From April to June, the Molecular Biomaterials group hosted a Master’s student from the Chemistry Postgraduate Program, University of Costa Rica (UCR) for a research internship under the supervision of Carlos Redondo, a Postdoc fellow in the group.
Ricardo Quesada Grosso, BSc, conducted his research internship at i3S, actively contributing to the molecular understanding of how two enzymes can be incorporated as part of an innovative family of nanobiomaterials. His work involved the preparation and testing of supramolecular hydrogels based on self-assembling peptides. By incorporating these enzymes, hydrogel systems developed by Ricardo will be imprinted with time-evolving biomechanical and physiologically relevant properties, suitable for numerous biomedical applications.
In Ricardo’s words “I chose i3S and the Molecular Biomaterials Group to conduct my research internship due to their international recognition on bioengineering. Particularly, my background in Chemistry has been greatly appreciated, as I have contributed to optimise analytical methods and provided a better understanding of physio-chemical aspects of these novel biomaterials. At the same time, I feel grateful to represent highly skilled talent from Costa Rica, and I hope to inspire more young researchers to embark in research internships like this one”.
Ricardo’s internship also facilitated the visit of researchers from the Costa Rica’s “National Center for High Technology (CeNAT)”, Yendry Corrales and Reinaldo Pereira, potentiating future collaborations.
This multidisciplinary internship has been possible thanks to financial support from the Postgraduate Studies System (SEP) from UCR, and has contributed to strengthen cooperation ties and strategic partnership with the Molecular Biomaterials group, i3S and the University of Porto.
