News

NANBIOSIS U2, U3 & U29 participate in the POC4CoV project to develop diagnostic technologies for SARS-COV-2

The Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) will finance the project Point-of-care tests for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 (POC4CoV), whose objective is to have effective diagnostic technologies for Covid-19. The Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC), the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) and the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon (ICMA) participate in it.

The POC4CoV project aims to develop Point-of-Care (POC) devices for the in vitro diagnosis of SARS-COV-2 infection quickly and reliably, thanks to the use of multiplexed systems and the use of particular biomolecular probes. To do this, POC technological platforms will be used in combination with specific capture biomolecules and nanobiotechnological probes (enzyme bioconjugates and biofunctional plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles), which will allow the simultaneous detection of different biomarkers (viral RNA and antigens, IgM and IgG) related to Covid-19 disease. The biomolecular complexes will be collected at specific points on the devices where the electrochemical or optical signals will be recorded.

The developed POC platforms will undergo analytical and clinical validation in a clinical setting.

Three units of NANBIOSIS (form CIBER-BBN and IQAC-CSIC) will will take an active participation in the project.

NANBIOSIS Unit 2 Custom Antibody Service (CAbS), will produce antibodies against the Spike protein and other virus proteins, trying to maximize the recognition of those epitopes that differentiate SARS-CoV-2 from other Coronaviruses

NANBIOSIS Unit 3 Synthesis of Peptides Unit will synthesize peptidic sequences that will allow to identify towards which epitopes the immune response is directed, which will allow to develop more specific diagnostic methods.

NANBIOSIS Unit 29 Oligonucleotide Synthesis Platform (OSP) has designed probes with oligonucleotide sequences that will allow the capture of viral RNA through the formation of high affinity triplex complexes

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Stem cells and COVID-19 research.

The Malaga Academy of Sciences has published an interesting review by Dr. José Becerra Ratia on Spanish biomedical research in relation to COVID-19 virus and, in particular, with two therapeutic novelties that have stem cells as protagonists, in one case the mesenchymal cells and in the other case the embryonic ones.

Professor Becerra is Professor of Cellular Biology at the University of Malaga and Vice President of the Malaga Academy of Sciences, as well as Researcher in charge of the Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory that belongs to BIONAND, IBIMA CIBER-BBN and TerCel (unit 28 of NANBIOSIS U28 Nanoimaging Unit)

Dr Becerra, enfasizes how the development of Biology in recent decades as well as the powerful tools provided by molecular biology and artificial intelligence, will be very useful now to combat Covid-19 Pandemia.

Here you can read the article in Spanish, Science, a well-founded hope against COVID19

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COVID-19 research: preferent access to NANBIOSIS

Due to the current pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, knowledge about the virus characteristics and the development of its possible diagnostic, treatment and prophylactic devices and systems are high priority in all research institutions worldwide.

NANBIOSIS assigns high priority to the projects related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus offering preferential access. Some of the NANBIOSIS’s services have been suspended or postponed. However the call is open and the proposals will be processed and services required will be provided as soon as possible.

For that purpose, A “COVID-19 Rapid Access” call has been established, valid through the year 2020. Urgent procedure will be applied to review and admission of the proposals.

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Laser-driven direct synthesis of carbon nanodots and application as sensitizers for visible-light photocatalysis

Researchers of NANBIOSIS U9 Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit, present the first successful synthesis of monodisperse carbon nanodots (CNDs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) carried out by laser pyrolysis of two common volatile organic precursors such as toluene and pyridine. Remarkably, the initial chemical composition of the precursor determines the formation of undoped or N-doped CNDs and their corresponding absorption response in the visible range (expanded for the latter). Researchers have demonstrated the control and versatility of this synthesis method to tune the final outcome and its potential to explore a great number of potential solvent candidates. Furthermore, they have successfully exploited these CNDs (both undoped and N-doped) as effective sensitizers of TiO2 nanoparticles in the visible-light driven photo-degradation of a cationic dye selected as model organic pollutant.

The synthesis of these nanomaterials has been performed by the Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit of the ICTS “NANBIOSIS” (CIBER-BBN) at the Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon (INA)-Universidad de Zaragoza.

Article :

Nuria Mas,Jose L.Hueso, Gema Martinez, Ainhoa Madrid, Reyes Mallada, M. Carmen Ortega-Liebana, Carlos Bueno-Alejo, Jesus Santamaria. Laser-driven direct synthesis of carbon nanodots and application as sensitizers for visible-light photocatalysis. Carbon 156 (2020) 453e462

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2019.09.073

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“Have we lernt the lesson?”

Heraldo de Aragón publishes today an opinion article written by Jesús Santamaría, Scientific Director of Nanbiosis U9 Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit about the COVID19 Pandemic in the relation with the investment in R&D.

The proffesor at the University of Zaragoza makes a quick review on the
the main milestones reached by researchers to fight the COVID 19: “In early December some Wuhan residents start to get sick after visiting a local market, with what looked like flu symptoms. Nevertheless, Chinese health officials report to World Health Organization on New Year’s Eve that a group of patients presented a new type of pneumonia. Just two weeks later, a Shanghai lab published the genome sequence of the virus, and explained its differences from other coronaviruses. It was an advance decisive that allowed laboratories around the world to undertake frenetic investigations in different lines of action: development of PCR diagnostic tests, rapid diagnostic kits (there are already various on the market), mechanisms of infection (researchers Chinese publish an article on March 4 in the journal ‘Science’ revealing the role of the ACE2 protein in cell invasion) or possible therapies: several rapidly developing vaccines (the main race is between teams from China and the United States, but almost all developed countries have very advanced projects, including Spain), and therapeutic alternatives such as the one published by German scientists on March 20, also Science Journal, based on the blockade of an essential enzyme for the coronavirus” In summary, “research is producing spectacular results with unusual speed“, sais Santamaría and explains: – “This dizzying display of world-class science has been possible in countries with a powerful scientific structure, with the muscle to respond quickly to a crisis caused by an unknown pathogen. In Spain there have been relevant contributions, but in general, far from the world front line. In fact: Spain’s R&D effort continues at just over 1.2% of GDP, compared to 2.07% for the EU average or 3% for Germany, even behind countries such as Portugal or Hungary. In others countries, -continous the proffessor- even during the 2008 economic crisis there was commitment to science and technology as a way of progress. This is also the case in countries that not so long ago we considered technologically backward. In the case of China, the evolution has been amazing”, -confirms the rearcher according his experience as Editor of an excellent scientific journal for more than 20 years where most of the articles had a signature from that country. – “Hopefully this crisis will help us to change. To believe in research again as a seed of progress. And to demonstrate it with sustained investments, and giving it the central role it deserves.”

The proffessor ends his article quoting the words of the activist Mary Lasker: “If you think research is expensive, try the disease.”

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NANBIOSIS keeps working in SAFE-N-MEDTECH!

On March 10-12 a two-day meeting between representatives of NANBIOSIS units, took place at the Jesús Usón Minimum Invasive Surgery Center (CCMIJU), in Cáceres, to plan the work to be done in the coming months and carry out some tests within the framework of the European project Safe-N-MedTech.

Several units of the ICTS NANBIOSIS will carry out some of the F/Q, in vivo and in vitro characterizations applied to the test cases of the project. NANBIOSIS is actively involved and works in close collaboration with the four Test Case Developers: Stryker, RCL, HELIA Biomonitoring and TECNAN. Additionally, NANBIOSIS is the leader of WP3 Preclinical Research in nano enabled MTs.

The Safe-N-MedTech European Project will create an open innovation platform that accelerates the development of medical devices based on nanotechnologies. The project counts with 28 partners coordinated by TECNAN (Navarre, Spain), together with BIOKERALTY, the research branch of the global health companies Keralty. The new project is part of the Open Innovation Test Bed initiative (OITB) launched by the European Commission with the aim of accelerating the development of medical devices based on nanotechnologies in Europe and abroad. The project has a European funding of 15 million euros.

We expect that the Safe-N-MedTech test bed will help to accelerate the development nanotechnology based medical technologies products and services for future applications in clinical practice.

Safe-N-Medtech kicks off in Bilbao

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Peptide functionalized nanoliposomes for biomolecule intracellular delivery, prepared using compressed CO2

The PhD Researcher Dolores Bueno researcher of NANOMOL Group and NANBIOSIS Unit 6 Biomaterial Processing and Nanostructuring Unit (from CIBER-BBN and ICMAB-SCIC) has defended her PhD thesis today, 20 March 2020, by videoconference from the ICMAB Meeting Room. No public was allowed due to the drastic measures of containment taken to tackle COVID-19.

Peptide functionalized nanoliposomes for biomolecule intracellular delivery, prepared using compressed CO₂

Abstract: Fabry disease is a rare disease caused by a gene mutation on the X-chromosome, which encodes α-galactosidase A (GLA) enzyme. The lack of GLA causes the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide at the lysosomes. The actual treatment is based in the enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), the intravenous administration of the enzyme. Nanotechnology is a powerful tool to develop enzyme-loaded nanosystems in order to ameliorate ERT efficacy.

DELOS-SUSP (Depressurization of an Expanded Organic Solution-Suspension) methodology enables the production of small unilamellar vesicles using compressed CO₂. DELOS-SUSP allows the simultaneous encapsulation of different bioactives like RGD peptide and GLA in liposomes. This Thesis has used liposomes with RGD and GLA to generate a solid proof of concept for the treatment of Fabry disease.

Supervisor:

Nora Ventosa Rull, NANOMOL Group, ICMAB-CSIC Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 6
Elisabet González Mira, NANOMOL Group, ICMAB-CSIC

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CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR FINANCING OF RESEARCH PROJECTS ON COVID-19

The Spanish Official State Bolletin of March 18, 2020 published the Royal Decree-Law establishing measures to support research on COVID-19, including the authorization of an extraordinary credit for direct grants for research projects and programs of the COVID-19.
The Carlos III Heath Institute (ISCIII) calls for the presentation of expressions of interest to promote knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 and the CoVid disease19, as well as its impact on infected people. The aim of the proposals shall be to contribute to an efficient treatment of patient and / or public health rresponse. Proposals must be appropriate to the emergency situation and, therefore, allow immediate implementation and start-up in the National Health System, with concrete, early results applicable to the current situation. These proposals may be based on currently existing activities.
The scope of these proposals shall be:
a) Rapid virological diagnostic techniques of COVID-19, industrially scalable and applicable to healthcare, with priority orientation towards the diagnosis of the early stages of infection in humans and that allow predicting severity for the purpose of healthcare stratification.
b) Clinical-biological-molecular characterization of the COVID-19 disease, stages, prognostic stratification and complications.
c) Development of innovative therapies, new antiviral, antiseptic and disinfectant molecules against SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral resistance studies. Effectiveness of non-pharmacological, prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
d) Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, knowledge of the genetic and antigenic variation of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the immunological response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the virus-host interaction.
e) Vaccine development, efficacy and applicability.
f) Epidemiological surveillance of COVID-19 and molecular epidemiology: incidence of mortality and morbidity. Environmental and social factors of the spread. Risk factors and population dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
g) Socio-economic impact of COVID-19. Use of primary care resources, general hospital resources, and critical care resources.
h) Artificial intelligence and massive analysis of integrated data oriented to the epidemiological control of the disease COVID-19.
Applicants must take into account that the proposals financed under this expression of interest must comply with the provisions of the corresponding concession resolution, without prejudice to the additional measures that may be incorporated in order to guarantee the early execution of the projects, open access. to data and obtaining useful results for the immediate fight against this disease.

More information and expression of interest form here

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Covid-19 vaccine resear will be founded with 30 million € by the Spanish goverment

Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish President has announced today the decision of the Council of Ministers to allocate 30 million euro for the research of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus vaccine.

This budget item will go to the Higher Center for Scientific Research (CSIC), State Agency for Scientific Research and Technological Development, and the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), dependent on the Ministry of Science and Innovation. Specifically, 25.2 million euro will go to the ISCIII, of this amount, 24 million will directly finance research projects and programs for the new coronavirus. The ISCIII, as a research funding agency in the health field, will develop an urgent aid program for projects aimed to the creation of knowledge about the infection, to analyze and understand the biology of the virus, develop new therapeutic and prophylactic options, including vaccines, develop an epidemiological surveillance system and analyze its impact from the point of view of health services. The ISCIII will have 1.2 million euro to cover exceptional needs, such as the acquisition of material or the payment of guards for the increase in services

Much of the leading role is also taken by the National Centers for Microbiology (CNE) and Epidemiology (CNE). In the case of the former, which offers support to the National Health System centers in cases where infectious diseases generate a public health alert, it is mainly responsible for the analysis and confirmation of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The ISCIII has also developed a commercial techniques validation program for the detection of SARS-CoV2 in clinical samples. In this way, it responds to the fact that different companies have developed commercial kits for the detection of the coronavirus. These techniques have not been clinically validated nor have they yet obtained the European Commission seal, but the ISCIII makes this validation program available due to the growing and urgent needs of healthcare centers, making it easier for these commercial kits to be available to the National Health System in the shortest time possible.

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Laura Lechuga talks about CONVAT, the project for a faster and cheaper diagnose of COVID-19

Prof. Laura M. Lechuga, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 4 Biodeposition and Biodetection Unit (from CIBER-BBN and ICN2-CSCIC) has been today interview by Cadena Ser Radio in the program “Hoy por Hoy”

The interview can be listened in the following podcast, begining at 44 minute.

‘Convat’ is a nanotechnological device with biosensors capable of determining in less than half an hour the presence of coronavirus in a person. A sample saliva is deposited on a nanochip three centimeters long. If the saliva contains the virus, it will bind to antibodies located on the nanochip. A beam of light will be passed through the device so that the light will change if it encounters the virus and antibody in its path. The light will be analyzed automatically and the result will be transmitted to a smartphone or tablet. In less than 30 minutes a positive or negative result would be obtained and, in case of detecting the presence of the virus, in another 30 minutes at most the reconfirmation would be obtained. It is not intended for domestic use, but neither will a specialist technician be needed and it could be carried out in a massive way.

Simpler, cheaper and easier than current methods, this rapid diagnostic kit will not be ready for the first wave of the coronavirus, but it can be useful to detect it later if this virus is here to stay.

Yesterday, Laura Lechuga was also invited to explain the CONVAT project to the spanish television programe “A partir de hoy“.

‘Convat’, la prueba que puede detectar el coronavirus

‘Convat’, la prueba que puede detectar el coronavirus

https://twitter.com/FAQSTV3/status/1238968335192162306

Prof Laura Lechuga was also interviwed by TV3 in the program Planta Baixa

More information here

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