Synchrotron-as-a-Service for industry at ConvergeLab Summit 2026
October 2026
Mateus Cardoso participated in the ConvergeLab Open Health Summit 2026, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he delivered a talk entitled “Synchrotron-as-a-Service for the Pharmaceutical Industry.”
The presentation highlighted the capabilities of Sirius, Brazil's fourth-generation synchrotron light source, and explored how advanced synchrotron techniques can address challenges in pharmaceutical research and development, from structural biology and drug discovery to nanomedicine, drug formulations, and the characterisation of complex biological systems. The event provided an opportunity to discuss new models of collaboration between large-scale research infrastructures and industry, highlighting how cutting-edge scientific capabilities and multidisciplinary expertise can help translate scientific advances into technological innovation, industrial competitiveness, and broader societal benefits.
Our research on protein corona featured on the cover of Small Methods
October 2026
Our recent paper, "Fractionation-Free Protein Corona Quantification Through Synchrotron-Based Small-Angle X-ray Scattering," has been published in Small Methods and selected for the back cover of the journal's October 2026 issue. Led by PhD student Juliana Tosta Theodoro Carvalho, the study introduces an approach to quantify protein corona formation in biological environments using synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Unlike conventional methods, which require separating nanoparticle–protein complexes from free proteins, this fractionation-free methodology preserves adsorption equilibria and enables quantitative characterization under more realistic conditions. The approach was demonstrated using both model protein systems and human serum, highlighting its potential for investigating nanoparticle–protein interactions across different levels of biological complexity.
Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.70786
Aline Pereira receives Best Poster Award at FAPESP Microplastics School
September 2026
Aline Orvalho Pereira, PhD student in our group, received the Best Poster Award at the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Microplastics, held at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. The event brought together researchers and international experts to discuss advances and challenges related to micro- and nanoplastic pollution. Her poster presented research investigating the heterogeneous distribution of pesticide coatings on nanoplastic surfaces, highlighting the importance of understanding how environmental contaminants interact with nanoplastics at the nanoscale. The work focuses on characterizing variations in surface coverage that may influence the physicochemical properties and environmental behavior of these particles. This recognition highlights ongoing research in our group aimed at understanding nanoplastic–pollutant interactions and their implications for environmental and biological systems.
Exploring Nanomaterial–Bacteria Interactions at Imbuia under BSL-2 Conditions
September 2026
Our group recently conducted experiments at the IMBUIA beamline of Sirius, investigating interactions between nanomaterials and pathogenic bacteria under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) conditions. The experiments were performed by PhD students Clara Fidelis and Aline Pereira as part of an international collaboration with Prof. Liming Wang's research group at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. Using synchrotron-based nanoscale infrared spectroscopy (nano-IR), the study aims to explore how nanomaterials interact with bacterial cells, providing insights into the physicochemical processes occurring at the nano–bio interface. The experiments also highlight the expanding capabilities of Sirius for investigating biological systems under controlled biosafety conditions, opening new opportunities for research involving pathogenic microorganisms and advanced synchrotron techniques..
Juliana Carvalho receives Best Oral Presentation Award at ECIS 2026
September 2026
Juliana Tosta Theodoro Carvalho, PhD student in our group, received the Best Oral Presentation Award at ECIS 2026, the 40th Conference of the European Colloid and Interface Society, held in Granada, Spain. Her presentation focused on recent advances in the characterization of nanoparticle–protein interactions using synchrotron-based techniques. The work highlighted a new approach for quantifying protein corona formation directly in complex biological environments, without requiring the separation of nanoparticles from unbound proteins. This methodology, recently published in Small Methods, uses synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to provide quantitative information on nanoparticle–protein interactions under conditions closer to their native state. The award recognizes the scientific relevance of the research conducted by our group and its contribution to understanding the nano–bio interface.
Mateus Cardoso delivers plenary talk at XRM 2026
August 2026
Mateus Cardoso delivered a plenary talk at XRM 2026, the 17th International Conference on X-Ray Microscopy, hosted at the CNPEM campus in Campinas, Brazil. His presentation, entitled “Tracking Nanoparticle Interactions with Cells Using Synchrotron-Based Techniques,” highlighted recent work from the group on the use of advanced synchrotron methods to investigate nano–bio interactions across different spatial scales. The talk brought together complementary approaches developed and applied at Sirius and partner synchrotron facilities, including cryogenic soft X-ray tomography, X-ray ptychographic tomography, and synchrotron infrared nanospectroscopy. Through examples involving nanoparticles interacting with mammalian cells and bacteria, the presentation showed how combining structural, spatial, and chemical information can provide a more comprehensive view of nanoparticle localization and their interactions with biological systems. Presenting this work at XRM was particularly meaningful as the conference brought the international X-ray microscopy community to Sirius, providing an opportunity to showcase both the scientific questions pursued by our group and the growing capabilities of synchrotron-based imaging for addressing complex problems at the interface between nanoscience and biology.
Welcoming Dr. Wang group and strengthening scientific exchanges
July 2026
Our group hosted a barbecue to welcome Chinese collaborators led by Dr. Liming Wang from the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), who will spend nearly one month in Campinas. The visit aims to strengthen the long-standing collaboration between IHEP and the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), promoting scientific exchanges, joint experiments, and the development of new research projects. As part of this collaboration, Aline Pereira will spend four months working with Dr. Liming Wang’s group in China, further expanding the exchange of expertise and supporting ongoing studies involving advanced correlative electron and X-ray techniques to study nanoplastics.
Mateus Cardoso delivers an invited talk at Coherence 2026 in Madison
June 2026
Mateus Cardoso delivered an invited talk at Coherence 2026, the International Workshop on Phase Retrieval and Coherent Scattering, held in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. His presentation, entitled “Coherent X-ray Methods to Track Nanoparticles from Biological Media to Intracellular Fate,” was part of the session Coherence and Applications: Biological and Soft Matter Systems. The talk highlighted the use of complementary coherent X-ray techniques to investigate nanoparticle transformations across biological environments, connecting their interactions in complex biological media with their behaviour and fate inside cells. The invitation underscores the international relevance of the research developed by our group at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), particularly in the application of advanced X-ray methods to scientific challenges at the interface between nanoscience and biology.
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.