News

Update and improvement of unit 4 of NANBIOSIS

NANBIOSIS U4-Biodeposition and biosensing, led by Prof Laura Lechuga, has been recently updated and improved as a result of its participation in the project FICTS-1420-27 , selected by the MINECO for co-financing by the FEDER Program in ICTS 2014-2020.

The Biodeposition has been updated with the ozone generation system with a new system (UV / Ozone Cleaner-Procleaner ™), with a lamp with improved power. In the case of the Biodetection unit, the current device has been to updated in order to make it more competitive. Optical components that improve the performance of the instrument in reference to sensitivity have been changed, the fluidic components has been updated (the flow cell that currently consists of 2 independent channels, peristaltic pumps and injection valves) to increase the automation of the current design and make it more competitive.

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New laboratory for unit 6 of NANBIOSIS

The equipment of NANBIOSIS U6-Processing of biomaterials and nanoestructuring, that at present are in several laboratories of the ICMAB-CSIC, are going to be transferred to their definitive location in the new laboratory of this NANBIOSIS unit. Given the large amount of equipment the process is expected to last two years, and itwill be done sequentially to continue to provide service to laboratory users. In this process, an engineer has been hired to play a key role, since he will not only be in charge of the transfer, but also to ensure the correct installation of equipment after its transfer and to ensure its start-up and correct operation in the new site.

This action has been confinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Plurirregional Operational Program of Spain (POPE)2014-2020

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NANBIOSIS Unit 20 expands its equipments and capabilities

NANBIOSIS U20- In Vivo Experimental Platform, led by Dr Simó Schwartz and Dr. Ibane Ibasolo, has recently added new equipment as a result of its participation in the project FICTS1420-20, selected by the MINECO for co-financing by the FEDER Program in ICTS 2014-2020.

The new equipment is a Coagulometer (Diagnostica Stago STart® 4 Hemostasis Analyzer) used for measuring the plasma coagulation time upon incubation with different stimulators (PT, APTT, Fibrinogen, D-dimer (quantitative), Thrombin time, Reptilase time etc.) the use o f this equipment will allow the Unit to test the hemocompatibility of novel nanomedicines in development.

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Evaluation of a New Design of Antireflux-Biodegradable Ureteral Stent in Animal Model

Francisco Miguel Sánchez Margallo, Assistant Director of NANBIOSIS and Scientific Director of JUMISC, is co-authors of de article “Evaluation of a New Design of Antireflux-biodegradable Ureteral Stent in Animal Model” published by Urology.

The research were carried out in the NANBIOSIS units in the JUMISC. The purpose was to determine the effects in urinary tract of a new antireflux-biodegradable ureteral stent. Thirty six ureters belonging to 24 pigs were used. The study began with endoscopic, nephrosonographic, and fluoroscopic assessments. Three study groups of ureters (n = 12) were then specified. In group I, a biodegradable antireflux ureteral stent (BDG-ARS) was inserted in the right ureter of 12 pigs. Group II comprised the left ureter of the same animals, in which a double-pigtail stent was placed for 6 weeks. Group III ureters, belonging to 12 additional animals, were subjected to a ureteropelvic junction obstruction model that was then treated by endopyelotomy and stenting with BDG-ARS. Follow-ups were performed at 3-6 weeks and at 5 months. As result of the research none of the ureters receiving the BDG-ARS showed any evidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). BDG-ARS degradation took place in a controlled and predictable fashion from the third to the sixth weeks, and no obstructive fragments appeared. No differences were found between groups I and II regarding passive ureteral dilation, but significant differences were found regarding VUR and ureteral orifice damage. BDG-ARS always maintained distal ureteral peristalsis. BDG-ARS in group III showed a 50% positive urine culture rate and a 16.6% migration rate in both BDG-ARS groups.

The scientists have demonstrated that morbidity associated with ureteral stents might be reduced as BDG-ARS avoided VUR and bladder trigone irritation, and the polymer combination and stent-braided design achieved a consistent biodegradation rate with no obstructive fragments and with uniform degradation between the third and the sixth weeks. Consequently, morbidity associated with ureteral stents might be reduced.

DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2018.02.004

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SINO-SPAIN Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Conference with NANBIOSIS participation

Last 7 June 2018 took place in Zaragoza, the Sino-Spain Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Conference, as a result of years of cooperation with Chinese institutions, organizad by Zaragoza University and Aragonese Foundation for Research & Development of Aragon Government (ARAID), to promote initiatives and foster bilateral collaboration in biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors between Spain and China.

The themes of the forum were:

Molecular engineering for biomedical products
Diagnoses &Design for new devices for medical uses
Tissue Engineering and regenerative medicine
Pharmacology and nanometerials for medical application
Advanced therapies for cancer research

Researcher of three units of NANBIOSIS partcipated in the Conference: from U13. Tissue & Scaffold Characterization Unit, Manuel Doblaré and Iñaki Ochoa who gave a talk on “Organ On Chip: Applications for cancer research”, from U9. Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit, Jesús Santamaría, who spoke on “Research on nanomedicine at the Nanostructured films and particles” and from U27. High Performance Computing, Esther Pueyo, who spoke about “Patterns of cardiac aging: Mechanisms and relation to disease” and Laura Ordovas, as moderator.

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Photonic Label-Free Biosensors for Real-Time Analysis of Untreated Clinical and Environmental Samples

The biannual Conference on Bioanalytical Sensors will take place in June 24 – 29 in Newport, US, with the theme “State-of-the-Art Bioanalytical Sensing Approaches for Healthcare and Therapeutics, Forensics, and Visualization of Living Systems”.

Prof. Laura M. Lechuga, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U4. Biodeposition and Biodetection Unit: is giving a Conference on “Photonic label-free biosensors for real-time analysis of untreated clinical and environmental samples”

The focus of this meeting is on the development of new bioanalytical tools that provide highly specific and quantitative molecular data of biological systems leading to real applications to the clinic. Specific topics will include micro- and nanofluidics systems, nanomaterials, in vitro and in vivo sensing and imaging, while also covering instrumental techniques, and real world detection/diagnosis.

Further information and PROGRAM

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NANOLIGENT, the first drug designed to eliminate metastases stem cells

NANBIOSIS researchers have developed a nanomedicine for the treatment of metastases by the selective elimination of tumor stem cells. It is a system based on nanoparticles that transport a chemotherapeutic drug and release it into cancer cells.

The research team, led by Esther Vázquez and Antonio Villaverde, Strategy Director of NANBIOSIS U1. Protein Production Platform (PPP), in the IBB-UAB, and Ramon Mangues, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U18. Nanotoxicology Unit, in the Sant Pau Hospital, have already created a prototype of the drug and have conducted in vivo trials in animal models of colorectal cancer. They have demonstrated their effectiveness, selective biodistribution and low toxicity.

To promote the development of the drug towards the clinic, the reserachers have created Nanoligent a start-up company, based in Barcelona, led by Manuel Rodríguez, a professional with experience in the field of investment and the creation and growth of biotech companies. The technology is patented in Europe and USA and has been licenced to Nanoligent

The therapy created by the researchers is aimed at blocking the development of metastasis, mainly of colorectal cancer, through new strategies aimed at certain cell types. It consists of a new drug administration system based on protein nanoparticles that selectively conduct the therapeutic agent in tumor cells. The drug acts only on cancer cells, because it is based on the specific interaction between a protein present in the nanoparticle and a cellular receptor (CXCR4), which is overexpressed in tumor cells. “This interaction is crucial, because it allows attacking only tumor cells and not healthy cells, thus avoiding secondary effects derived from classical chemotherapy,” emphasizes Antonio Villaverde.

The CXCR4 receptor is overexpressed in many types of tumors, so that “this technology can be directed to the treatment of different types of neoplasms in addition to colorectal cancer and derived metastases, such as lymphoma, leukemia or endometrial cancer, in animal models already available to the group of Sant Pau “, comments Ramon Mangues. In addition, nanoparticles are compatible with a huge variety of possible drugs and therefore they become highly versatile vehicles that can carry a wide range of therapeutic molecules.

“There is an urgent need for more effective and personalized treatments for cancer. The toxicity and the lack of efficacy of conventional drugs are pushing alternative experimental strategies directed and designed to achieve only defined cell types. Nanoparticles, thanks to their capacity for penetration, dissemination and functionality, offer a promising nanomedical landscape to create new drugs,” explains Esther Vázquez.

“In this direction, the technology of Nanoligent opens a new door in anti-pelagic therapy, as it allows to design a treatment with greater cellular specificity than that of existing treatments, while offering greater biosecurity and biodegradability and lower toxicity,” he said. Antonio Villaverde points out.

Currently, there are no drugs in the market that selectively eliminate metastatic stem cells. Although Nanoligent technology is still under development, researchers say they have a lot of potential and consider that it could have a high clinical impact as regulatory trials are overcome.

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Rey Jaime I Award of New Technologies to Ramón Martínez Mañez

Ramon Martínez Mañez, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U 26 Biomedical Applications II and Scientific Director of CIBER-BBN, has received the Rey Jaime I Award of New Technologies 2018.

Rey Jaime I Awards are granted (in xis cathegories) to people who stand out in their field of work and who have developed most of their professional activity in Spain. Candidates must be nominated by third parties and must prove their qualities. They are recognized as the most prestigious awards for the activity carried out in Spain. It is one of the best paid prizes in the country. Each of them is endowed with 100 thousand euros and a gold medal. The winners of each category are committed to allocate a part of the prize amount to research and entrepreneurship in Spain.

The jury of the Jaime I Award for New Technologies (integrated by 18 Nobel prizes) has valued Martínez Mañez “exceptional contributions” in the development of nanosensors with applications in food technology and medicine. Among them, he has indicated the colorimetric labels for the assessment of the freshness of food, the devices for the simple detection of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the nanostructures of controlled release of active principles against the fruit fly.

In addition, the jury remarked that the “high scientific quality” of his work has been applied in different technological fields with social impact.

Ramón Martínez-Máñez is a university professor, director of the Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development (IDM). He has published a total of 393 articles in different scientific journals and has a very prominent presence in the most significant journals in the field of mustidisciplinary chemistry, such as the Journal of the American Chemical Society or Angewandte Chemie International Edition Nature Communicationsand, having been cited more than 17,000 times (web of Science, 19,874 times in Google Scholar), with an average of more than 42 citations per article, and has an h index of 60 (web of Science, h index of 63 in Google Scholar). Moreover, he has coordinated 99 national and European projects and has achieved “very reliable” sensors for clinical diagnosis, detect changes in the environment and control food quality, with applications in agriculture and nanomedicine.

Currently, his research group is working on the development of nanometric devices with “molecular doors” for the controlled release of drugs. The mesoporous nanoparticles studied are able to retain a charge within their pore system and deliver it when applied a chemical, physical or biochemical stimulus. These particles have been used, for example, for the selective release of cytotoxins for the elimination of cancer cells and bacteria, and also for the release of certain drugs in senescent cells. In addition, the group of Martínez Máñez works in the development of molecular probes for the detection, through changes in color and fluorescence, of elements of environmental and biomedical interest such as drugs, nerve gases, certain types of cells, etc.

Also María Vallet Regí, head of the CIBER-BBN group at the Complutense University of Madrid, has been awarded the Rey Jaime I of Basic Research. Thus, two of the six Awards granted by this institution this year recognize the work of researchers of the CIBER-BBN, partner of NANBIOSIS.

Video by UPVTV

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A dressing with active ingredients to regenerate skin wounds

Elisabeth Engel, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U5, Rapid Prototyping Unit, is interviewed in “Deuwatts”, a programe of Btv, devoted to biomedical engineering. Dr. Engel explains how they have designed a dressing with active substances to regenerate skin wounds and talks about bio-printing for therapeutic models.

Watch it here.

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Agreements signed with MINECO for the allocation of FEDER funds for NANBIOSIS ICTS

In the framework of the FEDER Program in ICTS 2014-2020, several projects related to the ICTS NANBIOSIS have been selected by the MINECO for co-financing with FEDER funds of the European Regional Development Funds program.

An agreement has been signed between MINECO and CIBER (partner of NANBIOSIS for the co-financing of the Project: “Purchase, installation and set-up of production and characterization equipment to complement the Units: U3-Synthesis of Peptides Unit, U18-Nanotoxicology and U20- In Vivo Experimental Platform”. The total budget of the project amounts to € 307,566.16, with 50% financing with FEDER Funds.

Also CSIC (The State Agency Superior Council of Scientific Investigations), institution that houses some of the NANBIOSIS units, as distributed ICTS, has signed an agreement with MINECO for the co-financing of the Project: “Purchase and installation and set-up of equipment and production and characterization laboratories to complement the units U2-Production of antibodies, U4-Biodeposition and biosensing, U6-Processing of biomaterials and U8-Micro, nanotechnology. The total budget of the project amounts to € 312.800,00 €, with 50% financing with FEDER Funds.

These two projects aim to increase the quantity and quality of the services offered by th implied units, with the objetive of positioning them as national and international benchmark in their respective fields of application. As a consequence, an increase in the performance (number of services and number of users) of each unit is expected, especially from companies (pharmaceutical and small biotechnology).

CSIC and CIBER are processing the necessary contracting procedures for the execution of these projects.

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