Posts by Nanbiosis

New Solutions to Old challenges: Key Symposium on Nanomedicine Against Cancer

Symposium on nanomedicine vs cancer: experts gather Nov 28 in Málaga to tackle tumor-targeting challenges and advance innovative therapies.

Málaga, november 2024. On November 28th at 9:00 AM, the Salón de Actos at IBIMA (C/Severo Ochoa, 35, Málaga) will host the symposium “Targeting in Nanomedicine Against Cancer,” bringing together leading experts to discuss the critical challenges and advances in applying nanomedicine to oncology. Organized by IBIMA, this event will shed light on one of the most pressing issues in cancer nanomedicine: the difficulty of delivering nanostructures to tumor cells.

The challenges to overcome cancer

Cancer remains one of the world’s most significant health challenges, with nearly 20 million new cases annually and 9.7 million deaths in 2022. Despite notable advances in treatments—ranging from surgery and radiotherapy to immunotherapy and metabolic therapies—many patients continue to face poor outcomes. Nanomedicine has generated substantial excitement over the last three decades, particularly since the approval of Doxil™, the first nanomedicine for cancer. However, challenges persist.

One critical barrier is the targeting of nanostructures. Current technologies allow less than 1% of nanoparticles to reach tumor sites, with only a fraction successfully interacting with tumor cells. Addressing this bottleneck is essential for unlocking the full potential of nanomedicine in cancer treatment.

Featured Talks by NANBIOSIS Researchers

Several distinguished researchers from NANBIOSIS Units will present their work during the symposium. They will offer insights into cutting-edge strategies to overcome the targeting challenge:

• Dr. Jesús Santamaría (NANBIOSIS Unit 9, Universidad de Zaragoza): “Nanomedicine. Achievements and Limitations: The Targeting Problem with Nanoparticles in Cancer and Their Limited Clinical Translation”.
• Dr. Ana Martín Pardillos (NANBIOSIS Unit 9, Universidad de Zaragoza): “Targeting Strategies Based on Cells as Nanoparticle Vectors”.
• Dr. Ibane Abasolo (NANBIOSIS Unit 20, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona): “Targeting Strategies Based on Extracellular Vesicles as Nanoparticle Vectors”.
• Dr. Carlos Caro (NANBIOSIS Unit 28, IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga): “In Vivo Nanoparticle Tracking: Biodistribution and Non-Invasive Techniques”.
• Dr. María Luisa García-Martín (NANBIOSIS Unit 28, IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga): “Biological Barriers and Tumor Targeting“.

Bridging Science and Clinical Application

This symposium offers a unique platform for dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals, fostering collaborations to advance the practical application of nanomedicine in cancer treatment. With its focus on innovative targeting solutions, the event promises to contribute significantly to overcoming one of the most challenging hurdles in oncology.

Mark your calendar and join us at IBIMA on November 28th to explore the future of nanomedicine in cancer treatment.

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:

Jesús Santamaría awarded with the ‘Aragón Investiga’ for his Research Excellence

Prof. Jesús Santamaría, Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 9, wins the Aragón Investiga Award for his pioneering contributions to nanomaterials and research excellence.

Zaragoza, november 2024. The Aragón Investiga Award for Research Excellence has been awarded to Prof. Jesús Santamaría Ramiro, a distinguished researcher and Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Zaragoza, and Scientific Director of Unit 9 of NANBIOSIS.

Prof. Santamaría is the principal investigator of the Nanostructured Films and Particles group, where Unit 9 is located. He is also a key member of the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón (INMA), a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence jointly supported by the University of Zaragoza and CSIC.

A brilliant scientific career

Recognized as one of Europe’s leading researchers in the synthesis and applications of nanomaterials, Prof. Santamaría has dedicated his career to pioneering advanced methods for nanomaterial synthesis using non-conventional technologies. His work has found groundbreaking applications in nanomaterials, unconventional catalysis, and molecular recognition, significantly advancing these fields.

Among his most notable achievements are the foundation of the Aragón Institute of Nanoscience and the receipt of two prestigious Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC), a testament to the transformative impact of his work.

The award was presented by Claudia Pérez Forniés, Regional Minister of Education, Science and Universities, of Aragón, during a ceremony that celebrated excellence in research and innovation.

NANBIOSIS congratulates Prof. Jesús Santamaría on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates his enduring contributions to the advancement of nanoscience and its applications.

Prof. Santamaría serves as the Scientific Director of the NANBIOSIS Unit 9 (Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit), a facility dedicated to the development of nanoparticles and nanostructures for biomedical and technological applications. The Unit plays a crucial role in supporting cutting-edge research through its state-of-the-art synthesis capabilities.

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:

The Protein Production Platform (PPP) at the UAB Innovation Fair

The PPP advances antimicrobial peptide research, forging partnerships to combat antibiotic resistance and prevent medical device-related infections.

Barcelona, october 2024. During Antibiotic Awareness Week, we spotlight the Protein Production Platform (PPP) at NANBIOSIS Unit 1 for its pivotal role in combating antimicrobial resistance.

At the recent UAB Innovation Fair, the PPP showcased its cutting-edge technologies and established collaborations with experts in bacterial biofilms and nanomaterials. Together, they aim to develop innovative antimicrobial peptides as alternatives to traditional antibiotics, targeting nosocomial infections linked to medical devices. These efforts underscore the critical importance of advancing research and partnerships to address one of the greatest global health challenges: antibiotic resistance.

Protein Production Platform at the UAB Innovation Fair

Las month, our Unit 1, also known as Protein Production Platform (PPP), participated in the second edition of the UAB Innovation Fair, held at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). The event served as a vibrant meeting point for research groups, spin-offs, and companies, all focused to explore potential synergies and collaborative opportunities.

The fair provided an excellent platform for the PPP to showcase its capabilities and services. During the event, our Unit established valuable contacts with several diagnostic companies and protein research groups. These interactions not only highlighted the potential benefits these entities could gain from our services, but also opened the door to collaborations that could further enhance the platform’s offerings.

In addition to these interactions, the PPP, as part of the Nanobiotechnology (NBT) research group, connected with specialists in bacterial biofilms and nanomaterials. These experts expressed interest in collaborating on our research focused on antimicrobial peptides aimed at developing alternatives to traditional antibiotics, with the goal of preventing nosocomial infections associated with medical devices.

The PPP’s active participation in the UAB Innovation Fair not only highlights its commitment to advancing scientific research but also demonstrates its dedication to creating impactful partnerships. By engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders, the PPP is well-positioned to drive forward innovative solutions and contribute to the broader scientific community.

The fair was a resounding success, providing a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and collaboration. The PPP looks forward to building on the connections made during the event and continuing to play a crucial role in the advancement of protein production technologies, nanobiotechnology research, as well as the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance.

The Protein Production Platform (PPP), also known as NANBIOSIS Unit 1, specializes in the production, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins and biomaterials. It leverages state-of-the-art technologies to support biomedical and nanotechnology research, focusing on applications such as cancer treatment, antimicrobial resistance, and advanced protein delivery systems. Operated by the Nanobiotechnology Group at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, it serves academic and industrial clients with customized solutions for protein engineering and synthesis.

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:

European Partnership Opens a New Era in Rare Disease Research

The European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) kicked off last month, with an estimated budget of 380 million euros and the aim of improving the lives of 30 million rare disease patients in Europe and beyond.

Paris, october 2024. The European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA), a new initiative under Horizon Europe, has officially launched with an ambitious mission to improve the lives of 30 million people affected by rare diseases across Europe and beyond.

Backed by a budget of €380 million, ERDERA brings together more than 170 organizations from the public and private sectors, led by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in France. This collaborative effort aims to advance research on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for rare diseases, creating a robust infrastructure for innovation and patient support.

ERDERA’s focus is to build on the successes of previous projects, such as the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD) and the SOLVE-RD project. It strives to create a seamless network of resources and expertise, fostering a globally competitive European research area for rare diseases.

NANBIOSIS participation in ERDERA

CIBER-BBN group led by Ramón Martínez, director of NANBIOSIS and Scientific Director of our Unit 26, together with Juan Antonio Bueren’s group (CIBERER), will participate in a work package aimed at accelerating key technologies in the field of advanced therapies. Specifically, these two CIBER areas will develop new gene and gene-editing therapies, both viral and non-viral, for rare diseases affecting hematopoietic, epidermal, inflammatory, and metabolic disorders. They will employ in vitro and in vivo approaches, as well as lipid nanoparticles for the encapsulation and controlled release of mRNA.

Unit 26 specializes in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology, providing valuable capabilities for acquiring unique metabolic profiles from a variety of biological samples, including biofluids, cell lines, tissues, and animal models such as mice and rats.

This expertise is crucial in uncovering molecular markers that can help researchers better understand rare diseases, ultimately contributing to the development of more precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

NANBIOSIS Unit 26’s NMR capabilities complement ERDERA’s clinical research network, which aims to accelerate diagnostics and increase clinical trial readiness for rare diseases. The alliance’s comprehensive support services, including a Data Services Hub and an Expertise Services Hub, will benefit from the detailed metabolic profiling provided by Unit 26, further strengthening the infrastructure available to researchers.

Daria Julkowska, ERDERA’s scientific coordinator, highlighted the alliance’s vision of integrating cross-disciplinary expertise under a unified mission: “We have a tripartite mission: One; to bring under one roof a broad range of high-value services, resources and cross-disciplinary expertise to support rare disease research; Two, to boost clinical research by enabling every consenting patient living with a rare disease to be findable and enrolled in a suitable clinical study and finally, to spur innovation and EU competitiveness, through investment but also by aligning regional, national and European research strategies, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders at a global scale.”

ERDERA’s roadmap, presented during its launch event on 28 October 2024, underscores the importance of collaborations with specialized research infrastructures like NANBIOSIS. Together, these efforts aim to bridge gaps in diagnosis and treatment for rare diseases, transforming the landscape of patient care in Europe.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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: