Development and characterization of Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) platforms for bone tissue engineering

The development of scaffolds based on biomaterials is a promising strategy for Tissue Engineering and cellular regeneration. This work focuses on Bone Tissue Engineering, the aim is to develop electrically tailored biomaterials with different crystalline and electric features, and study their impacts onto cell biological behavior, so as to predict the materials output in the enhancement of bone tissue regeneration. It is accepted that bone exhibits piezoelectricity, a property that has been proved to be involved in bone growth/repair mechanism regulation. In addition electrical stimulations have been proved to influence bone growth and repair. Piezoelectric materials are therefore widely investigated for a potential use in bone tissue engineering. The main goal is the development of novel strategies to produce and employ piezoelectric biomaterials, with detailed knowledge of mechanisms involved in cell-material interaction. In the current work, poly (L-lactic) acid (PLLA), a synthetic semi-crystalline polymer, exhibiting biodegradibility, biocompatibility and piezoelectricity is studied and proposed as a promoter of enhanced tissue regeneration. PLLA has already been approved for implantation in human body by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and at the moment it is being used in several clinical strategies. The present study consists of first preparing films with different degrees of crystallinity and characterizing these PLLA films, in terms of surface and structural properties, and subsequently assessing the behavior of cells in terms of viability, proliferation, morphology and mineralization for each PLLA configuration. PLLA films were prepared using the solvent cast technique and submitted to different thermal treatments in order to obtain different degrees of crystallinity. Those platforms were then electrically poled, positively and negatively, by corona discharge in order to tailor their electrical properties. The cellular assays were conducted by using two different osteoblast cell lines grown directly onto the PLLA films:Human osteoblast Hob, a primary cell culture and Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line. This thesis gives also a comprehensive introduction to the area of Bone Tissue Engineering and provides a review of the work done in this field in the past until today, in that same field, including the one related with bone’s piezoelectricity. Then the experimental part deals with the effects of the crystallinity degrees and of the polarization in terms of surface properties and cellular bio assays. Three different degrees of crystallinity, and three different polarization conditions were prepared; which results in 9 different configurations under investigation.

Comparação de materiais usados na confeção de facetas dentárias

A demanda na procura da reabilitação estética é um dos focos da história da humanidade ao longo das eras, mas que teve a sua acentuação nestes últimos dois séculos. Sendo a face um dos pontos que nos permite avaliar esteticamente uma pessoa, cabe ao médico dentista, como um dos profissionais que trabalha nessa zona do corpo humano, avaliar e procurar satisfazer as necessidades estéticas da população. Assim, por parte dos profissionais de Medicina Dentária, tem de haver uma procura constante para a satisfação das exigências estéticas, não só no conhecimento como no aprimoramento da técnica. Nos últimos tempos, com a necessidade de desenvolvimento de materiais para colmatar a cada vez maior busca para a perfeição estética, as facetas surgiram como tratamento de excelência. O presente trabalho teve como objectivo a comparação entre resina composta e cerâmica, na elaboração de restaurações estéticas. Para os dois tipos de materiais foram avaliados a estética e o comportamento biomecânico. Foram comparados benefícios e desvantagens, contra-indicações, indicações, plano de tratamento, diagnóstico e procedimentos clínicos dos dois materiais, utilizados na confecção das facetas cerâmicas e de resina composta. Foram utilizados os seguintes parâmetros de comparação: biocompatibilidade, adaptação marginal, preparação, resistência, cor, acabamento, potencial de reparação, custo e estética. A utilização de facetas cerâmicas tem sido um dos principais focos de desenvolvimento da Medicina Dentária no âmbito científico. A sua utilização permite uma maior predictibilidade e uma maior longevidade clínica. A sua qualidade estética, resistência à fractura, biodisponibilidade e estabilidade de cor, são as suas maiores vantagens na utilização clínica. Em sentido inverso, as facetas de resina composta apresentam menor custo, maior resistência à abrasão, possibilidade de reparação fácil e menor desgaste de estrutura dentária durante a sua preparação. Contudo apresentam menor estabilidade de cor. Portanto, torna-se esclarecedor que a escolha do material a utilizar na confecção de facetas, deve ser adaptada às especificidades de cada caso.

Hybrid materials for biomedical applications

The increased longevity of humans and the demand for a better quality of life have led to a continuous search for new implant materials. Scientific development coupled with a growing multidisciplinarity between materials science and life sciences has given rise to new approaches such as regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The search for a material with mechanical properties close to those of human bone produced a new family of hybrid materials that take advantage of the synergy between inorganic silica (SiO4) domains, based on sol-gel bioactive glass compositions, and organic polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS ((CH3)2.SiO2)n, domains. Several studies have shown that hybrid materials based on the system PDMS-SiO2 constitute a promising group of biomaterials with several potential applications from bone tissue regeneration to brain tissue recovery, passing by bioactive coatings and drug delivery systems. The objective of the present work was to prepare hybrid materials for biomedical applications based on the PDMS-SiO2 system and to achieve a better understanding of the relationship among the sol-gel processing conditions, the chemical structures, the microstructure and the macroscopic properties. For that, different characterization techniques were used: Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, liquid and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, smallangle neutron scattering, surface area analysis by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Surface roughness and wettability were analyzed by 3D optical profilometry and by contact angle measurements respectively. Bioactivity was evaluated in vitro by immersion of the materials in Kokubos’s simulated body fluid and posterior surface analysis by different techniques as well as supernatant liquid analysis by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Biocompatibility was assessed using MG63 osteoblastic cells. PDMS-SiO2-CaO materials were first prepared using nitrate as a calcium source. To avoid the presence of nitrate residues in the final product due to its potential toxicity, a heat-treatment step (above 400 °C) is required. In order to enhance the thermal stability of the materials subjected to high temperatures titanium was added to the hybrid system, and a material containing calcium, with no traces of nitrate and the preservation of a significant amount of methyl groups was successfully obtained. The difficulty in eliminating all nitrates from bulk PDMS-SiO2-CaO samples obtained by sol-gel synthesis and subsequent heat-treatment created a new goal which was the search for alternative sources of calcium. New calcium sources were evaluated in order to substitute the nitrate and calcium acetate was chosen due to its good solubility in water. Preparation solgel protocols were tested and homogeneous monolithic samples were obtained. Besides their ability to improve the bioactivity, titanium and zirconium influence the structural and microstructural features of the SiO2-TiO2 and SiO2-ZrO2 binary systems, and also of the PDMS-TiO2 and PDMS-ZrO2 systems. Detailed studies with different sol-gel conditions allowed the understanding of the roles of titanium and zirconium as additives in the PDMS-SiO2 system. It was concluded that titanium and zirconium influence the kinetics of the sol-gel process due to their different alkoxide reactivity leading to hybrid xerogels with dissimilar characteristics and morphologies. Titanium isopropoxide, less reactive than zirconium propoxide, was chosen as source of titanium, used as an additive to the system PDMS-SiO2-CaO. Two different sol-gel preparation routes were followed, using the same base composition and calcium acetate as calcium source. Different microstructures with high hydrophobicit were obtained and both proved to be biocompatible after tested with MG63 osteoblastic cells. Finally, the role of strontium (typically known in bioglasses to promote bone formation and reduce bone resorption) was studied in the PDMS-SiO2-CaOTiO2 hybrid system. A biocompatible material, tested with MG63 osteoblastic cells, was obtained with the ability to release strontium within the values reported as suitable for bone tissue regeneration.

Variação sazonal e influência de fatores meteorológicos na incidência de descolamentos regmatógenos da retina na zona centro de Portugal e na Madeira

Objetivos: Analisar a variação sazonal e a influência de fatores meteorológicos na incidência a 5 anos de descolamento regmatógeno da retina (DRR), na região centro do país e região autónoma da Madeira (RAM). Métodos: Série de casos consecutiva, retrospetiva e multicêntrica. Incluíram-se doentes submetidos a cirurgia de DRR no Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Hospital Doutor Nélio Mendonça entre Janeiro’10 e Dezembro’14. A seleção de casos foi feita através codificação ICD-9-CM e os critérios de inclusão foram: 1)idade ≥18 anos; 2)DRR de novo; 3)reparação cirúrgica do DRR. Consideraram-se critérios de exclusão: 1)DR tracional, exsudativo ou misto; 2)DR antigo ou re-descolamento; 3)soluções de continuidade ou lesões regmatógenas tratadas apenas com laser. Os dados meteorológicos diários das estações de Coimbra, Leiria, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco e Funchal, foram utilizados na análise estatística. Resultados: Foram incluídos 1013 olhos (914 da região centro e 99 da RAM), com idade média 61,84±14,00 anos. Através de um modelo cronológico de regressão linear constatou-se a presença de sazonalidade com picos nos meses de Maio e Setembro. A temperatura média apresentou uma associação marginalmente significativa com a incidência de DRR num modelo biológico de regressão linear considerando os mais fortes preditores de DRR da amostra. Conclusões: Os nossos resultados demonstram que a incidência de DRR se associa a um padrão sazonal significativo que parece ser explicado pela temperatura. Este estudo alerta para a necessidade de um eficaz planeamento em saúde que deverá passar por uma gestão harmoniosa de recursos humanos em épocas de maior incidência.

Influência da temperatura de calcinação do fosfogesso no desempenho de cimentos supersulfatados

The supersulfated cement (CSS) basically consist of up to 90% blast furnace slag, 10-20% of a source of calcium sulfate and a small amount of alkali activator, covered by European standard EN 15743/2010. Because of this SSC are considered "green cement" low environmental impact. The source of calcium sulfate used in the preparation of CSS can be obtained from natural sources, such as gypsum or from alternative sources (industrial products), such as phosphogypsum. The phosphogypsum is a by-product of the fertilizer industry, used in the production of phosphoric acid. In this process the phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid to give as the major product phosphoric acid (H3PO4), gypsum and a small amount of hydrofluoric acid. The chemical composition of gypsum is basically calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O), similar to gypsum, because it can be used in this type of cement. To become anhydrous, the calcination of gypsum is necessary. The availability of the source of calcium sulfate to react with the slag is dependent on its solubility that is directly related to its calcination temperature. The solubility of the anhydrous gypsum decreases with increasing calcination temperature. This study investigated the influence of temperature of calcination of phosphogypsum on the performance of CSS. Samples were prepared with 10 and 20% of phosphogypsum calcinated at 350 to 650 ° C using KOH as an alkaline activator at three different concentrations (0.2, 0.5 and 0.8%). The results showed that all mortars presented the minimum values required by EN 15743/2010 for 7 and 28 days of hydration. In general CSS containing 10% phosphogypsum showed slightly better compressive strength results using a lower calcination temperature (350 °C) and curing all ages. The CSS containing 20% of calcined gypsum at 650 °C exhibit satisfactory compressive strenght at 28 days of hydration, but at later ages (56 to 90 days) it strongly reduced. This indicates that the calcination temperature of phosphogypsum has a strong influence on the performance of the CSS.

Convento de S. Francisco em Montemor-o-Novo: contributos para a sua recuperação e valorização

O convento de S. Francisco, em Montemor-o-Novo, que durante cerca de quatro séculos esteve implantado fora do contexto urbano local, está, na actualidade, envolvido pela malha habitacional e por equipamentos colectivos. O estado de parcial abandono e de degradação acelerada em que se encontra o conjunto, obriga a que, por todas as formas, haja empenho da comunidade social na sua urgente recuperação e valorização cultural. É efectuada uma leitura do conjunto edificado remanescente, uma análise dos materiais aplicados e das técnicas construtivas utilizadas, a que se segue um diagnóstico do estado patológico, identificando-se as anomalias mais relevantes, de natureza estrutural e não estrutural. Apresentam-se propostas para a reparação e eliminação dos factores de alteração. Finalmente, sugerem-se algumas possibilidades para a valorização futura do conjunto, enquanto peça importante do nosso património colectivo. ABSTRACT; The St. Francisco convent in Montemor-o-Novo which during about four centuries was outside the urban context, is nowadays completely involved by the urban agglomerate and collective facilities. The situation of partial abandonment and the accelerated degradation where the joint is, requires to, by all the ways have interest by the social community in its urgent recovery and in its cultural valorization. Is done a reading of the built joint, an analyse of the employed materials and the techniques of construction used, which is followed by a diagnostic of the pathological condition, identifying the most outstanding anomalies, of structural and not structural character, presenting suggestions to its reparation and reduce of the transformation agents. Finally, are enumerate some possibilities to the future benefit of the joint, while important piece of our collective heritage.

Evaluation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells by multicolor flow cytometry in chronic kidney disease patients

Endothelial dysfunction and impaired endothelial regenerative capacity play a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, which is one of the major causes of mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) may be an indicator of vascular damage, while circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may be a biomarker for vascular repair. However, the simultaneously evaluation of CEC and EPC circulating levels and its relation were not previously examined in CKD population. A blood sample (18ml) of healthy subjects (n=10), early CKD (n=10) and advanced CKD patients (n=10) was used for the isolation of early and late EPCs, CECs, and hematopoietic cells, identified by flow cytometry (BD FACSCanto™ II system) using a combination of fluorochrome-conjugated primary antibodies: CD31-PE, CD45-APC Cy7, CD34-FITC, CD117-PerCp Cy5.5, CD133-APC, CD146-Pacific Blue, and CD309-PECy7. Exclusion of dead cells was done according to a fixable viability dye staining. This eightcolor staining flow cytometry optimized protocol allowed us to accurate simultaneously identify EPCs, CECs and hematopoietic cells. In addition, it was also possible to distinguish the two subpopulations of EPCs, early and late EPCs subpopulation, by CD45intCD31+CD34+CD117-CD133+CD309-CD146- and CD45intCD31+CD34+CD117-CD133-CD309+CD146- multiple labeling, respectively. Moreover, the identification of CECs and hematopoietic cells was performed by CD45-CD31+CD34-/lowCD117-CD133-CD309-CD146+ and CD34+CD117+, respectively. The levels of CECs were non-significantly increased in early CKD (312.06 ± 91.34) and advanced CKD patients (191.43±49.86) in comparison with control group (103.23±24.13). By contrast, the levels of circulating early EPCs were significantly reduced in advanced CKD population (17.03±3.23) in comparison with early CKD (32.31±4.97), p=0.04 and control group (36.25 ± 6.16), p=0.03. In addition the levels of late EPCs were significantly reduced in both advanced (6.60±1.89), p=0.01, and early CKD groups (8.42±2.58), p=0.01 compared with control group (91.54±29.06). These results were accompanied by a dramatically reduction in the recruitment, differentiation and regenerative capacity indexes in CKD population. Taken together, these results suggest an imbalance in the process of endothelial repairment in CKD population, and further propose that the indexes of recruitment, differentiation and regenerative capacity of EPCs, may help to select the patients to benefit from guiding intervention strategies to improve cardiovascular health by inducing vascular protection.

Uma vida de relações falhadas: continuidade ou mudança?: estudo sobre a herança psíquica e os desamores narcísicos na vida adulta

Este estudo propôs-se investigar, como os Esquemas Iniciais Desadaptativos (EIDs) concebidos pelo indivíduo e a sua representação dos Estilos Parentais (EPs), influenciam na escolha amorosa da vida adulta considerando os relacionamentos amorosos de reparação narcísica: Submisso-Idealizador, Eufórico-Idealizante e Evitante-Desnarcisante. A amostra constituiu-se por 225 (jovens) adultos/as portugueses/as, entre os 23 e 63 anos, que tivessem tido ou possuíssem na altura do estudo uma relação amorosa. A investigação de natureza quantitativa utilizou como instrumentos o: Inventário de Tipos de Relacionamento Amoroso (ITRA), Questionário de Esquemas (QE) e Questionário de Estilos Parentais (QEP). Segundo os resultados, evidenciou-se a associação de EIDs0F 1 e EPs1F 2 mais precoces e rígidos (incondicionais) aos três tipos de relacionamento amoroso, verificou-se uma herança psíquica trans-geracional com conteúdos individuais e relacionais mantidos e apurou-se a necessidade de o sujeito procurar relações fornecedoras de uma imagem mais completa do seu self desestruturado, concluindo-se que houve uma continuidade de relações falhadas; Abstract: A lifetime of failed relationships: continuity or change? Study about the psychic heritage and narcissistic unlove in adulthood. This study proposes to investigate, how the Early Maladaptive Schemas (EIDs) conceived by the individual and, their representation about the Parental Styles (EPs), influence the choice of adulthood loving relationships considering the romantic relationships of narcissistic repair: Submissive-Idealizer, Euphoric-Idealizing and Avoidant-Devaluate. The sample consisted of 225 Portuguese (young) adults, between 23 and 63 years old, who have had or maintained at the time of the study a loving relationship. The quantitative research used as instruments the: Inventory Types of Loving Relationship (ITRA), Schema Questionnaire (QE) and Parental Styles Questionnaire (QEP). According to the results, it showed the association of more early and rigid (unconditional) EIDs2F 3 and EPs3F 4 with the three types of love relationship, it was found a trans-generational psychic inheritance with individual and relational content maintained and found out the need for the subject pursuit for supplier relations of a more complete image of your self unstructured, concluding that there was a continuity of failed relationships.

Reforço sísmico de estruturas em adobe

A construção em alvenaria de adobe tem um vasto património a nível mundial. É possível encontrar construção em terra no nosso território, sendo que a técnica particular do adobe foi amplamente utilizada na região de Aveiro durante o século XIX até meados do século XX. Devido à tradição e valor patrimonial da construção em alvenaria de adobe, diversos trabalhos têm vindo a ser desenvolvidos no departamento de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Aveiro, perspetivando um aprofundar de conhecimentos acerca deste tipo de construção. A vulnerabilidade sísmica das construções em alvenaria de adobe fez com que surgissem vários estudos para caracterização sísmica das mesmas, sendo que, recentemente, foi levada a cabo a realização de um ensaio cíclico, simulando os efeitos de um sismo, num modelo de adobe à escala real, construído no laboratório do departamento de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Aveiro. A presente dissertação tem como objetivo estudar formas de reparação e reforço sísmico de estruturas em adobe. Para isso foi reparado e reforçado o modelo previamente ensaiado, e novamente submetido a um ensaio cíclico, de modo a fazer-se uma análise comparativa com o ensaio prévio e assim retirar conclusões sobre a eficácia da solução de reforço aplicada.

Chemical resistance of lime-based grouts for masonry strengthening

The stone masonry walls are present in many buildings and historical monuments, with undeniable asset value, but also in old buildings housing both in Portugal and in Europe. Most of these buildings in masonry are in certain cases in a high state of degradation needing urgent intervention. This requires the identification of deficiencies and the application of appropriate intervention techniques. One of the possible techniques for structural consolidation works of stone masonry walls is the injection of fluid mortars currently called grouts. The choice of grouts is very important with regard in particular to their chemical and physical properties. In this study, carried out under the Master of Chemical Engineering, two types of lime-based grouts were used, in order to evaluate and compare their chemical resistance due to the crystallization of soluble salts. One of the grouts is a pre-dosed blend commercially available, Mape-Antique I from company Mapei (CA), and the second grout is a mixture prepared in the laboratory (LB), comprising metakaolin, cement, hydrated lime, water and superplasticizer. With the purpose of evaluating the action of sulphates on these grouts, a series of samples underwent several wetting-drying cycles using two different temperatures, 20 °C and 50 °C. During the experiment it was determined the change of weight and compressive strength in the analyzed grouts, as well as the sulphate ion concentration and pH of the solution in which the samples were dipped. The commercial grout (CA) apparently has a greater chemical resistance to sulphates. However grout LB showed to have positive results in some parameters.

Inteligência emocional percebida em alunos e professores: Um estudo exploratório.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Educacional.

Adição de superplastificante e anti-segregante à base de CMC em pastas de cimento para Poços de Petróleo

Oil well cementing materials consist of slurries of Special class Portland cement dispersed in water. Admixtures can be used to provide the necessary fluidity, so the material can be efficiently pumped down as well as penetrate porous rocks with controlled filter loss. Construction admixtures can be used to modify the properties of oil well cements provided they can withstand and hold their properties at the higher than ambient temperatures usually encountered in oil fields. In civil construction, superplasticizer play the role of dispersants that reduce the facto r of water cement improve mechanical properties and fluidity of the cement, whereas anti-segregation agents improve the workability of the slurry. In the present study, oil well cement slurries were produced adding both a dispersant and an anti-segregation agent conventionally used in Portland CPII-Z-32 RS cement aiming at materials for primary cementing and squeeze operations. Three basic aspects were evaluated: fluidity, filter loss and the synergetic effect of the admixtures at two temperatures, i.e., 27°C and 56°C, following API RP 10B practical recommendations. The slurries were prepared using admixture concentrations varying from 2.60 Kgf/m3 (0.02 gallft3) to 5.82 Kgf/m3 (0.045 galJft3) BWOC. The density of the slurries was set to 1.89 g/cm3 (15.8 Ib/gal). 0.30 to 0.60% BWOC of a CMC-based anti-segregation agent was added to the cement to control the filter loss. The results showed that the addition of anti-segregation at concentrations above 0.55% by weight of cement resulted in the increased viscosity of the folders in temperatures evaluated. The increasing the temperature of the tests led to a reduction in the performance of anti-segregation. At concentrations of 5.20 kgf/m3 (0,040 gallft3) and 5.82 Kgf/m3 (0,045 gal/ft 3) observed a better performance of the properties evaluated in the proposed system. At low temperature was observed instability in the readings of rheology for all concentrations of anti-segregation. Contents that increasing the concentration of anti¬-segregation is limited concentrations greater than 0.55 % BWOC of the CMC in temperature analyzed. The use of the system with CMC promoted a good performance against the properties evaluated. The principal function of anti¬-segregation was optimized with increasing concentration of superplasticizer, at temperatures above the 2rC. The study of the behaviour of systemic additives, resulting in slurries of cement, which can be optimized face studies of other intrinsic properties in oil fields

Imunidade celular: caracterização das proteínas celulares que inibem a infecção viral

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre no Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz

Desenvolvimento de bloco de vedação com barita na composição de partida para blindagem de radiação X

This work main objective is to study the use of bricks in barium X-rays rooms in order to contribute to the optimization of shielding rooms diagnosis. The work was based on experimental measurements of X-ray attenuation (40 to 150 kV), using ceramic seal bearing the incorporation of barium sulfat (BaSO4). Different formulations were studied in three different firing temperatures and evaluated for incorporation in the ceramic body. The composition of 20% of barite processed at a temperature of 950 ° C showed better physical and mechanical properties, is considered the most suitable for the purpose of this work. Were produced bricks sealing composition formulated based on that presented the best technological features. These blocks were tested physically as a building material and wall protective barrier. Properties such as visual, deviation from the square, face flatness, water absorption and compressive strength were evaluated for all the blocks produced. The behavior of this material as attenuator for X-rays was investigated by experimental results which take into account mortar manufacturers barium through the different strains and compared with the reference material (Pb). The simulation results indicated that the ceramic block barium shows excellent properties of attenuation equivalence lead taking into account the energy used in diagnostic X-ray

Síntese, aplicação e avaliação do efeito do teor de fósforo da celulose fosfatada em argamassa de alvenaria com aditivo comercial a base de hidroxi-etil-metil celulose (HEMC)

Generally, cellulose ethers improves mortar properties such as water retention, workability and setting time, along with adherence to the substrate. However, a major disadvantage of the addition of cellulose ethers in mortars is the delay in hydration of the cement. In this paper a cellulose phosphate (Cp) was synthesized water soluble and has been evaluated the effect of their incorporation into mortar based on Portland cement. Cellulose phosphate obtained was characterized by spectrophotometry Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mortar compositions were formulated with varying phosphorus content in cellulose and cellulose phosphate concentrations, when used in partial or total replacement of the commercial additive based hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC). The mortars formulated with additives were prepared and characterized by: testing in the fresh state (consistency index, water retention, bulk density and air content incorporated) and in the hardened state (absorption by capillarity, density, flexural and compression strength). In mixtures the proportion of sand:cement of 1:5 (v / v) and factor a / c = 1.31 and water were held constant. Overall, the results showed that the celluloses phosphates employed in mortars added acted significantly when partially substituting the commercial additive. With regard to consistency index, water retention and bulk density in the fresh state and absorption by capillarity and bulk density apparent in the hardened state, showed no appreciable differences as compared to the commercial additive. The incorporated air content in the fresh state reduced markedly, but did not affect other properties. The mortars with cellulose phosphate, partially replacing the commercial additive showed an improvement of the properties of flexural strength and compressive strength