Nordic Scholarship: Andreia Granja in Tromsø Advancing Skin Drug Delivery Research

At SPOT Nordic, one of our core missions is to promote talent mobility and strengthen scientific cooperation between Portugal and the Nordic countries. Through the Nordic Scholarship programme, Andreia Granja, researcher at LAQV/REQUIMTE, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto, is currently undertaking a two-month research stay at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, in Tromsø, under the supervision of Professor Gøril Eide Flaten.

Andreia’s research focuses on the development of cubosomes, a specific class of lipid nanocarriers with strong potential for drug delivery applications. Compared to other lipid-based nanocarriers currently available on the market, these systems offer enhanced stability and versatility, making them particularly promising for topical and skin delivery applications.

As Andreia explains, these nanocarriers are designed to interact with the skin barrier itself. Due to their lipid composition and unique internal structure, cubosomes can interact with the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, helping improve both skin retention and permeation of therapeutic compounds.

To further enhance their suitability for skin delivery applications, the nanoformulations are developed using lipids naturally present in the skin, creating what Andreia describes as a biomimetic approach. This skin-mimicking composition may support barrier restoration and improve therapeutic performance in conditions involving compromised skin barriers, such as atopic dermatitis.

A central aspect of the project involves validating these nanoformulations through advanced in vitro skin models capable of evaluating skin retention and permeability in a reliable and cost-effective way. In this context, the collaboration with Professor Gøril Eide Flaten and the Drug Transport and Delivery Research Group at UiT has become particularly important.

According to Andreia, “collaboration with Professor Gøril Eide Flaten, an expert in the development of non-cellular in vitro skin models, plays a pivotal role in this work.” During this research stay, she is developing both healthy and compromised skin barrier models capable of replicating conditions observed in diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

The work currently being carried out in Tromsø focuses on evaluating the skin retention and penetration capacity of her nanoformulations in order to identify the most promising systems for future therapeutic applications. This approach also contributes to reducing the need for extensive cellular and animal testing, supporting more ethical and efficient research practices.

Reflecting on the opportunity, Andreia highlights that “the Bolsa Nordic has been an amazing opportunity to expand my international experience and to strengthen a scientific collaboration with a leading Nordic research group and Institution.” Through this mobility programme, she has been learning new techniques and methodologies that will directly contribute to the advancement of her research and her growth as a scientist.

At the moment, Andreia is already applying these new methodologies in the laboratory, producing the in vitro skin models and carrying out permeability studies to evaluate the performance of her nanoformulations within these systems. As she explains, “this approach will allow me to identify the most promising nanoformulations, thereby reducing the need for extensive cellular and animal experiments.”

Beyond the scientific dimension, Andreia also describes the experience of working in an international environment as highly rewarding. In her words, “being part of such an international environment has been very rewarding, both professionally and personally.” She also highlights the atmosphere at UiT and the infrastructure surrounding the campus, which have contributed positively to her overall experience in Norway.

Outside the laboratory, Tromsø itself has also left a strong impression. Andreia shares that she has been “really enjoying life in Tromsø” describing it as “a beautiful city, surrounded by nature and stunning landscapes.”

During her stay, she had the opportunity to experience Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations on May 17th, something she describes as “a lot of fun, especially seeing the parades and experiencing the joy and energy of the local community.”

With the arrival of better weather, Andreia has also started exploring the region through hiking while embracing Norwegian culture through local experiences such as sauna traditions and Norwegian cuisine. As she notes, she has already had the opportunity to taste local specialities, including halibut, while fully embracing the experience of living in northern Norway.

Andreia Granja’s journey is another excellent example of what the Nordic Scholarship programme aims to support: enabling Portuguese researchers to access internationally recognised institutions, strengthen scientific collaborations, and bring valuable knowledge and experience back to Portugal.

We are proud to support Andreia during this important stage of her scientific journey and look forward to following the next chapters of her work.