Posts on Jan 1970

NANBIOSIS contributes to translational project developing protein-based therapy for brain hemorrhage recovery

NANBIOSIS supports IdiPAZ project to develop protein-based therapy from extracellular vesicles to improve recovery after brain hemorrhage.

Barcelona, September, 2025 — The Protein Production Platform (PPP, NANBIOSIS Unit 1) has joined an innovative translational research project led by the Neurology and Cerebrovascular Diseases Group at the Health Research Institute of Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ).

The project, funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) under grant PI23/00436, focuses on the development of a new protein-based treatment to improve recovery after brain hemorrhage. The strategy involves the administration of encapsulated therapeutic proteins, representing a novel approach to enhance functional outcomes in patients. The study is coordinated by Dr. María Alonso de Leciñana and Dr. María Gutiérrez.

Proteins derived from extracellular vesicles

The therapeutic concept stems from a promising clinical observation. Proteins of interest were identified by analyzing extracellular vesicles in the peripheral blood of patients with spontaneous favorable recovery after brain hemorrhage. Previous research by the IdiPAZ group demonstrated that these vesicles carry higher levels of proteins involved in cellular repair and regeneration, particularly in patients with better neurological outcomes.

Role of NANBIOSIS Unit 1 in protein production

Currently, the selected proteins are being synthesized and purified in soluble and active form by NANBIOSIS Unit 1, which specializes in protein production and purification services for biomedical research. These proteins will then be encapsulated using advanced formulations developed by Diversa Technologies, a Spanish biotech spin-off created from the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS).

Collaborative research for biomedical innovation

The identification of therapeutic proteins was made possible through the collaboration of Dr. Susana Bravo, from the Proteomics Unit of IDIS. Following preclinical validation in experimental models, this strategy could open the way to a novel therapy to enhance neurological recovery in brain hemorrhage patients.

This initiative highlights the role of NANBIOSIS research infrastructure in advancing translational medicine, nanomedicine, and biotechnology. By providing state-of-the-art protein production capabilities, NANBIOSIS fosters collaborations that transform promising laboratory discoveries into potential clinical applications.

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:

María Sancho, NANBIOSIS researcher, and Ana Serrano, awarded ERC Starting Grants

NANBIOSIS Unit 9 researcher María Sancho wins ERC Starting Grant to develop nanotherapies targeting cancer metastasis with extracellular vesicles.

Zaragoza, September, 2025 — María Sancho, researcher at NANBIOSIS Unit 9 (Synthesis of Nanoparticles Unit), has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to lead a groundbreaking project in nanomedicine. Dr. Sancho, who we had the pleasure to intervew, works at the Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Films (NFP) group of the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón (INMA, CSIC-Unizar), the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), the CIBER-BBN and NANBIOSIS.

Her project, SEVEN (Screening metastasis targeting properties of Extracellular Vesicle’s biomolecular corona for Engineering therapeutic biomimetic Nanoparticles), has received €1.5 million plus €343,500 for specialized equipment, bringing the total to nearly €1.85 million. Over five years, Sancho will establish her own team of three PhD students, two postdoctoral researchers, and a laboratory technician.

Pioneering nanomedicine against metastasis

SEVEN will investigate how nanomaterials and extracellular vesicles (natural nanocarriers produced by cells) interact with biological fluids. These interactions lead to the formation of a biomolecular corona, a layer of proteins and molecules that alters the surface identity of nanoparticles. This phenomenon often reduces their ability to selectively reach tumor cells.

By understanding and engineering this corona, Sancho aims to redesign therapeutic nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles to efficiently target cancer metastases, paving the way for personalized nanomedicine and improved drug delivery systems.

Sancho explains: “ERC Starting Grants are an exceptional opportunity for young researchers because they provide the technical and human resources needed to test new ideas and hypotheses. It is a dream for any young scientist at the beginning of their career, as it allows us to consolidate our research path.”

Scientific excellence and international recognition

María Sancho holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering (University of Zaragoza, 2020, Extraordinary Doctorate Award). She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan under Prof. Luisa De Cola, supported by the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC). Since 2023, she has been supported by an AECC Postdoctoral Talent Grant and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, which brought her back to Zaragoza. Her career has been recognized with distinctions such as the Premio Tercer Milenio and recognition of her thesis among the top ten in Spain by the Royal Academy of Doctors.

Ana Serrano also awarded an ERC Starting Grant

Alongside Sancho, Ana Serrano, professor at the Institute for Engineering Research of Aragón (I3A) and member of the Graphics and Imaging Lab, has also secured an ERC Starting Grant. Her project PROXIE (Perceptual Realities: Optimizing XR through Perceptually-Informed Experiences) explores how people perceive and interact with immersive extended reality (XR) environments, with applications in telemedicine, aerospace, cultural heritage, and education.

Boosting the international research profile of Zaragoza

With these new awards, the University of Zaragoza increases its ERC-funded projects to 22 since 2009, consolidating its role as a hub for cutting-edge biomedical and engineering research.

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: