Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration - Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

ABOUT

The main goal of our group is to develop rationally tuned biomaterials with the necessary signals to promote spinal cord tissue regeneration and function recovery.

The injured spinal cord fails to regenerate because:

1) Cellular “bridges” that can support axonal regeneration do not form naturally at an SCI lesion site.
2) Growth factors are not produced in the injured spinal cord to stimulate regeneration.
3) Injured CNS neurons do not fully express a “growth program” to recruit new regeneration.
4) The environment of the injured adult spinal cord inhibits regeneration due to the presence of inhibitory extracellular matrix molecules that form around the injury site and due to the presence of inhibitory proteins on adult myelin that block regeneration.

To produce new biomaterials and study cell-biomaterial interactions in a more physiological environment and in a high-throughput manner.

Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal development and regeneration and to use this knowledge to develop translational approaches for repairing injured central nervous system (CNS) circuits. Our current research efforts are focused on a range of topics from basic discovery of ECM molecules that inhibit axon regeneration to late-stage rodent studies leading to human translation.

Our experimental techniques include cell biology, biomaterials simulation, design, synthesis and 3D printing fabrication, proteomics, in vitro assays, in vivo rodent models of SCI, electrophysiology, and behavior.

STAFF

Staff members

Samuel I. Stupp

Severo Ochoa Distinguished Professor

sstupp

ibecbarcelona.eu

Researcher profile

Coloroso , Dakota

Cuenca Medina, Marta

Ortega Cano, Juan Alberto

Rodríguez González, Susana

Sanz Gistau, Irene

Soares de Aguiar, Gisele Priscila

Stupp , Samuel I.

Vilche Mariscal, Anna

Álvarez Pinto, Zaida

PROJECTS

PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
Peptide amphiphile Scaffolds as a Therapeutic Target for Spinal Cord Injury Repair (2022-2025)	Northwestern University. Project Number: L31CVNORTHU.	Zaida Álvarez

NATIONAL PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
MobiHydroSpine · Hidrogeles móviles para la mejora de la bioactividad de células progenitoras neurales humanas para la reparación de lesiones Medulares (2022-2025)	MICIU. Generación Conocimiento: Proyectos I+D PID2021-124839OA-I00.	Zaida Álvarez
3D printed ECM constructs as therapies to repair the injured spinal cord (2022)	Mike Lane-Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia.	Zaida Álvarez

PUBLICATIONS

EQUIPMENT

IH-0415 IMPACTOR Mouse/Rat
DigiGait Imaging System – Mouse Only with Incline
WPI Stereotaxic for mice, Digi and Portable, SGL M
Electrode Manipulator without 1770 holder
UltraMicro Pump and SmartTouch Controller
Solo Controller with 50mm Single Axis
Manipulator Adapter for Stoelting stereotaxic
Rod Holder For Motorized Manipulator
Impresora 3D Anycubic Photon M3 Premium

COLLABORATIONS

Aitziber López Cortajarena
CICbiomagune
Juan Alberto Ortega
Universitat de Barcelona
Evangelos Kiskinis
Northwestern University
Ivan R. Sasselli
CSIC
Maria Luisa Garcia Lopez
Universitat de Barcelona

NEWS

Coinciding with the celebration of 11 February, the Day of Girls and Women in Science, Nuria Montserrat is one of the three protagonists of the Constantes y Vitales campaign entitled … Read more

Feb 11, 2023

IBEC researchers highlight the role of women in science in different media

Coinciding with the celebration of 11 February, the Day of Girls and Women in Science, Nuria Montserrat is one of the three protagonists of the Constantes y Vitales campaign entitled … Read more

IBEC researcher Zaida Álvarez and UB researcher Alberto Ortega have produced the first highly mature neurons grown in the lab from pluripotent stem cells using a synthetic matrix. Until now, … Read more

Jan 13, 2023