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Materials for Biomedical Applications Scientific School (BIOMAT-2017)

Registration is now open for the Scientific School on Materials for Biomedical Applications (BIOMAT-2017) that will take place on 19th-22nd of June 2017 in the UAB Campus (Barcelona). This school is organized by ICMAB-CSIC and it is included in the Severo Ochoa activities of the Institute.

The school is addressed to last year undergraduate, master and PhD students, who are interested in the development of materials for biomedical applications. The aim of the school is to present the design, development and application of new materials for a wide range of biomedical applications.

The school includes lectures from international and local scientists, hands-on and management activities and practical sessions. One of the practical sessions will take place at Unit 6 of NANBIOSIS and will be directed to the preparation and characterization of particulate nanomaterials with biomedical applications.

This Scientific School is an optimal opportunity to discover, learn and practice on material science focusing on fundamental science and applied research in the field of biomedicine.

There will be grants for students covering the fees of the summer school.

 

For further details and registration please go to:

https://congresses.icmab.es/matbio2017/

Registration deadline: 21st May 2017

There are only 50 places available, secure yours with an early registration.

MATBIO 2017
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Laboratory-scale prototype for the treatment of cutaneous tumours

Ramon Martínez Máñez, Scientific Director of Unit 26 of NANBIOSIS, has participated in the development, on a laboratory scale, of a low cost device for treatments based on the application of optical hyperthermia by laser.

Among the applications of this technique are the therapies against cutaneous cancer and its objective is to get the death of the tumour cells by overheating. Overheating is achieved by the irradiation of synthesized metal nanoparticles.

The prototype developed consists of an infrared laser with a power of up to 500mW able to provide a power density of up to 4W / cm2, a sensor that allows recording the temperature in real time during the irradiation and a power regulator of the laser, among other components.

The work shows the keys for the development of low cost equipment for the technique of optical hyperthermia. The main novelty with respect to other commercial equipments is that it integrates all the necessary elements for the experimental phase, controlling as many variables as possible.

Currently, there are different laser applicators, used in dermatology and surgery. At certain powers and wavelengths, the energy of the laser is transformed into heat and produces ablation (burn), with the adjacent inflammation that this causes. The prototype is intended to introduce to sick cells nanohaters that, when stimulated by the laser, raise their temperature to 42-48 °, producing hypoxia.

This equipment is already being used successfully in cell cultures in vitro and is also working on therapies in which hyperthermia is combined with controlled release of drugs. Once the technique was developed, it could easily be transferred to a hospital environment by implementing small changes.

Article of reference:

Roberto Montes-Robles, Andy Hernandez, Javier Ibáñez, Rafael Masot-Peris, Cristina de la Torre, Ramón Martínez-Máñez, Eduardo García-Breijo, Rubén Fraile. Design of a low-cost equipment for optical hyperthermia. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical.

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Methods for the In Vitro Characterization of Nanomedicines —Biological Component Interaction

An interesting article has been recently published, in the journal Personalized Medicine In the context of a public-private collaboration between Cristina Fornagera of Sagetis-Biotech and Conxita Solans, Scientific Director of Unit 12 of NANBIOSIS

This review summarizes the main techniques used to assess the interaction of nanomedicines with biological systems, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The translation of knowledge from novel designed nanosystems at a research laboratory scale to real human therapies is usually a limiting or even a final point due to the lack of systematic studies regarding two aspects: nanoparticle interaction with biological components and nanoparticle cytotoxicity.

For further information:

Cristina Fornaguera and Conxita Solans “Methods for the In Vitro Characterization of Nanomedicines—Biological Component Interaction” J. Pers. Med., 7(1), 2, 2017

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A new versatile methodology to produce polymeric nanoparticles loaded with gold nanoparticles

Conxita Solans, Scientific Director of Unit 12 of NANBIOSIS together with researchers of her group, Colloidal and Interfacial Chemistry of CIBER-BBN and IQAC-CSIC and the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of BarcelonaIn have published the research paper “Versatile Methodology to Encapsulate Gold Nanoparticles in PLGA Nanoparticles Obtained by Nano-Emulsion Templating” in the journal Pharmaceutical Research. The scientists have shown that a novel and very versatile methodology has been developed for the production of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with gold nanoparticles.

In this work, gold-nanoparticles (AuNP) have been encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles using a novel and versatile methodology based on nano-emulsion templating, which has allowed to encapsulate high concentrations of gold nanoparticles (> 100 pM).  Polymeric nanoparticles loaded with AuNP with sizes lower than 100 nm have been obtained using this methodology. In addition, a safe and easy methodology for the phase transfer of gold nanoparticles from aqueous to organic solvents has been developed. The biocompatibility of the designed nanoparticles with both cultured cells and erythrocytes has confirmed their suitability to be intravenously administered Therefore, these nanoparticles represent novel advanced imaging systems for biomedical applications.

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New bioadhesive with 3D printing technique to improve pterygium surgery

Dr. José Luis Pedraz, head of Nanobiocel group and Scientific Director of Unit 10 of NANBIOSIS, participates in the public-private collaboration BIOTAPE project that will develop a new bioadhesive for its application in pterygium surgery to improve the currently used surgical techniques in the treatment of this eye disease that affects the conjunctiva and cornea.

The main cause of pterygium is the lack of lubrication of the eye by the tear film. This lack of lubrication may be due to various external factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight, harsh environmental conditions or even allergens, which causes dryness and subsequent irritation in that area. Pterygium grows in the form of fleshy mass on the cornea, being in these cases the application of surgery to extract it. So far the technique with better results is to place a graft of the conjunctiva of the eye itself in the place of removal of the pterygium, fixed by sutures or tissue adhesives.

In the BIOTAPE  project, 3D printing technique will be used to manufacture the new bioadhesive that will help reduce the current complications among which we can highlight the high rates of recurrence of the disease, surgical and post-surgical complications and the cosmetic result, not always satisfactory.

The new project, to be developed over the next three years, is funded with a budget of 513,000 euros by the Challenges-Collaboration program of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the participation of three Spanish companies (AJL OPHTALMIC, BRECA Health Care and Bilboftal-ICQO), the University of Miguel Hernández in Elche, CIBER-BBN and unit 10 of NANBIOSIS-ICTS.

Nanbiosis - New bioadhesive with 3D printing technique to improve pterygium surgeryLogo FEDER - Nanbiosis

“Promover el desarrollo tecnológico, la innovación y la investigación de calidad”

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NANBIOSIS: Platforms of INNOVATION and CIBERSAM

On March 15, Jesús Izco presented NANBIOSIS at the conference organized by CIBERSAM on Therapeutic Innovation.

The event, that took place in the Hospital del Mar of ​​Barcelona, ​​with an audience of about 80 people, was attended by Jesús Izco, coordinator of NANBIOSIS as a guest to talk about Innovation Platforms. Jesús Izco explained the opportunities offered by the ICTS NANBIOSIS as a Platform for Research and Biomedical Innovation, giving examples of private-public collaboration in competitive calls (INNPACTOP, Challenges and H2020) in which NANBIOSIS has participated and explained the design of the new Nanomedicine Cascade Characterization Service, in which NANBIOSIS is working on.

CIBERSAM is the CIBER Scientific Area  dedicated to the study of mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and mental disorders of the child and adolescent or therapeutic innovation. Its mission is to provide answers and solutions to better understand the etiophysiopathology of mental disorders, improving the promotion of mental health, prevention and current treatments and thus improve the quality of life of citizens. CIBERSAM’s Therapeutic Innovation program has a long tradition in the identification and development of new therapeutic strategies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.

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Three Scientifics of NANBIOSIS in University of Zaragoza ERC 10 years celebration event

2017 is the year of the X Anniversary of the European Research Council (ERC), created to finance research projects of excellence at the frontier of knowledge of any scientific discipline.

The structure of the ERC consists of an autonomous scientific council made up of 22 distinguished scientists supported by an executive agency that is responsible for implementing the program, organizing the evaluation and managing the aid.

The University of Zaragoza, hosting three units of NANBIOSIS, joined the celebrations with an event that took place on March 15. Among the assistants, three Scientists of NANBIOSIS recognized with ERC:

Jesús Santamaría, Scientific Director of Unit 9 of NANBIOSIS, received an Advanced Grant, on the senior side, with a funding of 1.85 M. for his project Héctor.

Manuel Arruebo, researcher of the group of Nanostructured Films and Particles, coordinator of Unit 9 of NANBIOSIS, obtained the Consolidator Grant endowed with 1.5 M of euros with a Nanobiomedicine project.

Esther Pueyo, researcher of the group BSICoS, coordinator of Unit 27 of NANBIOSIS, obtained an ERC Started Grant for her Modelage project, financed with 1.5 M euros.

 

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NANBIOSIS at the X Conference of Technological Platforms of Biomedical Research

On March 8, 2017, the 10th Annual Conference of Technological Platforms of Biomedical Research took place in Madrid on the theme Innovative Medicines, Nanomedicine, Health-care Technologies and Biotechnology Markets.

Jesús Izco, Coordinator of NANBIOSIS, participated in the round table on New Public-Private Cooperation networks, together with the Scientific Directors of the recently created CIBER Areas of Fragility and Aging, Oncology and Cardiovascular Diseases, as well with as the coordinators of the Networks of Clinical Essays and the network of Discovery of Drugs.

The coordinator of NANBIOSIS explained the opportunities that the ICTS offers as a Network of Excellence for Research and Biomedical Innovation, especially in the fields of nanomedicine and biomaterials and gave examples of private-public collaboration in competitive calls (INNPACTOP, Challenges and H2020) in which NANBIOSIS has participated. Finally, Jesús Izco outlined the ICTS strategy to improve cooperation with companies and spoke about the design of the new Nanomedicine Cascade Characterization, among others services, in which NANBIOSIS is working on.

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3D printing biocompatible hydrogels

 

Researchers of Unit 5 of NANBIOSIS, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Montpellier, have laid the groundwork for faster advances in 3D printing for regenerative medicine by creating a system of ink and matrices that offers a solid basis for tissue regeneration.

Due to their high water content, hydrogels are highly attractive biomaterials for 3D printing as efficient ‘surrogates’ for the extracellular matrix, onto which cells can be cultured. However, while they are relatively easy to produce using a method called extrusion printing, their stability and structural integrity can weaken when they’re in contact with biological fluids or extracellular matrices.

The Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies group’s new method uses a hybrid bioink that doesn’t need any photochemical or organic reagent and which safe for use in vivo. Using a versatile and biocompatible method called sol-gel, this bioink can be used to print a peptide-functionalized hydrogel. It’s the first time sol-gel has been used for hydrogel inks, as all examples combining sol-gel and 3D printing have so far dealt either with inorganic constructs or with extrusion printing under nonbiocompatible conditions.

The new matrices work better than current ones because, as well as being biocompatible, certain essential processes such as hydrolysis occur during the printing process, resulting in a much stronger and more reliable structure. The researchers, who worked in collaboration with colleagues in France, were able to successfully seed them with mesenchymal stem cells, and are now looking at the possibility of encapsulating cells within the hybrid ink so that seeding can take place during the construction process.

As well as producing a stronger matrix, the combination of sol-gel chemistry and 3D printing means that the new method could be a promising way to quickly produce an unlimited number of customized, cell-laden, biocompatible structures. Not only that, but using several different hybrid bioinks could open the way to making multilayer and non-homogeneous biomaterials, mimicking the complexity of natural tissues even more closely.

The 3D scaffold fabrication was performed using the facilities of the platform of Production of Biomaterials and Biomolecules of the ICTS “NANBIOSIS”, more specifically by the U5 Unit of the CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).

 

Article of reference:

Echalier, R. Levato, M. A. Mateos-Timoneda, O. Castaño, S. Déjean, X. Garric, C. Pinese, D. Noel, E. Engel, J. Martinez, A. Mehdi & G. Subra (2017). Modular bioink for 3D printing of biocompatible hydrogels: sol–gel polymerization of hybrid peptides and polymers. RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 12231-12235.

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Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS and the research field of Protein Kinase CK2. 

Ana Paula Candiota and Carles Arús, Scientific Coordinator and Scientific Director of Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS, jointly with other GABRMN members, have recently published an interesting article in the journal Pharmaceuticals, (Special Issue An Updated View on an Emerging Target: Selected Papers from the 8th International Conference on Protein Kinase CK2). This article  is also co-authored by scientifics of a research group with renowned prestige in CK2 research field, the Protein Phosphorylation group, del Dipartimento di scienze biomediche (Università degli Studi di Padova).

This publication describes a study with the preclinical glioblastoma (GB) model and its treatment, centered in exploring the potential of other therapeutic (non-mutagenic) alternatives for preclinical GB. The results obtained suggest that Protein Kinase CK2 could be a suitable candidate target for GB treatment, which could be useful in combined treatments with temozolomide (TMZ), the standard of care currently used in clinics. Tumor-bearing animals under treatment were followed up with techniques of MRI, MRSI and DWI, and an interesting finding was the appearance of peritumoral brain edema in treated animals.

The acquisition and processing of MRI/MRSI/DWI data were performed in Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS

Article of reference:

Ferrer-Font, L.; Villamañan, L.; Arias-Ramos, N.; Vilardell, J.; Plana, M.; Ruzzene, M.; Pinna, L.A.; Itarte, E.; Arús, C.; Candiota, A.P. Targeting Protein Kinase CK2: Evaluating CX-4945 Potential for GL261 Glioblastoma Therapy in Immunocompetent Mice. Pharmaceuticals 2017, 10, 24.

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