Research in Progress

• “SELFNANO - Self-assembled Nanoparticles based on PEG-PLA-dendrimer building blocks for dual gene/drug delivery”. Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2010 contest - PTDC/CTM-NAN/116788/2010, €156.808. 2012-2015;
• “DENDRIMAT – New materials for drug/gene delivery based on the self-assembly of dendrimer-chitosan-single stranded DNA", with INEB/Univ.Porto. Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2009 contest - PTDC/CTM-NAN/112428/2009, €151.251, 2011-2014;

• Preparation and characterization of nanoparticles using "soft chemistry" for biomedical applications;
  

• Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenium Metallodendrimers Based on Nitrile-Functionalized Poly(alkylidene imine)s.
  

Research Projects Concluded

• “OPUSGRAFT- Oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s Derivatives Covalently Grafted Onto Porous Silicon: Novel Hybrid Molecular/semiconductor Systems for Application as Waveguides”, Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2008 contest - PTDC/CTM/098451/2008, € 168.100, 2010-2013;
• "FUNCMETAL-Functionalized Metallodendrimers Based on 2,4,6-tri-substituted-1,3,5-triazine Core Derivatives", Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2006 contest - PTDC/QUI/64202/2006, € 101.200, 2008-2011;

• "DENDRALGENE - Design of New Gene Delivery Vectors Based on Dendrimers, Alginate and the RGD Sequence for Bone Tissue Engineering", Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2006 contest - PTDC/SAU-BEB/71161/2006, € 175.000, 2007-2010;

• Synthesis of Molecular Wires
  Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2001 contest - POCTI/CTM/41495/2001, € 85.710, 2003-2007;

• Development of New Organometallic Dendrimers Having in View their Possible Use as Non-linear Optical Materials
  Project supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation-2001 contest - POCTI/QUI/41814/2001, € 72.300, 2002-2005.
  

Selected Publications

2014

• "Dendrimer-Assisted Formation of Fluorescent Nanogels for Drug Delivery and Intracellular Imaging", Gonçalves, M., Maciel, D., Capêlo, D., Xiao, S., Sun, W., Rodrigues, J., Shi X., Tomás, H., Li Y., Biomacromolecules (Accepted on 14 of January 2014), 2014,(IF: 5.371)
• "PAMAM Dendrimer/pDNA Functionalized-Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery", Xiao, S., Castro, R., Shi, X., Rodrigues, J., Tomás, H., J. Biomed. Nanotechnol., (Accepted on 4 of January 2014), 2014,(IF: 5.256)
• "pH Sensitive Laponite/Doxorubicin/Alginate Nanohybrids with Improved Anticancer Efficacy", Gonçalves, M, Figueira, P., Maciel, D., Rodrigues, J., Qu, X., Liu, C., Tomás, H., Li, Y., Acta Biomat., 2014, 10, 300-307. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2013.09.013 (IF: 5.09)
• "Antitumor Efficacy of Doxorubicin-Loaded Laponite/Alginate Hybrid Hydrogels", Gonçalves, M, Figueira, P., Maciel, D., Rodrigues, J., Shi, X., Tomás, H., Li, Y., Macromol. Biosci., 2014,14, 110-120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201300241 (IF: 3.742)

2013

• "Redox-Responsive Alginate Nanogels with Enhanced Anticancer Cytotoxicity", Maciel, D., Figueira, P., Xiao, S., Hu, D., Shi, X., Rodrigues, J., Tomás, H., Li, Y., Biomacromolecules, 2013, 14, 3140-3146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bm400768m (IF: 5.37)
• "cis,cis,cis-(Acetato-K2O,O’)bis[1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane-K2P,P’]- ruthenium(II) 0.75-trifluoromethanesulfonate 0.25-chloride", Figueira, J., Rodrigues, J., Valkonen, A., Acta Cryst., 2013, E69, m226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S160053681300737X Open access (IF: 0.347)
• "A convenient route for the preparation of the monohydride catalyst trans-[RuCl(H)(dppe)2] (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2): Improved Synthesis and Crystal Structure", Figueira, J., Jardim, M. G., Rodrigues, J., Valkonen, A., Rissanen, K., Inorg. Chem. Com., 2013, 29, 123-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2013.01.002 (IF: 1.97)
• "Divergent Route to the Preparation of Hybrid Pt-Fe 2,4,6-tris(4-ethynyl)phenyl-1,3,5-triazine Metallodendrimers for Nonlinear Optics", Maiti S. K., Jardim M. G., Rodrigues J., Rissanen K., Campo J., Wenseleers W., Organometallics, 2013, 91, 417-427. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/om300745v (IF: 3.96)
• "Carbon nanotube-incorporated multilayered cellulose acetate nanofibers for tissue engineering applications", Luo Y., Wang S., Shen M., Qi R., Fang Y. Guo R., Cai H., Cao X., Tomás H., Zhu M., Shi X., Carbohyd. Polym., 2013, 91, 417-427. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.08.069 (IF: 3.987)

2012

• "Insight into the role of N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) conjugation onto poly (ethylenimine): cell viability and gene transfection studies", Nouri A., Castro, R., Kairys, V., Santos, J. L., Rodrigues J., Li Y., Tomás H., J. Mater Sci: Mater. M., 2012, 23, 2967-2980. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4753-9 (IF: 2.32)
• "The Effect of PAMAM Dendrimers on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Viability and Differentiation", Gonçalves, M. Rodrigues J., Tomás H., Curr. Med. Chem., 2012, 19, 4969-4975.http://www.eurekaselect.com/103726/article (IF: 4.86)
• "Gene delivery using biodegradable polyelectrolyte microcapsules prepared through the layer‐by‐layer technique", Santos, J. L., Nouri A., Fernandes, T., Fernandes, C., Rodrigues J., Tomás H., Biotechnol. Progr., 2012, 28, 1088-1094. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/btpr.1576 (IF: 2.34)
• "Calcium phosphate-mediated gene delivery using simulated body fluid (SBF)", Nouri A., Castro, R., Santos, J. L., Fernandes, C., Rodrigues J., Tomás H.,Int. J. of Pharm., 2012, 434, 199-208. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.05.066 (IF: 3.35)
• "Injectable and biodegradable hydrogels: gelation, biodegradation and biomedical applications", Li Y.,Tomás H., Rodrigues J., Chem Soc Rev, 2012, 41, 2193-2221. doi: 10.1039/C1CS15203C (IF: 28.76) (REVIEW) cited by ChemInform Abstract (Selected Abstracts in Chemistry), 2012, 43, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chin.201224274
• "Gene delivery using dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles as nonviral vectors", Shan Y., Luo T., Peng C.,Sheng R., Cao A., Cao X., Shen M., Guo R.,Tomás H., Shi X. Biomaterials, 2012, 33, 3025-3035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.12.045 (IF: 7.404)

2011

• "Poly(alkylidenamines) Dendrimers as Scaffolds for the Preparation of Low-generation Ruthenium Based Metallodendrimers", Rodrigues J., Jardim M. J., Gouveia M., Tomás H., Rissanen K., New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1938-1943. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1nj20364a (IF: 2.605) (FOCUS) cited by ChemInform Abstract (Selected Abstracts in Chemistry), 2012, 43, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chin.201201215

• "pH Sensitive Laponite/alginate Hybrid Hydrogels: Swelling Behaviour and release mechanism", Li Y., Maciel D., Tomás H., Rodrigues J., Ma H., Shi X., Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 6231-6238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1sm05345k (IF: 4.390)

• "Non-viral gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells: Methods, strategies and application in bone tissue engineering and regeneration", Santos J.L., Pandita D., Rodrigues J., Pêgo A.P., Granja P.L., Tomás H., Curr. Gene Ther., 2011, 11, 46–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174 (IF: 4.902)

• "Gene Delivery into Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Biomimetic Approach Using RGD Nanoclusters Based on Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers", Pandita D., Santos J.L., Rodrigues J., Pêgo A.P., Granja P.L., Balian G., Tomás H., Biomacromolecules, 2011, 12, 724–481. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bm1012647 (IF: 5.479)

• "Effect of ball-milling time on the structural characteristics of biomedical porous Ti–Sn–Nb alloy", Nouri A., Hodgson D. P., Wen, C., Mater. Sci. Eng. C, 2011, 31, 921–928. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2011.02.011 (IF: 2.686)

• "How Do Nitriles Compare with Isoelectronic Alkynyl Groups in the Electronic Communication between Iron Centers Bridged by Phenylenebis- and -tris(nitrile) Ligands? An Electronic and Crystal-Structure Study", Bonniard L., Kahlal S., Diallo A. K, Ornelas C., Roisnel T., Manca G., Rodrigues J., Ruiz J., Astruc D., Saillard J.-Y., Inorg. Chem., 2011, 50, 114–124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic101415c (IF: 4.601) (Sponsored Access )

(2006-2010)

• "Preparation and Characterization of Novel Poly(alkyliden imine) Nitrile Ruthenium Metallodendrimers", Jardim M.G., Rissanen K., Rodrigues J., Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2010, 11, 1729-1735. doi: 10.1002/ejic.200901187 (IF: 2.694)

• "Functionalization of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers with Hydrophobic Chains for Improved Gene Delivery in Mesenchymal Stem Cells", Santos J.L., Oliveira H., Pandita D., Rodrigues J., Pêgo A.P., Granja P.L., Tomás H, J. Control. Release, 2010, 144, 55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2010.01.034 (IF: 5.690)

• "Receptor-mediated Gene Delivery Using PAMAM Dendrimers Conjugated With Peptides Recognized by Mesenchymal Stem Cells", Santos J.L., Pandita D., Rodrigues J., Pêgo A.P., Granja P.L., Balian G., Tomás H., Mol. Pharmaceut., 2010, 7, 763–774. doi: 10.1021/mp9002877 (IF: 4.585)

• "Osteoblastic Behavior of Human Bone Marrow Cells Cultured Over Adsorbed Collagen Layer, Over Surface of Collagen Gels, and Inside Collagen Gels", Fernandes L.F., Costa M.A., Fernandes M.H., Tomás H., Connect. Tissue Res., 2009,  50, 336-346; doi: 10.1080/03008200902855909 (IF: 1.113)

• “Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Poly(L-lactic acid) Surfaces Prevent the Adhesion and Proliferation of Bone Marrow Derived Cells”, Alves, N.M, Shi, J., Oramas, E., Santos, J.L., Tomás, H., Mano, J.F., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part A, 2009, 91A, 480-488, doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.32210(IF: 2.706)

• “Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using PAMAM Dendrimers as Gene Delivery Vectors”, Santos, J.L., Oramas, E., Pêgo, A.P., Granja, P.L., Tomás, H., J. Controlled Release, 2009, 134, 141-148. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.11.007. (IF: 5.690)

• "Visible-light Photolytic Synthesis of Multinuclear and Dendritic Iron-Nitrile Cationic Complexes", Cátia Ornelas, Jaime Ruiz, João Rodrigues and Didier Astruc, Inorg. Chem., 2008, 47, 4421-4428. dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic800100k (IF: 3.911)

• "Three 2,5-dialkoxy-1,4-diethynylbenzene derivatives", João Figueira, João Rodrigues, Luca Russo and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2008, C64, o33-o36. doi:10.1107/S0108270107065523 (IF: 0.896 )

• "4,4'-[Thiophene-2,5-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)]dibenzonitrile", João Figueira, João Rodrigues, Viatcheslav Vertlib, Kalle Nättinen and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2008, E64, o765-o766. Open Access doi:10.1107/S1600536808008106 (IF : 0.567 )
  

• "An Organometallic Approach to Molecular Electronics", João Rodrigues, Proceedings of FAME EU FP6 Network of Excellence, Funchal, Portugal, 2007, 247-284.

• "Electrochemical Characterization of Cobalt-based Alloys Using the Mini-cell System", M.L. Nascimento, W.-D.Mueller, A.C. Carvalho and H. Tomás, Dental Materials, 2007, 23, 369-373.

• "A Trinuclear Aqua Cyano-bridged Ruthenium Complex [((n⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN))₂RuCl₂(PPh₃)(H₂O)][PF₆]: Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structure", Viatcheslav Vertlib, João Figueira, José Mesquita, João Rodrigues, Kalle Nättinen and Kari Rissanen, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2007, 13, 1920 - 1924. doi:10.1002/ejic.200601050
  

• "trans-bis[bis(diphenylphosphino)methane-k²P,P']dichlororuthenium(II) dichloromethane disolvate acetone hemisolvate hemihydrate", João Figueira, João Rodrigues and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2006, E62, m3594-m3596. doi:10.1107/S160053680605015X
  

• "cis-Diazido[bis(diphenylphosphino)methane-k²P,P']ruthenium(II) dichloromethane 0.42-solvate", Luca Russo, Kalle Nattinen, Viatcheslav Vertlib, João Rodrigues and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2006, E62, m2052-m2053. doi:10.1107/S160053680602900X
  

• “Separation of Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) Dendrimer Generations by Dynamic Coating Capillary Electrophoresis”, P. Sedláková, J. Svobodová, I. Mikšík and H. Tomás, J. Chromat. B, 2006, 841, 135-139.
  

• "Electrochemical Characterization of Titanium Biomaterials Using the Mini-Cell System", M. L. Nascimento, W. D. Mueller, A.C. Carvalho, H. Tomás, J.Mater.Sci., 2006, 41, 3323-3327.
  

• "Organometallic Materials for Photonics and Molecular Electronics Nanoscale Devices", João Rodrigues, Zsolt Csok, Wojciech Czardybon, João Figueira, Manuel Jardim, José Mesquita, M. Helena Garcia, M. Paula Robalo, Wim Wenseleers and Kari Rissanen, Proceedings of Fourteenth Annual International Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering (ICCE-14), Boulder, USA, 2-8 July, 2006, 560-562.
  

• "cis-[Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane-k_²P,P']dichlororuthenium(II) dichloromethane disolvate", Luca Russo, João Figueira, João Rodrigues and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2006, E62, m1154-m1155. doi:10.1107/S1600536806015005
  

• "cis-Aquabis[bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane-k_²P,P']chlororuthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate1.5-dichloromethane 0.5-water solvate", Luca Russo, João Figueira, João Rodrigues and Kari Rissanen, Acta Cryst., 2006, E62, m699-m701. doi:10.1107/S1600536806006921
  

• “From Simple Monopyridine Clusters [Mo₆Br₁₃(Py-R)₆][n-Bu₄N] and Hexapyridine Clusters [Mo₆X₈(Py-R)₆][OSO₂CF₃]₄ (X = Br or I) to Cluster-cored Organometallic Stars, Dendrons and Dendrimers”, Denise Méry, Lauriane Plault, Cátia Ornelas, Jaime Ruiz, Sylvain Nlate, Didier Astruc, Jean-Claude Blais, João Rodrigues, Stéphane Cordier, Kaplan Kirakci and Christiane Perrin. Inorg. Chem., 2006, 45,1156-1167. doi:10.1021/ic051680f
  

• "Ruthenium Metallodendrimers Based on Nitrile-Functionalized Poly(alkylidene imine)s", Catia Ornelas, Viatcheslav Vertlib, João Rodrigues and Kari Rissanen, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2006, 1, 47-50. doi:10.1002/ejic.200500799
  

(2001-2005)

Selected Oral Presentations (2006-2010)

• "Ruthenium and Palladium OPE and OTE bridged rods for Application as Molecular Wires", João Figueira, José Carlos Mesquita, João Rodrigues, Kari Rissanen, EuCOMC XVIII - XVIII EuCheMS International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, Gothenburg, Sweden, 22-25 June, 2009, (Oral Presentation)

• "Heterometallodendrimers Based on 2,4,6-tri-substituted-1,3,5-triazine Core Derivatives - Synthetic strategy and characterization -", João Rodrigues, Swarup Maiti, Manuel Jardim, José Carlos Mesquita, Kari Rissanen, Wim Wenseleers, Jochen Campo, 6th SUPRAPHONE Meeting, Jyväskylä, Finland, 4. – 7. June, 2009, (Invited Talk)
• "An Organometallic Approach to Molecular Electronics", João Rodrigues, Proceedings of FAME EU FP6 Network of Excellence, Funchal, Portugal, September 30-October 5, 2007, (Plennary Talk)