Catarina Gonçalves is currently a staff researcher in the Food Processing and Nutrition Group, in the Foodture Cluster. She works in vitro digestion models to evaluate the safety and efficiency of nanostructures for food applications. A microfluidic-based device is being developed to simulate the complete gastrointestinal tract including a cell-based module (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines derived from the human intestinal epithelium) to predict intestinal responses. Catarina also performs in vitro cytotoxicity tests, such as cell viability, membrane integrity and ROS generation.

Catarina holds a Diploma (2004) in Chemical Engineering, from ISEP, Porto and a PhD degree (2010) in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. As a postdoctoral researcher (2010-2016) at the Centre of Biological Engineering, in Braga, she worked on the chemical modification of natural polymers for nanogels preparation (through self-assembly) and their physic-chemical characterization, nanoencapsulation and release studies (small molecules and proteins), cytotoxicity evaluation and in vivo biodistribution studies (mice and rat models). Catarina also worked with radiolabeled nanogels stabilizing γ-Fe2O3 for use as dual modality probe, combining SPECT and MRI.

• Xavier, M., Hevia, L. G., Amado, I.R., Pastrana, L., Gonçalves, C.
  In vitro intestinal uptake and permeability of fluorescently-labelled hyaluronic acid nanogels
  International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2019, 14, 9077–9088

• Freitas, F.M.C., Cerqueira, M.A., Gonçalves, C., Azinheiro, S., Garrido-Maestu, A., Vicente, A.A., Pastrana, L.M., Teixeira, J.A., Michelin, M.
  Green synthesis of lignin nano- and micro-particles: Physicochemical characterization, bioactive properties and cytotoxicity assessment
  International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020, 163, 1798-1809

• Afonso, B., Azevedo, A.G., Gonçalves, C., Amado, I.R., Ferreira, E.C., Pastrana, L.M., Cerqueira, M.A.
  Bio-based nanoparticles as a carrier of beta-carotene: production, characterisation and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion
  Molecules, 2020, 25, 4497

• Xavier, M., Parente, I.A., Rodrigues, P.M., Cerqueira, M.A., Pastrana, L., Gonçalves, C.
  Safety and fate of nanomaterials in food: The role of in vitro tests
  Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2021, 109, 593

• Pizarroso, N.A., Fuciños, P., Gonçalves, C., Pastrana, L., Amado, I.R.
  A Review on the Role of Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Satiety Regulation
  Nutrients, 2021, 13(2), 632