Polyphenols in Art: chemistry and biology hand in hand with conservation of cultural heritage – PTDC/QUI-OUT/29925/2017

Illuminated in word and in image, medieval manuscripts are some of the most beautiful testimonies of our European past and may be at risk. In the paper now published in Scientific Reports, for the first time, we provide an in-depth characterization of the molecular structures that give substance to historical writing inks. We show that the major black chromophores are based on complexes with pentagalloylglucose and hexagalloylglucose and not with gallic acid. In turn, accurate structures for iron gall inks will promote informed conservation strategies, filling the existing gap between scientific research and its application.

Title: In-depth phenolic characterization of iron gall inks by deconstructing representative Iberian recipes

Journal: Scientific Reports

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87969-3

Wine-inspired synthesis of blue pyranoflavyliums for topical Photodynamic Therapy developed in our laboratory gained attention of several national media institutions.

Best poster award IberPhenol 2020

P61 - Cosmetotextiles- A strategy for th

Best Poster award to Carolina da Silva Ribeiro

REQUIMTE/LAQV, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto for the Poster communication in International IBERPHENOL Conference, 5 - 6 November 2020.

" Cosmetotextiles: A strategy for the application of anthocyanins from industrial waste”

Best poster award ICPH 2019, Japan

Among the hundreds of participants, our lab brought two best award prizes during the ICPH 2019. Besides the award letter notification, Hélder and Ricardo also won a prize money of 20,000 japanese yen.

Hélder presented a work about the recent advances on the bioavailability of complex anthocyanins while Ricardo discussed the role of some polyphenols in celiac disease.

Our lab continues to hit success everywhere we go.