Type: University research groups
Acronym: 3B's
Coordinator name: Rui L. Reis
Name of the institution to which it belongs: Universidade do Minho
Address: 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho
Telephone: +351 253 510 900
E-mail: Send email
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3b-s-research-group/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3bsResearchGroup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/3bsuminho
The group integrates the Portuguese Government Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B´s, a collaboration with the Institute of Health and Life sciences of the School of Medicine of U. Minho. The 3B’s Research Group also leads the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine that has branches in 22 locations in 13 different countries.
The goal of the 3B’s Research Group is to develop novel biomaterials (hydrogels, scaffolds, membranes, nano/microparticles) based on natural polymers for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering of different skeletal and connective tissues. This is accomplished by developing several isolation/purification tools and processing methods, allowing for the fabrication of highly functional natural-derived biomaterials. On the other hand, stem cell research is devoted to the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from different sources (adipose tissue, bone marrow, amniotic membrane and fluid, umbilical cord blood, Warton’s Jelly) and origins (human, goat, rat) towards the lineages of interest (e.g. bone, cartilage, skin, tendon) either using conventional methodologies or combining scaffolds with biological signals.
Research at 3B’s is supported by multiple grants from European (The Framework Programmes for research and technological development from the European Union) and National and Regional Funding Agencies, innovation agencies, cross-border programs, as well as by industrial contracts. The 3B’s Research Group has been in the last few years one of the most active groups in Europe on attracting highly competitive and prestigious large grants for research, educational programs, and supporting infrastructure. This strategy has been positioning the Group as a continuously growing and world-respected center on Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine research.
Areas of expertise: Seafood markets, commercial networks and valuation, New products of marine origin, Obtaining, managing and valuing marine by-products
Keywords: Biomaterials; Tissue Engineering; Regenerative Medicine Research; wound healing; bone regeneration; cartilage regeneration; by-products valorisation; biomimetics.
Number of researchers: 128
Number of doctors: 70
Scopus identifier: https://www.scopus.com/affil/profile.uri?afid=60020475
Open Access Scientific Repository: http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt
Projects
Deep-sea Sponge Grounds Ecosystems of the North Atlantic
Acronym: SponGES
Financing program: Horizon 2020
Financing entity: European Commission
Start year: 2016
Ending year: 2020
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: http://www.deepseasponges.org/
Transborder Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology
Acronym: BlueBioLab
Financing program: POCTEP
Financing entity: CCDR-N
Start year: 2019
Ending year: 2022
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: https://www.algavalor.pt/en/
Multifunctional hydrogels inspired by mussels that combine bioactivity with superior adhesion for bone tissue regeneration
Acronym: SeaJellyBone
Financing program: Compete2020
Financing entity: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Start year: 2018
Ending year: 2022
Principal investigator: Rui Costa
Project url: https://3bs.uminho.pt/research-projects/576
MicroAlgas: produção integrada e valorização da biomassa e das suas diversas aplicações
Acronym: Algavalor
Financing program: INTERREG VA Espanha-Portugal
Financing entity: FEDER
Start year: 2019
Ending year: 2022
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: https://www.algavalor.pt/en/
Valorização Integral dos recursos marinhos: potencial, inovação tecnológica e novas aplicações
Acronym: ValorMar
Financing program: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Financing entity: ANI (Agência Nacional de Inovação)
Start year: 2017
Ending year: 2021
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: http://valormar.pt/
BLUE biotechnology as a road for innovation on HUMAN’s health aiming smart growth in Atlantic Area
Acronym: BlueHuman
Financing program: Atlantic Area Transnational Programme
Financing entity: FEDER
Start year: 2018
Ending year: 2021
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: http://bluehuman.cetmar.org/
Inovação industrial através de colaborações específicas entre empresas e centros de investigação no contexto de valorização biotecnológica marinha
Acronym: CVMar+i
Financing program: POCTEP
Financing entity: CCDR-N
Start year: 2017
Ending year: 2020
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: http://cvmari.cetmar.org/
Platform for the monitoring of the North Atlantic ocean and tools for the sustainable exploitation of the marine resources
Acronym: ATLANTIDA
Financing program: Norte2020
Financing entity: CCDR-N
Start year: 2020
Ending year: 2023
Principal investigator: Rui L. Reis
Project url: https://www.atlantidaproject.pt
Shark cartilage as a blue biotechnology model for the development of new biomaterials
Acronym: SharTech
Financing program: Compete2020
Financing entity: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Start year: 2018
Ending year: 2020
Principal investigator: Tiago H. Silva
Project url: https://3bs.uminho.pt/research-projects/605
Publications
Chitosan/β-TCP composites scaffolds coated with silk fibroin: a bone tissue engineering approach
Authors: Piaia L., Silva S. S., Gomes J. ., Franco AR., Fernandes E. ., Lobo FCM., Rodrigues LC., Leonor I. ., Fredel MC., Salmoria G. ., Hotza D., Reis R. L.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Biomedical Materials
Innovative methodology for marine collagen-chitosan-fucoidan hydrogels production, tailoring rheological properties towards biomedical application
Authors: Carvalho, D. N., Gonçalves, C., Oliveira, J. M., Willliams, D., Mearns Spragg, A., Reis, R. L., and Silva, T. H.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Green Chemistry
Bioactivity of Biosilica Obtained From North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges
Authors: Dudik O., Amorim S., Xavier JR., Rapp HT., Silva T. ., Pires R. ., Reis R. L.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Frontiers in Marine Science
Fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles functionalized with anti-ErbB-2 target breast cancer cells and impair tumor growth in vivo
Authors: Oliveira C. ., Gonçalves C. S., Martins E. P., Neves N. M., Reis R. L., Costa B. M., Silva T. ., Martins A.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics
Macro and Microstructural Characteristics of North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges as Bioinspired Models for Tissue Engineering Scaffolding
Authors: Martins E., Rapp TH., Xavier JR., Diogo G. ., Reis R. L., Silva T.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Frontiers in Marine Science
Marine collagen-chitosan-fucoidan cryogels as cell-laden biocomposites envisaging tissue engineering
Authors: Carvalho DN., López-Cebral R., Sousa RO., Alves AL., Silva S. S., Oliveira J. M., Reys L. ., Reis R. L., Silva T.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Biomedical Materials
Fucoidan immobilized at the surface of a fibrous mesh presents toxic effects over melanoma cells, but not over non-cancer skin cells
Authors: Oliveira C. ., Soares AI., Neves N. M., Reis R. L., Marques A. ., Tiago S. H., Martins A.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Biomacromolecules
Cell-Laden Biomimetially Mineralized Shark-Skin-Collagen-Based 3D Printed Hydrogels for the Engineering of Hard Tissues
Authors: Diogo G. ., Marques CF., Sotelo C. ., Pérez-Marin RI., Pirraco R. ., Reis R. L., Silva T.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
Collagen from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) skins extracted using CO2 acidified water with potential application in healthcare
Authors: Sousa RO., Martins E., Carvalho DN., Alves AL., Oliveira C. ., Duarte A. ., Silva T. ., Reis R. L.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Journal of Polymer Research
Extraction and Characterization of Collagen from Elasmobranch Byproducts for Potential Biomaterial Use
Authors: Seixas MJ., Martins E., Reis R. L., Silva T.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Marine Drugs
Patents
METHOD TO OBTAIN COLLAGEN/GELATIN FROM MARINE SPONGES
Inventors: GONÇALVES DOS REIS RUI LUIS, CRUZ DUARTE ANA RITA, COLARDELLE DA LUZ MANO JOÃO FILIPE, QUINTEIROS LOPES HENRIQUES DA SILVA TIAGO JOSÉ, DE ASCENSÃO AROSO IVO MANUEL, ANTUNES BARROS ALEXANDRE ANTÓNIO, FERNANDES DA SILVA JOÃO CARLOS
Reference: EP3126382
Presentation year: 2014
Titular institutions: A4TEC
Infraestructure
Services
MECHANICAL TESTING
- Fatigue Equipment
- Universal Mechanical Testing Machine
- Mechanical Spectrometer Apparatus (DMA)
USE APPLICATIONS
- Mechanical testing including static testing and high-frequency dynamic fatigue testing in a tensile, compression and flexural mode
- Measurements of viscoelasticity
- Determination of storage and complex modules
- Module determination depending on temperature, frequency or time
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/materials-characterization/mechanical-t…
THERMAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION
- Nano Zetasizer
- Quartz Crystal Microbalance
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Contact angle
USE APPLICATIONS
- Determination of specific heat capacity of polymers
- Determination of glass-transition and melt temperatures of polymers
- Investigations of crystallization kinetics of polymers
- Determination of surface free energy of solid samples
- Wetting behaviour study
- Printability evaluation
- Determination of size and zeta potential of nano particles
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/materials-characterization/thermal-and-…
CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
- Analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (ICP)
- Standard UV-VIS Photospectrometer
USE APPLICATIONS
- Qualitative and quantitative detection of single components
- Multielement analysis - qualitative and quantitative determination of ions in solution
- Characterization of polymers
- Identification of polymers and low-molecular substances (e.g. impurities and additives)
- Determination of the chemical composition (functional groups)
- Characterization of surfaces
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/materials-characterization/chemical-cha…
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION
- X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomographer (m-CT)
- Spectroscopic Ellipsometer
- SEM Scanning Electron Microscopy
USE APPLICATIONS
- Non-destructive analysis and quantification of porosity, pore size and interconnectivity of porous structures
- Analysis, quantification and 3D reconstruction of mineralized tissue
- Analysis and 3D reconstruction of the bulk structure of samples
- Non-destructive analysis and reconstruction of a reinforcement on a polymeric matrix.
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/materials-characterization/morphologica…
HISTOLOGY
- Cryo-sectioning equipment (Cryostat)
- Automatic Spin Processor
- Paraffin Embedding Centre
- Microtome
- Automatic Staining Equipment
- Transmitted and Reflected Light Microscope
USE APPLICATIONS
- Sectioning, staining and permanent mounting of cryo-preserved in vitro and in vivo samples
- Sectioning, staining and permanent mounting of chemically preserved in vitro and in vivo samples
- Microscopic analysis of all obtained samples
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/biological-characterization/histology
IN VIVO EVALUATION
- Fully equipped facilities for rodents and lagomorphs
- Surgical facilities for immunocompetent and immunocompromised animals
USE APPLICATIONS
- Biocompatibility tests on rodents (mice, including immunocompromised, and rats) and rabbits
- Evaluation of bone and cartilage regeneration of biomaterials and/or tissue engineering constructs in rat and rabbit models
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/biological-characterization/In-vivo-Eva…
CYTOTOXICITY TESTS - IN VITRO
- Animal Cell Culture Specific Laboratory
- Thermostatic Water Baths
- Microplate Reader for Absorbance, Fluorescence and Luminescence
- Biohazard Vertical Flow Chambers
- CO2 Incubators for Cell Culture Conditions
- Inverted Microscope
USE APPLICATIONS
- Evaluation of the effects of leachables released from polymeric materials on cell behaviour (growth, membrane damage, metabolism, etc), according to the established international standards on cytotoxicity evaluation of leachables from medical devices/materials
- Direct contact assays - cell-biomaterials surface interactions
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/biological-characterization/cytotoxicit…
CELL CHARACTERIZATION TESTS
- Cell Culture Specific Laboratory
- Biohazard Vertical Flow Chambers
- CO2 Incubators for Cell Culture Conditions
- Histology Laboratory
- Inverted Microscope
- Transmitted and Reflected Light Microscope
- Flow Cytometer
- Molecular biology equipment (real time thermocyclers)
USE APPLICATIONS
- Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of primary cell markers by immunocytochemistry and by flow cytometry
- Characterization of specific genetic markers expression after primary cell culture
- Qualitative evaluation of cell differentiation profile after culturing with medical devices/materials by immunocytochemistry
- Quantitative assessment of specific differentiation markers by flow cytometry
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/biological-characterization/cell-charac…
POLYMERS PROCESSING
- Injection moulding
- Compression moulding
- Extrusion
- Rapid prototyping
- Freeze-drying
- Supercritical fluids
AVAILABLE APPLICATIONS
- Processing of polymers and composites
- Development of materials for specific applications
Type of service: Technology/Technology Platforms
Service URL: https://services.3bs.uminho.pt/services/polymers-processing