- Professor Ana Rita Figueiras has obtained her Ph.D degree from the University of Coimbra, and she is Researcher and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy in this institution.
- Actually, Ana Figueiras is scientific member of REQUIMTE/LAQV.
- Professor Ana Rita research areas are polymeric micelles, cyclodextrins and mucoadhesive polymers in drug delivery.
- During her Ph.D. thesis she acquired experience in drug permeability, cellular viability and cytotoxicity studies, mucoadhesive biomaterials, therapeutic applications of cyclodextrins and computational studies in drug design.
- Now, her objective is to combine know-how development during her Ph.D thesis and new strategies for successful drug delivery, especially in what concerns the use of block copolymers and micellar systems.
- She has numerous scientific publications in prestigious journals, several book chapters and various communications in international conferences.
Education and qualifications
- October 2004–June 2009: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain and Chemistry and Pharmacy Institute, University of Innsbruck, Austria .
- PhD in Pharmaceutics sponsored by the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (October 2004–June 2009).
- PhD supervisors: Professor Francisco Veiga, Professor Juan Torres Labandeira and Professor Andreas Bernkop (October 2004–June 2009).
- July 2003: Registered as a member of Ordem dos Farmacêuticos, Portugal.
- October 1997–June 2003: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal. (Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Classification: 16/20).
- Sept 1994–June 1997: High School of Vila Viçosa, Portugal. Classification: 18/20.
Work Experience
- 01-9-2014–present: Assistant Professor Integrated Ph.D Member In the REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- 01-9-2013–31-8-2014: Invited Assistant Professor Integrated Ph.D Member In the Center of Neuroscience and Cell Biology in the University of Coimbra (CNC/UC) Collaborator Researcher in the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS/UBI), Coimbra, Portugal.
- 01-9-2012–31-8-2013: Invited Assistant Professor Integrated Ph.D Member In the Center for Pharmaceutical Studies (CEF/FF/UC) Collaborator Researcher in the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS/UBI), Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- 01-9-2011–31-8-2012: Invited Assistant Professor Integrated Ph.D Member In the Center for Pharmaceutical Studies (CEF/FF/UC) Collaborator Researcher in the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS/UBI), Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- 22-9-2009–22-9-2011: Invited Assistant Professor Integrated Ph.D Member In the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS/UBI) Collaborator Researcher in the Center for Pharmaceutical Studies (CEF/FF/UC) Faculty of Health Science - University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
- 01-2-2007–01-6-2007: Teaching assistant in laboratorial lessons of Pharmaceutical Technology Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- 01-1-2004–16-10-2004: Pharmacist in the Investigation and Development (I&D) department Labialfarma - Laboratório de Biologia Alimentar e Farmacêutica, Lda.
- 01-10-2003–01-1-2004: Pharmacist - Farmácia Teixeira Botelho, Ansião, Portugal.
International Articles with Peer-Review
- Interaction of Omeprazole with a Methylated Derivative of ß-cyclodextrin: Phase solubility, NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Simulation; Figueiras, A.; Sarraguça, J.M.G.; Carvalho, R.A.; Pais, A.A.C.C.; Veiga, F.; Pharmaceutical Research; (2007) 24: 377-389; DOI: 10.1007/s11095-006-9161-8.
- Solid-state characterization and dissolution profiles of the inclusion complexes of omeprazole with native and chemically modified ß-cyclodextrin; Figueiras, A.; Carvalho, R.A.; Ribeiro, L.; Torres-Labandeira, J.J.; Veiga, F.; European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutis; (2007) 67: 531-539; DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2007.03.005.
- Preparation and physicochemical characterization of inclusion complex between omeprazole: methyl-beta-cyclodextrin in solid state; Figueiras, A.; Ribeiro, L.; Vieira, M.T.; Veiga, F.; Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry; (2007) 57: 173-177; DOI: 10.1007/s10847-006-9200-4.
- Evaluation of host-guest complex formation between a benzimidazolic derivative and cyclodextrins by UV-VIS spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry; Figueiras, A.; Ribeiro, L.; Torres-Labandeira, J.J.; Veiga, F.; Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry; (2007) 57: 531-535; DOI: 10.1007/s10847-006-9245-4.
- New insight into the discrimination between omeprazole enantiomers by cyclodextrins in aqueous solution; Figueiras, A.; Sarraguça, J.M.G.; Pais, A.A.C.C.; Veiga, J.F.; Carvalho, R.A.; Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry; (2008) 62: 345-351; DOI: 10.1007/s10847-008-9477-6.
- Preparation and solid-state characterization of inclusion complexes formed between miconazole and methyl-ß-cyclodextrin; Ribeiro, A.; Figueiras, A.; Veiga, F.; Santos, D.; AAPSPharmSciTechn; (2008) 9: 1102-1109; DOI: 10.1208/s12249-008-9143-8.
- In vitro evaluation of natural and methylated cyclodextrins as buccal permeation enhancing system for omeprazole delivery; Figueiras, A.; Hombach, J.; Veiga, F.; Bernkop-Schnürch, A.; European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutis; (2009) 71: 339-345; DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2008.08.016.
- Combining strategies to optimize a gel formulation containing miconazole: the influence of modified cyclodextrin on textural properties and drug release; Ribeiro, A.; Figueiras, A.; Freire, C.; Santos, D.; Veiga, F.; Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy; (2010) 36: 705-714; DOI: 10.3109/03639040903452260.
- The role of L-arginine in inclusion complexes of omeprazole with cyclodextrins; Figueiras, A.; Sarraguça, J.M.; Pais, A.A.; Carvalho, R.A.; Veiga, F.; AAPSPharmSciTech; (2010) 11: 233-240; DOI: 10.1208/s12249-009-9375-2.
- A comprehensive development strategy in buccal drug delivery; Figueiras, A.; Pais, A.A.; Veiga, F.; AAPSPharmSciTech; (2010) 11: 1703-1712; DOI: 10.1208/s12249-010-9546-1.
- Characterization of polyplexes involving small RNA; Pereira, P.; Jorge, A.F.; Martins, R.; Pais, A.A.C.C.; Sousa, F.; Figueiras, A.; Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2012) 387: 84-94; DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2012.07.088.
- The systems containing clays and clay minerals from modified drug release: A review; Rodrigues, L.A.S.; Figueiras, A.; Veiga, F.; Freitas, R.M.; Silva Filho, E.C.; Nunes, L.C.; Leite, C.M.S.; Colloids and Surfaces B – Biointerfaces (2013) 103: 642-651; DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.10.068.
- Microwave synthesis and in vitro stability of diclofenac-ß-cyclodextrin conjugate for colon delivery; Vieira, A.C.F.; Serra, A.C.; Carvalho, R.A.; Gonsalves, A.; Figueiras, A.; Veiga, F.J.; Basit, A.W.; Gonsalves, M. d’A.R.; Carbohydrate Polymers (2013) 93: 512-517; DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.12.053.
- Strategies to increase stilbene solubility and stability: a comparative study between cyclodextrins and bile acids; Silva, F.; Figueiras, A.; Gallardo, E.; Nerín, C.; Domingues, F.C.; Food Chemistry (2014) 145: 115-125; DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.08.034.
- Purification of pre-miR-29 by arginine-affinity chromatography; Pereira, P.; Sousa, A.; Queiroz, J.; Correia, I.; Figueiras, A.; Sousa, F.; Journal of Chromatography B (2014) 951-952: 16-23; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2014.01.020.
- New approach for purification of pre-miR-29 using lysine-affinity chromatography; Pereira, P.; Sousa, A.; Queiroz, J.; Figueiras, A.; Sousa, F.; Journal of Chromatography A (2014) 1331: 129-132; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2014.01.033.
- Preparation of Supramolecular Hydrogels Containing Poloxamers and Methyl-ß-cyclodextrin; Garcia, M.J.; Ruivo, J.; Oliveira, R.; Figueiras, A.; Letters in Drug Design & Discovery (2014); 11, DOI:10.2174/1570180811666140220005117.
- Supramolecular gels of poly-a-cyclodextrin and PEO-based copolymers for controlled drug release; Susana, M.N. Simões; Francisco Veiga; Ana C. F. Ribeiro; Ana R. Figueiras; Pablo Taboada; Angel Concheiro; Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo; European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutis (2014), 87, DOI:10.1016/j.ejpb.2014.04.006.
- Polymeric micelles for oral drug administration enabling locoregional and systemic treatments. Susana MN Simões, Ana R Figueiras, Francisco Veiga, Angel Concheiro, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery 2014; 12:1-22. DOI:10.1517/17425247.2015.960841
- Pharmaceutical-grade pre-miR-29 purification using an agmatine monolithic support. Patrícia Pereira, Ângela Sousa, João A. Queiroz, Ana Figueiras, Fani Sousa Journal of Chromatography A 2014; 1368:173-182. DOI:10.1016/j.chroma.2014.09.080
- Molecular interaction governing solubility and release profiles in supramolecular systems containing fenbufen, pluronics and cyclodextrins. Ana Figueiras, Sandra C. C. Nunes, Susana Simões, Alberto A. C. C. Pais, Francisco Veiga Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry 2015; 81. DOI:10.1007/s10847-014- 0466-7
- Resveratrol encapsulation with methyl-β-cyclodextrin for antibacterial and antioxidant delivery applications. Andreia Duarte, Ana Martinho, Ângelo Luís, Ana Figueiras, Mónica Oleastro, Fernanda C. Domingues, Filomena Silva LWT- FoodScience and Technology. 04/2015; 63:1254-1260. DOI:10.1016/j.lwt.2015.04.004.
- The main potentialities of resveratrol for drug delivery systems. Joana Ruivo, Cátia Francisco, Rita Oliveira, Ana Figueiras: Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2015; 51(3). DOI:10.1590/S1984-825020150003000.
- Improvements in topical ocular drug delivery systems: Hydrogels and contact lense. A.M. Ribeiro, A. Figueiras, F. Veiga Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2015; 18:692-704.
- Analysis of pre-miR-29b binding conditions to amino acids by Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor. Patrícia Pereira, Carla Cruz, João António Queiroz, Ana Figueiras, Fani Sousa Analytical methods. 2016; 8: 205-213. DOI:10.1039/C5AY02329G.
- Affinity approaches in RNAi-based therapeutics purification. Patrícia Pereira, João A. Queiroz, Ana Figueiras, Fani Sousa Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences; 2016; DOI:10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.01.022.
- Recombinant pre-miR-29b for Alzheimer´s disease therapeutics. Patrícia A. Pereira, Joana F. Tomás, João A. Queiroz, Ana R. Figueiras, Fani Sousa Scientific Reports; 2016; 6:19946. DOI:10.1038/srep19946.
- Advances in time course extracelular production of human pre-miR-29b from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. Pereira, P.; Pedro, A.Q.; Tomás, J.; Maia, C.J.; Queiroz, J.A.; Figueiras, A.; Sousa, F. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2016; 100:3723-34. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7350-x.
- Smart micelleplexes as a new therapeutic approach for RNA delivery. Pereira, P.; Barreira, M.; Queiroz, J.A.; Veiga, F.; Sousa, F.; Figueiras, A. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery. 2016; 2:1-19.
- Current progress on microRNAs-based therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases Patrícia A. Pereira, João A. Queiroz, Ana R. Figueiras, Fani Sousa WIREs RNA; Published Online: Nov 24, 2016 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1409.
- New insights for therapeutic recombinant human miRNAs heterologous production: Rhodovolum sulfidophilum vs Escherichia coli Patrícia Pereira, Augusto Q. Pedro, João A. Queiroz, Ana R. Figueiras & Fani Sousa Pages 1-8 | Received 03 Oct 2016, Accepted 17 Jan 2017, Published online: 10 Mar 2017. Bioengineered.
- Preparation and characterization of mixed polymeric micelles as a versatile strategy for meloxicam oral administration Amaral, A.; Magalhães, M.; Cabral, C.; Veiga, F.; Figueiras, A. Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Volume: 14 Year: 2017. DOI: 10.2174/1570180814666170505120728.
Awards
- 2004: Ph.D. fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Praxis SFRH/BD/19175/2004), Portugal.
- 2011: Best short communication: “Development of new therapeutic strategies for siRNA delivery”. VI Annual CICS Symposium, Faculty of Health Science, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
- 2012: Best oral communication: “Ploxamine-α-cyclodextrin supramolecular gels promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells”.
- II CEF conferência, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal and Hovione.
- 2015: Best oral communication: “Biosynthesis, purification and brain-targeted delivery of pre-miR-29b biopharmaceuticals for Alzheimer’s disease therapy”. X Annual CICS-UBI Symposium. Covilhã, Portugal.
- 2016: Best poster communication: “Preparation and characterization of inclusion complexes between β-caryophyllene and methyl-β-cyclodextrin”. III Congress ABCF, 13-15 June, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
