Augusto Quaresma Henriques Pedro
@ua.pt
Scopus Publications
- Animal waste biomass processing using ionic liquids
Tiago J.L. Silva, Cariny Polesca, Augusto Q. Pedro, Mara G. Freire
Ionic Liquids in Biomass Processing Green Protocols, 2026 - Ionogels as advanced materials for overcoming challenges in wound healing and drug delivery
Augusto Q. Pedro, Leonor S. Castro, João A.P. Coutinho, Mara G. Freire
Nano Materials Science, 2025 - Recombinant laccase biosynthesis for efficient polydopamine coating
Flávia F. Magalhães, Márcia C. Neves, Augusto Q. Pedro, Mara G. Freire, Valéria C. Santos-Ebinuma, et al.
Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2024 - Towards the improved monitoring of bacterial infections by the isolation of DNA from human serum using ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems
Ana M. Ferreira, Maria V. Quental, Mukesh Sharma, Dibyendu Mondal, Augusto Q. Pedro, et al.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2023 - Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation
Catarina Almeida, Augusto Q. Pedro, Ana P. M. Tavares, Márcia C. Neves, Mara G. Freire
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2023
The emergence of biopharmaceuticals, including proteins, nucleic acids, peptides, and vaccines, revolutionized the medical field, contributing to significant advances in the prophylaxis and treatment of chronic and life-threatening diseases. However, biopharmaceuticals manufacturing involves a set of complex upstream and downstream processes, which considerably impact their cost. In particular, despite the efforts made in the last decades to improve the existing technologies, downstream processing still accounts for more than 80% of the total biopharmaceutical production cost. On the other hand, the formulation of biological products must ensure they maintain their therapeutic performance and long-term stability, while preserving their physical and chemical structure. Ionic-liquid (IL)-based approaches arose as a promise alternative, showing the potential to be used in downstream processing to provide increased purity and recovery yield, as well as excipients for the development of stable biopharmaceutical formulations. This manuscript reviews the most important progress achieved in both fields. The work developed is critically discussed and complemented with a SWOT analysis. - Supported ionic liquids as customizable materials to purify immunoglobulin G
Emanuel V. Capela, Jéssica Bairos, Augusto Q. Pedro, Márcia C. Neves, M. Raquel Aires-Barros, et al.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2023 - Corrigendum: Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, (2023), 11, (1037436), 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1037436)
Catarina Almeida, Augusto Q. Pedro, Ana P. M. Tavares, Márcia C. Neves, Mara G. Freire
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2023
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1037436.]. - Thermofluor-Based Optimization Strategy for the Stabilization of Recombinant Human Soluble Catechol-O-Methyltransferase
Ana M. Gonçalves, Augusto Q. Pedro, Diana M. Oliveira, Adriana E. Oliveira, Marino F. A. Santos, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been involved in a number of medical conditions including catechol-estrogen-induced cancers and a great range of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Currently, Parkinson’s disease treatment relies on a triple prophylaxis, involving dopamine replacement by levodopa, the use of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitors, and the use of COMT inhibitors. Typically, COMT is highly thermolabile, and its soluble isoform (SCOMT) loses biological activity within a short time span preventing further structural and functional trials. Herein, we characterized the thermal stability profile of lysate cells from Komagataella pastoris containing human recombinant SCOMT (hSCOMT) and enzyme-purified fractions (by Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography—IMAC) upon interaction with several buffers and additives by Thermal Shift Assay (TSA) and a biological activity assessment. Based on the obtained results, potential conditions able to increase the thermal stability of hSCOMT have been found through the analysis of melting temperature (Tm) variations. Moreover, the use of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [C4mim]Cl (along with cysteine, trehalose, and glycerol) ensures complete protein solubilization as well as an increment in the protein Tm of approximately 10 °C. Thus, the developed formulation enhances hSCOMT stability with an increment in the percentage of activity recovery of 200% and 70% when the protein was stored at 4 °C and −80 °C, respectively, for 12 h. The formation of metanephrine over time confirmed that the enzyme showed twice the productivity in the presence of the additive. These outstanding achievements might pave the way for the development of future hSCOMT structural and biophysical studies, which are fundamental for the design of novel therapeutic molecules. - Advances in Membrane-Bound Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Stability Achieved Using a New Ionic Liquid-Based Storage Formulation
Ana M. Gonçalves, Ângela Sousa, Augusto Q. Pedro, Maria J. Romão, João A. Queiroz, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022
Membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MBCOMT), present in the brain and involved in the main pathway of the catechol neurotransmitter deactivation, is linked to several types of human dementia, which are relevant pharmacological targets for new potent and nontoxic inhibitors that have been developed, particularly for Parkinson’s disease treatment. However, the inexistence of an MBCOMT 3D-structure presents a blockage in new drugs’ design and clinical studies due to its instability. The enzyme has a clear tendency to lose its biological activity in a short period of time. To avoid the enzyme sequestering into a non-native state during the downstream processing, a multi-component buffer plays a major role, with the addition of additives such as cysteine, glycerol, and trehalose showing promising results towards minimizing hMBCOMT damage and enhancing its stability. In addition, ionic liquids, due to their virtually unlimited choices for cation/anion paring, are potential protein stabilizers for the process and storage buffers. Screening experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of distinct cation/anion ILs interaction in hMBCOMT enzymatic activity. The ionic liquids: choline glutamate [Ch][Glu], choline dihydrogen phosphate ([Ch][DHP]), choline chloride ([Ch]Cl), 1- dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C12mim]Cl), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) were supplemented to hMBCOMT lysates in a concentration from 5 to 500 mM. A major potential stabilizing effect was obtained using [Ch][DHP] (10 and 50 mM). From the DoE 146% of hMBCOMT activity recovery was obtained with [Ch][DHP] optimal conditions (7.5 mM) at −80 °C during 32.4 h. These results are of crucial importance for further drug development once the enzyme can be stabilized for longer periods of time. - Ionogels for Biomedical Applications
Bojan Kopilovic, Francisca A. e Silva, Augusto Q. Pedro, João A. P. Coutinho, Mara G. Freire
Materials Horizons from Nature to Nanomaterials, 2022 - Efficient isolation of bacterial rnas using silica-based materials modified with ionic liquids
Patrícia Pereira, Augusto Q. Pedro, Márcia C. Neves, João C. Martins, Inês Rodrigues, et al.
Life, 2021 - Impact of glycerol feeding profiles on STEAP1 biosynthesis by Komagataella pastoris using a methanol-inducible promoter
D. R. Duarte, J. Barroca-Ferreira, A. M. Gonçalves, F. M. Santos, S. M. Rocha, et al.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021 - Interferon-based biopharmaceuticals: Overview on the production, purification, and formulation
Leonor S. Castro, Guilherme S. Lobo, Patrícia Pereira, Mara G. Freire, Márcia C. Neves, et al.
Vaccines, 2021 - Nucleolin as a potential biomarker for canine malignant neoplasia
Carla Cruz, Augusto Q. Pedro, Josué Carvalho, Tiago Santos, Daniela Talhada, et al.
Research in Veterinary Science, 2021 - Enhanced performance of polymer-polymer aqueous two-phase systems using ionic liquids as adjuvants towards the purification of recombinant proteins
Leonor S. Castro, Patrícia Pereira, Luís A. Passarinha, Mara G. Freire, Augusto Q. Pedro
Separation and Purification Technology, 2020 - Brain-targeted delivery of pre-mir-29b using lactoferrin-stearic acid-modified-chitosan/ polyethyleneimine polyplexes
Patrícia Pereira, Maria Barreira, Carla Cruz, Joana Tomás, Ângelo Luís, et al.
Pharmaceuticals, 2020 - Improved ionic-liquid-functionalized macroporous supports able to purify nucleic acids in one step
M.C. Neves, P. Pereira, A.Q. Pedro, J.C. Martins, T. Trindade, et al.
Materials Today Bio, 2020 - Effect of chromatographic conditions on supercoiled plasmid DNA stability and bioactivity
G.M. Azevedo, J.F.A. Valente, A. Sousa, A.Q. Pedro, P. Pereira, et al.
Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2019 - Smoothing membrane protein structure determination by initial upstream stage improvements
Augusto Quaresma Pedro, João António Queiroz, Luís António Passarinha
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2019 - Integrated Extraction-Preservation Strategies for RNA Using Biobased Ionic Liquids
Maria V. Quental, Augusto Q. Pedro, Patrícia Pereira, Mukesh Sharma, João A. Queiroz, et al.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 2019 - Cholinium-Based Good's Buffers Ionic Liquids as Remarkable Stabilizers and Recyclable Preservation Media for Recombinant Small RNAs
Augusto Q. Pedro, Patrícia Pereira, Maria J. Quental, André P. Carvalho, Sérgio M. Santos, et al.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 2018 - Purification of Histidine-Tagged Membrane-Bound Catechol-O-Methyltransferase from Detergent-Solubilized Pichia pastoris Membranes
A. Q. Pedro, A. M. Gonçalves, J. A. Queiroz, L. A. Passarinha
Chromatographia, 2018 - 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
Bioengineered, 2017 - Biosynthesis and purification of histidine-tagged human soluble catechol-O-methyltransferase
Augusto Q Pedro, Filipa F Correia, Fátima M Santos, Guilherme Espírito-Santo, Ana M Gonçalves, et al.
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2016 - Advances in time course extracellular production of human pre-miR-29b from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum
Patrícia Pereira, Augusto Q. Pedro, Joana Tomás, Cláudio J. Maia, João A. Queiroz, et al.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2016
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
- Animal waste biomass processing using ionic liquids
TJL Silva, C Polesca, AQ Pedro, MG Freire
Ionic Liquids in Biomass Processing, 205-252 , 2026
2026 - Extraction and clarification of mrna from yeast using aqueous biphasic systems
MF Galrinho, JL Fernandes, ASC Marques, APM Tavares, AQ Pedro, ...
Research summit 2025-Book of abstracts, 204 , 2025
2025 - Deep eutectic solvents as a novel class of excipients for messenger rna-based formulations toward enhanced stability
ASC Marques, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, MG Freire
Research summit 2025-Book of abstracts, 207 , 2025
2025 - Amino acid-based ils as new excipients for small rnas stabilization
AF Pereira, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, LC Branco, J AP, FS Coutinho, ...
Research summit 2025-Book of abstracts, 186 , 2025
2025 - Ionic liquid mediated recovery of recombinant nucleic-acid biopharmaceuticals.
ANAPMT GONÇALVES, C PICHON, AQ PEDRO, MG FREIRE
Research summit 2025-Book of abstracts, 196 , 2025
2025 - Bioproduction of messenger RNA therapeutics in yeast cells: a proof of concept study
V Bilger, K Pachulska-Wieczorek, F Daboussi, M Freire, U Cernigoj, ...
MOLECULAR THERAPY 33 (4) , 2025
2025 - Recombinant laccase biosynthesis for efficient polydopamine coating
FF Magalhães, MC Neves, AQ Pedro, MG Freire, VC Santos-Ebinuma, ...
Biochemical Engineering Journal 212, 109483 , 2024
2024
Citations: 10 - Integrated process for the recovery and purification of recombinant messenger RNA vaccines resorting to ionic liquids
ASC Marques, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, MG Freire
Research summit 2024-Book of abstracts, 193 , 2024
2024 - Three-phase partitioning systems based on biocompatible ionic liquids towards the efficient purification of bacterial RNAs from cell lysates
AF Pereira, AQ Pedro, LS Castro, MJ Quental, A PM, LC Tavares, ...
Research summit 2024-Book of abstracts, 140 , 2024
2024 - Customized ionic liquid patches for efficient and non-invasive transdermal delivery of messenger RNA vaccines
JL Fernandes, AQ Pedro, MG Freire
Research summit 2024-Book of abstracts, 186 , 2024
2024 - Ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems for minicircle DNA recovery from cell lysates
AI Valente, JV Valente, A De Francesco, AQ Pedro, A PM, FS Tavares, ...
Research summit 2024-Book of abstracts, 205 , 2024
2024 - Unlocking the potential of polymeric ionic liquids as chromatographic supports for recombinant protein downstream processing
LS Castro, AQ Pedro, MC Neves, IM Marrucho, MG Freire
Research summit 2024-Book of abstracts, 187 , 2024
2024 - Ionogels as advanced materials for overcoming challenges in wound healing and drug delivery
AQ Pedro, LS Castro, JAP Coutinho, MG Freire
Nano Materials Science , 2024
2024
Citations: 17 - lonic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and
C Almeida, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares
Celebrating 20 Years of CICECO–Aveiro Institute of Materials-Current and … , 2023
2023 - Towards the improved monitoring of bacterial infections by the isolation of DNA from human serum using ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems
AM Ferreira, MV Quental, M Sharma, D Mondal, AQ Pedro, JAP Coutinho, ...
Separation and Purification Technology 316, 123801 , 2023
2023
Citations: 9 - Corrigendum: Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation
C Almeida, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, MC Neves, MG Freire
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11, 1213921 , 2023
2023
Citations: 2 - Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation
C Almeida, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, MC Neves, MG Freire
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11, 1037436 , 2023
2023
Citations: 26 - Immobilization of ionic liquids, types of materials, and applications
AQ Pedro, JAP Coutinho, MG Freire
Encyclopedia of ionic liquids, 488-499 , 2023
2023
Citations: 21 - Supported ionic liquids as customizable materials to purify immunoglobulin G
EV Capela, J Bairos, AQ Pedro, MC Neves, MR Aires-Barros, ...
Separation and Purification Technology 305, 122464 , 2023
2023
Citations: 17 - Thermofluor-Based Optimization Strategy for the Stabilization of Recombinant Human Soluble Catechol- O -Methyltransferase
AM Gonçalves, AQ Pedro, DM Oliveira, AE Oliveira, MFA Santos, ...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (20), 12298 , 2022
2022
Citations: 6
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
- Pichia pastoris: a recombinant microfactory for antibodies and human membrane proteins
AM Goncalves, AQ Pedro, C Maia, F Sousa, JA Queiroz, LA Passarinha
Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology 23 (5), 587-601 , 2013
2013
Citations: 108 - Interferon-based biopharmaceuticals: Overview on the production, purification, and formulation
LS Castro, GS Lobo, P Pereira, MG Freire, MC Neves, AQ Pedro
Vaccines 9 (4), 328 , 2021
2021
Citations: 63 - Enhanced performance of polymer-polymer aqueous two-phase systems using ionic liquids as adjuvants towards the purification of recombinant proteins
LS Castro, P Pereira, LA Passarinha, MG Freire, AQ Pedro
Separation and Purification Technology 248, 117051 , 2020
2020
Citations: 60 - Cholinium-based Good’s buffers ionic liquids as remarkable stabilizers and recyclable preservation media for recombinant small RNAs
AQ Pedro, P Pereira, MJ Quental, AP Carvalho, SM Santos, JA Queiroz, ...
ACS sustainable chemistry & engineering 6 (12), 16645-16656 , 2018
2018
Citations: 49 - Evaluation of Mut S and Mut + Pichia pastoris Strains for Membrane-Bound Catechol- O -Methyltransferase Biosynthesis
AQ Pedro, D Oppolzer, MJ Bonifácio, CJ Maia, JA Queiroz, LA Passarinha
Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 175 (8), 3840-3855 , 2015
2015
Citations: 45 - Trends in protein-based biosensor assemblies for drug screening and pharmaceutical kinetic studies
AM Gonçalves, AQ Pedro, FM Santos, LM Martins, CJ Maia, JA Queiroz, ...
Molecules 19 (8), 12461-12485 , 2014
2014
Citations: 41 - Integrated extraction-preservation strategies for RNA using biobased ionic liquids
MV Quental, AQ Pedro, P Pereira, M Sharma, JA Queiroz, JAP Coutinho, ...
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 7 (10), 9439-9448 , 2019
2019
Citations: 35 - Advances in time course extracellular production of human pre-miR-29b from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum
P Pereira, AQ Pedro, J Tomás, CJ Maia, JA Queiroz, A Figueiras, F Sousa
Applied microbiology and biotechnology 100 (8), 3723-3734 , 2016
2016
Citations: 34 - New insights for therapeutic recombinant human miRNAs heterologous production: Rhodovolum sulfidophilum vs Escherichia coli
P Pereira, AQ Pedro, JA Queiroz, AR Figueiras, F Sousa
Bioengineered 8 (5), 670-677 , 2017
2017
Citations: 32 - Brain-targeted delivery of pre-miR-29b using lactoferrin-stearic acid-modified-chitosan/polyethyleneimine polyplexes
P Pereira, M Barreira, C Cruz, J Tomás, Â Luís, AQ Pedro, JA Queiroz, ...
Pharmaceuticals 13 (10), 314 , 2020
2020
Citations: 29 - A novel prokaryotic expression system for biosynthesis of recombinant human membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase
AQ Pedro, MJ Bonifácio, JA Queiroz, CJ Maia, LA Passarinha
Journal of biotechnology 156 (2), 141-146 , 2011
2011
Citations: 29 - Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation
C Almeida, AQ Pedro, APM Tavares, MC Neves, MG Freire
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11, 1037436 , 2023
2023
Citations: 26 - An artificial neural network for membrane-bound catechol- O -methyltransferase biosynthesis with Pichia pastoris methanol-induced cultures
AQ Pedro, LM Martins, JML Dias, MJ Bonifácio, JA Queiroz, ...
Microbial cell factories 14 (1), 113 , 2015
2015
Citations: 25 - Improved ionic-liquid-functionalized macroporous supports able to purify nucleic acids in one step
MC Neves, P Pereira, AQ Pedro, JC Martins, T Trindade, JA Queiroz, ...
Materials Today Bio 8, 100086 , 2020
2020
Citations: 24 - Recovery of biological active catechol‐ O ‐methyltransferase isoforms from Q‐sepharose
FF Correia, FM Santos, AQ Pedro, MJ Bonifácio, JA Queiroz, ...
Journal of separation science 37 (1-2), 20-29 , 2014
2014
Citations: 24 - Immobilization of ionic liquids, types of materials, and applications
AQ Pedro, JAP Coutinho, MG Freire
Encyclopedia of ionic liquids, 488-499 , 2023
2023
Citations: 21 - An improved HPLC method for quantification of metanephrine with coulometric detection
AQ Pedro, RF Soares, D Oppolzer, FM Santos, LA Rocha, AM Gonçalves, ...
J. Chromatogr. Sep. Tech 5, 17-24 , 2014
2014
Citations: 20 - Performance of hydrophobic interaction ligands for human membrane‐bound catechol‐ O ‐methyltransferase purification
FM Santos, AQ Pedro, RF Soares, R Martins, MJ Bonifácio, JA Queiroz, ...
Journal of separation science 36 (11), 1693-1702 , 2013
2013
Citations: 20 - Ionogels as advanced materials for overcoming challenges in wound healing and drug delivery
AQ Pedro, LS Castro, JAP Coutinho, MG Freire
Nano Materials Science , 2024
2024
Citations: 17 - Supported ionic liquids as customizable materials to purify immunoglobulin G
EV Capela, J Bairos, AQ Pedro, MC Neves, MR Aires-Barros, ...
Separation and Purification Technology 305, 122464 , 2023
2023
Citations: 17
