Jaume Veciana, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS is co-author of the publication “Robust Organic Radical Molecular Junctions Using Acetylene Terminated Groups for C–Au Bond Formation” by “Journal of the American Chemical Society”.
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Scientists from two NANBIOSIS units participate in two of the three projects selected in the Call CIBER-BBN / CIBERONC.
On April 13, the 1st CIBERONC – CIBER-BBN Collaborative Projects Forum took place at the National School of Health (Carlos III Health Institute). The purpose of the event was to carry out the resolution of the call for collaborative seed projects between the two areas.
During the forum, 12 proposals for collaborative projects were presented, encompassed in four thematic sessions: new nano-devices, new strategies for 3D culture, phototherapy and drug release. All the proposals included the application of some of the latest innovations in the fields of bioengineering, biomaterials and nanomedicine to try to respond to a clinical oncological need.
Josep Samitier, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 7 , together with Rosa Noguera of CIBERONC, coordinates the project “3D models in vitro for the studies of mechanotherapy in neuroblastoma“. This project addresses a very novel topic of undoubted scientific interest: the effect of the physical properties that the extracellular matrix contributes to the progression and treatment of tumors. In addition, the project has a high translational value and could be applicable not only to neuroblastoma but to other types of tumors and the general metastatic process.
The groups led by Jaime Veciana, Scientific Director NANBIOSIS and of NANBIOSIS unit 6, toguether with Joaquín Arribas of CIBERONC, will develop the project “Artificial lymphatic nodes for the immunotherapy of cancer (ALYCIA)” coordinated by the researchers Cristina Bernadó (CIBERONC) and Judit Guasch ( CIBER-BBN). This project offers the possibility of studying the role of immune cells with a more efficient system for obtaining T cells, controlling the possible immune response that can be generated by inoculating artificial lymph nodes. It is an innovative project, with great potential and many expectations
The new magazine “Precision Nanomedicine” in its online version, is about to be issued. Dr. Simón Schwartz Jr, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U20 In Vivo Experimental Platform, is one of only two Spanish researchers who are part of the editorial board of the journal. The rest of publishers belong to the United States, Australia, Japan and Europe
Precision Nanomedicine is a publication promoted by the European Society of Nanomedicine (ESNAM for its acronym in English), the European Nanomedicine Foundation and the Conference of Clinical Nanomedicine (Clinamen). It was born with the aim of bringing together the most important opinion leaders in this field, disseminating the concept of Precision Nanomedicine and promoting its application in the clinical field using nanomedicines in a personalized way, depending on the patient and the pathology. Within this willingness to make wide dissemination of knowledge, access to the journal will be open.
“The launch of the journal occurs at a very opportune time given the high number of nanodrugs that are reaching the clinic or clinical trials phase and the fact that some of them, for example, are already drugs of choice in oncological treatments“, says Dr. Schwartz Jr.
Ramón Martínez Mañez, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 26 NMR: Biomedical Applications II toguether with other Scientists from CIBER-BBN, the Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia-CSIC and University and Polytechnic University of Valencia, have developed, on a laboratory scale, a new system to cause the apoptosis in cancer cells.
Is consists on nanocapsules carrying a peptide – a small chain of amino acids – that would be released in a controlled manner to generate the apoptosis of the affected cells. “So far, we have worked with cellular models and the results obtained are promising,” says Ramón Martínez Máñez, director of the Interuniversity Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development of the UPV and scientific director of the CIBER-BBN.
The main novelty of the work developed by the researchers is the encapsulation of the peptide. According to Martínez Máñez, the current problem of the use of these molecules in clinical therapies is their high rate of degradation and low bioavailability. In fact, a large number of peptide therapeutic products do not obtain approval by regulatory agencies due to these limitations.
“Blood plasma hosts more than 120 proteins, among which are numerous enzymes that degrade molecules. The encapsulation of peptides in mesoporous silica particles could be of general application to be administered in a controlled and effective way in clinical practice. In this case, when the nanoparticle enters the cells, the polylysine that covers the nanoparticles degrades and allows the peptide to be released and then induces the death of the cancer cell, “explains Jerónimo Bravo researcher at the IBV.
The use of the Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia-CSIC would also reduce the toxicity of the therapy, since they are less aggressive than the cytotoxics currently used to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. “In addition, the encapsulation allows to use less medication and would also reduce the side effects in patients,” says Jerónimo Bravo.
After its validation at laboratory scale, the next step would be the evaluation with animal models.
The work of the researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de València, the Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia-CSIC and the CIBER-BBN has been published in the latest issue of Chemistry-A European Journal.
Article of reference:
Cristina de la Torre, Leticia Domínguez-Berrocal, José R. Murguía, M. Dolores Marcos, Ramón Martínez-Máñez, Jerónimo Bravo, Félix Sancenón. ϵ-Polylysine-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carrier of the C9h Peptide to Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Chemistry-A European Journal. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201704161
Between today and tomorrow the 3rd workshop of the European project H2020 “IPMT-Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Center of Excellence” is being held in Barcelona. The meeting is being attended by more than 30 people, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, the CIBER-BBN and the University of Cyprus as well as other partnerts from Cyprus.
Jesús Izco, Coordinator of NANBIOSIS has made a presentation of the ICTS and has taken the opportunity to present the NANBIOSIS nanomedicine cascade characterization model, which has aroused great interest among attendees.
The objective of the European project “Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Research Center of Excellence” is to establish an Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Research Center of Excellence, a multidisciplinary center that will be a leader in the development of new technologies to further enable and accelerate the progress and application of precision medicine. The Center will include all the essential fields: (i) modeling & simulations, (ii) intelligent systems & bioinformatics, (iii) imaging & biosignal analysis, (iv) digital & eHealth, (v) embedded systems & electronics, and (vi) ) sensing technologies (including nano), with support from (vii) biosciences and (viii) clinical validation. Initially, the clinical emphasis will be on tools and methods for relevant multifactorial diseases: cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and traumatic brain injury. The proposal is a collaboration between leading Cypriot and European institutions. The host, the University of Cyprus, is the country’s leading academic institution, with local partners including major medical centers as well as support from the Ministry of Health and other private organizations. The advanced partners are the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Technology (BMT), Germany, and the Center for Biomedical Research – Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN).
Silvia Lope-Piedrafita and Nuria Arias Ramos, Scientists of NANBIOSIS U25 NMR: Biomedical Applications I, have participated as co-authors in chapters of the book “Preclinical MRI – Methods and Protocols“. Editors: María Luisa García Martín y Pilar López Larrubia.
This book, also co-authored by other researchers of CIBER-BBN, as Guadalupe Soria y Raul Tudela, is organized into 7 parts :
-Part 1 covers the basics of MRI physics, relaxation, image contrast, and main acquisition sequences;
-Part 2 describes methodologies for diffusion, perfusion, and functional imaging;
-Part 3 looks at in vivo spectroscopy;
-Part 4 explores special MRI techniques that are less known in the field;
-Parts 5 and 6 discuss MRIs and MRSs in animal models of disease and the applications used to study them, and
-Part 7 looks at anesthesia and advanced contrast agents.
Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Ana Paula Candiota, Scientific Coordinator of NANBIOSIS U25. NMR: Biomedical Applications I, is now part of the Panel of experts from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. This panel aims to offer their knowledge and experience to the media in case they have questions on specific issues.
The CIBER-BBN organizes in Barcelona a WORKSHOP related to the European project H2020 “IPMT-Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Center of Excellence”, framed within the program “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation”, in which the scientific direction and scientific committee of the CIBER -BBN, together with the Fraunhofer Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBMT), participate as reference advisory centers of the University of Cyprus (UCY) and clinical institutions of the country, coordinators of the proposal.
Date
March 22th-23th, 2018
Location
Day 1: IMB-CNM, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Meeting Room, Jose Millán.
Day 2: Hotel Silken Sant Gervasi, Barcelona, Room Garden.
Simó Shwartz, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U20 In vivo Experimental Platform, has recently published an interesting article “Efficient EFGR mediated siRNA delivery to breast cancer cells by Cetuximab functionalized Pluronic® F127/Gelatin” issued by Chemical Engineering Journal. The research group of Dr Schwartz has managed to create a micelle formed by a combination of polymers and gelatin that allows to transport effectively large quantities of both nucleic acids and drugs inside. The system also leads to the periphery a series of carboxylic groups that allow anchoring in a very easy way any type of directing molecule such as for example a peptide or antibody.
Scientists of NANBIOSIS U12. Nanostructured liquid characterization unit have recently published an article in Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
