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Currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Coimbra, with research conducted at Texas A&M University under a Fulbright Grant and FCT support. The doctoral project—Structural modulation of porphyrins for antimicrobial applications—is supervised by Prof. Mariette Pereira and co-supervised by Prof. Vanderlei Bagnato (Texas A&M University) and Prof. Miguel A.R.B. Castanho (Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine). Holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry with a specialization in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Coimbra (2019), and an M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry (2021), with a thesis focused on the Development of cationic photosensitizers for photoinactivation of microorganisms, graded 19/20. Recipient of the Top 3% Best Students Award in both 2019 and 2020, as well as three merit-based scholarships: the 2024 Fulbright Grant, the 2020 FCT Summer School in Medicinal Chemistry scholarship, and a 2019 scholarship from the University of Coimbra’s Chemistry Research Center. Selected for academic mobility programs in the United States (AFS Intercultural Programs, 2012–2013) and Australia (AEN–Utrecht Network, 2018). Author/co-authored nine publications in international peer-reviewed journals and is co-inventor on one patent (PPP116946). Scientific contributions include five poster presentations—such as at the XXVI SPQ Meeting (Portugal), the International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, and the 14th National Organic Chemistry & 7th National Medicinal Chemistry Meeting—and seven oral communications delivered at conferences including the 18th International Photodynamic Association World Congress, the 18th International Congress on Photobiology, and the XXIX European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry. Finalist in both the first and second National SPQ Retrosynthesis Competitions, and winner of the 2023 edition. Holds advanced know-how in porphyrin synthesis, including flow chemistry techniques for scale-up, and has accumulated over 80 hours of BSL-3 laboratory experience working with viruses. Currently involved in a large-scale research project on pneumonia treatment in sheep, conducted in ABSL-2 facilities, with a focus on drug delivery methods and the application of photodynamic therapy. Completed certified training in Laboratory Animal Science (Modular Course II, 2019), with research internships undertaken at PorphyChem (Dijon, France, 2020) and the University of Heidelberg (Germany, 2021). Elected four times as Chapter Coordinator for AFS Portugal and represented the University of Coimbra at the National University Judo Championships in 2019.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Zoe Arcas Arnaut

Citation names

  • Arnaut, Zoe A.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
7613-0B52-7843
ORCID iD
0000-0002-2364-295X

Knowledge fields

  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences - Organic Chemistry
  • Exact Sciences - Computer and Information Sciences
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Virology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
French (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Education
Degree Classification
2021/11/01 - 2025/11/01
Ongoing
 Chemistry (Doutoramento)
Major in Specialization in Medicinal Chemistry
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal

Texas A&M University Department of Biomedical Engineering, United States
2019/10/05 - 2021/07/23
Concluded
 Medicinal Chemistry (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
"Development of cationic photosensitizers for photoinactivation of microorganisms" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2016/09/16 - 2019/07/23
Concluded
 Medicinal Chemistry (Bachelor)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
"Design e síntese de sintões para desenvolvimento de compostos com potencial atividade antimicrobiana para a girase B" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 15,24
2019/01/07 - 2019/01/19
Attended
 II Modular Training in Laboratory Animal Science (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
16.8
2018/07/28 - 2018/11/15
Attended
 Medicinal Chemistry (Bachelor)
University of Wollongong, Australia
2012/08/18 - 2013/06/28
Attended
 Intercultura AFS (Ensino secundário)
South Mecklenburg High School, United States
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/10/01 - 2021/10/31 Research Trainee (Research) Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg Fakultät für Chemie und Geowissenschaften, Germany
Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg Fakultät für Chemie und Geowissenschaften, Germany
2020/09/01 - 2020/10/31 Research Trainee (Research) PorphyChem, France
PorphyChem, France
2020/08/06 - 2020/10/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/10/01 - 2019/12/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2025/06/25 - Current Treatment of pneumonia by photodynamic action
173770
PhD Student Fellow
Texas A&M University Department of Biomedical Engineering, United States
Ongoing

Other

Designation Funders
2021/10/01 - 2021/10/31 Anchorage of homogeneous gold complexes on solid supports for catalytic applications
Bilateral action Portugal-Germany
Master Student Fellow
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Lígia C. Gomes-da-silva; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Arnaut, Luis G.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "What makes the strength of very phototoxic photosensitizers". Paper presented in 18th International Congress on Photobiology 2024, Perth, 2024.
    Published
  2. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Felgueiras, Alexandre P.; Rodrigues, Fábio M. S.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Pais, A.C.C.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Factorial design for optimization of tetra-substituted meso-aryl porphyrins synthesis through flow chemistry". Paper presented in XXVIII Galego Portuguese Chemistry Encounter, Vigo, 2024.
    Published
  3. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Cruz-Oliveira, Christine; Cruz-Oliveira, C.; Oliveira, C. C.; Castanho, Miguel; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Synthesis and evaluation of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as potential antivirals". Paper presented in XXVIII Encontro Nacional da SPQ, Aveiro, 2023.
    Accepted
  4. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Amorim, Anita; Lobo, Ana Catarina S. ; Pereira, Mariette M.; Arnaut, Luis G.. "Photoinactivation of SARS-CoV-2 using a cationic di-imidazolyl chlorin photosensitizer". Paper presented in 18th International Photodynamic Association World Congress, Tampere, 2023.
    Published
  5. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Felgueiras, Alexandre P.; Stein, Philipp M.; Rudolph, Matthias; Carabineiro, S.A.C.; Carrilho, Rui M. B.; Hashmi, A. Stephen K.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Gold Tris-BINOL Menthol Monophosphite For The Preparation Of Phenol Derivatives". Paper presented in 8th Portuguese Young Chemistry Meeting, Vila Real, 2023.
    Published
  6. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Lobo, Ana Catarina S. ; Amorim, Anita; Calvete, Mário J. F. ; Rodrigues-Santos, Paulo; et al. "Synthesis of di-imidazolyl porphyrins and their chlorin derivatives for photoinactivation of bacteria and viruses". Paper presented in XXVI Encontro Galego-Portugués de Química, 2022.
  7. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Pais, Alberto A C C; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Design and scale-up of amphiphilic cationic meso-imidazolyl porphyrinbased photosensitizers for development of potential antimicrobial agents". Paper presented in XXIX European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry, 2021.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Felgueiras, Alexandre P.; Fábio M. S. Rodrigues; Aroso, Rafael T.; Alberto A.C.C. Pais; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Synthesis of various meso-aryl porphyrins using flow chemistry". Paper presented in 13th International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2024.
  2. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Cruz-Oliveira, Christine; Cruz-Oliveira, C.; Oliveira, C. C.; Castanho, Miguel A. R. B.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Structure-activity relationship of functionalized porphyrins for ZIKV inactivation". Paper presented in 13th International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2024.
  3. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Pinto, Sara M.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Scale-up of cationic meso-imidazolyl porphyrin photosensitizers as antimicrobial agents". Paper presented in 14th National Organic Chemistry Meeting & 7th National Medicinal Chemistry Meeting, 2022.
  4. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Pereira, Mariette M.; Arnaut, Luis G.; Pais, A. A. C. C.; Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Vinagreiro, Carolina; Pinto, Sara M. A.. "Computational design and synthesis of imidazolyl-tetrapyrrolic macrocycles based photosensitizers for photodynamic inactivation of micro-organisms". Paper presented in International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2021.
  5. Arnaut, Zoé A.; Pereira, Mariette M.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Guedes, Rita C.. "The quest for new antibiotics: synthesis of potential DNA gyrase inhibitors". Paper presented in XXVI Encontro Nacional da SPQ, 2019.
Journal article
  1. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Felgueiras, Alexandre P.; Rodrigues, Fábio M. S.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Sandra Nunes; Pais, A. A. C. C.; Pereira, Mariette M.. Corresponding author: Pereira, Mariette M.. "A New Rule(r) for Nitrobenzene-Based Synthesis of meso-Tetraarylporphyrins under Continuous Flow: Design of Experiments Guided Optimization". Organic Process Research & Development (2026):
    Accepted
  2. Anita S. Amorim; Chloe M. Hobbs; Zoe A. Arnaut; Mariette M. Pereira; David Gallagher; Teck Wee Boo; Georgina Gethin; et al. "Selective antimicrobial photodynamic therapy of clinical isolates from patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers using a small cationic chlorin". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2025): https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.00962-25.
    10.1128/aac.00962-25
  3. Alexandre P. Felgueiras; Zoe A. Arnaut; Juliana S.F. Cebola; Guilherme M. Martins; Fábio M.S. Rodrigues; Vanderlei S. Bagnato; Kleber T. de Oliveira; Mario J.F. Calvete; Mariette M. Pereira. "Unlocking BODIPY dye synthetic methodologies with 1H NMR monitoring and continuous flow techniques". Dyes and Pigments (2025): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2025.113075.
    10.1016/j.dyepig.2025.113075
  4. Fernanda Alves; Isabelle Almeida de Lima; Lorraine Gabriele Fiuza; Zoe A. Arnaut; Natalia Mayumi Inada; Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato. "Optimizing Photosensitizer Delivery for Effective Photodynamic Inactivation of Klebsiella pneumoniae Under Lung Surfactant Conditions". Pathogens (2025): https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14070618.
    10.3390/pathogens14070618
  5. Szuroczki, Péter; Mikle, Gábor; Aroso, Rafael T.; Arnaut, Zoe A.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Carrilho, Rui M. B.; Bényei, Attila; Kollár, László; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Unlocking New Porphyrin Aminoacid Bioconjugates with a Pd-Catalyzed Carboxamide Synthesis". ChemPlusChem 90 6 (2025): https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.202500193.
    10.1002/cplu.202500193
  6. Amorim, Anita S.; Arnaut, Zoe A.; Mata, Ana I.; Pucelik, Barbara; Barzowska, Agata; da Silva, Gabriela J.; Pereira, Mariette M.; Dabrowski, Janusz M.; Arnaut, Luis G.. "Efficient and Selective, In Vitro and In Vivo, Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy with a Dicationic Chlorin in Combination with KI". ACS Infectious Diseases 10 9 (2024): 3368-3377. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00492.
    Open access • 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00492
  7. Mendonça, Diogo A.; Cadima-Couto, Iris; Buga, Carolina C.; Arnaut, Zoe A.; Schaberle, Fabio A.; Arnaut, Luis G.; Castanho, Miguel A.R.B.; Cruz-Oliveira, Christine. "Repurposing anti-cancer porphyrin derivative drugs to target SARS-CoV-2 envelope". Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 176 (2024): 116768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116768.
    10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116768
  8. Arnaut, Zoe A.; Pinto, Sara M. A.; Aroso, Rafael T.; Amorim, Anita S.; Lobo, Catarina S.; Schaberle, Fabio A.; Pereira, Dina; et al. "Selective, broad-spectrum antiviral photodynamic disinfection with dicationic imidazolyl chlorin photosensitizers". Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 22 11 (2023): 2607-2620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00476-4.
    10.1007/s43630-023-00476-4
  9. Aroso, Rafael T.; Piccirillo, Giusi; Arnaut, Zoe A.; Gonzalez, Andreia C.S.; Rodrigues, Fábio M.S.; Pereira, Mariette M.. "Photodynamic inactivation of influenza virus as a potential alternative for the control of respiratory tract infections". Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology 7 (2021): 100043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpap.2021.100043.
    10.1016/j.jpap.2021.100043

Intellectual property

Provisional application for patent
  1. 2020. "Small cationic ortho-5,15-di-heteroaryl-chlorin and bacteriochlorin derivatives and their applications in photoinactivation of microorganisms".
    Protected
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2025/04/11 Porphyrins: from synthesis to antimicrobial testing
University of Texas at Dallas (Dallas, United States)
2024 What makes the strength of very phototoxic photosensitizers 18th International Congress on Photobiology
(Perth, Australia)
2024 Factorial design for optimization of tetra-substituted meso-aryl porphyrin synthesis through flow chemistry XXVIII Encontro Galego-Portugués de Química
(Vigo, Spain)
2023/05/19 2ª Competição Nacional de Retrossíntese 2023 8th Portuguese Young Chemists Meeting
(Portugal)
2023 Synthesis and evaluation of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as potential antivirals XXVIII Encontro Nacional da SPQ
(Aveiro, Portugal)
2023 Photoinactivation of SARS-CoV-2 using a cationic di-imidazolyl chlorin photosensitizer 18th International Photodynamic Association World Congress
(Tampere, Finland)
2023 Gold tris-BINOL menthol monophosphite for the preparation of phenol derivatives 8th Portuguese Young Chemistry Meeting
(Vila Real, Portugal)
2022 Synthesis of diimidazolyl porphyrins and their chlorin derivatives for photoinactivation of bacteria and viruses XXVI Encontro Galego-Portugués de Química
(Santiago de Compostela, Spain)
2021/05/19 1ª Competição Nacional de Retrossíntese 2020 7th Portuguese Young Chemists Meeting
(Bragança, Portugal)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2024/06/06 - 2024/06/07 XII Encontro Nacional de Catálise e Materiais Porosos (2024/06/06 - 2024/06/07)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
2024 - 2024 Junior Chemistry Olympiad (2024 - 2024)
Other (Member of the Organising Committee)
2024 - 2024 Chemistry Olympiad + (2024 - 2024)
Other (Member of the Organising Committee)
2023 - 2023/11/29 EducaPlast - A problemática da poluição por microplásticos e o desenvolvimento de bioplásticos como alternativa de futuro: comunicar e envolver a Sociedade (2023 - 2023)
Other (Other)
2023 - 2023 Junior Chemistry Olympiad (2023 - 2023)
Other (Member of the Organising Committee)
2022 - 2022 Junior Chemistry Olympiad (2022 - 2022)
Other

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2020/08/29 - 2020/11/30 Training in the areas of Chemistry / Medicinal Chemistry, focused on scientific research and experience of initiation to scientific research in these areas.
Workshop
 Training course - Experimental Medicinal Chemistry: From Academia to Pharmaceutical Industry
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2017/08/13 - 2017/08/18 The theme of the Volunteer Summer Summit 2017 was "Equal Opportunities".
Meeting
 Volunteer summer summit
AFS-USA Inc, United States

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2019 - Current SPQ - Portuguese Society of Chemistry Member
2013/09/01 - Current Intercultura- AFS Chapter coordinator; Trainer;
2019 - 2022 SPP member Member

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2024 - 2024 Synthesis of di-imidazolyl porphyrin by a continuous flow process Diogo Veiga
Distinctions

Award

2024 Fulbright Scholarship
2020 3% Best students award
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019 3% Best students award
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Other distinction

2020 FCT Verão com ciência scholarship
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2019 FCT scholarship (CQC SER C3_4)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal