News U25

NANBIOSIS U25 Showcases Innovative MRI Research at the 41st ESMRMB Annual Scientific Meeting in Marseille

NANBIOSIS U25 presented innovative MRI research on CAM cancer models at the ESMRMB 2025 meeting in Marseille, highlighting advances in preclinical imaging.

Marseille, October 2025 — Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS – the Biomedical Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance platform at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) – participated in the 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (ESMRMB), held in Marseille from 9–11 October. The event gathered leading experts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spectroscopy, and biomedical imaging to discuss advances shaping the future of the field.

Unit 25 presented new research on longitudinal MRI in emerging preclinical cancer models, reinforcing its longstanding expertise in advanced NMR-based biomedical applications.

Presentation of Cutting-Edge Research on Novel Preclinical Models

The work, presented on site by Dr. Ana Paula Candiota, Scientific Director of Unit 25, was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Silvia Lope-Piedrafita, Scientific Coordinator of the Unit, and the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute.

The study, accepted as a late abstract, is entitled: “Longitudinal MRI for tumor evaluation in two immunocompetent chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) cancer xenograft models: A Registered Report.”

The research highlights the potential of the CAM model as a novel immunocompetent platform for cancer studies. Despite inherent challenges—such as model size and magnetic susceptibility effects—the preliminary MRI results show strong promise. The study demonstrates that longitudinal MR approaches can effectively monitor tumour progression in CAM xenografts, opening the door to alternative, cost-effective, and ethically favourable preclinical cancer models.

About NANBIOSIS Unit 25: Biomedical Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Unit 25 is inegrated within the Servei de Ressonància Magnètica Nuclear (SeRMN), which provides Nuclear Magnetic Resonance instrumentation and technical support. The Unit, lead by Dr. Ana Paula Candiota, has a recognized record of excellence in applying NMR to biomedical research. This service provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and capabilities, such as 10 spectrometers operating between 5.8 and 14.1 Tesla, including a 7T Bruker BioSpec MRI scanner dedicated to preclinical research.

A unique integrated environment

Unit 25 offers unparalleled access to in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro NMR systems in a single location, along with molecular imaging tools using polarization.

This configuration enables the validation of in vivo molecular imaging results through complementary in vitro analyses, significantly strengthening translational research outcomes.

Strengthening NANBIOSIS Visibility in the European MRI Community

The presence of Unit 25 at ESMRMB 2025 underscores NANBIOSIS’ commitment to supporting cutting-edge biomedical imaging research and fostering high-impact collaborations internationally. The presentation in Marseille further consolidated the Unit’s visibility within the European MRI community and highlighted the relevance of novel preclinical models in advancing cancer 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:

NANBIOSIS Strengthens Internal Collaboration at 2025 Networking Event in Cáceres

NANBIOSIS held its 2025 networking event in Cáceres to boost collaboration among Units in biomaterials, nanomedicine, and biomedical research.

Cáceres, October 2025 — From 22 to 24 October 2025, the Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) NANBIOSIS held its annual internal networking event at the Centro de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión Jesús Usón (CCMIJU) in Cáceres, Spain. The event brought together Unit coordinators, researchers, and technical staff from across Spain to foster collaboration, share scientific progress, and explore new opportunities for joint projects in biomedical research, nanomedicine, and biotechnology.

A meeting to boost collaboration across NANBIOSIS Units

The three-day event was designed to enhance synergy among all the Units that make up NANBIOSIS, a distributed infrastructure offering cutting-edge services for biomaterials, nanomaterials, bioimaging, preclinical validation, and high-performance computing.

The meeting opened on 22 October with a welcome address by the Secretary General for Science of the Junta de Extremadura, who highlighted the strategic importance of research infrastructures like NANBIOSIS for innovation in health technologies. This was followed by an introduction to the initiative “Cutting Edge Biomedical Solutions”, reinforcing the mission of NANBIOSIS to support advanced biomedical development.

That afternoon, participants presented their work grouped under three scientific programmes:

• Programme 1: Production of Biomolecules (Units 1 to 3 and 29)
• Programme 2: Production of Biomaterials and Nanomaterials (Units 6 to 10)
• Programme 5: High-Performance Computing (Unit 27)

The day concluded with a networking session encouraging informal exchanges and inter-Unit dialogue, in the context of the outstanding facilities of CCMIJU, one of the three nodes that form NANBIOSIS.

Guided Tour and Technical Presentations at CCMIJU

On 23 October, participants took part in a guided tour of CCMIJU, visiting the centre’s advanced research facilities in preclinical studies, imaging technologies, and tissue engineering.

After a short coffee break, the morning continued with presentations from Programme 3: Preclinical Validation – Characterisation of Tissues, Biomaterials and Surfaces (Units 12 to 19, and 30). Finally, the last programme was explained that same day in the afternoon, with Programme 4: Preclinical Validation – Bioimaging (Units 20 to 26, and 28).

Similarly to the previous day, throughout the day networking sessions facilitated direct interaction between teams, helping identify new collaboration opportunities across scientific programmes.

To close the technical sessions, participants joined “The NANBIOSIS Contest”, an interactive Kahoot-style quiz promoting engagement and friendly competition. In the evening, a guided cultural visit of Cáceres allowed attendees to explore the historic city’s UNESCO World Heritage old town.

Strengthening the NANBIOSIS Network

The final day, 24 October, saw participants returning to Madrid, concluding an event marked by enthusiasm, collaboration, and a strong sense of community across the infrastructure.

This internal networking event successfully:

• Reinforced communication and coordination among NANBIOSIS Units.
• Promoted awareness of each Unit’s services, equipment, and expertise.
• Laid the groundwork for new interdisciplinary collaborations and new CEBS.
• Highlighted the role of NANBIOSIS as a national and international reference in biomedical innovation and nanotechnology.

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:

Spain-Portugal Collaboration Advances New Preclinical MRI and Machine Learning Research

Dr. Candiota’s visit to I3S strengthens Spain-Portugal collaboration in preclinical MRI, advancing data compatibility and future machine learning studies.

Barcelona-Porto, February 2025. Dr. Ana Paula Candiota, Scientific Director of Unit 25 of NANBIOSIS, is currently undertaking a short scientific stage at the Preclinical MRI Lab of the Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S) at the University of Porto. This initiative highlights the strong international collaboration between Spanish and Portuguese research institutions and is supported by a mobility call from CIBER-BBN.

Dr. Candiota is working alongside Dr. Rui Simões, the current head of the I3S Preclinical MRI Lab and a former member of her research group from 2006 to 2010. Their joint efforts focus on evaluating the compatibility of magnetic resonance (MR) data acquired at different magnetic fields (3T and 7T) and under different Bruker Paravision versions. This work is crucial for integrating data in future studies utilizing machine learning approaches. Complementing this research, the 7T MR dataset will be acquired and completed by the Scientific Coordinator of Unit 25, Dr. Silvia Lope, at our facilities in Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Insternational Collaboration to strengthen NANBIOSIS

This collaboration also plays a strategic role in the ongoing upgrade of the preclinical MR scanner of Unit 25. Notably, the 3T MR equipment at I3S operates under the same Bruker Paravision version that will soon be installed at the NABIOSIS Unit. Dr. Candiota’s stay in Porto will facilitate her familiarization with the new console’s capabilities, ensuring a smoother transition and enhanced research potential at NANBIOSIS.

As part of this international exchange, Dr. Candiota has been invited to deliver a seminar at I3S, fostering further collaborative opportunities between Spain and Portugal in preclinical imaging research. This initiative underscores the importance of cross-border scientific cooperation in advancing biomedical research and technological innovation.

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:

Leadership changes and their new contribution to cutting-edge MRI research

Prof. Ana Paula Candiota and Prof. Silvia Lope-Piedrafita lead NANBIOSIS Unit 25, advancing MRI research and glioblastoma imaging with innovative contrast agents.

Barcelona, December 2024. We are proud to announce that Prof. Ana Paula Candiota has been appointed Scientific Director and Prof. Silvia Lope-Piedrafita has taken on the role of Scientific Coordinator of Unit 25 of our ICTS. This pivotal Unit specializes in NMR and MRI biomedical applications and is jointly managed by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and CIBER-BBN.

Unit 25 has a longstanding reputation for excellence in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research, and the recent publication titled “Synthesis and Relaxivity Study of Amino Acid-Branched Radical Dendrimers as MRI Contrast Agents for Potential Brain Tumor Imaging” exemplifies its capabilities. The study, published last December 2 in the prestigious journal Acta Biomaterialia, highlights the critical role of Unit 25’s advanced MRI technologies in achieving groundbreaking results.

The MRI experiments for this research were conducted on the Unit’s state-of-the-art 7.0 T horizontal bore superconducting magnet (BioSpec 70/30, Bruker BioSpin), equipped with cutting-edge gradient systems (BGA12 gradient coil insert) and custom-designed coils.

Specifically these equipment was used in high-precision in vitro imaging, whole-body MRI of mice, and mouse brain imaging in a key focus area with optimized resolution and sensitivity.

The findings described in this publication underscore the innovative capabilities of Unit 25, particularly in imaging glioblastoma tumors using radical dendrimers. These dendrimers demonstrated selective tumor accumulation and exceptional imaging potential, paving the way for safer and more effective MRI contrast agents.

Recognizing Leadership Excellence

Prof. Ana Paula Candiota and Prof. Silvia Lope-Piedrafita have been integral to the success of Unit 25. Prof. Candiota’s expertise in biomedical imaging and her focus on glioblastoma research have been instrumental in advancing the research portfolio of the Unit. Meanwhile, Dr. Lope-Piedrafita’s contributions to experimental MRI protocols and her collaborative efforts have enhanced the technical and operational excellence of our Unit.

Their leadership positions mark a new era for Unit 25, ensuring continued contributions to biomedical research and collaborations with academic and industry partners.

About NANBIOSIS Unit 25

Unit 25 is part of NANBIOSIS-ICTS, and serves as a hub for cutting-edge MRI technologies for academic and industrial applications. The facilities and expertise within this Unit are available to researchers and companies worldwide, offering services ranging from preclinical imaging studies to the validation of results of molecular imaging with other facilities.

This new leadership reinforces NANBIOSIS mission to deliver world-class scientific support and innovative solutions for the biomedical community.

For further information of our services or collaboration opportunities, visit Unit 25 porfolio here.

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:

Latest breakthroughs in pulmonary drug delivery and cancer research at NANBIOSIS

On World Pharmacists’ Day, NANBIOSIS Units highlighted for breakthroughs in pulmonary drug delivery and cancer research, advancing treatments for respiratory diseases and brain cancer.

Barcelona and Zaragoza, September 2024. On World Pharmacists Day, we celebrate the vital contributions pharmacists make, not only in patient care but also in groundbreaking research that is shaping the future of healthcare. This year 2024, we want to give this significant date a little twist: by showcasing a few examples of how our Units are contributing to healthcare and new pharmaceutical approaches. Two key NANBIOSIS units —Unit 9 and Unit 25— are at the forefront of said scientific advancements, offering promising solutions for respiratory diseases and cancer treatments.

Innovative pulmonary drug delivery

One of the most appealing means to treat respiratory diseases is the delivery directly into the lungs by the use of aerosols containing the drug. This allows having a highly concentrated drug dose in the affected tissue, without exposing the rest of the body to it. However, when done as a dry aerosol powder, this strategy suffers an important drawback: the difficult dispersion of solid particles whose sizes are in the micron or even nanometric scale, which tend to form clusters and larger structures and thus hindering the delivery. And this is where Unit 9 comes to play.

In collaboration with the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR), our researchers M. Pilar Lobera, Jesús Santamaría and their coworkers, have made remarkable strides in improving this type of pulmonary drug delivery. They have developed an advanced aerosol generator that addresses key limitations in traditional inhalers, including inconsistent dosing and poor control of particle size.

“All nanoparticles used in the validation of this method of aerosolization were synthesized by Unit 9, using coprecipitation, microfluidics or electro-spraying methods.”

— M. Pilar Lobera

This aerosol generator delivers highly dispersed particles directly to the alveoli, the deepest part of the lungs where drug absorption is most effective. The technology offers several crucial benefits:

• Precise particle control for targeted lung delivery, free of aggregates.
• Improved bioavailability, ensuring more effective treatment targeting the alveoli and other targeted regions within the lungs.
• Reproducible dosing across different patients, regardless of how damaged is their lung function.

These advances have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer. Capable of aerosolizing a wide range of particles containing diverse biomolecules, including proteins and peptides, the device also shows promise for inhaled vaccines.

In testing, the device achieved a fourfold increase in alveolar deposition compared to current inhalers, with 99% of particles sized optimally for deep lung delivery, all the way into the alveoli. This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in making inhaled therapies more effective and accessible for patients.

Advancing cancer research

Meanwhile, at NANBIOSIS Unit 25, located at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), researchers are pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment through cutting-edge imaging technologies. Ana Paula Candiota explains to us how their Bruker 7T MRI/MRS/MRSI preclinical scanner allows scientists to noninvasively monitor cancer progression in live animal models. This is particularly interesting in orthotopic models, where tumors grow in their natural location. This technology is crucial for accurately assessing the efficacy of new cancer drugs over time, offering an advantage over traditional subcutaneous models.

One of the standout projects at Unit 25 involved testing a novel treatment for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. Researchers used intranasally administered Catechol-Based Pt(IV) Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles encapsulating cisplatin. This innovative approach reduced the drug’s toxicity while maintaining its effectiveness, showing great promise for noninvasive cancer therapies.

“The encapsulation aimed to reduce cisplatin’s toxicity, and the study yielded promising results.”

— Ana Paula Candiota

The work being done at Unit 25 highlights the importance of advanced technology and collaboration in the fight against cancer. By enabling more precise evaluation of drug effectiveness and reducing harmful side effects, these innovations bring us closer to more targeted, patient-friendly treatments.

For more information about this research, see the original article here: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12071221

Celebrating Pharmacists’ impact on research and healthcare

The groundbreaking research taking place at NANBIOSIS Units 9 and 25 reminds us of the essential role pharmacists play, not only in providing care but also in driving medical innovation. Whether that means improving drug delivery systems for respiratory diseases or developing noninvasive cancer treatments, their work is shaping a healthier future for all.

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: