Invitation to Lecture of Prof. Marcelo G. de Oliveira (Unicamp, Brazil)
When: Friday, September 5th, 2025; 11-12 h
Where: Technohal TL1133.
Host: Julieta Paez (DBE, Dep. of BioEngineering Technologies, S&T Faculty).
On Friday, September 5th, 2025; our group will be hosting Prof. Marcelo Ganzarolli de Oliveira from Unicamp, Brazil (group's website here https://www.nitric-oxide-biomaterials.com/ ). Prof. G. de Oliveira is an expert in nitric oxide releasing biomaterials and works at the interface of chemistry, materials science and medicine. We would like to invite you to his lecture that day at 11-12 h in room TL1133 (see abstract and short bio below).
Beyond the blue: a journey through nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials
Over the past 30 years at the Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (São Paulo, Brazil), my research has been driven by a single, versatile molecule: nitric oxide (NO). We have designed and synthesized NO donor molecules inspired by our body’s own endogenous carriers. These NO donors have been incorporated into flexible polymeric films and micellar hydrogels, creating innovative biomaterials capable of controlled NO release. Our studies show that, when applied topically, these materials can deliver NO locally, triggered by thermal or photochemical activation, leading to increased skin vasodilation and potent microbicidal, analgesic, and wound-healing effects. More recently, we have ventured into 3D printing technologies to fabricate fully absorbable, NO-releasing intracoronary stents, opening new possibilities for cardiovascular therapy. But why NO? My journey into this field began with a chance encounter, one that revealed to me the molecule’s remarkable and multifaceted biological roles. In this talk, I will share not only the science but also the story: how an unexpected introduction to NO set me on a path of scientific exploration, and how this “small” molecule continues to lead us into vast, unexplored territories of chemistry and medicine.
Short CV:
Prof. Marcelo G. de Oliveira received his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 1983, followed by an M.Sc. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Sciences from the same institution. He joined UNICAMP as an Assistant Professor in 1987. From 1993 to 1995, he held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Southampton, UK, after which he began his independent academic career at the Institute of Chemistry, UNICAMP. He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Physical Chemistry, where he served as Department Head from 2018 to 2022. His expertise lies in polymer science, with research focused on the design, development, and biomedical applications of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing polymeric biomaterials. Prof. de Oliveira has published 95 peer-reviewed articles and filed 15 patent applications, of which 13 have been granted. He has supervised more than 60 graduate and undergraduate students, as well as 14 postdoctoral fellows. From 2015 to 2020, he was a member of the Superior Council of the UNICAMP Innovation Agency (INOVA) and currently serves on the Editorial Boards of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology (Wiley) and Heliyon (Elsevier). He has received 12 awards recognizing his patents and technological innovations and has established international collaborations with research groups in the UK, Hungary, France, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the USA. https://www.nitric-oxide-biomaterials.com/ .