Ana Francisca Osório de Almeida Coelho e Silva

Researcher

Contact

Department

  • Chemistry
  • 29.3.24

Research

Links

Short resume

Francisca A. e Silva graduated in Biotechnology at University of Aveiro in 2012, with one year abroad at La Sapienza University of Rome. After this period, she moved back to Portugal to start a research grant on the ecotoxicological evaluation of ionic liquids. After being awarded a PhD grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), she completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering with honors at the University of Aveiro in November 2018 also receiving the "Best PhD thesis in Chemical Engineering" awarded by the Iberoamerican Congress in Chemical Engineering. During the PhD, she spent three months abroad at McGill University, Canada. After, she worked as a research grantee under the framework of the European Research Council project IgYPurTech and as a postdoctoral researcher on the development of integrated production/purification of biopharmaceuticals. Following her researcher contract under the project IonCytDevice (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031106), Francisca A. e Silva is currently a Junior Researcher hired under the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Individual Call 2018 (CEECIND/03076/2018). In addition to the participation in other projects, she is currently the PI of the project PTDC/EMD-TLM/3253/2020 (ILSurvive) funded by the FCT.

Francisca A. e Silva published 23 articles in international peer reviewed high impact journals and 1 encyclopedia entry (+1000 citations, h-index of 15). Moreover, she has contributed with +50 oral and posters communications in national and international conferences and meetings.

academic degrees

2014-2018 • PhD in Chemical Engineering at University of Aveiro, Portugal • Thesis: Extraction and separation of drugs using alternative solvents • Superisors: Prof. Dr. João A. P. Coutinho and Dr. Sónia P. M. Ventura.

2010-2012 • MSc in Biotechnology at University of Aveiro, Portugal • Thesis: Bioproduction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from olive oil mill effluents • Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Mauro Majone (from La Sapienza University of Rome) and Prof. Dr. Luísa Seuanes Serafim.

2007-2010 • BSc in Biotechnology at University of Aveiro, Portugal.

Investigation interests

Francisca A. e Silva performs research at the intersection of the following scientific domains: Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology and Green Chemistry. Her research interests entail:

Improving biomarkers detection in human fluids using ionic liquids
Clinical care may significantly benefit from the detection of biomarkers in human samples. However, most biomarkers are proteins, thus labile molecules, and are present in low amounts in biological fluids. These features challenge the reliability of diagnosis results as false postitives/negatives may occur. Additionally, current detection of biomarkers is neither expedite nor cost-effective.  
In order to face these challenges, I have been recently using ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems to purify and concentrate of biomarkers from human fluids, enabling more expedite detection by the development of cost-effective and user-friendly approaches.

Development of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems for the purification of biopharmaceuticals
With both lifespan and life quality of human population advancing, the role of biopharmaceuticals as therapeutic agents has evolved at fast pace. Antibodies are high-value biopharmaceuticals, for which the purification routes available lack cost-efficiency and yield low purity and stability.
In order to overcome such shortcomings, I have been recently working on the use of switchable ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems for the purification of biopharmaceuticals.

Development of chiral ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems for enantioseparation of chiral compounds
The production of enantiopure drugs is highly recommended due to the distinct pharmacological activity that enantiomers may display; yet, the limited approaches available and their high cost remain challenging. Liquid-liquid extraction techniques, in particular aqueous biphasic systems, seem to be promising for enantioseparations. However, polymeric aqueous biphasic systems suffer from limited selectivity.
Aiming at accomplishing enhanced enantioselectivity, I have been working on the application of chiral ionic liquids as both solvents and chiral selectors within aqueous biphasic systems.

Valorization of wastes by the recovery of added-value compounds using alternative solvents
Currently, a mindset shift started to occur in industry from a “take-make-use-dispose” to a circular economy, where products and processes are developed in the light of resource efficiency and recycling. Within a circular economy, goods that no longer serve can be transformed into resources/raw materials, so that waste minimization is accomplished.
The problem of dealing with pharmaceuticals at the end of their life cycle remains challenging. During the past years, I have been developing alternative sustainable ways to valorize domestic pharmaceutical wastes by the recovery of active ingredients using cleaner processes based on water and ionic liquids.

Preparation of supported ionic liquids as alternative adsorbents for cytostatic drugs from urine
Cancer prevalence is increasing at fast pace. Alongside, new cancer treatment options are highly demanded, where anti-cancer drugs such as cytostatics play a role; yet, the excretion of cytostatics by urine is responsible for contamination in wastewater treatment plants and subsequently to the aquatic environment.
In order to tackle the environmental issues associated with cytostatic drugs consumption, I have been developing supported ionic liquids and evaluating their adsorption capacity by adsorption kinetics and isotherms determination.

Projects

Publications

Recovery of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs from Wastes Using Ionic-Liquid-Based Three-Phase Partitioning Systems

Silva, FAE; Caban, M; Kholany, M; Stepnowski, P; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM
2018, ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 6, 4, 4574-4585.

Aqueous Biphasic Systems Using Chiral Ionic Liquids for the Enantioseparation of Mandelic Acid Enantiomers

Silva, FAE; Kholany, M; Sintra, TE; Caban, M; Stepnowski, P; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP
2018, SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND ION EXCHANGE, 36, 6, 617-631.

Good's buffer ionic liquids as relevant phase-forming components of self-buffered aqueous biphasic systems

Taha, M; Quental, MV; Silva, FAE; Capela, EV; Freire, MG; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP
2017, JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, 92, 9, 2287-2299.

Temperature dependency of aqueous biphasic systems: an alternative approach for exploring the differences between Coulombic-dominated salts and ionic liquids

Silva, FAE; Pereira, JFB; Kurnia, KA; Ventura, SPM; Silva, AMS; Rogers, RD; Coutinho, JAP; Freire, MG
2017, CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 53, 53, 7298-7301.
ISBN: 1364-548X

Using Ionic Liquids To Tune the Performance of Aqueous Biphasic Systems Based on Pluronic L-35 for the Purification of Naringin and Rutin

Silva, FAE; Carmo, RMC; Fernandes, APM; Kholany, M; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM
2017, ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 5, 8, 6409-6419.

Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Extraction and Separation Processes for Bioactive Compounds: Past, Present, and Future Trends

Ventura, SPM; Silva, FAE; Quental, MV; Mondal, D; Freire, MG; Coutinho, JAP
2017, CHEMICAL REVIEWS, 117, 10, 6984-7052.
ISBN: 1520-6890

Recovery of an antidepressant from pharmaceutical wastes using ionic liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems

Zawadzki, M; Silva, FAE; Domanska, U; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM
2016, GREEN CHEMISTRY, 18, 12, 3527-3536.

Recovery of ibuprofen from pharmaceutical wastes using ionic liquids

Silva, FAE; Caban, M; Stepnowski, P; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM
2016, GREEN CHEMISTRY, 18, 13, 3749-3757.

Ionic liquids as a novel class of electrolytes in polymeric aqueous biphasic systems

Santos, JHPM; Silva, FAE; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM; Pessoa, A
2015, PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY, 50, 4, 661-668.

Evaluating Self-buffering Ionic Liquids for Biotechnological Applications

Lee, SY; Vicente, FA; Silva, FAE; Sintra, TE; Taha, M; Khoiroh, I; Coutinho, JAP; Show, PL; Ventura, SPM
2015, ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 3, 12, 3420-3428.

Novel Biocompatible and Self-buffering Ionic Liquids for Biopharmaceutical Applications

Taha, M; Almeida, MR; Silva, FAE; Domingues, P; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP; Freire, MG
2015, CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, 21, 12, 4781-4788.

Ionic Liquid-Based Aqueous Biphasic Systems as a Versatile Tool for the Recovery of Antioxidant Compounds

Santos, JH; Silva, FAE; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP; de Souza, RL; Soares, CMF; Lima, AS
2015, BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, 31, 1, 70-77.

Environmental safety of cholinium-based ionic liquids: assessing structure-ecotoxicity relationships

Santos, JI; Goncalves, AMM; Pereira, JL; Figueiredo, BFHT; Silva, FAE; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM; Goncalves, F
2015, GREEN CHEMISTRY, 17, 9, 4657-4668.

Recovery of paracetamol from pharmaceutical wastes

Silva, FAE; Sintra, T; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP
2014, SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, 122, 315-322.

Sustainable design for environment-friendly mono and dicationic cholinium-based ionic liquids

Silva, FAE; Siopa, F; Figueiredo, BFHT; Goncalves, AMM; Pereira, JL; Goncalves, F; Coutinho, JAP; Afonso, CAM; Ventura, SPM
2014, ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, 108, 302-310.

Good's buffers as a basis for developing self-buffering and biocompatible ionic liquids for biological research

Taha, M; Silva, FAE; Quental, MV; Ventura, SPM; Freire, MG; Coutinho, JAP
2014, GREEN CHEMISTRY, 16, 6, 3149-3159.

Ecotoxicity analysis of cholinium-based ionic liquids to Vibrio fischeri marine bacteria

Ventura, SPM; Silva, FAE; Goncalves, AMM; Pereira, JL; Goncalves, F; Coutinho, JAP
2014, ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, 102, 48-54.

Design of novel aqueous micellar two-phase systems using ionic liquids as co-surfactants for the selective extraction of (bio)molecules

Vicente, FA; Malpiedi, LP; Silva, FAE; Pessoa, A; Coutinho, JAP; Ventura, SPM
2014, SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, 135, 259-267.

Aqueous biphasic systems composed of ionic liquids and polymers: A platform for the purification of biomolecules

Pereira, JFB; Ventura, SPM; Silva, FAE; Shahriari, S; Freire, MG; Coutinho, JAP
2013, SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, 113, 83-89.

Measurement and Prediction of Densities of Vegetable Oils at Pressures up to 45 MPa

Freitas, SVD; Silva, FAE; Pastoriza-Gallego, MJ; Pineiro, MM; Lima, AS; Coutinho, JAP
2013, JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING DATA, 58, 11, 3046-3053.

Aquatic Toxicology of Ionic Liquids (ILs)

In Suojiang Zhang (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Ionic Liquids
Francisca A. e Silva, João A. P. Coutinho, Sónia P. M. Ventura
2019, 1-18, Singapore, Springer.
ISBN: 978-981-10-6739-6

Extraction and separation of drugs using alternative solvents

Francisca A. e Silva
2018, supervised by João A. P. Coutinho, Sónia P. M. Ventura.

Bioproduction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from olive oil mill effluents

Francisca A. e Silva
2012, supervised by Mauro Majone, Luísa Serafim.

We use cookies for marketing activities and to offer you a better experience. By clicking “Accept Cookies” you agree with our cookie policy. Read about how we use cookies by clicking "Privacy and Cookie Policy".


Privacy and Cookie Policy

Personal data

CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials respects your privacy, ensuring confidentiality of personal data you share with the institution through this way, not collecting any personal information about you without your consent, under the terms required by General Data Protection Regulations (RGPD).

The data collected in forms are intended exclusively for processing user requests and will not be used for any other purpose, always safeguarding their confidentiality, under the terms of the protection conferred by the aforementioned regulation.

The collection and processing of data is the responsibility of CICECO and its storage is properly protected, only authorized CICECO employees can access the information within the scope of their functions, always being clear in the respective collection forms the purposes for which they are intended. The remaining issues to be considered in this matter will be handled by the University of Aveiro in accordance with the regime established by the GDPR.

Cookies policy

Cookies are small files with alphanumeric information that are stored on your computer's hard drive by your browser and are intended to improve the user experience and enhance website navigation.

Collection and use of technical information

The cookies used on CICECO are anonymous, and no information about our users that allows their personal identification is stored in them.

The technical information recorded consists of:

  • iP (Internet Protocol) address of the visitor;
  • the type of internet browser used by the website visitor and the respective operating system used;
  • the date and time of the consultation;
  • the pages visited on the site and the documents downloaded
  • The technical information collected is used for statistical purposes only.

Cookies used

Session cookies

These cookies are used to record user preferences, such as the language in which websites are displayed or to maintain authenticated user sessions, and are automatically deleted when the browser is closed.

Persistent cookies

These cookies store information that is needed between sessions. For example, a persistent cookie is set to record that you have been made aware of the cookie policy so that the message regarding this policy is not shown again the next time you visit the website. This cookie remains on the computer until it reaches its expiry date or is deleted by the user.

Data protection

The present privacy policy covers the Information System of the University of Aveiro (SIUA), governed by the General Data Protection Regulations (RGPD) Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679, of April 27th, 2016.

Data Protection Officer

The University of Aveiro has a Data Protection Officer (DPO), who ensures compliance of the processing of personal data with the legislation in force, and is available through the following email address epd@ua.pt.

Close