Research Interests
The research interests of Paulo Almeida cover the synthesis and structural characterization of both small and polymer molecules, aiming the development of biologically active medicinal compounds and affinity chromatographic (AC) supports. A special attention is parallel devoted to mechanism reaction studies and to new methods to prepare heterocyclic compounds.
Within the bioactive medicinal compounds, he is involved in the development of active agents against hormone-dependent and hormone-independent tumors, anti-oxidants and anti-microbials, among others, with prominence to Aromatase (also for male infertility treatment), Cyclooxygenase-2, Monocarboxylate-4 transporter, 5α-Reductase and Xanthine Oxidase inhibitors.
The search for new functional dyes with emphasis on cyanines and other cationic dyes such as rhodamines to be used in Photodynamic Therapy, laser dyes and AC ligands is also of his interest.
Biotechnological studies related with the isolation and purification of biopharmaceuticals, including plasmid DNA call also his attention. Particularly, the development of new AC supports based on conventional matrixes as agarose and cellulose using aromatic ligands are actually ongoing. Recently, a special attention is devoted to the development of new AC supports based on cryogels.
His work is complemented by other national and international researcher teams, as toxicity, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory evaluations, male infertility treatment essays and chromatographic studies.