On January 15th, 2026, Tânia Tavares successfully defended her PhD in Textile Engineering at the University of Minho, with a thesis entitled: “Topical, multilayer therapy based on Nisin Z and CW49 co-adjuvant actions for diabetic foot ulcer care.”
Her research focused on the development of innovative multilayer therapeutic systems incorporating the bioactive agents Nisin Z and CW49, aimed at improving the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. This work explores the convergence of textile engineering, biotechnology, and biomedical sciences to create advanced topical therapies that enhance antimicrobial performance and wound healing efficiency. The study highlights the potential of functional textile-based platforms in next-generation healthcare solutions.
The PhD was supervised by Dr. Helena Felgueiras (2C2T – Centre for Textile Science and Technology), Dr. Joana Antunes (Fibrenamics Association – Institute for Innovation in Fiber and Composites Materials), and Dr. Carla Silva (CEB – Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho).
The examination committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Raúl Fangueiro (Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho) and included Professor Dr. Mariana Henriques (Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho), Dr. Carla Joana Silva (CITEVE – Technological Center for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal), Professor Dr. Isabel Cristina Gouveia (University of Beira Interior), who participated remotely, and Dr. Helena Felgueiras (2C2T, University of Minho).
After the public presentation and discussion, in which Professor Isabel Gouveia and Dr. Carla Silva acted as main opponents, the jury unanimously approved the candidate, awarding the final classification of Very Good, recognizing the originality, innovative character, and scientific merit of the work.
This research represents an important contribution to textile-based biomedical engineering, reinforcing the role of advanced functional textiles and bioactive systems in addressing complex clinical challenges such as chronic wound care.
The Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T) congratulates Dr. Tânia Tavares on her outstanding achievement and for her contribution to scientific innovation in biomedical textiles and healthcare technologies.