News

Symposium Tribute to Prof. Pepe Becerra “40 years of the Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory (LABRET)”

Symposium on the occasion of the retirement of Prof. José Becerra Ratia: “40 years of the Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory (LABRET): tribute to Pepe Becerra”

We are pleased to inform about the Symposium organized by the LABRET group (Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory), University of Malaga, on the occasion of the retirement of Professor José Becerra.

The event will be held, only in person, on July 7 in the morning at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Malaga

Download the program.

Prof. José Becerra was the Director of the Andalusian Center for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (BIONAND) since February 2014, before the merger of Bionand and IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga) as IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND. In fact, Prof, José Becerra took an important role in the incorporation of BIONAND into the ICTS NANBIOSIS till then integrated by Cento de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) in the area of Bioengineering, Biomaterial, and Centro de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión Jesús Usón, (CCMIJU) and he was also the first Director of the Unit 28 of NANBIOSIS.

In NANBIOSIS we want to show our gratitude to Prof. Becerra, with appreciation and admiration for his contribution to strengthening this ICTS.

Related News:

Scientists of Bionand, University of Malaga and CIBER identify a new drug that could mitigate the consequences of COVID infection.

Stem cells and COVID-19 research.

CIBER-BBN and NANBIOSIS at CIBEREDH Scientific Annual Meeting

Bionand, recently incorporated to NANBIOSIS ICTS, among the three national biotechnology reference centers.

The Medicine of the Future needs the Nanomedicine Revolution. This is why

NANBIOSIS at the Assembly of Materplat

BIONAND incorporated to the Spanish ICTS Map as a new node of NANBIOSIS

• Read More

2023 Annual Conference of CIBER-BBN and NANBIOSIS

CIBER-BBN´s Annual Conference has been scheduled for November 6-8, 2023

This year, in the framework of a CIBER program to stimulate collaborations between clinical and technological groups, the conference will be organized in cooperation with a CIBER clinical area, CIBER-EHD: Hepatic and Digestive diseases. (An internal call of collaborative projects BBN-EHD will be open by). The scheme of the event will be slightly different from previous editions:

On Monday 6 the scientific sessions will be common for EHD and BBN, with appealing contents for the mixed audience.
On Tuesday 7 EHD and BBN sessions will be specific for each area in separate rooms (with common coffee break).
The anual session dedicated to NANBIOSIS is scheduled for the afternoon of the Tuesday 7th,
After this session we will cellebrate the annual meeting of the NANBIOSIS coordination Committee and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Board of NANBIOSIS.

We will come back with further details. Book the dates!

• Read More

Representatives of the Ministry of Science and Innovation visited unit 16 of NANBIOSIS

On May 16 representatives of the General Subdirectorate of Large Scientific-Technical Facilities of the Ministry of Science and Innovation visited unit 16 of NANBIOSIS (created by Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red -CIBER-, and the University of Extermadura).

Mrs. Beatriz Albella Rodríguez and Mrs. María Jesús Marcos Crespo, got to know first-hand the facilities of unit 16 of the CTS NANBIOSIS of “Surface Characterization and Calorimetry“.

The visit was guided by the Scientific Director of Unit 16 of NANBIOSIS, Maria Luisa González Martín, and by Mr. Javier de Francisco Morcillo, Director of the Secretariat for Scientific Infrastructure and Technological Development Vice President for Research and Transfer of the University of Extremadura

The reason for the visit was to receive information on the use of European Regional Development Funds that have served to improve the infrastructures of the Spanish Map of Singular Scientific-Technical Infrastructures (ICTS, in Spanish) to support scientific research.

During the last years, this unit 16 of NANBIOSIS ICTS has enlarged its capacities through the project FICTS1420-14-09, an investment of 1.3 million euros, co-financed with FEDER funds, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and Junta de Extremadura, Regional Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Agency.

This Unit 16, located in Badajoz, offers the performance of tasks of physical-chemical characterization of surfaces using techniques such as ellipsometry, calorimetry, X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS), and detection of secondary ions by means of mass spectrometry by time of flight (Tof-SIMS).

2nd Open call 2023 for preferential access to the NANBIOSIS ICTS

NANBIOSIS opens in June the 2nd competitive open call 2023 for its “Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions” and services.

NANBIOSIS is a Research Infrastructure for Biomedicine made up of the Platforms of the Center for Centro de Ivesntigación Biomedica en Red (CIBER- in the area of Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine -CIBER-BBN), the Preclinical Infrastructure and the Development of Minimally Invasive Technologies, of the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Center (CCMIJU) and the Nanoimaging unit of the Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA-BIONAND Platform).

NANBIOSIS as part of the Spanish Map of ICTS (an acronym for “Scientific and Technical Unique Infrastructures” in Spanish), approved by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, is open to all interested national and international users who may come either from the public or the private sector, and who can apply for access under the “Competitive Open Access” or “Access on Demand” modalities.

The 20% of the NANBIOSIS Units’ capacity is granted on the Competitive Open Access modality and will be prioritized according to criteria of scientific and technical quality and singularity of the proposals.

There are 2 calls per year for open and competitive access that allow the prioritisation of the best service proposals. https://www.nanbiosis.es/call/

The 2nd call of 2023 will open on June 1 and applications can be submitted throughout the whole month (due date June 30^th). Access application forms submitted after that date will be processed as “access on demand” applications.

Proposals granted in the open and competitive access modality must meet, at least, one of the circumstances listed in the access application form (“order request“), in order to demmonstrate their scientifc and technical quality or singularity.

Thus, for example, applications related to R&D projects funded through national or European calls are eligible, as well as the need to carry out one of the NANBIOSIS “Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions” that implies the interaction of several Units, among others.

NANBIOSIS Cutting-edge Biomedical Solutions

Workshop on Hyperthermic Oncology

Next Friday, June 9, 2023, a Workshop on Oncological Hyperthermia entitled “Clinical Implementation of Oncological Hyperthermia in Spain and Europe: current situation and prospects” will be held in Barcelona. The location of the event is at the Hotel Front Marítim in Barcelona and the scheduled time is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Relevant speakers will present an updated vision on the different modalities of hyperthermia that are being used for cancer treatment. Jorge Contreras (Coordinator of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology ) will give a session on the current situation of clinical hyperthermia in Spain. Daniel Ortega (Coordinator of the National Network of Nanotechnology in Translational Hyperthermia) and Teresa Macarulla (Coordinating Investigator of the NoCanTher study on the use of magnetic nanoparticles associated with hyperthermia treatment in pancreatic cancer) will present their experience with a nanotechnological health product in said trial. After a break, Giammaria Fiorentini (Director of the Oncology Unit of the Muraglia di Pesaro Hospital) will give a vision of the use of electro-modulated hyperthermia in pancreatic cancer and in a round table, different professionals will give therir global vision of the application of these techniques from preclinical to clinical implementation.

In addition, regulatory aspects will also be covered. Luc van Hove (Medical, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs expert) will speak from a European perspective on the regulation of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics; while Julia Caro (Head of the area of the National Center for Certification of Sanitary Products) will do so from the perspective of a notified body.

Further information and registration at this link: https://forms.office.com/e/0251iMc2LT

There is additional information at:
-Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/posts/safenmt_hyperthermia-magnetic-barcelona-activity-7062697943509737472-85wP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop.
-Twitter https://twitter.com/abasolo_vhir/status/1659074218850484224

• Read More

New look of Nb4D – CAbS (NANBIOSIS U2) “Revolutionising Diagnosis”

Nb4D has a new look on line! Nb4D Group (of IQAC-CSIC and CIBER-BBN) has lunched a new website “Revolutionsising Diagnosis“ with the aim to facilitate a faster and easier navigation througth their “pioneering research to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches” and their solutions and expertise to help researchers and companies.

Antibodies, bioreceptors, hapten design and synthesis, immunoanalytical method development, new ivd tools, surface functionalization, therapeutic antibodies and much more knowledge and expertise revolutionising diagnosis.

The new website contains a page for CAbS-NANBIOSIS. Custom Antibody Service (CAbS), unit 2 of the ICTS NANBIOSIS

• Read More

NABIHEAL project launches website

The website for NABIHEAL, an EU-funded Horizon Europe project developing biomaterials for complex wound healing, is now online.

The Horizon Europe project NABIHEALi project is coordinated by the Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) at the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC).

This project will apply one the “Cutting Edge Biomedical Solutions” of NANBIOSIS for the preparation of different nanoestructures with antimicrobial properties, required for the development of the final multifunctional wound healing biomaterials. This case will gather the expertise of two NANBIOSIS unit: NANBIOSIS U6 will produce and characterize these nanoestructures with antimicrobial properties, which will be tested in NANBIOSIS U16.

Find out more about the project and what its impact will be, and browse the 14 partners from 7 countries to see how each contributes to the project’s objectives. NABIHEAL WEBSITE

• Read More

Safe-n-MedTech celebrates its 48th Month Management Committee Meeting

The event brought together high-level experts from 3 continents in the field of nanotechnology.

Barcelona, March 27th, 2023

The EU funded project Safe-n-MedTech celebrated its official 48th Month Management Committee Meeting on March 7th to 9th 2023 with a private event taking place in Lisbon. The event was organized and hosted by Instituto Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (IMM), who are partners in this project.

The Consortium had the pleasure to count with the virtual attendance of the Project Adviser, Ozlem Cangar (HADEA), who could follow the critical aspects of the project progress.

The meeting was opened by Ángel del Pozo, Deputy Manager of Programs Strategy at Biokeralty Research Institute, and Scientific and Technical Manager of the project, who offered a comprehensive overview of the latest developments concerning each of the work packages.

Following this, work package leaders and representatives from all partners presented the most significant advances in their current tasks, and highlighted the results obtained to date in each of the project’s work packages. They also had the opportunity to share the latest progress within the Test Cases that are being carried out. On the second day, the consortium established the critical tasks and timelines to fulfill for the successful completion of the project.

Prior to the main event, a business meeting was held at the facilities of IMM with the aim to discuss the next steps for the successful development of the OITB Pathway, a non-profit organization derived from this project, which will act as a single-entry point (SEP) to help technologies in health care into the market.

With less than 7 months ahead towards the end of the project it is expected that work will continue in a collaborative and committed manner to achieve the established objectives and goals. At this stage, partners are strongly focused on public relations and communication activities. Dissemination of project results is essential for long-term success.

The two and a half-day event offered all partners the opportunity to discuss about all the ongoing activities, next challenges and the best way to face them. “The project ends in 7 months, but we will continue building OITB Pathway and delivering all our services and knowledge. We have set the path with clear plans towards the future!”, Ángel del Pozo pointed.

About Safe-n-MedTech
The EU funded Safe-n-MedTech is a 4-year project that is working on an open access, innovative platform to provide the knowledge, networks and services needed for the development of nanotechnology-based medical and diagnostic devices. The objective is to offer the service to leading companies and laboratories.

For more information visit: www.safenmt.com

• Read More

NANBIOSIS U16 enlarges its capacities with a new FlexPS-ARPES-E kit

NANBIOSIS unit 16 Surface Characterization and Calorimetry Unit form CIBER-BBN and University of Extremadura has recently incorporated new equipment acquired through the execution of the project FICTS1420-14-09, cofinanced with FEDER funds, the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Junta de Extremadura, Regional Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Agency. A new FlexPS-ARPES-E kit, manufactured by SPECS, is now available for use by researchers

This new resource uses the technique of photoelectron spectroscopy generated by X-rays to analyze the chemical composition of a surface. The electrons given off by the irradiated surface generate a fingerprint of the molecules that make up that surface, yielding information about the chemical composition of approximately the first 10 nm (one millionth of a millimeter) of thickness, making it a technique of Last generation.

One of the advantages of the acquired equipment is that the type of analyzer it has allows for different configurations to obtain different measurement modes. Thus, depending on the application, you can choose between:

XPS/ESCA (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) mode: The excitation source is X-ray.

SEM/SAM (Scanning Electron Microscopy/Auger) mode: the excitation source is electrons.

UPS mode (Ultraviolet Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy): The excitation source is UV rays.

ISS (Ion Scattering Spectroscopy) mode: the excitation source is ions. This excitation source can also be used for depth profiling.

At a cost of 800,000 euros, its acquisition has been achieved thanks to financial support from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the General Secretariat for Research and FEDER funds from the multi-regional operational program of Spain in the line of action of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures ( ICTS). In addition, it has been co-financed by the Junta de Extremadura, the Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Agenda and the General Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation and University.

Other equipment financed in this same action is:

A DMC8 Leica profilometer: a device that allows determining the 3D texture of surfaces through spatial, volumetric and height parameters, from the millimeter to the nanometer range.

A Krüss DSA100E/ DSA100M goniometry : system for determining the surface tension of solids and liquids. The equipment has a microdrop dosing system, a thermostatic chamber and a chamber for controlling the vapor saturation of the liquids being analysed. In addition, the microdroplet system has a tilting base that allows the samples to be tilted by at least 90°.

An additional cannon for a team of TOF-SIMs: a team of secondary ion mass spectrometry by time of flight (TOF-SIMS), a very sensitive technique for analyzing the composition of surfaces that provides detailed elemental and molecular information of coatings, layers fine lines and interfaces both at the superficial and three-dimensional level.

• Read More

A discovery in one of the most aggressive cancers will allow more efficient diagnosis

The extracellular vesicles secreted by triple-negative breast cancer stem cells are markers of lung metastasis, according to a study carried out by researchers at CIBER.

The work has been carried out by researchers from various CIBER-BBN groups (Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicia), and CIBERONC (CIBER area focused on cancer) has participated in it. The research has been led by Joaquín Seras, from the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), a specialist in targeted drug therapies.

Physicochemical EVs characterization and all the in vivo studies were performed by NANBIOSISunits of CIBER, specifically NTA analysis was carried out at Unit 6 of Biomaterial Processing and Nanostructuring, led by Nora Ventosa at ICMB-CSIC and animal experimentation at Unit 20 “In vivo experimental platform”, led by Ibane Abasolo at VHIR.

The vesicle, in cell biology, is an organelle that forms a small, closed compartment, separated from the cytoplasm by a lipid bilayer just like the cell membrane. The vesicles store, transport or digest cellular products and waste. According to Joaquin Seras, leader of the research: “the identification of this subpopulation of cancerous extracellular vesicles, and their important role in the progression of the disease, will allow in the future to develop systems more effective and less invasive diagnostic methods based on their detection directly from blood samples”.

In different types of tumors, including triple negative breast cancer, it has been observed that the extracellular vesicles generated by tumor cells play an important role in the generation of pre-metastatic niches. Triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive, highly plastic and heterogeneous, is characterized by a significant presence of malignant stem cells.

The study carried out by the Spanish researchers from CIBER with promising results, published in the “International Journal of Cancer”, shows, both in in vitro and in vivo models of the disease, that the vesicles actively contribute to the formation of areas with favorable conditions for the formation of metastases, thus favoring way, the spread of the disease.

Research contributions
In the opinion of Joaquin Seras, the great contribution of this work is that it “describes how the extracellular vesicles secreted by certain subpopulations of cancer cells, specifically those derived from cancer stem cells, have the potential to modify the microenvironment of the future metastatic niche to promote tumor growth.

In other words, continues the leader of the study: “the research sheds new information on the pathogenic mechanism of the disease, and suggests these extracellular vesicles as markers with diagnostic potential. It should be noted that these nanoparticles are secreted into the bloodstream by tumor cells, and effective capture and identification would allow them to be exploited as a diagnostic tool”.

On the characterization of extracellular vesicles of cancer cells
The complex composition and functional differentiation of cancer cells in a tumor also increases the heterogeneity of the subsets of vesicles secreted by cancer.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant in triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive, highly plastic and heterogeneous cancers, characterized by a significant presence of malignant stem cells. However, until now the diversity of the vesicles secreted by cancer cells had not been studied, a diversity that is closely related, in turn and as the study shows, to cellular heterogeneity in triple-negative tumors.

The importance of the CIBER study lies at this point: the vesicles secreted by different tumor subpopulations and grouped by their degree of differentiation show fundamentally different activities in terms of their impact on cancer progression.

In the investigation, the extracellular vesicles secreted by up to three different types of neoplastic cells have been isolated and characterized, observing different bioburdens for each type, with the consequent differential effect on stromal cells. In addition, and as the study shows, cancer stem cell-derived vesicles contribute to converting healthy lung cells into receptive niches for the metastatic growth of cancerous breast cells.

Article reference:

González-Callejo P, Gener P, Díaz-Riascos ZV, Conti S, Cámara-Sánchez P, Riera R, Mancilla S, García-Gabilondo M, Peg V, Arango D, Rosell A, Labernadie A, Trepat X, Albertazzi L, Schwartz S Jr, Seras-Franzoso J, Abasolo I. Extracellular vesicles secreted by triple-negative breast cancer stem cells trigger premetastatic niche remodeling and metastatic growth in the lungs. Int J Cancer. 2023 Jan 27. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34447. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36705298.

• Read More

You are here : Home / News (Page 8)

NANBIOSIS opens in June the 2nd competitive open call 2023 for its “Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions” and services.