U20. In Vivo Experimental Platform

U20. In Vivo Experimental Platform

• Scientific Director: Prof. Simó Schwartz Jr. simo.schwartz@vhir.org
• Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Ibane Abasolo ibane.abasolo@vhir.org
• Entities: Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR)
• Address: Passeig Vall d’Hebron , 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
• Phone: +34 934 893 000 ext 3375
• Web: CIBBIM-Nanomedicine & VHIR/FVPR

U.20-Experiment in VIVO IVIS

U.20-MacroFluo

U.20- In vivo monitoring by bioluminescence and fluorescente imaging

Description

Located at the Valld’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) in Barcelona, U20 In vivo Experimental Platform has three different sections, a Molecular Imaging section for in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro imaging studies (fluorescence, bioluminescence and X-rays), a preclinical animal model section and a preclinical histology section. All three sections are included within the Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR) of CIBBIM-Nanomedicine.

This unit is leadedby Dr. Ibane Abasolo (Head of FVPR) and supervised by the directorof CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Dr. Simó Schwartz Jr. Its mission is to offer products and services for the preclinical proof-of-concept validation of therapeutic compounds and biomarkers with potential clinical applications. One of the distinguishing features of this unit is that basic preclinical studies including toxicology, histopathology and efficacy treatments are complemented with non-invasive optical imaging technologies. In vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging allows monitoring of living mice longitudinally, offering real time insight into treatment efficacy, whole-body biodistribution and target mechanisms. Although in Spain there are other institutions with similar equipment, this is the only case in which imaging services can be combined with specifically devoted animal models.

News U20

20 Mar

Extracellular vesicles as vehicles for therapeutic enzymes in lysosomal deposition diseases

Researchers of two CIBER-BBN units of the ICTS (Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures) NANBIOSIS, led by Ibane Abasolo the U20 located in the VHIR and the U6 in ICMAB-CSIC have participated in a study to improve the treatment of lysosomal disorders. In recent years, enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) based on the systemic administration of a functional version of the defective enzyme have gained clinical relevance as a treatment for lysosomal storage disorders (LSD). However, the systemic administration of these recombinant enzymes has negative aspects, such as their low stability and inadequate distribution to the affected organs that result in a[...]

10 Mar

Simo Schwartz: new General Director of the Bank of Blood and Tissues of Catalonia.

Simó Schwartz Jr., Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS Unit 20 In Vivo Experimental Platform has been appointed as the new general director of the Bank of Blood and Tissues of Catalonia, replacing Enric Argelagués, who is leaving his post after 17 years as director. Argelagués was the promoter of the unification of blood banks that began in the eighties and culminated in the current Bank of Blood and Tissues of Catalonia. Simó Schwartz now assumes the executive management of the organization, which currently has more than 800 workers and its mission is to ensure that all people in Catalonia have t[...]

26 Feb

A more effective nanomedicine has been developed for the treatment of Fabry rare disease.

28 February: International Rare Disease Day This is one of the major achievements of the European Smart4Fabry project, which is now coming to an end after four years of work.The results have been made possible by nanotechnology and the approach developed could be applied to other drugs in the future.The new drug improves on current treatments and helps reduce costs and improve patients’ quality of life. Barcelona, 26 February 2021.- The advance of nanomedicine opens up new possibilities in the development of drugs, such as the one recently developed for the rare disease Fabry, with improved efficacy compared to existing[...]

11 Feb

NANBIOSIS Scientific Women in the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Today February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day to raise awareness of the gender gap in science and technology. According to the United Nations, while yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science, science and gender equality are vital to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thus, in recent years, the international community has made a great effort to inspire and promote the participation of women and girls in science. NANBIOSIS wants to acknowledge  the efforts made by scientific women who struggle every day to contribut[...]

04 Feb

Nanoparticles to eradicate Cancer Stem Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a high prevalence worldwide and resistance to conventional chemotherapies and tumor relapse are usually related with a population of cells with malignant properties – Cancer Stem Cells (CSC). Scientists of CIBER-BBN and VHIR have led a research with the goal not only to treat the primary CRC, but also eradicate CSC. For both purposes, the use of nanoparticles (NP) is a useful strategy. These “bullets” carrying a drug in its core, are able to reach tumor tissue due to its small size. Cancer cells, and in particular CSC, present at their surface receptors that could be specifically recognized[...]

31 Jan

New spin off of VHIR “BSURE Medical” led by Simó Schwartz (NANBIOSIS U20)

Dr. Simó Schwartz, Scientific Director of NANBIOSIS U20 and head of the “Drug Delivery and Targeting group” of CIBER-BBN and VHIR, toghether with Dr. Jaume Alijotas (VHIR), have promoted the creation of the Spin-off ·BSURE Medical· for the devlopment of products and services for the diagnosis, prevention and consultation of aspects related to treatments with all types of bioimplants. One of the objectives of the Drug Delivery and Targeting group is to carry out preclinical studies to determine the effects and toxicities of drug delivery systems, cell therapies and biomaterials. Studies chace been carried out through the Nanbiosis unit U20,[...]

27 Jan

Smart-4-Fabry final workshop

Next Wedneday, February 3, 2021 will take place the on-line event Smart-4-Fabry Final Workshop.   Smart-4-Fabry is a european project, coordinated by CIBER-BBN wich has been developed during four years. This project is a sign of cooperation at European level to boost nanomedicine development and translation to clinical stages. This project is also a clear example of the relevance of access to advanced research infrastructures as NANBIOSIS -ICTS. Four NANBIOSIS units have collaborated and contributed to Smart-4-Fabry development: U1 Protein Production Platform (PPP) at IBB-UABU3 Synthesis of Peptides Unit at IQAC-CSICU6 Biomaterial Processing and Nanostructuring Unit at ICMAB-CSICU20 In Vivo[...]

20 Jan

New patented peptide to allows the faster internalization of drugs within cells and the design of more effective therapeutic nanoconjugates

Researchers of NANBIOSIS Unit 20 In vivo Experimental Platform of CIBER-BBN and Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) have patented a peptide that, in comparison to the current standard treatment, is much faster, internalizes much more, and does not cause any toxicity. The membrane of a cell is an effective barrier that hinders the targeted delivery of molecules, such as therapeutic compounds. During the last years, several strategies have been developed to get the molecules into the cell interior but, in general, the methods developed still show a low efficacy and / or toxicity. “The use of therapeutic nanoconjugates such as[...]