Seminar at ICMAB highlights SPARTA® technology for high-resolution nanoparticle characterization, advancing nanomedicine research and innovation.
Barcelona, April 2026 — Last April 13, 2026, the Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) hosted a cutting-edge seminar on nanoparticle analysis, featuring Dr. Jelle Penders, CEO of SPARTA Biodiscovery. The event brought together researchers and professionals interested in the latest advances in nanomedicine and materials science.
Titled “From Targeting Moieties to Drug Loading: High Resolution Chemical Profiling of Nanoparticles with SPARTA”, the seminar introduced SPARTA® (Single Particle Automated Raman Trapping Analysis), an innovative technology that enables chemical fingerprinting at the single nanoparticle level. This approach represents a significant leap beyond conventional bulk analysis methods, allowing researchers to better understand the complexity and heterogeneity of nanoformulations.
A new standard in nanoparticle characterisation
During the session, Dr. Penders demonstrated how SPARTA® can be applied to a wide range of nanomaterials, including lipid and polymer nanoparticles (LNPs/PNPs) and extracellular vesicles. Through real-world case studies, attendees learned how the technology can:
- Assess the distribution and heterogeneity of targeting moieties on nanoparticle surfaces
- Quantify drug loading efficiency, distinguishing between loaded and unloaded particles
- Provide detailed chemical profiling to confirm the incorporation of key components
These capabilities are increasingly relevant for both academic and industrial applications, where precise characterisation is essential for drug development, quality control, and regulatory compliance.
Bridging research and innovation
SPARTA® has already seen adoption across academia and industry, accelerating development pipelines and enabling more robust decision-making in nanomedicine. The technology originates from research at Imperial College London, where Dr. Penders completed his PhD under the supervision of leading experts in nanomaterials characterisation.
The seminar was hosted by Dr. Elisabet González Mira, researcher in the NANOMOL-BIO group at ICMAB and Scientific Coordinator of NANBIOSIS Unit 6, as well as Principal Investigator of the Nano4Rare project. The event was organized by the ICMAB Seminars and Training Committee and held both onsite and online, expanding its reach to a broader scientific audience.
NANBIOSIS Unit 6: Advanced materials for health
The seminar aligns with the mission of NANBIOSIS Unit 6, located at ICMAB-CSIC and coordinated by Prof. Nora Ventosa. This Unit specializes in the development, characterisation, and scale-up of molecular biomaterials with applications in biomedicine.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and operating under ISO 9001 quality standards, Unit 6 offers advanced technologies such as the DELOS-SUSP method, a compressed-fluid-based process for producing highly controlled micro- and nanostructured materials. Its unique capability to scale processes from laboratory to industrial levels supports both research and technology transfer.
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).
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