News

New treatments for degenerative diseases of the retina

The final meeting of the TERET project took place last March, an initiative within the RETOS public-private collaboration initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness funded with almost € 1 million. The project has been carried out over the past three years to develop new treatments for degenerative diseases of the retina, focusing specifically on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy ( RD) and retinitis pigmentosa.

Unit 10 of ICTS NANBIOSIS has participated in carrying out the pharmaceutical formulation of the active principles, including the synthesis, chemical physical characterization and stability of the formulations over time, evaluation of the silencing capacity and viability of the formulations used in cellulare crops, together with the CIBER-BBN groups led by José Luis Pedraz (University of the Basque Country), Ramon Eritja (IQAC-CSIC) and Eduardo Fernández (U. Miguel Hernández de Elche) and the biotechnology companies Sylentis , LeadArtis and Leitat.

Gene silencing solutions have been used as a basis for this project through the use of interfering RNA (siRNA) nd multivalent antibodies in Trimerbody format.

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Unit 2 Nanbiosis have signed an agreement with a Belgian Enterprise.

U2 unit of Nanbiosis (Custom antibody service) has recently signed a 3-year contract with UNISENSOR S.A. (Liege, Belgium) for producing on a high scale a collection of immunoreagents used in their diagnostic kits.

UNISENSOR S.A. is a SME biotech company that develops on site diagnostic systems for food safety. Unit 2 of NANBIOSIS, coordinated by Nb4D-CSIC holds a research collaboration for more than 7 years developing new bioproducts and transferring knowledge to UNISENSOR S.A. As result of the collaboration several diagnostic kits are nowadays in the market, consequently this contract has been signed with the aim to supply UNISENSOR S.A. with immunoreagents for their diagnostic products. The biomolecules produced by CAbS are completely characterized and respond to quality control criteria required by UNISENSOR S.A.

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Materials for Biomedical Applications Scientific School (BIOMAT-2017)

Registration is now open for the Scientific School on Materials for Biomedical Applications (BIOMAT-2017) that will take place on 19th-22nd of June 2017 in the UAB Campus (Barcelona). This school is organized by ICMAB-CSIC and it is included in the Severo Ochoa activities of the Institute.

The school is addressed to last year undergraduate, master and PhD students, who are interested in the development of materials for biomedical applications. The aim of the school is to present the design, development and application of new materials for a wide range of biomedical applications.

The school includes lectures from international and local scientists, hands-on and management activities and practical sessions. One of the practical sessions will take place at Unit 6 of NANBIOSIS and will be directed to the preparation and characterization of particulate nanomaterials with biomedical applications.

This Scientific School is an optimal opportunity to discover, learn and practice on material science focusing on fundamental science and applied research in the field of biomedicine.

There will be grants for students covering the fees of the summer school.

For further details and registration please go to:

https://congresses.icmab.es/matbio2017/

Registration deadline: 21st May 2017

There are only 50 places available, secure yours with an early registration.

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Laboratory-scale prototype for the treatment of cutaneous tumours

Ramon Martínez Máñez, Scientific Director of Unit 26 of NANBIOSIS, has participated in the development, on a laboratory scale, of a low cost device for treatments based on the application of optical hyperthermia by laser.

Among the applications of this technique are the therapies against cutaneous cancer and its objective is to get the death of the tumour cells by overheating. Overheating is achieved by the irradiation of synthesized metal nanoparticles.

The prototype developed consists of an infrared laser with a power of up to 500mW able to provide a power density of up to 4W / cm2, a sensor that allows recording the temperature in real time during the irradiation and a power regulator of the laser, among other components.

The work shows the keys for the development of low cost equipment for the technique of optical hyperthermia. The main novelty with respect to other commercial equipments is that it integrates all the necessary elements for the experimental phase, controlling as many variables as possible.

Currently, there are different laser applicators, used in dermatology and surgery. At certain powers and wavelengths, the energy of the laser is transformed into heat and produces ablation (burn), with the adjacent inflammation that this causes. The prototype is intended to introduce to sick cells nanohaters that, when stimulated by the laser, raise their temperature to 42-48 °, producing hypoxia.

This equipment is already being used successfully in cell cultures in vitro and is also working on therapies in which hyperthermia is combined with controlled release of drugs. Once the technique was developed, it could easily be transferred to a hospital environment by implementing small changes.

Article of reference:

Roberto Montes-Robles, Andy Hernandez, Javier Ibáñez, Rafael Masot-Peris, Cristina de la Torre, Ramón Martínez-Máñez, Eduardo García-Breijo, Rubén Fraile. Design of a low-cost equipment for optical hyperthermia. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical.

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Methods for the In Vitro Characterization of Nanomedicines —Biological Component Interaction

An interesting article has been recently published, in the journal Personalized Medicine In the context of a public-private collaboration between Cristina Fornagera of Sagetis-Biotech and Conxita Solans, Scientific Director of Unit 12 of NANBIOSIS

This review summarizes the main techniques used to assess the interaction of nanomedicines with biological systems, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The translation of knowledge from novel designed nanosystems at a research laboratory scale to real human therapies is usually a limiting or even a final point due to the lack of systematic studies regarding two aspects: nanoparticle interaction with biological components and nanoparticle cytotoxicity.

For further information:

Cristina Fornaguera and Conxita Solans “Methods for the In Vitro Characterization of Nanomedicines—Biological Component Interaction” J. Pers. Med., 7(1), 2, 2017

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A new versatile methodology to produce polymeric nanoparticles loaded with gold nanoparticles

Conxita Solans, Scientific Director of Unit 12 of NANBIOSIS together with researchers of her group, Colloidal and Interfacial Chemistry of CIBER-BBN and IQAC-CSIC and the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of BarcelonaIn have published the research paper “Versatile Methodology to Encapsulate Gold Nanoparticles in PLGA Nanoparticles Obtained by Nano-Emulsion Templating” in the journal Pharmaceutical Research. The scientists have shown that a novel and very versatile methodology has been developed for the production of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with gold nanoparticles.

In this work, gold-nanoparticles (AuNP) have been encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles using a novel and versatile methodology based on nano-emulsion templating, which has allowed to encapsulate high concentrations of gold nanoparticles (> 100 pM). Polymeric nanoparticles loaded with AuNP with sizes lower than 100 nm have been obtained using this methodology. In addition, a safe and easy methodology for the phase transfer of gold nanoparticles from aqueous to organic solvents has been developed. The biocompatibility of the designed nanoparticles with both cultured cells and erythrocytes has confirmed their suitability to be intravenously administered Therefore, these nanoparticles represent novel advanced imaging systems for biomedical applications.

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New bioadhesive with 3D printing technique to improve pterygium surgery

Dr. José Luis Pedraz, head of Nanobiocel group and Scientific Director of Unit 10 of NANBIOSIS, participates in the public-private collaboration BIOTAPE project that will develop a new bioadhesive for its application in pterygium surgery to improve the currently used surgical techniques in the treatment of this eye disease that affects the conjunctiva and cornea.

The main cause of pterygium is the lack of lubrication of the eye by the tear film. This lack of lubrication may be due to various external factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight, harsh environmental conditions or even allergens, which causes dryness and subsequent irritation in that area. Pterygium grows in the form of fleshy mass on the cornea, being in these cases the application of surgery to extract it. So far the technique with better results is to place a graft of the conjunctiva of the eye itself in the place of removal of the pterygium, fixed by sutures or tissue adhesives.

In the BIOTAPE project, 3D printing technique will be used to manufacture the new bioadhesive that will help reduce the current complications among which we can highlight the high rates of recurrence of the disease, surgical and post-surgical complications and the cosmetic result, not always satisfactory.

The new project, to be developed over the next three years, is funded with a budget of 513,000 euros by the Challenges-Collaboration program of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the participation of three Spanish companies (AJL OPHTALMIC, BRECA Health Care and Bilboftal-ICQO), the University of Miguel Hernández in Elche, CIBER-BBN and unit 10 of NANBIOSIS-ICTS.

“Promover el desarrollo tecnológico, la innovación y la investigación de calidad”

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NANBIOSIS: Platforms of INNOVATION and CIBERSAM

On March 15, Jesús Izco presented NANBIOSIS at the conference organized by CIBERSAM on Therapeutic Innovation.

The event, that took place in the Hospital del Mar of Barcelona, with an audience of about 80 people, was attended by Jesús Izco, coordinator of NANBIOSIS as a guest to talk about Innovation Platforms. Jesús Izco explained the opportunities offered by the ICTS NANBIOSIS as a Platform for Research and Biomedical Innovation, giving examples of private-public collaboration in competitive calls (INNPACTOP, Challenges and H2020) in which NANBIOSIS has participated and explained the design of the new Nanomedicine Cascade Characterization Service, in which NANBIOSIS is working on.

CIBERSAM is the CIBER Scientific Area dedicated to the study of mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and mental disorders of the child and adolescent or therapeutic innovation. Its mission is to provide answers and solutions to better understand the etiophysiopathology of mental disorders, improving the promotion of mental health, prevention and current treatments and thus improve the quality of life of citizens. CIBERSAM’s Therapeutic Innovation program has a long tradition in the identification and development of new therapeutic strategies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.

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Three Scientifics of NANBIOSIS in University of Zaragoza ERC 10 years celebration event

2017 is the year of the X Anniversary of the European Research Council (ERC), created to finance research projects of excellence at the frontier of knowledge of any scientific discipline.

The structure of the ERC consists of an autonomous scientific council made up of 22 distinguished scientists supported by an executive agency that is responsible for implementing the program, organizing the evaluation and managing the aid.

The University of Zaragoza, hosting three units of NANBIOSIS, joined the celebrations with an event that took place on March 15. Among the assistants, three Scientists of NANBIOSIS recognized with ERC:

Jesús Santamaría, Scientific Director of Unit 9 of NANBIOSIS, received an Advanced Grant, on the senior side, with a funding of 1.85 M. for his project Héctor.

Manuel Arruebo, researcher of the group of Nanostructured Films and Particles, coordinator of Unit 9 of NANBIOSIS, obtained the Consolidator Grant endowed with 1.5 M of euros with a Nanobiomedicine project.

Esther Pueyo, researcher of the group BSICoS, coordinator of Unit 27 of NANBIOSIS, obtained an ERC Started Grant for her Modelage project, financed with 1.5 M euros.

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NANBIOSIS by Pablo Laguna in CIBER-BBN Bulletin

Pablo Laguna, Scientific Director of Unit 27 of NANBIOSIS considers the added value offered by the ICTS NANBIOSIS in an interview at February 2017 CIBER-BBN Bulletin.

“The relevance of the ICTS NANBIOSIS is to make available to the entire scientific community of unique infrastructures that are shared and exploited in the most optimal way avoiding redundancies.” – Explains Pablo Laguna – “Having an incentive interaction mechanism, within the same centre, it has been addressed and are tackling challenges and projects with much greater depth, both in the excellence of the research, and in its possibilities of translation to the clinic and industry.”

Pablo Laguna Scientific Director of CIBER-BBN during 2011-2015, played an important role in the creation and impulse of NANBIOSIS, signing a scientific and technological cooperation agreement with Jesus Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Center (JUMISC) in November 2011 that served as the basis for the creation of NANBIOSIS and its incorporation to the Map of Spanish ICTS (Singular Scientific Technological Infrastructures) in 2014.

Laguna also explains for the CIBER-BBN Bulletin the research lines of the BSICoS group, coordinator of unit 27 of NANBIOSIS, which focuses on the search for non-invasive indicators to predict the risk of arrhythmias, modelling and simulation of cardiac electrophysiology, evaluation and quantification of the activity of the autonomic nervous system and the processing and characterization of biomedical signals in respiratory diseases.

To know more

NANBIOSIS by Pablo Laguna in CIBER-BBN Bulletin

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