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EUROAGE: to improve people’s quality of life and increase healthy life expectancy

The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery (JUMISC), partner of NANBIOSIS, as the main beneficiary of the Spain-Portugal EUROAGE cross-border cooperation project that promotes active aging in the region, has presented its results and its impact on society, within the Spanish-speaking meeting ‘ Forum of Iberian Stories. 30 years of the INTERREG Spain-Portugal Cross-Border Cooperation Program (POCTEP) ’.

Specifically, the event has been organized by the agencies EFE and LUSA, and took place this past Wednesday at the headquarters of the Spanish agency in Madrid, with the support of the Directorate General for Regional Policy (DGRegio) of the European Commission.

Its objective has been to address the main achievements of the program and the new challenges demanded by the future of both territories. EUROAGE, belonging to the Cooperation Area 4 (Extremadura-Centro-Alentejo), is focused on promoting healthy autonomous life, mainly for the elderly, but also for dependent people, through the promotion of innovative initiatives based on technologies and knowledge developed by the R&D agents.

In turn, the European project promotes active aging through physical, cognitive and socio-emotional activity, with the main objective of improving people’s quality of life and increasing healthy life expectancy, at the same time that will affect the reduction of expenses, in the optimization of resources in public health systems and in the modernization of the business fabric of the sector.

Although the main beneficiary of the European project is the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, other institutions also participate, such as the Castelo Branco Polytechnic Institute, the University of Coimbra, the Extremadura Social Cluster, the University of Extremadura and the Polytechnic Institute Give Guardian

EUROAGE includes the development of materials for health literacy, applications for the improvement of physical and cognitive well-being and an integrated system for the promotion of active aging, as well as different social and welfare robots.

Source of information: Región Digital

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New book by NANBIOSIS U14: Basic research procedures in the cell therapy laboratory

Researchers of NANIOSIS Unit 14 at JUMISC have published a new book titled Basic research procedures in the cell therapy laboratory, in which some basic techniques and general principles for adult stem cell research are explained.

Stem cells are cells capable of differentiating into a wide variety of cell types and can be isolated from different tissues such as. They have regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to the secretion of paracrine factors. Currently, these cells are being widely used in clinical trials for the treatment of different diseases such as Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or myocardial infarction.
In this book, some basic techniques and general principles for working in a research laboratory in Cellular Therapy are explained in a simplified manner. In the same way, a series of basic knowledge are exposed that must be taken into account for the correct handling of the cells and their environment.
This book is not intended to be a detailed manual of laboratory procedures or a book on cell management for clinical use, but its purpose is to describe part of the protocols developed by the Cell Therapy Unit of NANBIOSIS at the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Center and which have the objective of evaluating the effectiveness and safety of these cells in the preclinical setting.

Book: Basic research procedures in the cell therapy laboratory. Álvarez Pérez, Verónica, García Casado, Javier, Sánchez-Margallo, Francisco.
ISBN 13: 978-84-17959-64-7

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POSITION II WORKSHOP #5 IN LEUVEN, BELGIUM

Jose Luis Pedraz, Jesus Ciriza and Angela Losada of NANBIOSIS U10 Drug Formulation – NanoBioCel Group of CIBER-BBN and University of the Basque Country were in Leuven, Belgium attending the European Project POSITION-II Workshop #5, which was held between January 21 and 23. The workshop was held at the facilities of iMEC, one of the partners of the project and world leader in R&D in nanoelectronics and digital technology.

The project lasts three years and after 18 months, in this workshop, the researchares of NANBIOSIS U10 Drug Formulation, have microencasulated and characterized the heart cells with the aim of checking the viability of the capsules for the treatment. In the next month all the team members of our workpackage (WP7) will meet with purpose of integrating each of the components of the final catheter (assemble them) to proceed with their validation because next year the validation must be done in vivo. 

This work is part of  a pilot line for realising the next generation of smart catheters and implants by building on Europe’s strength in medical diagnostic equipment and monitoring systems.

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Researchers from NANBIOSIS Unit 8 opt for the Cutting-Edge Science Award: How to measure brain’s hidden activity.

La Vanguardia and the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera have jointly promoted for the tenth consecutive year the Cutting-Edge Science Award “La Vanguardia de la Ciencia”, with the objective of givin visibility to the research of excellence carried out in Spain. The prize will correspond to the proposal candidate most voted by the public.

One of the 8 selected candidates is the research led by Anton Guimerà-Brunet (NANBIOSIS Unit 8 -Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona-CNM-CSIC / CIBER-BBN) and Jose Garrido (Institut Català de Nanociències i Nanotecnologia / Icrea), for developing graphene implants capable of measuring the hidden activity of the brain  with more sensitivity than conventional methods.

These new devices could improve the diagnosis of epilepsy and are being used as research tool to better understand this and other diseases and develop new therapies.

Further information can be found at the Vanguardias’s website dedicated to the prize and also how to cast your vote: https://www.lavanguardia.com/ciencia/20200126/473088817129/premio-vanguardia-de-la-ciencia.html

Article of reference:

The hidden brain activity
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Support for companies: Nanotechnological Bonds

From the NFP research group of CIBER-BBN and INA, led by Jesus Santamaria, that coordinates NANBIOSIS U9 Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit, and through the SAMCA Nanotechnology Chair, the call for grants has been launched: Nanotechnological Bonds

For more information: http://capsulasdenanotecnologia.es/bonos-nanotec/

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PICCOLO Project 7th Face-to-Face Meeting at JUMISC (NANBIOSIS)

The Piccolo consortium members met at JUMISC (Cácere) last on 21st-22nd January to hold the 7th face-to-face meeting.

Project partners had the chance to visit Nanbiosis U21 Experimental operating rooms led by Francisco M. Sánchez Margallo and participate in a training session with the prototype demo. A murine specimen was analysed ex-vivo with the probe and the clinicians had the opportunity to evaluate the features present in a neoplastic polyp.

The meeting agenda included a general overview of the project, the status update of OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), MPT (Multiphoton Tomography) and fluorescence technologies, deep learning algorithms preliminary results, the final steps to follow with the validation on animal and human samples and the exploitation and dissemination plan. All members agreed to focus on the preparation of dissemination material with the results of the project, such as a brochure or videos to approach the project to the scientific community.

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II COURSE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF FUNCTIONS A, B AND C IN RODENTS, LAGOMORPHES, CARNIVORES, PIGS AND SMALL RUMIANTS

JUMISC has organised the II Course for the performance of functions A, B and C in rodents, lagomorphes, carnivores, pigs and small rumiants  which wil take place at JUMISC from 3 February to 20 March co-Directed by D. LUIS DÁVILA GÓMEZ, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U22. Animal housing and  DR. FRANCISCO MIGUEL SÁNCHEZ MARGALLO (Deputy Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS)

The total duration of the course is 100 hours (58 theory and 42 practice)

This course has as specific objectives to provide information and expand existing knowledge in the following aspects:
-Specific legislation regarding animal experimentation .
-Ethical considerations and the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.
-Biology, housing, handling and care of experimental animals.
-Occupational health and safety.
-Recognition of the state of health and disease of experimental animals.
-Implications of the microbiological status of animals in the experimental process.
-Anesthesia, analgesia and basic principles of surgery.
-Realization of specific procedures with experimental animals and their practical development.
-Bloodless methods of euthanasia of animals.

Programm and inscriptions here

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A new fluorescent probe for NO

Nitric oxide is a component of the pollutant nitrogen oxides (NOx) responsible of different environmental negative effects. However, due to its physiological effects, NO has been used in different therapeutic applications. Thus, the inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator that finds its best applications in pediatrics, by transiently improving oxygenation in respiratory failure and persistent pulmonary hypertension. The initial recommended concentration of iNO in these treatments is 20 ppm. Higher concentrations do not increase its effectiveness and are associated with a higher incidence of methemoglobinemia and formation of nitrogen dioxide. In consequence the control of iNO concentration is of great interest.

Silvia Rodríguez-Nuévalos, Margarita Parra. Samuel Ceballos, Salvador Gil and Ana M.Costero, researchers of CIBER-BBN, Politecnic University of Valencia and University of Valencia were interested in detecting nitric oxide by different protocols and decided to study the Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) phenomena as a possible transduction mechanism for detecting nitric oxide, compatible with aqueous media.

To sum up, a new probe capable of selectively detecting nitric oxide was prepared and evaluated. The probe is a tetraphenylethylene derivative and the transduction mechanism is really based on the Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) phenomena. The click reaction catalyzed by NO modifies the steric volume of the TPE substituents inducing clear changes in the fluorescence emission. A limit of detection of 15 ppm has been determined and the linearity range appears between 20 and 80 ppm suggesting that the probe could be useful to control the use of iNO. Other gases such as NO2, CO2, CO and SO2 do not induce appreciable changes in the measure range. The probe works properly in MeOH:H2O media.

NMR spectra were registered at the Unit 26 of ICTS “NANBIOSIS”: NMR: Biomedical Applications II of ICBER-BBN at the Universitat of Valencia led by Ramón Martínez Máñez and Salvador Gil Grau.

Article of reference:

Silvia Rodríguez-Nuévalos, Margarita Parra. Samuel Ceballos, Salvador Gil, Ana M.Costero. A nitric oxide induced “click” reaction to trigger the aggregation induced emission (AIE) phenomena of a tetraphenyl ethylene derivative: A new fluorescent probe for NO. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY.  Vol: 388. 2020  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2019.112132

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Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy Course

The IV course on Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy will start on 6th Feb, 2020.

On April 2 at 7:00 pm Iñaki Ochoa will teach about “Basic research in cancer immunotherapy. Use of microfluidics in the study of cancer immunotherapy“.

Ignacio Ochoa is a Professor of the Department of Human Anatomy and Histology of the University of Zaragoza and researcher of the
AMB – Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering group and NANBIOSIS U13 Tissue & Scaffold Characterization Unit from CIBER-BBN and I3A-Zaragoza University

Classes will be held on Thursday, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the CIBA Lorente de Nó Assembly Hall (with an exception that is detailed in the program) starting on 6th Feb, 2020.

It is an ongoing training course. Price: 173 €. Includes Online Access to the book “Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy” by Amazing Books 2018

Program and registration: https://eventos.unizar.es/44697/programme/curso-de-inmunologia-tumoral-e-inmunoterapia-del-cancer.html

https://seom.org/otros-servicios/agenda/333-iv-curso-de-inmunologia-tumoral-e-inmunoterapia-del-cancer

Request pre-registration form Alberto Anel anel@unizar.es

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New nanocarrier for bio-imaging and drug-delivery applications

Researchers of CIBER-BBN and NANBIOSIS-ICTS (U6 Biomaterial Processing and Nanostructuring Unit at ICMAB-CSIC and U18 Nanotoxicology Unit at  Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau have developed a new nanocarrier for bio-imaging and drug-delivery applications

The new nanovesicle formulation is based on the quatsome architecture – which stands out due to the high colloidal stability and homogeneity in size – and has now been shown to be suitable for in vivo dosing.

Quatsomes are new non-liposomal lipid-based nanovesicles that have been developed by Nanomol group in recent years, and have been shown to be highly homogeneous and stable in different media for years. This colloidal stability involves important advantages for the development of pharmaceutical formulations and for guaranteeing the final product quality. Quatsomes are a promising nanocarrier for bio-imaging and drug-delivery applications, suitable for the encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules, easily functionalized with elements that favor the directionality towards therapeutic targets.

To facilitate their use in in vivo applications, Nanomol group has now developed a new Quatsome formulation, composed of cholesterol and myristalkonium chloride (MKC), the C14 homolog of benzalkonium chloride (BAK), the latter being extensively used as antimicrobial preservative in many ophthalmic and parenteral formulations on the EU and USA market. These novel MKC-Quatsomes have been synthesized in different media that are suitable for parenteral administration, in which they showed to be stable for at least 18 months. Moreover, vesicles remained stable in human serum for at least 24 hours.

In collaboration with the Oncogenesis and Antitumour Drug group of the Biomedical Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, these MKC-Quatsomes were tested in live mice bearing xenografted colorectal tumors. After intravenous injection of fluorescently labelled MKC-Quatsomes, biodistribution assays showed nanovesicle accumulation in tumors, liver, spleen, and kidneys, but not in any other organ. Importantly, MKC-Quatsomes were well-tolerated at the administered doses, and no histological alterations or toxicity was found in any of these organs. These new results suggest the applicability of quatsomes in therapeutic approaches that require systemic delivery.

NANOMOL group, Coordinator of NANBIOSIS U6 at ICMAB-CSIC and the Oncogenesis and Antitumor Drug group, coordinator NANBIOSIS U18 at Biomedical Research Institute (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau) are members of Biomedical Research Networking center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) and have a wide expertise and recognized excellence in the synthesis, processing and study of molecular and polymeric materials and the study of their biomedical properties. NANOMOL is also a member of the technology transfer network TECNIO. ‘

Article of reference:

MKC-Quatsomes. A stable nanovesicle platform for bio-imaging and drug-delivery applications co-authored by Guillem Vargas-Nadal et al., Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 24 (2020) 102136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2019.102136

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