CIBER

NANBIOSIS at BIOSPAIN 2025: Strengthening public-private bridges for translational nanomedicine

NANBIOSIS joins BIOSPAIN 2025 with ISCIII and CIBER, boosting biotech partnerships and showcasing early HTA and ARISTOS innovations.

Barcelona, October 2025 — Last week NANBIOSIS took part in BIOSPAIN 2025 (Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc), joining forces at the ISCIII / CIBER stand to showcase our facilities and to deepen collaborations with industry partners, users and strategic allies. Over three intensive days the NANBIOSIS and CIBER representatives held multiple meetings with potential private partners and technology users to accelerate translation of nanomedicine and biomedical technologies.

Record edition: numbers that matter

BIOSPAIN 2025 closed as the largest edition to date: more than 2,400 attendees from 1,065 organisations across 34 countries, 140 investors representing 76 investment entities, ~250 exhibitors, and over 4,500 one-to-one meetings, reinforcing BIOSPAIN as Spain’s (and one of Europe’s) main partnering platform for biotechnology and life sciences. Organisers also announced Bilbao as the host city for BIOSPAIN 2026 (September 29–October 1, 2026).

NANBIOSIS contributions and leadership at the congress

NANBIOSIS participation combined exhibition, partnering and scientific leadership:

• We staffed the joint ISCIII–CIBER stand, connecting NANBIOSIS Units and services with industry delegates interested in diagnostics, drug delivery, advanced therapies and computational/biomanufacturing resources. These meetings generated promising follow-ups for collaborative projects and user requests.
• Prof. Pilar Marco (Research Professor, CSIC; Head of CIBER-BBN; and Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 2 (Custom Antibody Service, CAbS) moderated the roundtable “Early Health Technology Assessment: Designing the Roadmap for Successful Medical Innovation Translation.” The session emphasised the strategic value of embedding HTA early in the research-to-market pipeline to improve clinical relevance, cost-effectiveness, stakeholder alignment and the success of technology transfer.

ARISTOS Fellows presenting translational projects (NANBIOSIS connections)

At the 1st ARISTOS Entrepreneurs Dissemination Day (an event of the ARISTOS Postdoctoral Programme co-funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND and CIBER), several ARISTOS fellows linked to CIBER-BBN and working with NANBIOSIS Units presented projects aimed at clinical translation and industry uptake. These presentations fostered direct dialogue with private-sector experts on exploitation and secondment opportunities. Confirmed speakers included: Erika Pineda Ramírez (NanoGlue: glue-nanoparticles for immunotherapy) working in the group of Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez, Director of NANBIOSIS and Scientific Director of Unit 26 (NMR applications); Sofía Romagnoli (BRUHealth: ECGi + multiscale cardiac modelling for Brugada syndrome), working in the group of Prof. Pablo Laguna, Scientific Director of Unit 27 (High Performance Computing), Dr Lilianne Beola Guibert (next-generation living organoids for high-throughput clinical testing) working in the group of Prof. Jesús M. de la Fuente; and Dr Salim Çeriğ (OLEO-CardioSafe: stem-cell strategy to prevent chemotherapy cardiotoxicity) working in the group of Prof. Ángel Raya. ARISTOS is funded under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant No 101081334.

Why early HTA and infrastructures like NANBIOSIS matter

The BIOSPAIN programme under the motto “Global crossroads, local vibes” foregrounded three strategic pillars — health, investment and sustainability — and highlighted how convergence (biotech + engineering + digitalisation) and multidisciplinary talent accelerate industrial transformation. NANBIOSIS’s open-access platforms (characterised by advanced instrumentation, standardised workflows and regulatory/quality expertise) are designed to help researchers and SMEs implement early HTA-informed development and provide the evidence and technical readiness levels required by investors, regulators and hospitals. The combination of early economic, clinical and organisational assessment with robust preclinical services reduces the risk of late-stage failure and speeds up market access.

Moving forward: follow-ups and next steps

As BIOSPAIN transitions to an annual format and prepares for Bilbao 2026, NANBIOSIS will continue to:

• pursue partnerships initiated at BIOSPAIN 2025 (industry secondments, collaborative R&D, service contracts);
• support ARISTOS and other postdoctoral talent in accelerating commercial pathways for their projects; and
• promote early HTA integration alongside preclinical/characterisation services to improve translation outcomes.

If you are an industry partner or researcher who met NANBIOSIS at BIOSPAIN 2025 and would like to continue the conversation, please contact our communications or business development team via: info@nanbiosis.es

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:

Danish Students Visit NANBIOSIS U28 NanoImaging at IBIMA-BIONAND to Discover Biomedical Imaging Technologies

Danish students visit NANBIOSIS Unit 28 at IBIMA-BIONAND to explore cutting-edge nanoimaging technologies driving innovation in biomedical research.

Málaga, October 2025 — A delegation of students from Denmark visited the NanoImaging Unit (U28), part of NANBIOSIS ICTS and embedded within IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, for a hands-on introduction to its scientific and technical capabilities. This international exchange allowed them to engage with the facility’s staff, explore cutting-edge instrumentation, and see how nanoimaging plays a pivotal role in biomedical research and innovation in health.

During the visit, the students had the opportunity to observe demonstrations of imaging modalities, ask questions about preclinical and molecular imaging workflows, and gain insights into how these technologies accelerate research in nanomedicine. The exchange underscores the commitment of NANBIOSIS and IBIMA to nurture scientific vocations, facilitate knowledge transfer, and strengthen cross-European collaboration in health research.

About NANBIOSIS Unit 28

The NanoImaging Unit (U28) is hosted by IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, at the Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (BIONAND) in Málaga. It is accredited as a node of NANBIOSIS ICTS and offers advanced imaging services to internal and external users.

Core Capabilities & Departments

U28 is structured into four main technological areas, each supporting a specialized domain of biomedical nanoimaging:

• Small Animal Multimodal Imaging – includes MRI, in vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging, and micro-CT for non-invasive preclinical studies.
• Magnetic Resonance (NMR) – equipped with a 400 MHz spectrometer for routine work and a 600 MHz instrument capable of HR-MAS (high-resolution magic angle spinning) and advanced in vitro analysis. Also includes a TD-NMR analyzer for relaxivity measurements.
• Electron Microscopy – offers TEM, Cryo-TEM, electron tomography, high-resolution SEM, and environmental SEM, with advanced sample preparation (e.g. cryo-immobilization) for biological and nanomedicine applications.
• Advanced Fluorescence / Optical Microscopy – includes confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, super-resolution imaging, fluorescence imaging, and high content screening. Integration with other modalities supports comprehensive multimodal studies.

These capabilities enable U28 to support molecular imaging, structural and functional studies, characterization of nano-compounds, and preclinical evaluations. In addition, the NanoImaging Unit is closely linked to complementary facilities within BIONAND, including the Cell Culture Unit, Chemical Unit, Animal House (supporting rodents and zebrafish), and the Histology Unit (which provides advanced sectioning, including for hard materials).

As a recognized ICTS node, U28 contributes to the Spanish map of singular scientific and technical infrastructures, enabling high-level access to imaging technologies for national and international users. The Unit underpins translational nanomedicine research in Spain and Europe by providing cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise.

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:

Hands-on Course on 3D Bioprinting for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications

Hands-on 3D Bioprinting course at UPV/EHU on Oct 23–24, 2025, covers pharma and biomedical applications with expert-led demos and training.

Vitoria, September, 2025 — The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) will host a Hands-on Short Course on 3D Bioprinting for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications on October 23–24, 2025, at the Lascaray Ikergunea Research Center in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This training program is designed to provide participants with both fundamental knowledge and practical skills in 3D bioprinting, a rapidly emerging technology with applications in drug development, regenerative medicine, and biomedical research.

Program highlights

Over two days, the course will combine lectures and demonstrations by international experts from academia and industry. The program includes:

• Introduction to 3D bioprinting.
• Biomaterials, cells, and bioink formulation.
• Cell imaging in 3D microenvironments.
• Extrusion-based bioprinting and its applications.
• Bioprinting for pharmaceutical sciences.
• Bioprinting in regenerative medicine.
• Two live bioprinting demonstration sessions.

The course concludes with an assessment and evaluation session to consolidate learning.

International faculty

The course brings together a prestigious group of instructors, including:

• Dr. Murugan Ramalingam (UPV/EHU) – Course Director
• Prof. José Luis Pedraz (UPV/EHU) – Course Director
• Dr. Denis Scaini, Dr. Sandra Ruiz Alonso, and Dr. Jon Zarate (UPV/EHU),
• Nicola Paccione (Tecnalia)
• Dr. Andrew Shevchuk (Imperial College London, UK)
• Dr. Thomas Webster (InnoShapes Inc., USA)
• Dr. Yu Shrike Zhang (Harvard University, USA)
• Dr. Sean Murphy (Wake Forest University, USA)
• Dr. Deepak Kalaskar (UCL, UK)

NANBIOSIS Unit 10: Drug Formulation

This initiative is also aligned with the work of NANBIOSIS Unit 10: Drug Formulation, led by Prof. José Luis Pedraz, who serves as one of the course directors. Unit 10 provides advanced services in drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, and bioink development for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Through its cutting-edge infrastructure, the Unit supports both academic research and industrial projects, fostering innovation in personalized medicine and advanced therapies.

Practical details

• Dates: October 23–24, 2025
• Venue: Lascaray Ikergunea Research Center, UPV/EHU Campus de Álava, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
• Fee: €84.96
• Registration deadline: October 20, 2025
• Register here: Official link for registration

This short course offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on training in 3D bioprinting technologies, learn from global leaders, and explore future collaborations between academia and industry.

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:

NANBIOSIS Researchers Present Advances in Nanomedicine at Nanomat 2025

Prof. Villaverde and Prof. Vázquez present nanomedicine advances in cancer therapy and drug delivery at Nanomat 2025, supported by NANBIOSIS.

Barcelona, September, 2025 — Two leading scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Prof. Antonio Villaverde and Prof. Esther Vázquez, participated last week as invited speakers at Nanomat 2025, an international conference on nanomaterials and nanobiotechnology. The event brought together experts in nanomedicine, healthcare, energy, and advanced materials to foster scientific debate, collaboration, and innovation.

Targeted Protein Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy

Prof. Esther Vázquez Gómez, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB-UAB) and Principal Investigator of the Nanobiotechnology group at CIBER-BBN, presented her lecture: “Targeting metastatic CXCR4+ cancers through self-assembled, self-delivered cytotoxic proteins.” Her presentation included results derived from the project PID2022-136845OB-I00.

Her team develops protein-based drug delivery systems with the goal of translating innovative nanomedicines into clinical practice. Prof. Vázquez is also co-founder of Nanoligent, a UAB spin-off focused on therapeutic nanomedicine. With more than 190 high-impact publications, 11 patents (six licensed), and extensive collaborations with industry, her work is a reference in cancer nanotherapeutics.

Implantable Depots for Sustained Drug Release

Prof. Antonio Villaverde, Chair of Microbiology at UAB, leader of the Nanobiotechnology group at IBB-UAB, head of the Innovative Biodrugs Team of the Catalan Government, and Strategy Director of NANBIOSIS Protein Purification Platform, presented the talk: “Artificial amyloids as implantable depots for the slow delivery of protein nanoparticles and therapeutic proteins.”

His research focuses on protein nanomaterials for controlled drug release and long-term therapeutic delivery. With over 340 peer-reviewed articles, several books and patents, and as founder of the Open-Access journal Microbial Cell Factories, Prof. Villaverde is recognized internationally as a pioneer in biopharmaceutical nanotechnology.

NANBIOSIS Contribution: Protein Production Platform (PPP)

Both research lines showcased at Nanomat 2025 are supported by NANBIOSIS through its Unit 1: Protein Production Platform (PPP).

The PPP is a state-of-the-art service that provides recombinant protein production, purification, and characterization for biomedical and nanobiotechnology applications. It supports both academic and industrial projects, ensuring access to high-quality protein biomaterials for nanomedicine, biopharmaceutical development, and preclinical research.

As Strategy Director of Unit 1, Prof. Antonio Villaverde plays a key role in shaping the scientific strategy of the Unit he leads, and ensures the impact of NANBIOSIS on nanotechnology innovation, cancer therapy, and drug delivery solutions.

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:

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

The selected proteins are currently being synthesized at NANBIOSIS Unit 1, and the optimization of their purification in soluble and biologically active form is in progress. Unit 1 is specialized 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:

New book release: Second edition of Nucleic Acids Chemistry explores advances in biomedicine and nanotechnology

Second edition of Nucleic Acids Chemistry explores novel modifications and RNA therapeutics for biomedicine, nanomedicine, and nanotechnology.

Barcelona, September, 2025 — The second edition of the book Nucleic Acids Chemistry. Modifications and Conjugates for Biomedicine and Nanotechnology will be released on September 1st, 2025, published by De Gruyter (Berlin). This updated volume expands on the successful first edition published in 2021, incorporating recent scientific advances in nucleic acids research with applications in biomedicine, nanomedicine, and nanotechnology.

With 414 pages of updated content (ISBN: 978-3-11-142468-2), the book provides a comprehensive overview of nucleic acid modifications, backbone engineering, and therapeutic conjugates, as well as the latest breakthroughs in RNA therapeutics, including CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, RNA editing, and mRNA vaccines.

Main topics covered:

• Novel backbones for therapeutic nucleic acids
• Lipid, peptide and protein-oligonucleotide conjugates
• Modified DNA nanostructures
• Aptamers and DNA catalysts
• RNA therapeutics

The second edition also dedicates new chapters to DNA nanotechnology and recent developments in the synthesis and biomedical application of modified nucleic acids, making it an essential reference for researchers working at the intersection of chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and nanomedicine.

Authors and contributors

The book is edited by Ramon Eritja (IQAC-CSIC, CIBER-BBN, NANBIOSIS Unit 29, Barcelona, Spain), with contributions from:

• Carme Fàbrega, Anna Aviñó, Santiago Grijalvo, Andreia F. Jorge, Arnau Domínguez, Natalia Navarro (IQAC-CSIC, CIBER-BBN, NANBIOSIS, Barcelona, Spain)
• Carlos González (IQF-CSIC, Madrid, Spain)
• Raimundo Gargallo (University of Barcelona, Spain)

About the research of the editors

The contributing teams are internationally recognized for their work in nucleic acid chemistry and nanobiotechnology. Their research spans from the chemical synthesis of modified oligonucleotides to the development of functional nucleic acids for therapeutic, diagnostic, and nanotechnological applications.

This book is expected to become a key resource for scientists and students in biochemistry, molecular medicine, and nanotechnology, providing both fundamental knowledge and cutting-edge perspectives on the future of nucleic acids in biomedicine.

For more information, visit the portfolio of NANBIOSIS Unit 29.

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:

Advances in MRI and Brain Tumor Imaging: NANBIOSIS at ISMRM 2025

NANBIOSIS Unit 25 showcased preclinical MRI advances at ISMRM 2025 Iberian Chapter with talks, posters, and international collaboration.

Barcelona, July 8, 2025 — NANBIOSIS Unit 25: NMR: Biomedical Applications I, played a leading role at the 5th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Iberian Chapter, held on July 3–4 at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). The event brought together top researchers in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) from Spain and Portugal, highlighting cutting-edge applications in preclinical imaging and biomedical research.

Strong Scientific and Organizational Presence from NANBIOSIS

Researchers from Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS, a key platform for NMR-based biomedical applications at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), made major contributions to the scientific program. Dr. Ana Paula Candiota, Scientific Director, and Dr. Silvia Lope-Piedrafita, Scientific Coordinator, were both members of the local organizing committee and actively participated in the scientific sessions.

Dr. Lope-Piedrafita gave an oral presentation titled “Applying longitudinal MRI for tumor evaluation in two immunocompetent chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) cancer xenograft models,” showcasing innovative imaging approaches in oncology research. The study was co-authored by Dr. Candiota.

Dr. Candiota also delivered three poster pitches, including “Bridging 3T and 7T MR: Towards Unified Metabolic Profiling for Preclinical Brain Tumor Studies.” Part of this research was conducted during her CIBER-funded scientific mobility stay in Portugal, reflecting ongoing international collaboration within the network.

About Unit 25: Advanced NMR Tools for Biomedical Applications

Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS is a unique research infrastructure offering in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro NMR services. It is jointly operated by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility (SeRMN) and the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB) at UAB, and coordinated by Dr. Candiota herself.

This infrastructure enables high-resolution molecular imaging, metabolic profiling, and biomarker discovery for translational research in oncology, neurology, and other biomedical fields. For more information about the Unit, you can visit the portfolio here.

Promoting Innovation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The participation of NANBIOSIS U25 in the ISMRM 2025 Iberian Chapter meeting reinforces its role as a national and international reference in the development and application of NMR and MRI technologies for biomedical research and preclinical trials. For further details about the event, visit the official ISMRM Iberian Chapter site.

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:

Researchers develop a promising therapy for alcohol‑induced brain injury thanks to NANBIOSIS services

First study using NANBIOSIS Unit 26 PET/MRI‑3T shows MSC-EVs reduce alcohol-induced brain damage and neuroinflammation in female mice.

Valencia, Spain – The Spanish national infrastructure NANBIOSIS is celebrating a significant breakthrough: the first scientific article utilizing PET/MRI‑3T imaging services from Unit 26 has been published, showcasing a novel therapy against alcohol-induced brain damage in female mice.

Study overview & key findings

The article, titled “Role of miRNAs from mesenchymal stem cell‑derived extracellular vesicles in neuroinflammation and behavioral impairments induced by chronic alcohol consumption in female mice“, appeared online ahead of print in Neural Regeneration Research on June 19, 2025 . It demonstrates that repeated intravenous doses of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC‑EVs), rich in regulatory miRNAs, effectively:

• Reduced alcoholism-driven neuroinflammation, confirmed by lower expression of pro-inflammatory genes like Tnf, Il1b, Mtor and Atf6
• Improved cognitive behavior and attenuated sensitivity to cocaine’s conditioned reward
• Decreased abnormal brain glucose metabolism, shown via reduced uptake of the PET tracer ^18F-FDG

Role of PET/MRI‑3T Imaging from NANBIOSIS

This milestone became possible thanks to the recently launched PET/MRI‑3T platform of Unit 26: a state-of-the-art preclinical imaging system combining a 3 Tesla MRI with integrated PET capabilities. This dual-modality setup enables precise metabolic and anatomical visualization in vivo, allowing researchers to perform longitudinal studies in small rodents. In this case, the imaging revealed a reversal of ethanol-induced metabolic dysregulation in the brains of treated mice.

The relevance of these findings

These results provide compelling in vivo evidence that miRNA-enriched MSC-EVs can counteract alcohol-induced brain damage. In addition, it etablishes NANBIOSIS Unit 26 as a leader in multimodal preclinical imaging, bridging molecular insights with live metabolic data. Finally, this research opens new avenues for research in neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and addiction therapy.

About NANBIOSIS Unit 26

Housed at the Faculty of Medicine at University of Valencia, NANBIOSIS Unit 26 is led by Dr. Ramón Martínez Máñez (UPV) and Dr. Salvador Gil (UV-SCSIE). Beyond the PET/MRI‑3T, the Unit offers, among other services, a 14 Tesla NMR spectrometer for ex vivo metabolic profiling and advanced support for in vivo and ex vivo metabolic and molecular imaging in rodents.

Strategic impact and future directions

This publication not only highlights the scientific value of MSC-EV therapy for alcohol-related neuroinflammation but also spotlights NANBIOSIS imaging capabilities. Future research leveraging this infrastructure could revolutionize fields such as neuropharmacology, regenerative medicine, and translational research, thanks to its ability to bridge preclinical data to human therapies.

Access the full article: see Neural Regeneration Research, June 19, 2025, doi:10.4103/NRR.NRR‑D‑24‑01260

And do not forget that our last Open Call of 2025 is open until June 30. Visit here for more information.

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:

Prof. Jesús Santamaría secures his third ERC Advanced Grant in tumor-targeting nanomedicine

Prof. Jesús Santamaría wins his third ERC Advanced Grant for a €3.1M project to boost tumor targeting in nanomedicine.

Zaragoza, 23 June 2025 – Prof. Jesús Santamaría, Chair of Chemical Engineering at the University of Zaragoza and Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 9, has been awarded his third European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant—a rare achievement shared by only five other researchers in Spain, as reported in the official Unizar webpage.

The newly funded project, ROMEO (“Cracking the code on tumor targeting with nanostructures: competitive kinetics and extracellular vesicles“), will receive €3.12 million over five years, exceeding the usual €2.5 million cap thanks to supplemental funding for major equipment.

ROMEO was selected among 281 proposals out of 2,534 submissions in the 2024 ERC Advanced Grant competition, under the Horizon Europe programme. The total ERC funding amounted to €721 million, with only 14 grants awarded to Spanish researchers.

Pioneering Strategies to Boost Tumor Nanoparticle Delivery

Despite decades of research, less than 1% of systemically administered nanoparticles reach tumors; up to 95% are sequestered by liver macrophages. The ROMEO project aims to overcome this barrier using:

1. Competitive kinetics: designing “decoy” particles that pre‐saturate macrophages, reallocating therapeutic nanoparticles toward tumors.
2. Extracellular vesicle (EV) vectors: employing tumor‑derived EVs that naturally home to their tissue of origin as targeted delivery vehicles.

The research will be led at INMA (CSIC‑Unizar) and IIS Aragón with a multidisciplinary team extending across chemistry, materials, and biology, including collaborators from I3A and IQAC‑CSIC in Barcelona.

A stellar record of excellence

The expertise of Prof. Santamaría in nanomaterials is well‑recognized: over 385 publications, 26 patents, leadership in 101 research initiatives (20 European-funded), and supervision of 39 PhD theses. Within the ERC framework, his grant history includes:

• HECTOR (2011, €1.85 M): Microwave‑activated catalytic microreactors.
• CADENCE (2017, €2.45 M): Tumor‑targeted catalytic therapy via in situ activation.
• ROMEO (2025, €3.12 M): Nanostructure and EV–based tumor targeting.

With total ERC Advanced Grant funding exceeding €7.4 million, his sustained success contributes to the University of Zaragoza’s tally of 20 ERC projects (€34.8 M total) since 2009.

NANBIOSIS Unit 9: A key driver in Translational Nanomedicine

As Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 9 – Synthesis of Nanoparticles, Santamaría oversees an advanced laser‑induced pyrolysis platform producing large quantities of hybrid, biocompatible nanoparticles. This Unit supports automated synthesis, comprehensive physicochemical characterization, and preclinical testing—making it a hub for both academic and industrial R&D in nanomedicine.

Unit 9 (U9) is part of the Nanostructured Films and Particles Group at INMA (CSIC‑Unizar), located at Campus Río Ebro, Zaragoza, with capabilities in microstructural, optical, magnetic, and functional analysis of nanoparticles.

And do not forget that our last Open Call of 2025 is open until June 30. Visit here for more information.

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: