Title of the project:
Graphene-enzyme-based nanohybrid agent to overcome environmental and sustainability thresholds in water management systems
Acronym: BioNanoAct
WHO WE ARE
Name: Noelia Losada García
Role: MSCA Postdoctoral fellow of BioNanoAct.
Affiliation: BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), in Bioactive and Multifunctional Materials laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal)
Profile: Noelia Losada Garcia is a Junior Researcher. She has gained extensive experience in research and development (R&D) over the last seven years thanks to her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Malaga, a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering by the Autonomous University of Madrid and Rey Juan Carlos University and subsequent successful doctoral thesis in Applied Chemistry by the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry of the CSIC, for which she received the highest qualification ‘Summa Cum Laude’(Jan 2022). She disseminated and transferred her knowledge through 27+ peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and 2 (inter)national patents. Noelia is also mentoring students in different levels. In her professional career, as a team member, has been actively involved in competitive international and national R&D projects, and with industrial collaboration (e.g., SAMSUNG Electronic). Recently, she has been awarded the CSIC Relevant PhD thesis Award 2024 and Talent and Technology Award 2023. All of these R&D activities and achievements were related to the fields of nanomaterials, environmental remediation and health sciences.
Dr. Losada is the leader of YR&I Recruitment on EUROMIC Cost Action, a member of scientific committee in TwinPrebioEnz international conference for Young researchers 2023 and member of Young EFC (European Federation of Corrosion).
More information:
Name: Elisabete R. Silva
Role: Supervisor of the MSCA fellow
Affiliation: BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), in Bioactive and Multifunctional Materials laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal)
Profile: Elisabete R. Silva (ERS) is an Assistant Researcher at the BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BIOISI), where she heads the Bioactive and Multifunctional Materials laboratory, and also serves as an Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. ERS completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2009, following a 5-year Chemical Engineering degree at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon.
Beginning her R&D career in 2003 with national projects and the chemical industry (UNITECA- União Industrial Têxtil e Química S.A. and Navigator, formerly Portucel-Soporcel paper industrial company. Since 2010, after her PhD, She specialized in developing functional agents, such as nano-catalysts and bioactive compounds, primarily for applications in surface functionalization and material immobilization. Her expertise focuses on scalable, sustainable technologies aimed at environmental remediation and biofouling prevention. Since 2013, ERS has focused on designing multifunctional agents embedded in polymeric matrices for industrial use in sectors, such as marine and water management, protecting surfaces from waterborne contaminants, biofouling, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC).
Throughout her career, ERS has been actively involved in numerous national and international R&D projects, as a Principal Investigator, Coordinator, and Research Member, often with industry collaboration (e.g., Technical Coordinator of FP7-FOULXSPEL, PI of NanoBioMitig FCT Project). She is the leader of WG4 and an MC member of the European MIC Network (Cost Action CA20130). Her research has been widely disseminated through 50+ peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters, and she holds over 10 patents (granted). Recognized for her contributions to scientific review, ERS serves on the editorial boards of the journals Environmental Degradation of Materials and Microorganisms and has guest-edited for Coatings and Nanomaterials. Her ongoing contributions to the scientific community include serving as a reviewer for several journals. As dedicated mentor, ERS supervises and guides post-doctoral fellows (2 ongoing, including 1 MSCA) and PhD, master’s (1 ongoing), and bachelor’s students (1 ongoing).
More information:
Profile: Bachelor in Cell Biology and Biotechnology since 2008. Master in Management and Conservation of Natural Resources since 2011 (University of Évora). Finished his PhD in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, in 2016. Since 2015 he is a Researcher at MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, where he leads the Biomonitoring and Ecotoxicology research group. Currently is also an Assistant Professor at the Plant Biology Department of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. Published 189 ISI papers, 17 book chapters and edited 1 book (h=38). Has more than 522 co-authors. Is presently Associate Editor of Frontiers in Marine Science and of Frontiers in Environmental Sciences and Editor in the journals Oceans, Applied Sciences and Journal of Xenobiotics. Is the PI or co-PI of 2 ongoing projects (1 international), participating in 6 projects (1 international) and being a member of the international advisory board of 3 project. Supervised 4 PhD students (ongoing = 4) and 11 MSc students (ongoing = 3). Evaluator of several international scientific funding agencies (ANR, FCT, ZSUN OSF, HRZZ, OTKA). Founded and coordinates the Analytical Facility BIOTOX (https://biotoxlab.wixsite.com/home) at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. Develops his research in the area of the Environmental Sciences (environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, biogeochemistry) and Biological Sciences (stress physiology, biochemistry, biochemical traceability, photobiology and ecophysiology).
More information:
Link(s) to your professional profile:
https://www.mare-centre.pt/pt/user/232
https://biotoxlab.wixsite.com/home
Name: Andrea Koerdt
Role: Host Secondment supervisor at BAM (associated partner)
Affiliation: Federal Institute of Material Research and Testing (BAM) (Berlin, Germany)
Profile: I am Andrea Koerdt with a microbiology background and working as Principal Investigator on MIC since 2016 in the federal Institute of Material Research and Testing. Key achievements of my group were the design and implementation of a novel MIC testing method providing an up to 200% increased corrosion rate of a MIC causing methanogen. I became an internationally recognized as young research leader in the field especially through my current position as Chair of the running COST Action Euro-MIC. I have organized internal/external projects/events and presented my work at various international conferences. Since 2020 I am organizing for instance international webinars with a continuously increasing audience (~100 participants per event). The webinar is interdisciplinary with speakers from academia, industry, consulting, and politics. I am member of VAAM, AMPP, IBBR, TMS, Hydrogen Europe and the standardization committee NACE (TM21495) to develop a standard test method for evaluation of effects of biocides on biofilms.
More information:
Name: Nanni Nöel-Hermes
Role: Host Secondment supervisor at ENDURES B.V (associated partner)
Affiliation: Endures B.V. (Den Helder, Netherlands)
Profile: Nanni started her position at ENDURES B.V. in the Netherlands in 2014 where she is responsible for all projects related to microbial influenced corrosion (MIC) and biofilm related issues. Focus is on marine environments such as harbour and offshore structures but also problems in fresh, brackish and process water are part of the scope- summarized, all water-bearing systems (such as sprinkler or fire extinguishing systems) where microbial corrosion can take place.
In their team they focus on applied research to find new techniques for prevention and mitigation of MIC. They have a strain collection of MIC related microorganisms in house which can be used for individual set-ups based on customer wishes to test their effect on different materials. Next to applied research Nanni is doing consultancy for damage cases to help customers with MIC related problems. Therefore, they have a fully equipped microbiological laboratory for diagnosis of MIC related microorganisms in-house. But this kind of analysis is not only microbial based, it is combined with all other in-house disciplines such as material failure analysis or electrochemistry. With this expertise can be concluded if MIC or other corrosion mechanisms are the problem of the affected structure.
More information:
Endures: https://endures.nl/over-endures/ons-team/
Name: Maria Salta
Role: Host Secondment supervisor at ENDURES B.V (associated partner)
Affiliation: Endures B.V. (Den Helder, Netherlands)
Profile: Dr Maria Salta (MS) is a Principal Researcher in Endures B.V. (Den Helder, The Netherlands). In this role MS manages and conducts applied research projects for the maritime sector, including working with research institutes (both nationally and internationally) as well as with the private sector and governmental bodies.
MS has over 15 years’ experience in marine biofilms as part of biofouling and microbiologically induced corrosion issues. Maria has been involved in and lead several research and commercial projects investigating biofilm and biofouling-associated issues in different maritime sectors including, but not limited to, offshore renewable energy, shipping, naval operations, as well as port infrastructure. Throughout her career, MS has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaboration, forging connections between biology, materials science, and environmental engineering. MS’s research and projects include bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation under both static and dynamic conditions; marine biofilm/biofouling dynamics on artificial and antifouling surfaces under flow, biofilm community composition through Next Generation Sequencing and microplastic characterisation in the marine environment. Maria also explores biomimetic and environmentally friendly approaches to combat biofilm formation. MS is frequently participating in regulatorily activities and consortia contributing towards the creation of standards and guidelines for the industry.
More information:
Endures: https://endures.nl/over-endures/ons-team/
Project Work packages
Research methodology and approach
To achieve BioNanoAct main goals, comprises interrelated and interdisciplinary work packages (WPs), as depicted in the Figure below. These WPs can be grouped into:
Administrative WPs:
Management (WP1)
Training and Knowledge Transfer (WP2)
Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication Outreach (WP6)
Research-focused WPs:
Design & Environmental Compatibility of Biographene Enzyme-Based Nanohybrid Agent (WP3)
Nanohybrid Agent Immobilization in Coatings (WP4)
Anti-Biofouling Performance of Nanohybrid Agent Nanocomposite Coatings (WP5)
MSCA Secondments: During the fellowship, Noelia will complete two 3-month assignments, one at the BAM center and the other at Endures B.V. company, under the primary supervision of Andrea Koerdt and Nanni Noël-Hermes and Maria Salta, respectively. These assignments will facilitate training and skill acquisition in the field of microbial-influenced corrosion (MIC), both on-shore and off-shore. The two assigned secondment periods are strategically planned to optimize coatings based on regular monitoring (weekly/monthly) of results. In the first secondment period, the initial series of coatings will be evaluated under simulated conditions, while in the second period, the most promising formulation will undergo testing in real conditions. This testing will continue until the project’s completion.
About Federal Institute of Material Research and Testing | Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
About Endures B.V.
Established in 1964, Endures has multidisciplinary knowledge and experience in corrosion, failure analysis, microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) and biofouling, providing services to companies and organizations in these fields.
Located in Den Helder, Endures is positioned within the home port of the Royal Netherlands Navy. This strategic location gives Endures laboratory a unique capability via its access to flowing natural seawater, which is utilized to perform various exposure tests, potentially combined with instrumental fouling control techniques on coatings, different materials as well as equipment components.
Project Impacts
OUTPUTS
Training-through-BioNanoAct
- Publications
- Conferences
- Seminars
- Others
Latest News And Mídia
Workshop participation as attendance
SYNERGIES
- ‘Ciências Blue and Green Biotechnology Workshop’ on 26th February 2025, Faculty of Sciencies of University of Lisbon, Portugal https://www.synergiesbiotech.com/
TWINNING Capacitation Event
- ‘NCPInTheHouse 2025: Exploring EIC Pathfinder Opportunities’ on 27th February 2025 Faculty of Sciencies of University of Lisbon, Portugal
Noelias’s Participation in a course ‘Introduction to Image Analysis – 4th edition’ from 4th-6th of November.
CONTACT
Noelia Losada García (MSCA Postdoctoral fellow/Principal Investigator)
University of Lisbon – Faculty of sciences
Campo Grande – Building C8 Campus FCUL
1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Funded by the European Union (BioNanoAct, GA 101153145). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the REA can be held responsible for them.
