According to an academic source, a team of researchers from the University of Aveiro (UA) has created a novel technique for producing microparticles based on human blood proteins, which may find use in biomedicine. As mentioned by the UA, this technology, which has previously been the focus of national and international patent applications, uses proteins isolated from human platelets.

João Mano, professor at the UA Department of Chemistry and head of the COMPASS research group, claims that the platforms now in use to encourage cell adhesion "require synthetic materials or complex and exhaustive processes, which limits their effectiveness". According to the note, "Given the composition and production method of these particles, a wide range of applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, among other biomedical applications, is anticipated”.

The research team, which includes members of the Department of Chemistry at UA and the affiliated laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, claims that these microparticles stand out for their quick production and capacity to act as adhesion and expansion sites for cells from different types of tissues, aiding in the formation of microtissues. As João Mano explained, “Due to its provenance, this type of biomaterial prevents immunological complications and rejection of the platform presented here. In turn, this platform can be used as a substrate for the fabrication of mimetic microenvironments of organs and tissues”.

In addition, the UA note emphasises that using human-derived proteins "also has a lower risk of rejection and disease transmission compared to current alternatives". The composition of these microparticles enables the construction of autonomous three-dimensional structures and the modelling of various cellular functions, including adhesion and proliferation.