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Posts on Jan 1970

The Soft Lab held a new edition of the course on characterization and preparation of particulate materials

José Amable Bernabé, Technical Coordinator of Unit 6, hosted a course on “Characterization techniques for particulate materials”.

Barcelona, october 2024. For yet another year, José Amable Bernabé, of the Soft Materials Service at ICMAB and Technical Coordinator of NANBIOSIS Unit 6, offered this course. The course was an explanation of different techniques to characterize nanoparticles and particulate matter, including the fundamentals of these techniques, sample preparation, practical examples and results interpretation.

The course is offered every year through the CSIC training courses offered every year for all its staff, as reported in ICMAB webpage.

Soft Materials Service

The Soft Materials Service provides equipment and technical assistance for the preparation and characterization of micro-and nanostructured soft molecular materials (molecular surfaces, micro- and nanoparticulate molecular materials, plastic films, dispersed systems, SAMs, etc..) with interest in different areas of application (biomedicine, electronics, energy storage and other chemical and material application areas).

The Soft Materials Service, with Amable Bernabé and David Piña as technicians, participate in many European projects and give service to the whole ICMAB community, apart from the Nanomol Research Unit, and also to other CSIC centers and research institutions and companies.

On April 2022, the Service Materials Service, which is part of our Unit 6, obtained the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Certification, which ensures the quality of the service provided and helps to continue with its improvement and extension to future services.

Amable Bernabé showing the materials' characterization equipment to the course participants
Amable Bernabé showing the materials’ characterization equipment to the course participants. Source: ICMAB webpage.

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

Leading scientists

The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

Custom solutions

Designed for either scientific collaboration or the private industry, we adapt our services to your needs, filling the gaps and paving the way towards the next breakthrough.

Cutting-Edge facilities

Publicly funded, with the most advanced equipment, offering a wide variety of services from synthesis of nanoparticles and medical devices, including up to preclinical trials.

Standards of quality

Our services have standards of quality required in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech sectors, from Good Practices to ISO certifications.

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions with priority access, enter our Competitive Call here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

attendants of the course held at ICMAB
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A project on pediatric respiratory infections, led by NANBIOSIS, wins the CIBER Young Researcher Call

Chips R’ Us, a pediatric respiratory infection study, wins CIBER’s Young Researcher Call, developing an innovative lung model using Organ-on-Chip technology.

Vigo, october 2024. The project Chips R’ Us, focused on studying lower respiratory infections in pediatric patients, has been selected in the 2024 Call for Intramural Projects for Young Researchers of the Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER). An evaluation board composed of specialists from various CIBER thematic areas evaluated the proposals based on their novelty, feasibility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and potential social impact.

Led by Dr. Gabriel Alfranca, a researcher in the area of Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) at the Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development, and developed in collaboration with NANBIOSIS-ICTS, the project will receive €5,000 in funding. The project will be presented at the CIBER Congress, which will be held in Valencia from November 27 to 29 this year 2024.

We want to create a model capable of replicating lung conditions, especially for the most vulnerable patients. If we succeed, this device could be applied in the future not only for therapies in children but for any other respiratory disease

— Dr. Gabriel Alfranca

The initiative aims to develop an innovative in vitro model using an Organ-on-Chip (OoC) device that simulates the microenvironment of the human lung. Through human alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiC) exposed to nasopharyngeal samples from both healthy pediatric patients and those with bronchiolitis, cellular responses to various stimuli can be observed in real-time. “We want to create a model capable of replicating lung conditions, especially for the most vulnerable patients. If we succeed, this device could be applied in the future not only for therapies in children but for any other respiratory disease,” says Dr. Alfranca.

The collaboration of CIBER-BBN with CIBER’s Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Cancer (CIBERONC), and Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES) areas strengthens the proposal, with NANBIOSIS-ICTS playing a key role in manufacturing the device. The device will include advanced sensors and image analysis through artificial intelligence, enabling detailed monitoring of cellular changes and opening new possibilities for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases.

With the support of the funding, Gabriel Alfranca’s team (formed by Carlos Castilla, Denise Marrero, Marta Camprubí and Sonia Alcolea) will have one year to develop the project, with the expectation that it will lay the foundation for future larger-scale research, particularly in the field of personalized medicine and the development of advanced diagnostic platforms.

The Chirs R Us project is an inter-area between CIBER groups. This includes the participation of our Unit 8 from CIBER-BBN. Leading the project is Dr. Gabriel Alfranca, member of the coordination team of NANBIOSIS.

Team members of the finalist teams, Chips R’ Us, Trientech and KKs6, as well as the organization team of the award during the Congress for Young Scientific Researchers in Vigo.

First Congress for Young Scientific Researchers in Vigo

During the First CIBER Congress for Young Scientific Researchers, held in Vigo in June 2024, participants were encouraged to engage in a networking activity that could lead to a collaborative project idea. In addition to Chips R’ Us, two other finalist projects, Trientech and KKs6, were recognized for their innovation and quality. However, Chips R’ Us stood out for its multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration between various CIBER areas, and its potential to develop a model with significant clinical impact in the personalized treatment of respiratory infections.

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

Leading scientists

The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

Custom solutions

Designed for either scientific collaboration or the private industry, we adapt our services to your needs, filling the gaps and paving the way towards the next breakthrough.

Cutting-Edge facilities

Publicly funded, with the most advanced equipment, offering a wide variety of services from synthesis of nanoparticles and medical devices, including up to preclinical trials.

Standards of quality

Our services have standards of quality required in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech sectors, from Good Practices to ISO certifications.

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions with priority access, enter our Competitive Call here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

Read More

U18-S05. Histological analyses

Histological analyses

The aim of this service is to evaluate the toxicity or antitumor activity of nanoparticles and drug-loaded nanoparticles in normal or tumor tissues provided by the customer or obtained in the in vivo assays performed in the unit. The histological analyses that we offer include hematoxylin&eosin staining to evaluate the toxicity in normal tissues and also the mitotic index or cell death present in tumor tissues. We also offer DAPI staining of tissue samples to evaluate apoptosis induction by compounds. Moreover, we also offer the study of the expression of different markers by Immunohistochemistry. Thus, we offer the evaluation of different cell death (PARP, Caspases, …) or proliferation (Ki67, Cyclins,…) markers. We can also offer the possibility to set up the evaluation of new markers of interest by the costumer.

Customer benefits

The costumer will benefit from the experience of the researchers involved in the service performing histological analyses of normal and tumor tissues. The service has also high expertise in immunohistochemistry staining and offers the possibility of setting up new antibodies that can be of interest for the costumer.

Target customer

The offered service can be of interest to research groups of academia or companies willing to study the histology of normal or tumor tissue samples.

References

  • Martínez-Torró C, Alba-Castellón L, Carrasco-Díaz LM, Serna N, Imedio L, Gallardo A, Casanova I, Unzueta U, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Villaverde A. Lymphocyte infiltration and antitumoral effect promoted by cytotoxic inflammatory proteins formulated as self-assembling, protein-only nanoparticles. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Aug;164:114976. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114976.
  • Falgàs A, Garcia-León A, Núñez Y, Serna N, Sánchez-Garcia L, Unzueta U, Voltà-Durán E, Aragó M, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Sierra J, Gallardo A, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Casanova I. A diphtheria toxin-based nanoparticle achieves specific cytotoxic effect on CXCR4+ lymphoma cells without toxicity in immunocompromised and immunocompetent mice. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Jun;150:112940. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112940.
  • -Medina-Gutiérrez E, García-León A, Gallardo A, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Unzueta U, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Casanova I, Mangues R. Potent Anticancer Activity of CXCR4-Targeted Nanostructured Toxins in Aggressive Endometrial Cancer Models. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;15(1):85. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010085.
  • Sala R, Rioja-Blanco E, Serna N, Sánchez-García L, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Casanova I, López-Pousa A, Unzueta U, Céspedes MV, Vázquez E, Villaverde A, Mangues R. GSDMD-dependent pyroptotic induction by a multivalent CXCR4-targeted nanotoxin blocks colorectal cancer metastases. Drug Deliv. 2022 Dec;29(1):1384-1397. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2069302.
  • Pallarès V, Unzueta U, Falgàs A, Aviñó A, Núñez Y, García-León A, Sánchez-García L, Serna N, Gallardo A, Alba-Castellón L, Álamo P, Sierra J, Cedó L, Eritja R, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Casanova I, Mangues R. A multivalent Ara-C-prodrug nanoconjugate achieves selective ablation of leukemic cells in an acute myeloid leukemia mouse model. Biomaterials. 2022 Jan;280:121258. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121258.
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U18-S04. In vitro Antitumor Activity

In vitro Antitumor Activity

The aim of this service is to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity of compounds in different types of human cancer cell lines in which we determine the effect using different types of assays including MTT, LDH release and caspase activation. The cellular models that we offer include human cell lines from different tumor types including hematologic and solid neoplasias.

Customer benefits

The costumer will benefit from more than 20 years of experience of the researchers involved in the service that have performed the in vitro evaluation of the antitumor activity of different nanoparticles and other types of compounds.  We offer also the possibility of setting up new in vitro assays or to offer other cellular models that could be of interest for the costumer. Moreover, the conditions of the assays are flexible and will be adapted to the needs of each specific compound.

Target customer

The offered service can be of interest to research groups of academia or companies willing to test the antitumor activity of any compound in vitro.

References

  • Falgàs A, Pallarès V, Unzueta U, Núñez Y, Sierra J, Gallardo A, Alba-Castellón L, Mangues MA, Álamo P, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Casanova I. Specific Cytotoxic Effect of an Auristatin Nanoconjugate Towards CXCR4+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Cells. Int J Nanomedicine. 2021 Mar 5;16:1869-1888. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S289733.
  • Núñez Y, Garcia-León A, Falgàs A, Serna N, Sánchez-García L, Garrido A, Sierra J, Gallardo A, Unzueta U, Vázquez E, Villaverde A, Mangues R, Casanova I. T22-PE24-H6 Nanotoxin Selectively Kills CXCR4-High Expressing AML Patient Cells In Vitro and Potently Blocks Dissemination In Vivo. Pharmaceutics. 2023 Feb 22;15(3):727. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030727.
  • -Medina-Gutiérrez E, García-León A, Gallardo A, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Unzueta U, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Casanova I, Mangues R. Potent Anticancer Activity of CXCR4-Targeted Nanostructured Toxins in Aggressive Endometrial Cancer Models. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;15(1):85. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010085.
  • Sala R, Rioja-Blanco E, Serna N, Sánchez-García L, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Casanova I, López-Pousa A, Unzueta U, Céspedes MV, Vázquez E, Villaverde A, Mangues R. GSDMD-dependent pyroptotic induction by a multivalent CXCR4-targeted nanotoxin blocks colorectal cancer metastases. Drug Deliv. 2022 Dec;29(1):1384-1397. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2069302.
Read More

U18-S03. In vivo antitumor activity

In vivo antitumor activity

The aim of this service is to evaluate the biodistribution and/or the in vivo antitumor activity of nanoparticles and drug-loaded nanoparticles. Thus, we offer different tumor mouse models, subcutaneous and orthotopic, in which we can determine the biodistribution of nanoparticles, with or without loaded drug, in normal and tumor tissues. Moreover, we can also determine the antitumor activity of the compounds in different tumor models. In the service we have subcutaneous and orthotopic/disseminated models of lymphoma, leukemia and colorectal, endometrium, head and neck carcinomas. Moreover, we have also available PDX models of colorectal and endometrium cancer. We can also offer the possibility to set up new animal models of other tumor types.

Customer benefits

The customer will benefit from the experience of the researchers involved in the service that have performed the in vivo evaluation of a high number of diverse nanoparticles. The service has also high expertise in developing new cancer animal models. Thus, we offer also the possibility of setting up new models of any cancer type that fit with the needs of the costumer. Moreover, the conditions of the assays are flexible and will be adapted to the need of each specific compound.

Target customer

The offered service can be of interest to research groups of academia or companies willing to test the antitumor activity of nanoparticles or drug-loaded nanoparticles in vivo.

References

  • Martínez-Torró C, Alba-Castellón L, Carrasco-Díaz LM, Serna N, Imedio L, Gallardo A, Casanova I, Unzueta U, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Villaverde A. Lymphocyte infiltration and antitumoral effect promoted by cytotoxic inflammatory proteins formulated as self-assembling, protein-only nanoparticles. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Aug;164:114976. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114976.
  • Rioja-Blanco E, Arroyo-Solera I, Álamo P, Casanova I, Gallardo A, Unzueta U, Serna N, Sánchez-García L, Quer M, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Alba-Castellón L, León X. Self-assembling protein nanocarrier for selective delivery of cytotoxic polypeptides to CXCR4+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumors. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2022 May;12(5):2578-2591. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.030.
  • Falgàs A, Garcia-León A, Núñez Y, Serna N, Sánchez-Garcia L, Unzueta U, Voltà-Durán E, Aragó M, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Sierra J, Gallardo A, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Mangues R, Casanova I. A diphtheria toxin-based nanoparticle achieves specific cytotoxic effect on CXCR4+ lymphoma cells without toxicity in immunocompromised and immunocompetent mice. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Jun;150:112940. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112940.
  • -Medina-Gutiérrez E, García-León A, Gallardo A, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Unzueta U, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Casanova I, Mangues R. Potent Anticancer Activity of CXCR4-Targeted Nanostructured Toxins in Aggressive Endometrial Cancer Models. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;15(1):85. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010085.
  • Sala R, Rioja-Blanco E, Serna N, Sánchez-García L, Álamo P, Alba-Castellón L, Casanova I, López-Pousa A, Unzueta U, Céspedes MV, Vázquez E, Villaverde A, Mangues R. GSDMD-dependent pyroptotic induction by a multivalent CXCR4-targeted nanotoxin blocks colorectal cancer metastases. Drug Deliv. 2022 Dec;29(1):1384-1397. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2069302.
  • Serna N, Falgàs A, García-León A, Unzueta U, Núñez Y, Sánchez-Chardi A, Martínez-Torró C, Mangues R, Vazquez E, Casanova I, Villaverde A. Time-Prolonged Release of Tumor-Targeted Protein-MMAE Nanoconjugates from Implantable Hybrid Materials. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Jan 14;14(1):192. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010192.
  • Pallarès V, Unzueta U, Falgàs A, Aviñó A, Núñez Y, García-León A, Sánchez-García L, Serna N, Gallardo A, Alba-Castellón L, Álamo P, Sierra J, Cedó L, Eritja R, Villaverde A, Vázquez E, Casanova I, Mangues R. A multivalent Ara-C-prodrug nanoconjugate achieves selective ablation of leukemic cells in an acute myeloid leukemia mouse model. Biomaterials. 2022 Jan;280:121258. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121258.
Read More

Prof. Ramón Martínez, Director of NANBIOSIS, has been awarded the Spanish National Research Prize

Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez wins the 2024 National Research Award for his work in nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, and biomedical, environmental sensors.

Valencia, october 2024. Prof. Martínez Máñez has been honored with the “Juan de la Cierva” National Research Award for the impact of his scientific career and its transfer in the field of chemistry, specifically in nanotechnology for controlled release systems and their use in sensors for medical, environmental, and agricultural applications.

The evaluators also highlighted the high number of patents obtained and licensed by the awardee and emphasized the number of companies he has created, one of which was among the first focused on the development of senolytics.

In additon of being deeply invested in NANBIOSIS, Ramón Martínez Máñez is Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and director of the Inter-University Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development Research (IDM, a joint UPV-UV center).

Receiving this award is a great recognition of the work carried out over many years in the field of research and transfer, which would not have been possible without the support of my research group. It is also a great boost to continue striving and improving every day.”

— Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez

“Receiving this award is a great recognition of the work carried out over many years in the field of research and transfer, which would not have been possible without the support of my research group. It is also a great boost to continue striving and improving every day,” said Ramón Martínez Máñez.

Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez, professor at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), is the Director of NANBIOSIS and is leading, together with Prof. Salvador Gil, our Unit 26. This Unit is specialized in NMR, and can acquire unique metabolic profiles of biofluids, cell lines, tissues and animal models such as mice and rats.

Regarding his upcoming challenges, the UPV professor and researcher highlighted three: continuing to advance in the development of new sensors and nanomaterials, promoting the application of research either in collaboration with companies or through the creation of spin-offs, and continuing their work in training new researchers.

“All of these are key to continuing to advance in this exciting world of science and contributing to its progress in our country, from our laboratories at the Universitat Politècnica de València,” added Ramón Martínez Máñez.

Part of the team at our Unit 26. Left ot right: Mustafa Ezzeddin Ayoub, Dr. Salvador Gil and Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez.

About Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez

Born in Valencia on April 11, 1963, Martínez Máñez is one of the national and international leaders in the field of chemical research.

Among other lines of research, his group at the IDM Institute of UPV works on the development of nanometric devices with “molecular gates” for the controlled release of drugs. The studied nanoparticles are capable of retaining a load within their pore system and delivering it upon receiving a chemical, physical, or biochemical stimulus. These particles have been used, for example, for the selective release of cytotoxins to eliminate cancer cells and bacteria, as well as for the release of specific drugs in senescent cells, and for the release of substances in food or agricultural applications.

Additionally, Martínez Máñez’s team is working on the development of molecular probes for the detection, through color and fluorescence changes, of biomedical and environmental elements of interest, such as certain biomarkers or cells, drugs, nerve gases, etc.

Among the multiple recognitions he has received prior to this National Research Award, in 2016 he was honored with the Research Excellence Award from the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ), and in 2018 with the Rey Jaume I Award for New Technologies.

Author of nearly 600 publications, Ramón Martínez Máñez has a prominent presence in the most significant journals in the field of multidisciplinary chemistry.

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

Leading scientists

The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

Custom solutions

Designed for either scientific collaboration or the private industry, we adapt our services to your needs, filling the gaps and paving the way towards the next breakthrough.

Cutting-Edge facilities

Publicly funded, with the most advanced equipment, offering a wide variety of services from synthesis of nanoparticles and medical devices, including up to preclinical trials.

Standards of quality

Our services have standards of quality required in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech sectors, from Good Practices to ISO certifications.

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions with priority access, enter our Competitive Call here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

Read More

Knowdlege growth: A chart-guide for cloning, production, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins from prokaryotic systems

The Nanobiotechnology Group and NANBIOSIS PPP have created a poster-guide for recombinant protein cloning, production, and purification in prokaryotic systems.

Barcelona, october 2024. The Nanobiotechnology Group, led by Prof. Villaverde, in collaboration with the NANBIOSIS Unit 1, Protein Production Platform (PPP), directed by Dr. Ferrer-Miralles, has created an in-depth guide in the form of a poster that compiles key strategies for cloning, production, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins expressed in prokaryotic systems.

Drawing from their vast experience in the field, they have meticulously outlined techniques and best practices to address common challenges and optimize every stage of the process. The poster covers various aspects of recombinant protein workflow, including selecting the right expression vectors, optimizing culture conditions, purification strategies, and the essential steps for characterizing the final purified protein.

The poster is displayed at the PPP facilities for easy consultation by anyone interested and is also available in the platform website to provide wider support to scientists in overcoming common challenges in the recombinant protein field.

The development of this poster reflects the collective expertise of the Nanobiotechnology Group and PPP in the field of recombinant proteins, gained through years of hands-on research.

The development of this poster reflects the collective expertise of the Nanobiotechnology Group and PPP in the field of recombinant proteins, gained through years of hands-on research. Understanding the critical role that recombinant proteins play in fields ranging from drug development to bioengineering they aim to equip researchers with the tools they have found useful for troubleshooting challenges in recombinant protein production.

The doors of the PPP are always open to provide guidance and technical support, if necessary, to the entire scientific community in the successful isolation of highly pure, soluble, stable, and active recombinant proteins, not only in procaryotic expression systems, but also using mammalian and insect cells.

Download full guide in PDF (free of charge)

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

Leading scientists

The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

Custom solutions

Designed for either scientific collaboration or the private industry, we adapt our services to your needs, filling the gaps and paving the way towards the next breakthrough.

Cutting-Edge facilities

Publicly funded, with the most advanced equipment, offering a wide variety of services from synthesis of nanoparticles and medical devices, including up to preclinical trials.

Standards of quality

Our services have standards of quality required in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech sectors, from Good Practices to ISO certifications.

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions with priority access, enter our Competitive Call here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

Read More

Nanotechnology to slow down the growth of glioblastomas

Directors of Unit 20 and Unit 3, Ibane Abasolo and Miriam Royo, show us the ReachGlio project, which uses nanomedicines to slow glioblastoma growth by targeting tumors in the brain, improving drug delivery through nanoparticles.

Barcelona, october 2024. Each year, on October 9th, Nanotechnology Day is celebrated, a discipline dedicated to understanding and utilizing matter at a nanometric scale for purposes such as industrial or medical applications. Nanotechnology plays a fundamental role in many research lines developed at the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR).

“Our goal is to propose one or more clinical trials in patients with glioblastoma using nanomedicines that can efficiently reach the brain and have antitumor activity.

Dr. Ibane Abasolo

One of the standout projects in this area is the ReachGlio project, which focuses on improving drug delivery designed to slow the growth of glioblastomas using multifunctional nanomedicines. “Our goal is to propose one or more clinical trials in patients with glioblastoma using nanomedicines that can efficiently reach the brain and have antitumor activity,” explains Ibane Abasolo, the project’s principal investigator.

ReachGlio is part of the TRANSCAN 3 program, involving seven European entities, including two Spanish institutions: the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN). The Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) participate through the CIBER-BBN groups led by researchers Miriam Royo and Ibane Abasolo.

Nanomedicines with antitumor activity

Glioblastomas are among the most aggressive tumors due to their location within the brain and their ability to invade surrounding tissue. Additionally, they are highly heterogeneous tumors. All of this explains why the prognosis for patients with this type of tumor remains very poor, with no curative therapy options available.

“One of the main challenges for drugs designed to slow the growth of glioblastomas is how difficult it is for them to effectively reach the brain and distribute homogeneously within such a diverse tumor,” explains Miriam Royo, researcher of the project.

“One of the main challenges for drugs designed to slow the growth of glioblastomas is how difficult it is for them to effectively reach the brain and distribute homogeneously within such a diverse tumor.”

— Dr. Miriam Royo

To overcome this obstacle, the current project proposes the use of nanoparticles that incorporate existing drugs, which, although they have already proven capable of slowing tumor cells, have difficulty accessing the brain. These nanoparticles, specifically polymeric micelles, have small peptide sequences on their surface that act as targeting molecules. These peptides help the nanoparticles cross the blood-brain barrier, between the blood vessels and the brain, and once inside the brain, they guide them towards the tumor cells.

During the project, a drug (NGR-TNF) will also be tested, which makes the blood-brain barrier more permeable, in combination with antitumor treatments or the nanomedicines being developed. “This specific part is planned to be tested at the veterinary level in dogs that already suffer from spontaneous brain tumors, so we hope the project’s results can quickly reach glioblastoma patients,” adds Ibane Abasolo.

References:

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

Leading scientists

The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

Custom solutions

Designed for either scientific collaboration or the private industry, we adapt our services to your needs, filling the gaps and paving the way towards the next breakthrough.

Cutting-Edge facilities

Publicly funded, with the most advanced equipment, offering a wide variety of services from synthesis of nanoparticles and medical devices, including up to preclinical trials.

Standards of quality

Our services have standards of quality required in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech sectors, from Good Practices to ISO certifications.

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions with priority access, enter our Competitive Call here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

Read More

Harnessing Nanotechnology in protein research: Insights from Dr. Neus Ferrer on new ways of fighting antimicrobial resistance

Dr. Neus Ferrer explores nanotechnology in protein research to combat antimicrobial resistance, focusing on innovative solutions using lysins and other recombinant proteins.

Barcelona, October 2024. In celebration of Nanotechnology Day, we take a closer look at the cutting-edge work of Dr. Neus Ferrer, director of the Unit 1, Protein Production Platform (PPP), at NANBIOSIS. Specializing in recombinant protein synthesis, Dr. Ferrer’s research tackles critical challenges in healthcare, particularly antimicrobial resistance, often referred to as the “new pandemic”. Through advanced nanotechnology approaches, her team in develops innovative solutions that could revolutionize treatment options in biomedicine and beyond.

The interview begins…

Interviewer: Welcome to these interview series, Neus. Let’s get started. First of, could you share with us a bit about your research area and the projects you’re currently working on?

Neus Ferrer: Throughout my career, I’ve mainly focused my projects on the production of recombinant proteins. In this field, I’ve worked on many areas related to biomedicine, primarily cancer and antibiotic resistance. Lately, I’ve been more focused on the latter: exploring new alternatives or synergistic possibilities with the use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is often referred to as the “new pandemic”, a massive issue. Many of us know people affected by antibiotic resistance: infections that aren’t detected in time or are misdiagnosed, which leads to resistance. this is sometimes the case of nosocomial infections. This requires us to update our tools to fight these resistant infectious agents. Could you tell us more about the strategies you use to tackle this problem?

Neus: Based on our understanding of how organisms interact with these microorganisms to overcome infections and how they communicate to inhibit or proliferate, we extract the factors that help control microorganisms and formulate them to interact at the infection site. All this is done using the same biological language that exists in these relationships. It’s basically combining the natural mechanisms that we and the scientific community have been investigating and discovering.

Could you give us a recent example of a strategy you’ve used in a project or publication you’re working on?

Neus: Yes, for example, we recently worked on producing proteins with notable antimicrobial activity: lysins. These are used by bacteriophages after completing their cycle [within the bacteria] to release themselves into the environment, meaning they can lyse and eliminate bacteria. Using this activity, we can also formulate these proteins to act on microorganisms in a somewhat specific way —not entirely, but it can be modulated.

Interesting. Tell us a bit about yourself on a personal level. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? What sparked that curiosity that all scientists seem to have?

Neus: I suppose it’s the curiosity of wanting to understand why we’re here, what we are, and how life works. How we function on a molecular level, how these interactions happen. I think it’s about finding meaning in what we do here, answering the question of where we’re going and what we’re doing.

That curiosity seems to be a common thread. Many people I’ve interviewed say the same thing. Have you had any “Eureka” moments in your career? Anything that stands out as your biggest contribution to your field, either professionally or personally?

Neus: I don’t think I’ve had any major “Eureka” moments, but rather several moderately intense ones. I remember during my PhD, at the time, recombinant techniques weren’t widely used yet, so I had to purify a protein from its natural origin, which was a very long and tedious process. When I finally managed to purify and identify the protein, that was a real “Eureka” moment for me —more on a personal level than in a professional one.
Later on, I had another moment while looking back at my work and reviewing the progress in recombinant proteins in the biopharmaceutical field. Summarizing and reflecting on the field was another significant “Eureka” for me because it allowed me to consolidate my experience along with that of others and present it in a way that could be useful to others.

It must be gratifying to see how much progress has been made with recombinant techniques, which you witnessed at their inception. Could you explain the recombinant technique to a general audience?

Neus: In biological systems, proteins perform numerous functions, but there are control mechanisms, and they’re only produced when needed. If you identify a protein with a function that’s useful for biomedicine, in natural systems, you typically have very small amounts. This was a drawback because you needed large quantities to get a little of the target protein. With molecular biology techniques, it’s possible to introduce genetic material into a cell artificially, making the cell produce a specific protein. This allows for large-scale production, which was revolutionary.

“With molecular biology techniques, it’s possible to introduce genetic material into a cell artificially, making the cell produce a specific protein. This allows for large-scale production, which was revolutionary.”

Dr Neus Ferrer

By introducing external genes, you’re essentially turning organisms into protein factories. But earlier, you mentioned lysins, which are designed to kill bacteria. How do you prevent the bacteria from dying as they produce these proteins?

Neus: That’s an interesting question. Initially, we thought there would be difficulties producing these proteins within bacterial cells, as they have the activity of lysing them. However, we selected lysins that could theoretically be produced in our best prokaryotic production system, Escherichia coli. Additionally, we formulated the proteins in a way that they form small protein nanoparticles, reducing the biological activity within the cell.

So, the proteins naturally form these structures, preventing the bacteria from being affected by the lysins. Fascinating. Moving on to a more personal topic: What advice would you give to young people considering a career in science?

Neus: I’d encourage them to be brave, especially women. We need more women in science because society is 50% women, and science should reflect that. They should believe they can achieve the same or more than men, and I pass the torch to both men and women to move forward with their ideas.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your scientific career?

Neus: Job stability is the biggest challenge. The field is very competitive, and you have to give your 150-200%. But if you have that curiosity and motivation, you need to keep pushing forward. There are many success stories, like mine, where we’ve stabilized later in my career. So, I encourage everyone with that curiosity to pursue it and keep trying.

What support have you found most helpful in your career?

Neus: Collaboration is key. It’s crucial to share ideas and work as a team. Many opportunities arise from collaborations, whether it’s through partnerships or learning about new opportunities.

That’s far from the fictional image of the lone scientist in a lab. Collaboration is essential. And this is exactly what NANBIOSIS promotes. Can you tell us about the Unit you work in within NANBIOSIS and your role in it?

Neus: I’m in Unit 1, the Protein Production Platform (PPP), where I’m the scientific director. Since 2007, we’ve worked on over 400 projects, interacting with CIBER groups, companies, hospitals, technology centers and universities, including the university we are located at, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

That’s a beautiful journey from your early thesis days to leading a platform that returns research to society. How does NANBIOSIS contribute to academic research?

Neus: We’ve seen how our support helps researchers grow their projects in a wide variety of areas. We centralize knowledge and offer methodologies that would take years for groups to develop on their own. The projects that we work in are from a high level of complexity. It’s a challenging, but very rewarding role.

What about the private sector? How can NANBIOSIS contribute to the industry?

Neus: We’ve collaborated with the industry at various levels, helping with basic research and diagnostics. It’s different from academic work, but equally gratifying. Though you might not see the results for years, knowing you’ve contributed to a product reaching a patient is very fulfilling.

NANBIOSIS has Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions (CEBS) that present synergies between the Units in the network. How do these help solve market problems?

Neus: We offer a platform that can assist clients through the process, from basic research to a pre-clinical stage. Our expertise in recombinant proteins is crucial for this, and we are capable of producing recombinant proteins of any kind. We have the know-how and the capabilities for doing si.

How has NANBIOSIS contributed to your career?

Neus: NANBIOSIS has allowed me to materialize my knowledge into a platform that can pass this on to the future —whether through students or external clients. It’s a way to give back. We see this in a daily basis, because there are always students that come along with us who learn our methodologies. Our external clients also learn from us if they need it, not just providing them with services. For me, NANBIOSIS is all that: the ability, one way or another, to trasnfer the knowledge I acquired during all these years and make it tangible.

Thank you, Neus, for your time and insights.

Neus: Thank you! See you again.

This interview is fully available in Spanish in our Youtube channel (click here).

What is NANBIOSIS?

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

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The main value of NANBIOSIS is our highly qualified and experienced academic scientists, working in public institutions, renowned universities and other research institutes.

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NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

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