Polysaccharides of Microbial Origin: Biomedical Applications

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of microbial polysaccharides, their current uses, and highlights biomedical opportunities. The topics comprise principally a) their extraction, isolation, purification and advanced production processes; b) characterization of their structural, physicochemical, and biological properties, among others, by several techniques; c) description of the advanced functionalization and modification methods for the polysaccharide based-material; and d) their applications and uses in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Each chapter is written by world-renowned academics and practitioners on their field.

This is an essential reference for students in biomedical, chemical, material, and microbiology engineering as well as researchers and professionals in the medical field.

Dr. Joaquim Miguel Oliveira (0000-0001-7052-8837), BSc, PhD (Portuguese, M, 41 years old) is a Principal Investigator “Investigador FCT 2012 and Investigador FCT 2015” at the PT Government Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B’s. He is the Vice President of I3Bs - Institute 3B's (Univ. Minho) and Director of Pre-Clinical Research at the FIFA MEDICAL CENTER, Estádio do Dragão, Porto, PT since Feb. 2013 and Pro-Director of the 3B's Research Group, Univ. Minho, PT. Currently, he is a Lecturer in Doctoral Program in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells (TERM&SC) at UMinho, PT (since Dec. 2013). He is also an Invited lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, U. Porto (since Sept. 2013) and Dept. of Polymer Eng., UM, PT (2009-present). Along the years he has focused his work on the field of biomaterials for tissue engineering, nanomedicine, stem cells and cell/drug delivery. More recently, he set-up a new research line within the ICVS/3B’s on 3D in vitro models for cancer research.

Dr. Hajer Radhouani (0000-0003-1007-4073), MsC, PhD (Tunisian/Belgian/Portuguese, F, 37 years old), is a postdoctoral researcher at the Portuguese Government Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B’s, University of Minho. She has been working with biomaterials based on natural polysaccharides to treat different articular cartilage pathologies. She has been awarded with grants and funds that allow to develop a new biomaterial as a potential candidate for tissue engineering applications. Currently, she is working on Kefiran polymer as a novel therapy for OA treatment. She published 51 publications listed in ISI Web of Knowledge, 3 international granted patents and 3 book chapters, among others; having a Scopus h-index of 17 and more than 834 citations. She also presented more than 100 works (posters and oral presentations) in conferences and meetings.

Prof. Rui L. Reis (0000-0002-4295-6129), DSc, Hon. Causa MD, Hon. Causa PhD, FBSE, FTERM, member NAE (USA), FAIMBE, FEAMBES is a Full Professor of Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, Biomaterials and Stem Cells at University of Minho (UMinho). He is, since 2013, the Vice-Rector/Vice-President for Research and Innovation of the University of Minho, Braga & Guimarães, Portugal. He is also the Director of the 3B’s Research Group, part of the I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of the UMinho in Portugal, and the Director of the PT Government Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B´s.