Rita de Sousa Dias

About

Rita Dias graduated in Chemistry by the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, with a B.Sc. in 1999 and completed a Ph.D. degree in Macromolecular Chemistry (thesis entitled "DNA-Surfactant Interactions") by the same institution in 2004, while holder of a grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT.

Rita Dias was awarded a Marie Curie Fellow within a MCRTN project and later a FCT scholarship to develop her post-doctoral work in the Division of Physical Chemistry of Lund University, Sweden.

In 2008 she returned to the University of Coimbra, as a Researcher (Investigador Auxiliar) at the Department of Chemistry within the FCT program Ciência 2007.

In 2012 she took up a position as an Associate Professor in the Physics Department in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Research Interests

Control of DNA condensation using cationic surfactants and polyelectrolytes;
Adsorption and compaction of macromolecules onto model lipid membranes. MC simulations;
Nanoparticle - poly-acid interactions. MC simulations.

Publications

2025

Dannert, Corinna; Dias, Rita; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Lale, Rahmi. (2025) Complexation of pH Sensitive Polyelectrolytes. The Role of Steric Hindrance, Electrostatics and Hydrophobicity. NTNU Open NTNU Open
Doctoral dissertation

2024

Kogej, Ksenija; Dannert, Corinna; Graf-Vlachy, Nina; Dias, Rita; Reščič, Jurij. (2024) Effect of cationic surfactants on titration behavior of isotactic and atactic poly(methacrylic acid). Journal of Molecular Liquids
Academic article

2023

Dannert, Corinna; Mardal, Ingrid; Lale, Rahmi; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Dias, Rita. (2023) DNA Condensation by Peptide-Conjugated PAMAM Dendrimers. Influence of Peptide Charge. ACS Omega
Academic article

2021

Kleven, Sofie Rønningen; Bandyopadhyay, Sulalit; Dias, Rita. (2021) Monte Carlo Simulations of Protein Adsorption on Antifouling Surfaces. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Stornes, Morten; Blanco, Pablo M.; Dias, Rita. (2021) Polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle mutual charge regulation and its influence on their complexation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Academic article
Blanco, Pablo M.; Madurga, Sergio; Garces, Josep L.; Mas, Francesc; Dias, Rita. (2021) Influence of macromolecular crowding on the charge regulation of intrinsically disordered proteins. Soft Matter
Academic article
Pi-Boleda, Bernat; Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Illa, Ona; Branchadell, Vicenç; Dias, Rita; Ortuño, Rosa M.. (2021) Efficient DNA Condensation Induced by Chiral β-Amino Acid-Based Cationic Surfactants. ACS Applied Bio Materials (AABM)
Academic article

2019

Dias, Rita. (2019) Role of protein self-association on DNA condensation and nucleoid stability in a bacterial cell model. Polymers
Academic article
Dannert, Corinna; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Dias, Rita. (2019) Nanoparticle-hydrogel composites: From molecular interactions to macroscopic behavior. Polymers
Academic article

2018

Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Cova, Tania F G G; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2018) Adsorption of charged macromolecules upon multicomponent responsive surfaces. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP
Academic article
Stornes, Morten; Shrestha, Binamra; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2018) pH-Dependent Polyelectrolyte Bridging of Charged Nanoparticles. Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Academic article

2017

Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) Synergi of condensing agents and macromolecular crowding on DNA condensation. NTNU NTNU
Doctoral dissertation
Stornes, Morten; Linse, Per; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) Monte Carlo Simulations of Complexation between Weak Polyelectrolytes and a Charged Nanoparticle. Influence of Polyelectrolyte Chain Length and Concentration. Macromolecules
Academic article
Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Langlete, Petter; Lale, Rahmi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) In vitro studies of DNA condensation by bridging protein in a crowding environment. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Academic article

2016

Santore, Maria; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Piculell, Lennart. (2016) Editorial Overview - Polynucleotides. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
Abstract

2015

Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2015) Synergistic role of DNA-binding protein and macromolecular crowding on DNA condensation. An experimental and theoretical approach. Journal of Molecular Liquids
Academic article
Jorge, Andreia F.; Röder, Ruth; Kos, Petra; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Wagner, Ernst; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2015) Combining polyethylenimine and Fe(III) for mediating pDNA transfection. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
Academic article
Haugstad, Kristin Elisabeth; Håti, Armend Gazmeno; Nordgård, Catherine Taylor; Adl, Patricia S.; Maurstad, Gjertrud; Sletmoen, Marit. (2015) Direct Determination of Chitosan–Mucin Interactions Using a Single-Molecule Strategy: Comparison to Alginate–Mucin Interactions. Polymers
Academic article

2014

Dias, Rita de Sousa; Stokke, Bjørn Torger. (2014) Polyelectrolyte complexes. Bridging the ensemble average – single-molecule strategies.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Qamhieh, Khawla; Nylander, Tommy; Black, Camilla F; Attard, G; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Ainalem, Marie-Louise. (2014) Complexes formed between DNA and poly(amido amine) dendrimers of different generations-modelling DNA wrapping and penetration. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP
Academic article
Ainalem, Marie-Louise; Bartles, Andrew; Muck, Joscha; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Carnerup, Anna M.; Zink, Daniele. (2014) DNA compaction induced by a cationic polymer or surfactant impact gene expression and DNA degradation. PLOS ONE
Academic article
Jorge, Andreia F.; Pereira, Rui F. P.; Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Valente, Artur J.M.; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2014) Interpreting the rich behavior of ternary DNA-PEI-Fe(III) complexes. Biomacromolecules
Academic article

2013

Jorge, Andreia F.; Morán, M. Carmen; Vinardell, M. Pilar; Pereira, Jorge C.; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2013) Ternary complexes DNA-polyethylenimine-Fe(III) with linear and branched polycations: implications on condensation, size, charge and in vitro biocompatibility. Soft Matter
Academic article

Journal publications

Kogej, Ksenija; Dannert, Corinna; Graf-Vlachy, Nina; Dias, Rita; Reščič, Jurij. (2024) Effect of cationic surfactants on titration behavior of isotactic and atactic poly(methacrylic acid). Journal of Molecular Liquids
Academic article
Dannert, Corinna; Mardal, Ingrid; Lale, Rahmi; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Dias, Rita. (2023) DNA Condensation by Peptide-Conjugated PAMAM Dendrimers. Influence of Peptide Charge. ACS Omega
Academic article
Stornes, Morten; Blanco, Pablo M.; Dias, Rita. (2021) Polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle mutual charge regulation and its influence on their complexation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Academic article
Blanco, Pablo M.; Madurga, Sergio; Garces, Josep L.; Mas, Francesc; Dias, Rita. (2021) Influence of macromolecular crowding on the charge regulation of intrinsically disordered proteins. Soft Matter
Academic article
Pi-Boleda, Bernat; Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Illa, Ona; Branchadell, Vicenç; Dias, Rita; Ortuño, Rosa M.. (2021) Efficient DNA Condensation Induced by Chiral β-Amino Acid-Based Cationic Surfactants. ACS Applied Bio Materials (AABM)
Academic article
Dias, Rita. (2019) Role of protein self-association on DNA condensation and nucleoid stability in a bacterial cell model. Polymers
Academic article
Dannert, Corinna; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Dias, Rita. (2019) Nanoparticle-hydrogel composites: From molecular interactions to macroscopic behavior. Polymers
Academic article
Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Cova, Tania F G G; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2018) Adsorption of charged macromolecules upon multicomponent responsive surfaces. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP
Academic article
Stornes, Morten; Shrestha, Binamra; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2018) pH-Dependent Polyelectrolyte Bridging of Charged Nanoparticles. Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Academic article
Stornes, Morten; Linse, Per; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) Monte Carlo Simulations of Complexation between Weak Polyelectrolytes and a Charged Nanoparticle. Influence of Polyelectrolyte Chain Length and Concentration. Macromolecules
Academic article
Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Langlete, Petter; Lale, Rahmi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) In vitro studies of DNA condensation by bridging protein in a crowding environment. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Academic article
Santore, Maria; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Piculell, Lennart. (2016) Editorial Overview - Polynucleotides. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
Abstract
Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2015) Synergistic role of DNA-binding protein and macromolecular crowding on DNA condensation. An experimental and theoretical approach. Journal of Molecular Liquids
Academic article
Jorge, Andreia F.; Röder, Ruth; Kos, Petra; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Wagner, Ernst; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2015) Combining polyethylenimine and Fe(III) for mediating pDNA transfection. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
Academic article
Haugstad, Kristin Elisabeth; Håti, Armend Gazmeno; Nordgård, Catherine Taylor; Adl, Patricia S.; Maurstad, Gjertrud; Sletmoen, Marit. (2015) Direct Determination of Chitosan–Mucin Interactions Using a Single-Molecule Strategy: Comparison to Alginate–Mucin Interactions. Polymers
Academic article
Qamhieh, Khawla; Nylander, Tommy; Black, Camilla F; Attard, G; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Ainalem, Marie-Louise. (2014) Complexes formed between DNA and poly(amido amine) dendrimers of different generations-modelling DNA wrapping and penetration. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP
Academic article
Ainalem, Marie-Louise; Bartles, Andrew; Muck, Joscha; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Carnerup, Anna M.; Zink, Daniele. (2014) DNA compaction induced by a cationic polymer or surfactant impact gene expression and DNA degradation. PLOS ONE
Academic article
Jorge, Andreia F.; Pereira, Rui F. P.; Nunes, Sandra C. C.; Valente, Artur J.M.; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2014) Interpreting the rich behavior of ternary DNA-PEI-Fe(III) complexes. Biomacromolecules
Academic article
Jorge, Andreia F.; Morán, M. Carmen; Vinardell, M. Pilar; Pereira, Jorge C.; Dias, Rita de Sousa; Pais, Alberto A. C. C.. (2013) Ternary complexes DNA-polyethylenimine-Fe(III) with linear and branched polycations: implications on condensation, size, charge and in vitro biocompatibility. Soft Matter
Academic article

Part of book/report

Dias, Rita de Sousa; Stokke, Bjørn Torger. (2014) Polyelectrolyte complexes. Bridging the ensemble average – single-molecule strategies.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Report

Dannert, Corinna; Dias, Rita; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Lale, Rahmi. (2025) Complexation of pH Sensitive Polyelectrolytes. The Role of Steric Hindrance, Electrostatics and Hydrophobicity. NTNU Open NTNU Open
Doctoral dissertation
Kleven, Sofie Rønningen; Bandyopadhyay, Sulalit; Dias, Rita. (2021) Monte Carlo Simulations of Protein Adsorption on Antifouling Surfaces. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Ramisetty, Sravani Keerthi; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2017) Synergi of condensing agents and macromolecular crowding on DNA condensation. NTNU NTNU
Doctoral dissertation

Teaching

Courses

Outreach

2022

Poster

Dannert, Corinna; Dias, Rita; Mardal, Ingrid; Nordlund, Veronica. (2022) Impact of charge on PAMAM-peptide DNA binding. 36th European Colloid & Interface Society Conference 2022-09-04 - 2022-09-09
Poster

Nordlund, Veronica; Dannert, Corinna; Dias, Rita de Sousa. (2022) Effect of charge composition of disordered tails in DNA-biopolymer interactions. Biophysics and medical physics spring meeting , NTNU campus Gløshaugen 2022-05-12 - 2022-05-13