Dual beamtime at the MISTRAL at ALBA \
June 2026
Beamtime experiments are currently taking place at the MISTRAL beamline at ALBA Synchrotron, with Isabella Scarpa and Aline Pereira performing cryo-soft X-ray tomography (cryo-SXT) experiments to investigate how nanomaterials interact with cells in biologically relevant environments. The experiments focus on two complementary nano–bio questions. The first aims to understand the intracellular fate of silica nanoparticles, using cryo-SXT to visualize their localization, distribution, and interaction with cellular compartments in near-native conditions. The second explores how environmental pollutants and the formation of the protein corona influence the internalization and cellular processing of nanoplastics. By combining advanced cryogenic 3D imaging with carefully designed nano–bio systems, this beamtime will provide important insights into how surface chemistry, biological media, and environmental contaminants modulate the way nanoparticles and nanoplastics are recognized, internalized, and trafficked inside cells. These experiments represent an important step toward a more mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle–cell interactions and their potential biological impacts.
Mateus Cardoso at WorkNano 2026
June 2026
Mateus Cardoso was one of the invited speakers at WorkNano 2026, where he presented recent advances from the group in the application of synchrotron-based methods to nano–bio systems. His presentation highlighted the main X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) and X-ray imaging results obtained by the team, with emphasis on how advanced synchrotron techniques can reveal the structure, dynamics, and intracellular behavior of nanoparticles in complex biological environments.
The talk covered recent developments in the investigation of nanoparticle–protein interactions, protein corona formation, and the impact of biological media on nanoparticle dynamics, as probed by XPCS. It also presented imaging-based approaches used to understand nanoparticle internalization, intracellular trafficking, and interactions with cellular compartments. By combining dynamic information from coherent scattering with high-resolution imaging, the work illustrates how complementary synchrotron tools can provide a more complete picture of nano–bio interfaces..
Methodological improvements at Cateretê beamline
May 2026
A new experiment was carried out at the Cateretê beamline at Sirius (CNPEM, Brazil), focusing on the development and validation of advanced methodologies for imaging nanoparticle–cell interactions. Rather than targeting a specific biological question, this beamtime was dedicated to improving sample preparation, staining strategies, and measurement conditions required for high-resolution ptychographic imaging. The activities concentrated on enhancing image contrast and optimizing experimental protocols to increase the detectability of intracellular nanoparticles and the cellular compartments involved in their processing. These methodological advances are expected to improve the ability of ptychography to reveal the localization, intracellular trafficking, and ultimate fate of nanoparticles after cellular uptake. The results obtained during this campaign will serve as the foundation for future experiments aimed at investigating nano–bio interactions with unprecedented spatial resolution and quantitative capabilities.
Group Dinner
May 2026
Our research group gathered for a dinner to celebrate recent achievements and enjoy an informal evening together. The occasion also served as a farewell to Dr. Caroline Ezequiel, who will soon join the Sapucaia beamline team as a Beamline Scientist at Sirius.
The dinner provided an opportunity for colleagues to share experiences, strengthen collaborations, and wish Caroline success in her new role. Moments like these reflect the importance of teamwork and the strong connections built within the group beyond the laboratory environment.
XPCS nanoparticle dynamics in gastrointestinal fluids
Apr 2026
Three days of beamtime were conducted at Sirius to investigate the behavior of silica nanoparticles, used as model systems, under conditions mimicking their passage through gastrointestinal fluids. The experiments were designed to capture the dynamic response of the nanoparticle system as a function of the surrounding medium, with particular emphasis on changes in mobility and interaction states.
X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) was employed to probe nanoscale dynamics in situ, providing access to time-dependent fluctuations associated with diffusion and collective behavior. In parallel, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) measurements were performed under the same conditions to characterize the nanoparticles' structural state. The SAXS data were used to support and contextualize the dynamic information obtained from XPCS, ensuring consistency between structural and dynamical interpretations of the system.
First Beamtime of the Year at the Cateretê Beamline (Sirius)
Fev 2026
The first beamtime of the year was successfully completed at the Cateretê beamline at Sirius (CNPEM, Brazil). The campaign focused on investigating the cellular internalization of polystyrene nanoparticles coated with environmental pollutants, aiming to understand how surface chemistry modulates nanoparticle–cell interactions in biologically relevant systems. The primary objective was methodological: to refine and standardize cell preparation protocols to ensure reproducibility, structural preservation, and compatibility with high-resolution synchrotron imaging. As workflows advance toward increasingly correlative approaches, optimizing upstream biological preparation becomes as critical as the imaging itself, ensuring that datasets accurately reflect intracellular organization. Beyond data acquisition, the long-term goal is to establish a robust and scalable experimental pipeline aligned with ongoing developments within the Sirius ecosystem. This first beamtime represents an important step in consolidating that workflow and preparing for the upcoming experimental sessions scheduled in the near future.
Mateus Cardoso Invited to Speak at Two International Conferences
Jan 2026
Mateus Cardoso has been invited to participate in two major international scientific conferences in 2026, further highlighting the international recognition of his research in synchrotron-based techniques and nano–bio interfaces. He will speak at Coherence 2026, to be held in Madison, Wisconsin (USA). The Coherence conference is a leading international forum dedicated to advances in coherent X-ray science, bringing together experts in synchrotron radiation, X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), coherent diffraction imaging (CDI), and related methodologies. His participation reflects ongoing contributions to the development and application of advanced synchrotron-based approaches to probe nanoscale structure and dynamics. In addition, Mateus Cardoso has been invited to present at the XRM 2026 (International Conference on X-Ray Microscopy), to be held in Campinas, Brazil. XRM is one of the most important global meetings in the field of X-ray microscopy and imaging, bringing together researchers at the forefront of nanoscale characterization, multimodal imaging, and in situ/in operando studies.