Célia was graduated in Food Engineering in 1993 at the High School of Biotechnology of Portuguese Catholic University. In 1997, with the thesis, Rheological characterization of mixed systems xanthan/locust bean gum, Célia completed the M. at Faculty of Sciences of UP. In 2009, Célia obtained the Ph.D in Analytical Chemistry by the Faculty of Pharmacy of UP, with the thesis entitled: Evaluation of the use of renewable miniaturized sensors in the analysis of drugs in various matrices and toxic. Since 2002 she has been teaching as invited Professor and nowadays as Assistant Professor
EDUCATION
Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Escola Superior de Biotecnologia: Porto, PT - Degree in Food Engineer
University of Porto; Faculty of Sciences, PT - Master in Chemistry
University of Porto; Faculty of Pharmacy, PT - PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Electrochemical molecularly imprinted polymer sensors in viral diagnostics: Innovations, challenges and case studies Dmitrij Gritsok, Martin Hedström, Maria C.B.S.M. Montenegro, Célia Gomes Amorim Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2025 Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic equivalent of antibodies and have been widely used in electrochemical sensing as recognition elements. They offer advantages over traditional recognition elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids and aptamers due to their simple synthesis, lower production costs, greater chemical and physical stability, and robust performance in diverse environments. Improved detection techniques and combining MIPs with materials like metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, aptamers, metal organic frameworks, quantum dots, and electrochemically active internal probes show increasing potential. These combinations could become a reliable method for detecting viruses quickly, with performance similar or better than standard techniques. In this review article we provide detailed case studies covering ten different viruses (Bean pod mottle virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, Foot-and-mouth disease virus, Human papillomavirus, Hepatitis C virus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Influenza A virus, Norovirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and over forty specific examples. We summarize the recent advances in the development of electrochemical MIP-based sensors for the diagnostics of viral diseases and compare their performance. Additionally, challenges and future perspectives of MIPs as promising recognition elements are discussed.
Insights into the molecular antimicrobial properties of ferulic acid against Helicobacter pylori Luay F Abu-Qatouseh, Mohammad I A Ahmad, Célia G Amorim, Ibrahim S I Al-Adham, Phillip J Collier, Maria C B S M Montenegro Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2025 Aim Natural compounds have gained attention as potential alternatives or adjuvants to antibiotics against several pathogens. Ferulic acid, a natural plant product, has demonstrated promising antimicrobial properties against a wide range of microorganisms. This paper aims to characterize the molecular mechanism underlying the potential inhibitory effects of ferulic acid on Helicobacter pylori. Methods and results The impact of ferulic acid on the growth and expression of genes associated with urease enzyme, flagellar and motility, acid stability, toxin production, and quorum sensing in H. pylori using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ferulic acid were 167.7 ± 58.9 µg mL-1 and 250 µg mL-1, respectively. Exposure of H. pylori to 0.1% ferulic acid revealed strong induction of the regulatory genes hup and rpoN transcription factors and fliA flagellar regulatory factor and the cytotoxin genes cagA and vacA. Conclusions Results confirm the potent anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of ferulic acid affecting the expression of genes of its virulence factors, metabolism, and quorum sensing.
Enhanced Extraction and Separation with HPLC-DAD of Phenolic and Flavonoid Antioxidants from Portulaca oleracea L. Leaves Using Tailored Terpenoid-Based NADES: Comparative Assessment of Antiradical and Antimicrobial Activities Tarik Sebbah, Imene Yahla, Edite Cunha, Ali Riazi, Célia G. Amorim, Joan Manuel Rodriguez-Diaz, Maria C. B. S. M. Montenegro Antioxidants, 2025 This study evaluates Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) for extracting antioxidant compounds from Portulaca oleracea dried leaves, compared to traditional ethanol extraction. NADES were synthesized using terpenoids (menthol and β-citronellol) and organic acids (lactic and capric acid), characterized by favorable viscosity, density, and pH, ensuring liquid stability at ambient temperature. NADES extraction outperformed ethanol, with NADES 1 yielding the highest bioactive contents: 83.66 Eq GA/mg, 786.55 Eq Q/mg, and 0.78 Eq C/mg versus ethanol’s 58.49 Eq GA/mg, 363.23 Eq Q/mg, and 0.44 Eq C/mg. HPLC-DAD analysis identified higher levels of phenolic acids (caffeic and syringic acid) and flavonoids (rutin and quercetin) in NADES extracts, compounds absent in ethanol. Antioxidant potential, assessed via IC50 values, confirmed superior activity for NADES extracts (NADES 1-Ext: IC50 28.10 ± 1.73 µg/µL) compared to ethanol (IC50 1615.97 ± 5.34 µg/µL), and the Trolox method has confirmed extensively this superiority. Additionally, NADES demonstrated improved antimicrobial effects, varying with microorganisms. Despite their high viscosity potentially limiting extraction efficiency, adjusting temperature offers a promising approach to enhance mass transfer. These findings emphasize NADES as a sustainable alternative for bioactive compound extraction, paving the way for optimizing extraction techniques through viscosity reduction strategies.
Advancements in water purification membranes: state-of-the-art research Jaime E. Cevallos-Mendoza, Jennifer Maria Navia-Mendoza, Irene Carolina Beltrón-Vinces, Carlos Augusto Morales-Paredes, Célia G. Amorim, María CBSM Montenegro, Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz Membrane Assisted Water Purificatio, 2025
Development of hybrid MIL-53(Al)@CBS for ternary adsorption of tetracyclines antibiotics in water: Physical interpretation of the adsorption mechanism Jaime E. Cevallos-Mendoza, Jeffrey Saúl Cedeño-Muñoz, Jennifer Maria Navia-Mendoza, Flávio Figueira, Célia G. Amorim, Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz, Maria C.B.S.M. Montenegro Bioresource Technology, 2024 In this study, a hybrid material, MIL-53(Al)@CBS, was synthesized via the solvothermal method, involving the growth of MIL-53(Al) crystals on cocoa bean shell residues (CBS). Physicochemical characterization techniques, including TGA, BET, FTIR, XRD, and SEM, confirmed successful hybridization. MIL-53(Al)@CBS was employed as an adsorbent for antibiotics (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline) separation from aqueous solutions. Parameters like pH, adsorbent dose, concentration, time, and temperature were systematically evaluated. FTIR revealed π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds between tetracyclines and the adsorbent. MIL-53(Al)@CBS exhibited adsorption, with removal rates up to 98.92%, 99.04%, and 98.24% for OTC, TC, and CTC, respectively. Kinetics suggested adsorption depends on active site availability, with TC adsorbing fastest. Microscopic models showed adsorption on three distinct active site types with different affinities without competition or adherence to the Langmuir hypothesis. Importantly, MIL-53(Al)@CBS maintained high adsorption capacity even after ten washing cycles, highlighting its potential for water treatment.
Nanocomposite HKUST-1@polysulfone membrane for the adsorptive removal of tetracyclines in waters Jaime E. Cevallos-Mendoza, Gema Alay-Macias, Flávio Figueira, Alberto N. Araujo, Célia G. Amorim, Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz, Maria C.B.S.M. Montenegro Separation and Purification Technology, 2024 To mitigate the presence of tetracyclines in water, it is essential to implement proper wastewater treatment processes that can effectively remove these compounds. In this work we develop a polymeric filtration membrane functionalized with nanocrystals of a metallic organic framework, designated by HKUST-1. The membrane was evaluated for the remotion of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) in water samples. The membrane was fabricated using polysulfone (PSU), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), MOF (HKUST-1), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) through the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. The membrane that presents the best antibiotic rejection characteristics was prepared with 15% (w/w) PSU, 3% (w/w) PEG, 1% (w/w) HKUST-1, and 81% (w/w) N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). This membrane exhibited a pure water flux of up to 76.2 L.m-2.h-1, approximately 40 times more than the one achieved for pristine membranes. Once determined the best membrane composition, a physical-chemical characterization of membrane was done. A high antibiotic rejection rate was obtained for OTC, TC, and CTC, around 91%, 91%, and 99% respectively. The pH of solutions has a strong influence on membrane rejection. The results suggest that intermolecular forces such as π-π type interactions and hydrogen bonds exist between the neutral molecules of tetracyclines (pH>pKa1 and <pKa2) and HKUST-1@PSU MMM, which are greater than the electrostatic forces at pH<pKa1 or pH>pKa2. Furthermore, FTIR spectra demonstrate the formation of a Cu-tetracycline complex as another adsorption mechanism. Finally, the interaction of the tetracyclines in the mixture on the removal performance was evaluated. The study revealed that chlortetracycline (CTC) exhibited superior removal performance, even over extended periods of time, despite having a lower initial concentration in the mixture. This innovative membrane represents a new generation of highly efficient filter systems specifically designed for water purification purposes.
