellulose, she participated in 9 different projects, for more recently in the last three projects an R&D project at Apillet (Denmark) regarding the use of bacterial cellulose in the pharmaceutical field and, in 2024, and she continued an experience as scientist researcher almost 3 years at spin- off UMINHO SATISFIBRE, S.A., where she was involved in optimization of bacterial cellulose production, product development based on bacterial cellulose and she was involved in the submission of a dossier to the European Food Safety Authority for the validation of the safety of using bacterial cellulose in food products and an R&D project at SATISFIBRE and CPKelco company. More recently in a project Be@T that aimed at producing sustainable natural fibres for textiles, where she continued developed experience on optimization of fermentation processes, bioreactors, wastewaters treatment and biogas production. Other projects that she participated in were focused on bioethanol production from lignocellulosic material, namely in enzyme recycling. Along this path she also acquired skills in fermentation process of bacterial cellulose and other microorganisms, microbiology, drug delivery system, wound healing, nanogels, some experience in cell culture and in vivo assays, microscopy (optical and fluorescence), rheological and textural characterization of cosmetic products, thermal and chemical characterization of materials more in particular bacterial cellulose (TGA, XRD, FTIR, DSC), SEM and TEM analysis of bacterial cellulose and others, particles size characterization (DLS and Master sizer, Nanosight (NTA)), chromatography techniques (HPLC and uHPLC), production of emulsions, data analysis and technical and scientific writing. Complementary to the research work, he was involved in drafting projects for the authorization of animal use for scientific purposes, organizing international symposia, managing laboratory work, and mentoring students. Currently, she is an invited Assistant Researcher at the Centre of Biological Engineering (UMinho), working within the Be@T project.

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Ana Cristina Rodrigues

Citation names

Rodrigues, Ana Cristina

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: 0014-460F-433D
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5015-6842
Researcher Id: S-2998-2016

Email addresses

d5521@ceb.uminho.pt (Professional)
anacris38599@gmail.com (Personal)

Telephones

Telephone

253604429 (Professional)

Addresses

Universidade do Minho- Departamento de Engenharia Biológica. Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Braga, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

https://www.ceb.uminho.pt/People/Profile/anacristinarodrigues (Scholar)

Knowledge fields

Engineering and Technology - Industrial Biotechnology - Fermentation
Engineering and Technology - Industrial Biotechnology - Bioproducts Biomaterials
Engineering and Technology - Industrial Biotechnology - Bio-derived Novel Materials
Engineering and Technology - Industrial Biotechnology - Biofuels
Engineering and Technology - Nano-technology

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
English	Beginner (A1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)	Beginner (A1)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2013/06/01 - 2020/07/21 Concluded	Biomedical Engineering (Doutoramento) Major in Bacterial Cellulose Wound Dressing Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal "Bacterial Cellulose Wound Dressing" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	Very Good
2010/10/15 Concluded	Integrated Master in Biological Engineering (Mestrado) Major in Escherichia coli expression and purification of two antimicrobial peptides fused to a Clostridium thermocellum carbohydrate binding module (CBM) Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal "Escherichia coli expression and purification of two antimicrobial peptides fused to a Clostridium thermocellum carbohydrate binding module (CBM)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	15 valores

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2021/06/01 - 2025/01/31	Researcher (Research)	spin-off UMINHO SATISFIBRE Lda, Portugal

2021/04/01 - 2022/05/31	Researcher (Research)	BCTechnologies, Lda, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal (...)

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2025/02/17 - Current	Researcher as Invited Assistant Reseacher (non-tenured track), contract “no âmbito do projeto BE@T – Investimento TC-C12-i01 – Iniciativa 3 medida 4	Universidade do Minho Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Portugal
	Universidade do Minho Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Portugal
2020/01/03 - 2021/03/31	Research no âmbito do projeto de Investigação Estratégico do Centro de Engenharia Biológica da Universidade do Minho (CEB), por financiamento atribuído à unidade de I&D CEB (UID/BIO	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2013/06/01 - 2020/07/21	Phd Student, Doctoral Programme in Biomedical Engineering with thesis title "Bacterial Cellulose Wound Dressings (SFRH/89547/2012)"	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2019/09/01 - 2019/12/31	Research no âmbito das atividades de investigação do Centro de Engenharia Biológica da Universidade do Minho (CEB), por financiamento atribuído à unidade de I&D CEB (UID/BIO/04469/2019	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2018/09/01 - 2019/08/31	Research in the Project “Inpactus – Produtos e Tecnologias Inovadores a partir do Eucalipto no âmbito da temática “Celulose bacteriana a partir de xaropes de açúcares de origem lenhoce	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2017/06/29 - 2018/06/28	Research in CEB-BI-19-2017- BUILD Project- Bacterial cellulose Leather (003435)	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2010/11/26 - 2013/04/30	Research in UMINHO/BI/249/2010, Kacelle Project- Kalundborg Cellulosic Ethanol (TREN/FP7EN/239379)	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
2010/02/01 - 2010/10/28	Master Degree thesis with title Escherichia coli expression and purification of two antimicrobial peptides fused to a Clostridium thermocellum carbohydrate binding module (CBM)	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2023/03 - Current	Project I&D be@t bioeconomy at textiles Investimento TC-C12-i01:Sustainable Bioeconomy, funded through the National Fundo Ambiental - PRR and European funding through the Program NEXT GENERATION EU TC-C12-i01 Research Fellow	Ongoing
2020/01/01 - 2023/12/31	Strategic Funding FCT 2020-2023 UIDB/04469/2020 Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Governo da República Portuguesa COMPETE 2020 Ongoing
2013/06/01 - 2020/07/21	Bacterial Cellulose Wound Dressings SFRH/89547/2012 PhD Student Fellow Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Concluded
2019/09/01 - 2019/12/31	Strategic funding 2015-2018 UID/BIO/04469/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	COMPETE 2020 Portugal 2020 FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Governo da República Portuguesa Concluded
2018/09/01 - 2019/08/31	InPactus- Innovative Products and Technologies from Eucalyptus POCI-01-0247-FEDER-021874 Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. ; COMPETE 2020 Ongoing
2017/06/29 - 2018/06/28	BUILD – Bacterial cellulose Leather (referência: 003435) 003435 Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. ; COMPETE 2020 Concluded
2010/11/26 - 2013/10/30	Kacelle- Kalundborg cellulosic Ethanol TREN/FP7EN/239379) with reference UMINHO/BI/249/2010. Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	European Commission Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development International Cooperation Concluded

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2022/06/01 - 2025/01/31	Research Agreement between Satisfibre - CPKelco Research Agreement between Satisfibre - CPKelco Researcher Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal SATISFIBRE, S.A., Portugal	Concluded

Other

	Designation	Funders
2021/04/01 - 2022/07/31	20200317 R and D Agreement between BCTechnologies, Lda and with Apillet ApS company - Development of a self-perforating pH responsive material for oral drug delivery 20200317 Researcher BCTechnologies, Lda, Portugal Centre of Biological Engineering Universidade do Minho, Portugal	Concluded
2018 - 2019	SkinChip - Disruptive cellulose-based microfluidic device for 3D skin modelling PTDC/BBB-BIO/1889/2014 Other Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal	Lisboa 2020 Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT Portugal 2020 COMPETE 2020 Concluded

Outputs

Publications

Book chapter	Dourado, Fernando; Fontão, Ana Isabel; Leal, Marta; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Gama, Miguel. "Process Modelling and Techno-Economic Evaluation of an Industrial Airlift Bacterial Cellulose Fermentation Process". In Nanocellulose and Sustainability: Production, Properties, Applications, and Case Studies, 1-16. CRC Press, 2018. Published • 10.1201/9781351262927-1 Dourado, F.; Fontão, A.; Leal, M.; Cristina Rodrigues, A.; Gama, M.. "Process Modeling and Techno-Economic Evaluation of an Industrial Bacterial NanoCellulose Fermentation Process". 2016. 10.1016/B978-0-444-63458-0.00012-3 Dourado, F.; Leal, M.; Martins, D.; Fontão, A.; Cristina Rodrigues, A.; Gama, M.. "Celluloses as Food Ingredients/Additives: Is There a Room for BNC?". 2016. 10.1016/B978-0-444-63458-0.00007-X
Conference abstract	Gama, F.M.; Mota, Renato; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Silva-Carvalho, Ricardo; Costa, Lígia; Martins, Daniela; Sampaio, Paula; Dourado, Fernando. Corresponding author: Gama, F.M.. "Overcoming the regulatory hurdles on nanocelluloses is bacterial cellulose absorbed at the intestine?". Paper presented in ISBC 2022 - 5th International Symposium on Bacterial Cellulose, Jena, 2022. Published Silva, João Pedro; Ramos, Reinaldo; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Costa, Raquel; Guardao, Luisa; Soares, Raquel; Vilanova, Manuel; Domingues, Lucilia; Gama, F. Miguel. "Bioactivity of the recombinant human antimicrobial peptide LL37: a key role in wound healing through vascularization. Published in Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine". Paper presented in TERMIS-EU Annual Meeting, 2012.
Conference paper	Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Soares da Silva, F. A. G.; Oliveira, João V.; Forte, Ana; Dourado, Fernando; Alves, M. M.; Gama, F. M.. "On to the impact of low cost substrates for BNC production". 2019.
Conference poster	Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Martins, Daniela; Montenegro, Pedro; Duarte, M. Salomé; Silva-Carvalho, Ricardo; Marques, Susana; Cavaleiro, Ana J.; Dourado, Fernando; Gama, Miguel. "Microbial Synthesis of Nanocellulose and its High Value-added Applications". Paper presented in 6th International Symposium on Bacterial Nanocellulose (ISBNC2024), 2024. Silva, Francisco Almeida Garrett Soares; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Dourado, Fernando; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Bacterial cellulose production through hydrolysates produced with cellulosic residues". Paper presented in CHEMPOR 2018 - 13th International Chemical and Biological Engineering Conference, 2018. Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Cardoso, Beatriz; Machado, Alexandra; Queirós, Eugénia; Lima, Sofia Costa; Reis, Salette; Silva, João Pedro; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Development of bacterial cellulose wound dressings with controlled delivery of vitamin D3". Paper presented in CEB Annual Meeting 2017, 2017. Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Fontão, Ana Isabel; Coelho, Aires; Leal, Marta; Dourado, Fernando; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Response Surface Statistical Optimization of Bacterial Cellulose Production in Static Culture using a low-cost fermentation medium". Paper presented in 2nd Symposium on Bacterial Nanocellulose, American Chemical Society Meeting, Gdansk, Polónia, 2015. Silva, João P.; Ramos, Reinaldo Rodrigues; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Costa, Rafael S.; Guardão, Luísa; Soares, R.; Vilanova, Manuel; Domingues, Lucília; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Bioactivity of the recombinant human antimicrobial peptide LL37: a key role in wound healing through vascularization". Paper presented in Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2012. Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Leitão, Alexandre F.; Moreira, S.; Felby, Claus; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Cellulase Recycling during the Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses by Alkaline Elution". Paper presented in ITALIC 6- Science & Technology of Biomasses: Advances and Challenges & COST-FP0602, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Itália., 2011.
Journal article	Ana Cristina Rodrigues; Daniela Martins; M. Salomé Duarte; Ricardo Silva-Carvalho; Susana Marques; Ana Júlia Cavaleiro; Miguel Gama; Fernando Dourado. "Optimizing bacterial nanocellulose production from eucalyptus bark: A circular approach to wastewater management and resource recovery". Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (2025): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.115442. 10.1016/j.jece.2025.115442 Silva-Carvalho, Ricardo; Rodrigues, Patrícia M.; Martins, Daniela; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Sampaio, Paula; Dourado, Fernando; Gonçalves, Catarina; Gama, Miguel. "Bacterial Cellulose In Vitro Uptake by Macrophages, Epithelial Cells, and a Triculture Model of the Gastrointestinal Tract". Biomacromolecules (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00972. Published • 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00972 Costa, Lígia; Carvalho, Alexandre F.; Silva-Carvalho, Ricardo; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Dourado, Fernando; Deuermeier, Jonas; Neto, Miguel A.; et al. "Laser-patterning bacterial nanocellulose for cell-controlled interaction". Cellulose (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10570-024-06131-0. Accepted • 10.1007/s10570-024-06131-0 Ana Cristina Rodrigues; Lígia Costa; Ricardo Silva-Carvalho; Renato Mota; Sara Duarte-Silva; Andreia Teixeira-Castro; Nuno Lamas; et al. "Assessment of the gastrointestinal fate of bacterial nanocellulose and its toxicological effects after repeated-dose oral administration". Environmental Science: Nano (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2en01019d. 10.1039/d2en01019d Renato Mota; Ana Cristina Rodrigues; Ricardo Silva-Carvalho; Lígia Costa; Daniela Martins; Paula Sampaio; Fernando Dourado; Miguel Gama. "Tracking Bacterial Nanocellulose in Animal Tissues by Fluorescence Microscopy". Nanomaterials (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano12152605. 10.3390/nano12152605 Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Fontão, Ana Isabel; Coelho, Aires; Leal, Marta; Soares da Silva, Francisco A.G.; Wan, Yizao; Dourado, Fernando; Gama, Miguel. "Response surface statistical optimization of bacterial nanocellulose fermentation in static culture using a low-cost medium". New Biotechnology 49 (2019): 19-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2018.12.002. 10.1016/j.nbt.2018.12.002 Dourado, Fernando; Gama, Miguel; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina. "A Review on the toxicology and dietetic role of bacterial cellulose". Toxicology Reports 4 (2017): 543-553. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.09.005. 10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.09.005 Haven, Mai Østergaard; Lindedam, Jane; Jeppesen, Martin Dan; Elleskov, Michael; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Gama, Miguel; Jørgensen, Henning; Felby, Claus. "Continuous recycling of enzymes during production of lignocellulosic bioethanol in demonstration scale". Applied Energy 159 (2015): 188-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.062. 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.062 Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Haven, Mai Østergaard; Lindedam, Jane; Felby, Claus; Gama, Miguel. "Celluclast and Cellic® CTec2: Saccharification/fermentation of wheat straw, solid–liquid partition and potential of enzyme recycling by alkaline washing". Enzyme and Microbial Technology 79-80 (2015): 70-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2015.06.019. 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2015.06.019 Gomes, Daniel; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Domingues, Lucília; Gama, Miguel. "Cellulase recycling in biorefineries—is it possible?". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 99 10 (2015): 4131-4143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6535-z. 10.1007/s00253-015-6535-z Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Felby, Claus; Gama, Miguel. "Cellulase stability, adsorption/desorption profiles and recycling during successive cycles of hydrolysis and fermentation of wheat straw". Bioresource Technology 156 (2014): 163-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.019. 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.019 Ramos, Reinaldo; Moreira, Susana; Rodrigues, Ana; Gama, Miguel; Domingues, Lucília. "Recombinant expression and purification of the antimicrobial peptide magainin-2". Biotechnology Progress 29 1 (2012): 17-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/btpr.1650. 10.1002/btpr.1650 João Pedro Martins Soares de Castro Silva; Reinaldo Ramos; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Luisa Guardão; Manuel Vilanova; Professor Doutor Francisco Miguel Portela da Gama. "Bioactivity of the recombinant human antimicrobial peptide LL37: a key role in wound healing through vascularization". Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 6 (2012): 1-429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/term.1586. 10.1002/term.1586 Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Leitão, Alexandre F.; Moreira, Susana; Felby, Claus; Gama, Miguel. "Recycling of cellulases in lignocellulosic hydrolysates using alkaline elution". Bioresource Technology 110 (2012): 526-533. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.140. 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.140 Ramos, Reinaldo; Silva, João Pedro; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Costa, Raquel; Guardão, Luísa; Schmitt, Fernando; Soares, Raquel; et al. "Wound healing activity of the human antimicrobial peptide LL37". Peptides 32 7 (2011): 1469-1476. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2011.06.005. 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.06.005
Thesis / Dissertation	Rodrigues, Ana Cristina. "Bacterial Cellulose Wound Dressing". PhD, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 2020. Rodrigues, Ana Cristina. "Escherichia coli expression and purification of two antimicrobial peptides fused to a Clostridium thermocellum carbohydrate binding module (CBM)". Master, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 2010.

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2019/10/04	On to the impact of low cost substrates for BNC production	4thISBNC - 4th International Symposium on Bacterial Nanocellulose Centre of Biological Engineering - University of Minho (Porto, Portugal)
2019/10	Strategies to decrease the industrial cost of bacterial nanocellulose production	6thEPNOE International Polysaccharide Conference This congress is an initiative of EPNOE, the Cellulose and Renewable Division of the American Chemistry Society (ACS), and the Cellulose Society of Japan (CSJ) and is being hosted in Aveiro, Portugal for the first time. (Aveiro, Portugal)
2017/11/27	Development of bacterial nanocellulose wound dressings with controlled delivery of vitamin D3	Interchange between Universities EMBRAPA Agroindústria Tropical (Fortaleza, Brazil)
2017/09	Development of bacterial cellulose wound dressing with controlled delivery of vitamin D3	GLUPOR12 – 12ª Reunião do Grupo de Glúcidos, Sociedade Portuguesa de Química University of Aveiro (Aveiro, Portugal)
2014/05/26	Biomass saccharification: development of strategies for enzyme recycling	IPFB2014 - 8th International Conference on Polymer and Fiber Biotechnology Centre of Biological Engeneering- University of Minho (Braga)

Supervision

	Thesis Title Role	Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2016/05 - 2016/06	Membranas de celulose bacteriana: regeneração de feridas e libertação controlada de fármacos Co-supervisor	Applied Biology (Degree) Universidade do Minho, Portugal

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2019/10/03 - 2019/10/04	4th International Symposium on Bacterial Nanocellulose (ISBNC 2019) This event, which has been held biennially since 2013, mobilizes experts from the field, to discuss all aspects of research related to Bacterial Nano-Cellulose Biotechnology, including the biology and genetics of producing microorganisms, production biotechnologies and different areas of application, namely biomedicine, food and cosmetic industries, composites, pulp and paper (2019/10/03 - 2019/10/04) Symposium (Member of the Organising Committee)	Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal

Jury of academic degree

	Topic Role	Candidate name (Type of degree) Institution / Organization
2023/12/04	"Estudo do efeito das características físicas da celulose na proliferação de células mamárias". (Thesis) Main arguer	Sofia Gomes da Rocha (Master) Universidade do Minho Escola de Engenharia, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

	Topic	Student name
2015/09 - 2016/02	Title of Master Thesis: Bacterial Cellulose as a drug delivey system for wound healing.	Beatriz Pinheiro Cardoso