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Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-08-21"

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  • The Influence of Embeddedness on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy: A Gender Perspective in the Agri-Food Sector
    Publication . Santos, Gina; Marques, C.S.E.; Ferreira, João José de Matos
    This study aims to identify the antecedents of entrepreneurial activity in the agri-food sector of the Portuguese region of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (TMAD), taking into account a gender perspective. Thus, we intend to assess whether the environment influences embeddedness, and whether embeddedness, individual entrepreneurial orientation, innovative behaviour and gender impact or influence the perceptions of feasibility and desirability as antecedents of entrepreneurial activity of entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector of the TMAD region. The measurement instrument was applied to 249 firms in the agri-food sector, created in the last 5 years. A model was conceptualised where the relationships between the constructs relating to embeddedness, IEO and EI were presented, and three control variables were subsequently added: the innovative behaviour, the environment and gender. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques, such as structural equation modelling, were used to assess the proposed conceptual model. Thus, considering the complexity of the model under study, we performed an analysis which considered personal factors or characteristics, such as innovative behaviour, gender and IEO, as these are characteristics of the individual and may be influenced or shaped by external factors such as the context, i.e., the environment and embeddedness.
    2021-08-21Journal article Open access Show more
  • Mitoxantrone-loaded lipid nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy – quality-by-design approach and efficacy assessment in 2D and 3D in vitro cancer models
    Publication . Granja, Andreia; Sousa, Rita Lima; Alves, Cátia; Diogo, Duarte de Melo; Pinheiro, Marina; Sousa, Célia T.; Correia, I.J.; Reis, Salette
    Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The conventional chemotherapeutic regimens used in the treatment of this disease often lead to severe side-effects and reduced efficacy. In this study, a novel drug delivery system for the chemotherapeutic drug mitoxantrone (Mito) was developed using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). The production of the SLN was carried out using an organic-solvent-free, low-cost method and optimized using a Box-Behnken design. SLN presented adequate size for cancer-related applications, more than 90% of EE% and remained stable for at least 6 months. A much higher drug release was obtained at acidic pH (mimicking the endosomal compartment) than plasmatic pH, highlighting the potential of the nanosystem for tumor drug delivery. Additionally, SLN were non-hemolytic and cytocompatible, even at high concentrations of lipid. A significantly higher anti-cancer efficacy was obtained for Mito-loaded SLN comparing to the free drug at different concentrations in MCF-7 2D models. Finally, the nanoformulation was evaluated in heterotypic breast cancer spheroids showing capacity to penetrate the tridimensional structure and ability to induce a high anti-tumoral effect, similarly to the free drug. Overall, these results support that the developed SLN are effective Mito nanocarriers for the treatment of breast cancer.
    2021-08-21Journal article Open access Show more