Maria Clara Oliveira, Juliana Bernardes, and Beatriz Bertolim celebrate their awards at the 14th International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes (ISP) in Campinas, Brazil.
Two research projects developed at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), under the supervision of Dr. Juliana da Silva Bernardes and supported by FAPESP, received Best Poster Awards at the 14th edition of the International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes (ISP), held from July 13 to 18 at the University of Campinas (Unicamp). The event marked the symposium’s 30th anniversary and its first edition in Brazil.
Maria Clara dos Santos Oliveira, a PhD student at the National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNNano/CNPEM), received the award granted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for developing multiple emulsions stabilized exclusively with renewable materials, such as functionalized cellulose nanofibrils and vegetable oil. This sustainable system has potential applications in encapsulating hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, particularly in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.
Beatriz Ferrari Bertolim, an undergraduate Chemistry student at Unicamp and intern at LNNano/CNPEM, was awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for developing more sustainable paper coatings using a combination of cationic cellulose nanofibrils and exfoliated nanoclays. This approach significantly improves oxygen and oil barrier properties without compromising recyclability, with great potential for environmentally friendly packaging.
The International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes is a leading scientific event in the field of polyelectrolytes—charged macromolecules of synthetic or biological origin—aimed at fostering interdisciplinary interactions among researchers in chemistry, physics, and engineering, both from academia and industry. In 2025, the symposium gathered specialists from various countries to discuss topics such as complex coacervation, layer-by-layer assembly, ionic transport, electrostatic interactions, and applications in packaging, membranes, and bioinspired materials.
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
