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Currently I am a junior researcher at i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação da Universidade do Porto (Portugal), where I develop my research focused on the design of supramolecular systems that recapitulate the spatial distribution of signalling molecules during tissue development, regeneration and repair. During my career, I have worked in six different institutions in five different countries, and always as part of a multidisciplinary team. This mobility has also exposed me to different scientific and working cultures and allowed me to create an international network of scientific collaborators. So far, my research work yielded 18 journal publications with 947 citations and an h-index of 14 (Google Scholar 25-02-2020). After been awarded a Marie Curie IOF fellowship, I moved to two renowned labs in self-assembly and supramolecular materials, Northwestern University (Sam Stupp, Chigago) and Eindhoven University of Technology (Bert Meijer). There, I built a strong expertise and international network in the field, as shown by my seminal findings on peptide self-assembly dynamics (Nat Commun 2016)[1] and self-healing hydrogels (Macromol 2017)[2]. Building on my own network, I co-edited a book on Self-Assembling Biomaterials (2018) (Woodhead, Elsevier), gathering 25 chapters written by renown labs around the world. Next, I moved to King’s College London (KCL) at the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, where I developed my own research ideas on designer hydrogels and used them as ECM surrogates to culture organoids presenting the hallmarks of tissue organization. This work is currently under revision (3rd round) in Nature Materials,[3] after performing all experiments requested by the reviewers in the previous rounds, which confirmed our most impactful findings. The pre-print is now available at bioRxiv. At KCL I have organised the 4th London Polymer Group Symposium https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/4th-london-polymer-group-symposium-registration-46532843989# Since my PhD graduation, I have been able to secure my own funding awarded to original research proposals in competitive calls (FCT postdoc fellowship and Marie Curie IOF fellowship). Afterwards, I was simultaneously awarded a King’s Prize fellowship and a Marie Sklodowska Curie CAR fellowship. I was happily forced to choose between them, having declined the last one. These last applications were both based on designer hydrogels to control stem cell fate, showing that my current research projects and ideas have great potential to attract further funds. I have also coordinated a seed award (King’s Together, 20k£) of which I was leading PI, having assembled a team joining eight research labs across disciplines and a clinician. I am currently supervising one PhD (4-yr fellowship, 175k£) and co-supervising another. I have participated as invited evaluator for EU research grants in several occasions since 2012 (FP7 and H2020), I have been regularly peer reviewing research papers for the past ten years. I regularly attend international conferences and have given several invited talks. I am also member of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and The Royal Chemical Society (RCS). ================= SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 1. da Silva RMP, et al. Nature Communications. 2016; 7:11561. 2. Lopez-Perez PM, da Silva RMP, et al. Macromolecules. 2017; 50(21):8698–8706. (shared 1st author) 3. Jowett GM, Norman MDA, Yu TTL, …, da Silva RMP, Neves JF, Gentleman E. “ILC1-derived TGFß1 drives intestinal remodelling.” Nat Mater (under revision). 2020 (preprint available at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.20 8. Neves MI, Araújo M, Moroni L, da Silva RMP, Barrias CC. Molecules. 2020; 25(4):978 (shared senior author)
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Manuel Ricardo Mendes Pereira da Silva

Citation names

  • da Silva, Ricardo M. P.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
6810-52EA-A2B8
ORCID iD
0000-0003-1456-8724
Google Scholar ID
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WAcyPdMAAAAJ&hl=en
Researcher Id
http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-1143-2011

Telephones

Telephone
  • 220408800 Ext.: 6076 (Professional)

Addresses

  • Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 (Room 107), 4200-135, Porto, Porto, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Engineering and Technology - Materials Engineering - Materials Engineering
  • Engineering and Technology - Nano-technology - Nano-materials
  • Engineering and Technology - Medical Engineering - Medical Engineering
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Biomaterials
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Technologies Involving the Manipulation of Cells, Tissues, Organs or the Whole Organism

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Spanish; Castilian Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Education
Degree Classification
2008/02/02
Concluded
Ciência e Tecnologia dos Materiais (Doutoramento)
Major in Biomateriais
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
"Preparation and Characterisation of Novel Multifuncional Chitosan-based Membranes to Modulat Cell-material Interactions" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
1995/09/01 - 2001/07/28
Concluded
Engenharia Biológica (Licenciatura)
Major in Controlo da Poluição
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
16
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2019/05/01 - 2020/04/30 Postdoc (Research) Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2016/04/01 - 2019/03/31 Auxiliary Researcher (Research) King’s College London, United Kingdom
2013/04/01 - 2014/03/31 Postdoc (Research) Eindhoven Univ. of Technology, Netherlands
2011/04/01 - 2013/03/31 Postdoc (Research) Northwestern University - Chicago, United States
2008/02/01 - 2010/08/31 Postdoc (Research) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2002/01/01 - 2008/01/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2001/08/01 - 2001/12/31 Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2017 - 2021 Phd Studentship: Multifunctional dynamic biomaterials to drive stem cell fate (Role: lead PI, 175k£)
1718-PGR-INT
Principal investigator
King's College London - Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, United Kingdom
King's College London
Ongoing
2019 - 2020 A molecular timer to growth factor release (Role: Lead PI, 4 k£)
RF19-9961
Principal investigator
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
Royal Society of Chemistry
Ongoing
2017/08 - 2018/07 King's Together: Smart biomaterials-driven cell recruitment for bone regeneration (Role: Lead PI, 20 k£)
Not applicable
Principal investigator
King's College London - Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, United Kingdom
King's College London
Concluded
2016/03 - 2018/02 King’s Prize Fellowship (Role: Fellow and Lead PI, 148 k£)
Not applicable
Post-doc Fellow
King's College London - Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, United Kingdom
King's College London
Concluded
2011/04/01 - 2014/03/31 Marie Curie IOF: SelfBioLogics. Mimicry of biology supramolecular logics towards self-assembly of artificial components for life. (Role: fellow, 246 k€)
Post-doc Fellow
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands
European Commission Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Concluded
2008 - 2008 Find & Bind - Mastering sweet cell-instructive biosystems by copycat nano-interaction of cells with natural surfaces for biotechnological applications (Role: grant writing)
Other
Universidade do Minho - 3B's Research Group , Portugal
European Commission Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Concluded
2004 - 2004 Alea Jacta EST: Shaping the Future of a New Generation of Hybrid Human Resources for the Tissue Engineering of Connective Tissues” (Role: grant writing)
Other
Universidade do Minho - 3B's Research Group , Portugal
European Commission Sixth Framework Programme
Concluded
2004 - 2004 EXPERTISSUES: Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Tissue Engineering of Bone and Cartilage Using Second Generation Biomimetic Scaffolds (Role: grant writing)
Other
Universidade do Minho - 3B's Research Group , Portugal
European Commission Sixth Framework Programme
Concluded
2003 - 2003 Hippocrates: A Hybrid Approach for Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering using Natural Origin Scaffolds, Progenitor Cell and Growth Factors (Role: grant writing)
Other
Universidade do Minho - 3B's Research Group , Portugal
European Commission Sixth Framework Programme
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Edited book
  1. da Silva, Ricardo M. P.. Self-Assembling Biomaterials: Molecular Design, Characterization and Application in Biology and Medicine. Woodhead Publishing, Elsevier. 2018.
    Published • Editor
Journal article
  1. Neves, Mariana I; Araújo, Marco; Moroni, Lorenzo; da Silva, Ricardo M. P. ; Barrias, Cristina C.. "Glycosaminoglycan-Inspired Biomaterials for the Development of Bioactive Hydrogel Networks". Molecules 25 4 (2020): https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040978.
    Open access • Published
  2. Salzlechner, Christoph; Haghighi, Tabasom; Huebscher, Isabella; Walther, Anders Runge; Schell, Sophie; Gardner, Alexander; Undt, Gerhard; et al. "Adhesive Hydrogels for Maxillofacial Tissue Regeneration Using Minimally Invasive Procedures". Advanced Healthcare Materials 9 4 (2020): 1901134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201901134.
    10.1002/adhm.201901134
  3. Paula M. López-Pérez; Ricardo M. P. da Silva; Iossif Strehin; Paul H J Kouwer; Sander C G Leeuwenburgh; Phillip B Messersmith. "Self-healing hydrogels formed by complexation between calcium ions and bisphosphonate-functionalized star-shaped polymers". MACROMOLECULES 50 21 (2017): 8698–8706-8698–8706. https://kclpureuat.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/selfhealing-hydrogels-formed-by-complexation-between-calcium-ions-and-bisphosphonatefunctionalized-starshaped-polymers(2a870494-bfa5-4446-a0ed-2c12bdf12a6a).html.
    10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01417
  4. da Silva, Ricardo M. P. ; van der Zwaag, Daan; Albertazzi, Lorenzo; Lee, Sungsoo S.; Meijer, E. W.; Stupp, Samuel I.. "Super-resolution microscopy reveals structural diversity in molecular exchange among peptide amphiphile nanofibres". Nature Communications 7 1 (2016): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11561.
    Open access • Published • 10.1038/ncomms11561
  5. Khan, Saahir; Sur, Shantanu; Dankers, Patricia Y. W.; da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Boekhoven, Job; Poor, Taylor A.; Stupp, Samuel I.. "Post-Assembly Functionalization of Supramolecular Nanostructures with Bioactive Peptides and Fluorescent Proteins by Native Chemical Ligation". Bioconjugate Chemistry 25 4 (2014): 707-717. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000334657500010&KeyUID=WOS:000334657500010.
    10.1021/bc400507v
  6. Paula M. López-Pérez; Ricardo M. P. da Silva; Carmen Serra; Iva Pashkuleva; Rui L. Reis. "Surface phosphorylation of chitosan significantly improves osteoblast cell viability, attachment and proliferation". JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY 20 3 (2010): 483-491. https://kclpureuat.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/surface-phosphorylation-of-chitosan-significantly-improves-osteoblast-cell-viability-attachment-and-proliferation(fc662037-15ba-40f6-9673-23a771edd59f).html.
    10.1039/B911854C
  7. Lopez-Perez, Paula M.; da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Pashkuleva, Iva; San Roman, Julio; Reis, Rui L.. "Temperature as a Single On-Off Parameter Controlling Nanoparticles Growing, Stabilization and Fast Disentanglement". Advanced Materials 22 38 (2010): 4288-+.
    10.1002/adma.201001717
  8. Lopez-Perez, Paula M.; da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Sousa, Rui A.; Pashkuleva, Iva; Reis, Rui L.. "Plasma-induced polymerization as a tool for surface functionalization of polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: An in vitro study". Acta Biomaterialia 6 9 (2010): 3704-3712.
    10.1016/j.actbio.2010.03.008
  9. Lopez-Perez, Paula M.; da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Pashkuleva, Iva; Parra, Francisco; Reis, Rui L.; San Roman, Julio. "Hydrophobic-Electrostatic Balance Driving the LCST Offset Aggregation-Redissolution Behavior of N-Alkylacrylamide-Based Ionic Terpolymers". Langmuir 26 8 (2010): 5934-5941.
    10.1021/la903904t
  10. Caridade, Sofia G.; da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Reis, Rui L.; Mano, Joao F.. "Effect of solvent-dependent viscoelastic properties of chitosan membranes on the permeation of 2-phenylethanol". Carbohydrate Polymers 75 4 (2009): 651-659.
    10.1016/j.carbpol.2008.09.011
  11. da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Caridade, Sofia G.; San Roman, Julio; Mano, Joao F.; Reis, Rui L.. "Transport of small anionic and neutral solutes through chitosan membranes: Dependence on cross-linking and chelation of divalent cations". Biomacromolecules 9 8 (2008): 2132-2138.
    10.1021/bm8001649
  12. da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Mano, Jado F.; Reis, Rui L.. "Straightforward determination of the degree of N-acetylation of chitosan by means of first-derivative UV spectrophotometry". Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 209 14 (2008): 1463-1472.
    10.1002/macp.200800191
  13. da Silva, Ricardo M. P.; Lopez-Perez, Paula M.; Elvira, Carlos; Mano, Joao F.; Roman, Julio San; Reis, Rui L.. "Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Surface-Grafted Chitosan Membranes as a New Substrate for Cell Sheet Engineering and Manipulation". Biotechnology and Bioengineering 101 6 (2008): 1321-1331.
    10.1002/bit.22004
  14. Paula M. López-Pérez; Alexandra P. Marques; Ricardo M. P. da Silva; Iva Pashkuleva; Rui L. Reis. "Effect of chitosan membrane surface modification via plasma induced polymerization on the adhesion of osteoblast-like cells". JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY 17 38 (2007): 4064-4071. https://kclpureuat.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/effect-of-chitosan-membrane-surface-modification-via-plasma-induced-polymerization-on-the-adhesion-of-osteoblastlike-cells(2d6bb64e-49ba-464d-8f09-b4f0e7286a3a).html.
    10.1039/B707326G
  15. da Silva, Ricardo M. P. ; Mano, Joao F.; Reis, Rui L.. "Smart thermoresponsive coatings and surfaces for tissue engineering: switching cell-material boundaries". Trends in Biotechnology 25 12 (2007): 577-583.
    10.1016/j.tibtech.2007.08.014
  16. Silva, R. M.; Silva, G. A.; Coutinho, O. P.; Mano, J. F.; Reis, R. L.. "Preparation and characterisation in simulated body conditions of glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan membranes". Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine 15 10 (2004): 1105-1112.
    10.1023/b:jmsm.0000046392.44911.46
  17. Viciosa, M. T.; Dionisio, M.; Silva, R. M.; Reis, R. L.; Mano, J. F.. "Molecular motions in chitosan studied by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy". Biomacromolecules 5 5 (2004): 2073-2078.
    10.1021/bm049685b
  18. Silva, R. M.; Elvira, C.; Mano, J. F.; San Roman, J.; Reis, R. L.. "Influence of beta-radiation sterilisation in properties of new chitosan/soybean protein isolate membranes for guided bone regeneration". Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine 15 4 (2004): 523-528.
    10.1023/b:jmsm.0000021132.60475.79
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2019 INVITED TALK: "Super-resolution microscopy reveals heterogeneous molecular exchange in peptide amphiphile self-assembly" Bioinspired Nanomaterials meeting
University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, United Kingdom)
2018 INVITED TALK: "From self-assembly reversibility to the design of dynamic biomaterials" 4th London Polymer Group Symposium
King’s College London (London, United Kingdom)
2017 Studying dynamic processes in peptide amphiphile self-assembly using super-resolution microscopy TERMIS-EU
(Davos, Switzerland)
2017 INVITED TALK: "Dynamic behaviour of peptide amphiphile supramolecular polymers" 3rd London Polymer Group Symposium
Imperial College (London, United Kingdom)
2015 INVITED TALK: STORM analysis of supramolecular dynamics in peptide amphiphiles Local Seminars
ICTP/CSIC (Madrid, Spain)
2014 INVITED TALK: "Unveiling molecular exchange mechanisms in peptide amphiphile self-assembly using super-resolution microscopy" Local Seminars
Queen Mary University of London (London, United Kingdom)
2008 Novel chitosan membranes with thermo-responsive surface properties for reversible cell adhesion and detachment 8th World Biomaterials Conference
(Amsterdam, Netherlands)
2007 Surface functionalization of chitosan membranes via phosphonic groups grafting: influence on Osteoblast like-cells behaviour 4th Marie Curie Cutting Edge Conference. Biocompatibility evaluation and biological behaviour of polymeric biomaterials
(Alvor, Portugal)
2007 Improved Adhesion of Osteoblast-Like Cells On Chitosan Membranes Surface Modified Via Introduction of Phosphonic Groups", , London, United Kingdom, (Tissue Engineering, 13(7), 923), Oral presentation TERMIS-EU
(London, United Kingdom)
2005 Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) surface grafted chitosan membranes as new thermoresponsive materials for surface controlled delivery of bioactive agents FBPS05, Frontiers on Biomedical Polymers
(Granada, Spain)
2005 Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) surface grafted chitosan membranes as a new substrate for cell sheet manipulation ESB2005, European Society for Biomaterials
(Sorrento, Italy)
2005 Study of the fosfosal controlled permeation through glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan membrane XII Portuguese Materials Society Meeting
(Aveiro, Portugal)
2004 Molecular Motions in Chitosan Studied by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy 12th Annual POLYCHAR World Forum on Advanced Materials
(Guimarães, Portugal)
2004 A New Methodology for the Characterisation of Water-Sensitive Chitosan Membrane Properties in Simulated Physiological Conditions Polychar-12, 12th Annual POLYCHAR World Forum on Advanced Materials
(Guimarães, Portugal)
2003 Influence of ß-Radiation Sterilization in Properties of New Chitosan/Soybean Protein Isolate Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration ESB2003, European Society for Biomaterials
(Stuttgart, Germany)
2002 Bioactive composite chitosan membranes to be used in bone regeneration applications Bioceramics 15
(Sydney, Australia)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role
Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2018/10 - Current "Pluripotent Stem Cells and Smart Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration"
Co-supervisor of Hongqiang Yu
King's College London - Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, United Kingdom
2017/10 - Current "Multi-functional dynamic biomaterials to drive stem cell fate"
Supervisor of Ziqian Yan
King's College London - Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, United Kingdom
2018 - 2019 "Expression of Recombinant hSDF-1a to Enhance Intrinsic Bone Regeneration" (Extended Research Project in Molecular Science A, 6BBB0370, 45 credits, level 6)
Supervisor of Katie Flaherty
BSc Biochemistry (Degree)
King's College London, United Kingdom
2017 - 2018 "In vitro osteoclast activity in self-healing hydrogels for bone regeneration" (Laboratory Project, 7NNYRD03, 60 credits, level 7)
Supervisor of Maria José Bendek
MSc Regenerative Dentistry (Master)
King's College London, United Kingdom
2016 - 2017 "Design of self-assembling materials to direct stem cell behavior" (Research Project & Dissertation, 7CCC0050, 90 credits)
Supervisor of Maria Juvakka
MSc Chemistry with Biomedicine (Master)
King's College London, United Kingdom

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role)
Institution / Organization
2018/11/14 - 2018/11/14 4th London Polymer Group Symposium (2018/11/14 - 2018/11/14)
Symposium (President of the Organising Committee)

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2018 - 2019 Project Design in Regenerative Dentistry (7NNYRD04, 30 credits, level 7) Grant writing tutorials MSc Regenerative Dentistry (Master) King's College London - Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, United Kingdom
2018 - 2019 Student Selected Topic Essay: “Injectable biomaterials in dentistry” BDS Dentistry (Bachelor) King's College London, United Kingdom
2009 - 2009 Invited talk at the workshop on “Natural-based polymers for biomedical applications”, entitled “Why are natural-based polymers interesting for cell sheet engineering?”, undergraduate students on Biomedical Engineering (MSc) and Polymer Engineering (MSc) (Mestrado integrado) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2009 - 2009 Invited talk on “Smart Polymers” under the scope of the “Biomaterials” subject, Biomedical Engineering (MSc), (Mestrado integrado) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2005 - 2006 Supervision of undergraduate students (Biomedical Eng., MSc, Univ. of Minho) under the scope of the classes of “Biomaterials Research Laboratories” Biomedical engineering (Mestrado integrado) Universidade do Minho, Portugal

Evaluation committee

Activity description
Role
Institution / Organization Funding entity
2016 - 2016 H2020, FETPROACT-01-2016, European Commission (REA) Evaluator
Evaluator
Research Executive Agency, Belgium Research Executive Agency
2012 - 2013 Evaluator FP7, “Research for the benefit of SME’s" European Commission (REA)
Evaluator
Research Executive Agency, Belgium Research Executive Agency

Journal scientific committee

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2017 - 2017 Scientific Reports (2045-2322) Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2016 - 2016 ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
2011 - 2016 Soft Matter (1744-6848) The Royal Society of Chemistry
2014 - 2014 RSC Advances
2013 - 2013 Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry (1477-0539) Royal Society of Chemistry
2011 - 2011 Carbohydrate Polymers (0144-8617) Elsevier
2010 - 2010 Tissue Engineering (1076-3279) Mary Ann Liebert
2009 - 2009 Journal of Applied Polymer Science (1097-4628) Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
2009 - 2009 Carbohydrate Research
2008 - 2009 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (2212-5469) Springer-Verlag
2008 - 2008 Biotechnology and Bioengineering Wiley
2008 - 2008 Reactive and Functional Polymers

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2009 - Current Membranes and coatings of natural origin to be used as wound dressings Cátia Sofia Almeida Cardoso,
2017/06 - 2017/07 Undergraduate summer students , KURF fellowship, King’s College London Kai Ng
2017/06 - 2017/06 Undergraduate summer student, Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship, King’s College London Serena Probert
2013 - 2014 Synthesis of Fluorescently-Labelled Peptide Amphiphiles Avni Bhatt
2005/06 - 2010/04 Some hints on using surface phenomena for the design and performance optimization of distinct biomedical devices Paula Matilde Lopez Perez
2008/06 - 2008/12 Immunoglobulin binding membranes for cell purification Sonia Miatto
2006 - 2006 Materials Engineering (MSc) Sofia Gloria Caridade