Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

Online IBEC Seminar: Samuel Sánchez
2020-04-28 16:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Madrid)
BioEngineering Hybrid Robotic Machines: from nanobots to 3D Bioprinted Robots

Samuel Sánchez , IBEC
The combination of biological components and artificial ones emerges into what we called hybrid machines/bots/robots. Here, I will present two types of hybrid systems that we are currently developing in our lab which span across different length scales, from a few nanometers to centimeters.
Alike bacteria or small swimmers found in nature, these artificial nanobots convert bio-available fuels to generate propulsion force to swim at the nanoscale. One of the dreams in nanotechnology is to engineer small vehicles which can eventually be applied in vivo for medical purposes. In the first part of my talk, I will present how we bioengineer our hybrid nanobots combining the best from the two worlds: biology (enzymes) and (nano)technology (nano- micro-particles) providing swimming capabilities, biocompatibility, remote control, multifunctionality and actuation. I will present some of the proof-of-concept applications such as the efficient transport of drugs into cancer cells and spheroids, sensing capabilities and the use of molecular imaging techniques for their tracking and localization both in vitro and in vivo.
In the second part of my talk, I will present the 3D bioprinting technique to fabricate hybrid 3D BIOBOTS which provides flexibility, scalability, rapid prototyping and simplicity. This technique has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of functional three-dimensional tissues and, in particular, skeletal muscle. By electrical stimulation, we studied the adaptability of 3D hybrid Robots after long-term trainings and the force evolution during the trainings together with the dynamic gene expression. Two types of devices are bioengineered in our lab: (i) 3D Actuators which useful force measurement platform for drug screening against dystrophies and (ii) 3D BIOBOTS that can be a next generation of living soft robotics systems with swimming capabilities.
The seminar will take place online at the GoToMeeting Platform
Know more about Samuel Sánchez’s research here

Online IBEC Seminar: Lorenzo Albertazzi
2020-04-21 16:00 - 17:00
A super-resolved look at nanomedicine

Lorenzo Albertazzi , IBEC
Nanomaterials revolutionized the field of biomedicine introducing innovative approaches towards drug delivery, molecular imaging, regenerative medicine and biosensing. However, despite the large investments in nanotechnology the translation into clinical applications is still unsatisfactory. One of the main reasons is the lack of knowledge about the behavior of nanostructures in the biological environment that makes the rational design of effective materials extremely challenging.
The main aim of our group is to use advanced microscopy techniques to understand the interactions of nanomaterials with living matter and to exploit this information to design novel devices for biomedical applications with a particular focus on drug delivery. To this goal we employ innovative optical imaging techniques such as super resolution microscopy to visualize and understand the molecular interactions of nanomaterials with their cellular targets in unprecedented detail. Super resolution microscopy techniques such as stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT) offer nanometric resolution and multicolor ability, therefore they are ideal tools to study nano-sized multicomponent functional objects in vitro and in cells. This allows to get a closer “look” at the mechanisms of the key phenomena responsible for device performances such as particle stability, protein corona and targeting. The fundamental knowledge acquired will pave the way towards the “microscopy-guided” design of novel nanomaterials for drug and gene delivery.
The seminar will take place online at the GoToMeeting Platform
Know more about Lorenzo Albertazzi’s research here

Online IBEC Seminar: Javier Ramón
2020-04-17 10:00 - 12:00
Bioprinting methods for organ-on-a-chip applications

Javier Ramón , IBEC
Engineered tissues in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platforms that resemble the complex native structure and organization can be used as in vitro models to study tissues physiology and metabolism. Our technology allows us to develop a new platform to model metabolic and muscle diseases in vitro in order to study its response to candidate therapeutics and to better understand disease mechanisms of pathogenesis. To this end, we monitor the secretion of disease-associated biomarker proteins and metabolites.
Here, we present 3D skeletal muscle constructs, fabricated by encapsulating C2C12 cells and pancreatic mouse islets in a photocrosslinkable Gelatin Methacrylate (GelMA) and Carboxymethylcellulose Methacrylate (GelMA:CMCMA) hydrogel and cryogel scaffolds. These scaffolds present a microgrooved topography that promotes cell alignment and differentiation. These 3D tissues are integrated with biosensors for in situ monitorization of cytokines and hormones released under different external stimuli, toxins, drugs or electrical stimulation.
We have obtained a new platform to study the evolution of congenital muscle diseases, specifically myotonic dystrophy 1 and evaluate the functional tissues by metabolic and gene expression analysis. Monitor the secretion of biomarkers proteins, metabolites, and the glycolysis pathway of muscle tissues for different drug candidates. Discussion: This platform has been tested with different drugs assays and represent a step toward the goal of producing in vitro drug testing systems for medical and pharmaceutical industry applications. Finally, such “multi tissue-on-a-chip” devices can be fabricated using patient’s own cells as a major step toward personalized medicine.
The seminar will take place online at the GoToMeeting Platform
Know more about Javier Ramón’s research here

Visita/Taller
2020-03-05 10:00 - 13:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Mecanobiologia : les cèl·lules fan forces
El cos humà està constantment sotmès a forces físiques; quan et fas una ferida, les cèl·lules del teixit circumdant apliquen forces per sanar l’àrea danyada. De la mateixa manera, les cèl·lules canceroses apliquen forces per escampar-se a altres parts sanes del cos en forma de metàstasi.
Els investigadors de l’IBEC utilitzen les eines, tecnologies i tècniques de la bioenginyeria per comprendre el comportament mecànic de les cèl·lules i les seves interaccions amb el microentorn, així com els mecanismes dinàmics que intervenen en la cicatrització de teixits, la morfogènesi i la invasió cel·lular col·lectiva en el càncer.
En aquest taller els estudiants coneixeran els darrers avenços en mecanobiologia de la mà d’investigadors del nostre centre. A més, podran posar en pràctica alguns dels principis d’aquesta jove disciplina.
Escola: IPSE

PhD Discussions Sessions: Xarxa Quiroga and Adrián López
2020-02-28 10:00 - 12:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Biochemical responses to cell membrane mechanical remodelling
Xarxa Quiroga, Cellular and molecular mechanobiology
In a range of physiological processes, from extravasation to endocytosis, cells are constantly submitted to morphological changes, which eventually entail plasma membrane reshaping and adaptation. This remodelling could be harnessed by cells to detect and respond to shape changes, enabling mechanosensing mechanisms. However, how this occurs is still largely unknown.
To increase our understanding on how such process can happen, we have engineered a cell-stretching system that allows us to induce controlled plasma membrane remodelling while monitoring the whole process with the help of a microscope.
By using this set up, we have found that cell de-stretch triggers the formation of transient membrane evaginations whose resorption is actively regulated by BAR protein recruitment and actin polymerisation. The described process may be the first part of a molecular cascade used by cells in response to stretch.

Development of Microphysiological Systems for the Evaluation of Regenerative Therapies
Adrián López, Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies
The modelling of human organs has long been a task for scientist in order to lower the costs of therapeutic development and understand the pathological onset of human disease. Animal models remain the gold standard for drug discovery, despite their widely recognized limitations such as their marked differences with humans in terms of genetics and etiology or their high cost.
During the last decade, the advancements in tissue engineering and microfabrication gave rise to innovative models known as organs-on-a-chip or microphysiological systems, which aim to build functional miniaturized tissues in vitro that closely mimic the actual in vivo microenvironment. In this work, we will present two microphysiological platforms that we are developing with the goal of understanding and evaluating biomaterial-based regenerative therapies. The first model is aimed at replicating the bone healing microenvironment to evaluate the angiogenic potential of calcium-releasing scaffolds. The second model will be focused on the generation of an ischemic injury on a physiologically relevant cardiac tissue to test if lactate-releasing scaffolds are able to stimulate cardiac tissue regeneration.

NANO Rare Disease Day 2020
2020-02-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Auditori J. Plaza, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08950 , Spain
Nano Rare Diseases Day es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial de las Enfermedades Minoritarias donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de Nanomedicina para el tratamiento y diagnóstico de dichas enfermedades, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o el desarrollo de nuevas terapias
Durante esta jornada, expertos en Nanomedicina de diferentes campos -investigación, empresa, práctica clínica, autoridades sanitarias, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la Nanomedicina significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades minoritarias.
Inscripciones abiertas

NANO Rare Disease Day 2020
2020-02-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Auditori J. Plaza, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08950 , Spain
Nano Rare Diseases Day es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial de las Enfermedades Minoritarias donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de Nanomedicina para el tratamiento y diagnóstico de dichas enfermedades, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o el desarrollo de nuevas terapia
Durante esta jornada, expertos en Nanomedicina de diferentes campos -investigación, empresa, práctica clínica, autoridades sanitarias, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la Nanomedicina significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades minoritarias.
Inscripciones abiertas

Taula rodona: el futur dels transplantaments
2020-02-27 08:00 - 17:00
Javier Ramón participará a la taula rodona: quin és el futur dels transplantaments?
Organitzat pel màster de comunicació científica, mèdica i ambiental de la UPF-BSM.

Taula rodona: el futur dels transplantaments
2020-02-26 18:30 - 20:00 | UPF-BSM, Calle Balmes 132 , Barcelona, 08008

PhD Thesis Defence: Martí Checa
2020-02-24 11:30 - 13:30 | Eduard Fontseré – Facultat de Física de la UB
A Novel Scanning Probe Microscopy technique to study the nanoscale electrical properties of cells
Martí Checa, Nanoscale bioelectrical characterization group
The goal of this work of thesis is the study of electrical properties in cells. That is the study of how they can conduct electricity, accumulate charges, or polarize. Experimental techniques able to measure electrical properties of complex heterogeneous samples (like cells) with excellent spatial resolution are needed to accomplish such characterization at the single-cell level (microscale) or even at the subcellular level (nanoscale). During this work of thesis, a new experimental technique named “Scanning Dielectric Force Volume Microscopy (SDFVM)” has been developed together with the theoretical modeling for its understanding when operated in a liquid environment.
The technique has been validated with known samples (both in dry and liquid) and applied to many different nanometric systems of interest. The first full map of the local dielectric constant of a prokaryotic cell in dry conditions has been obtained with unparalleled accuracy and spatial resolution, demonstrating its capability for label-free composition and structural mapping. Moreover, the method has been applied to liquid environment, obtaining the first-ever local dielectric contrast in fixed eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, the first preliminary results in living cells have also been shown. SDFVM is expected to have an important impact not only in Life Sciences but also in Material Science, where the mapping of the dielectric properties of samples showing complex nanoscale topographies is often needed.

IBEC Seminar: Marc Vendrell
2020-02-14 10:00 - 17:00, 2020-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Translational chemistry, optical imaging and precision medicine
Marc Vendrell , University of Edinburgh
Optical imaging has revolutionised our understanding of how biological systems behave at the molecular level. In the last years, my group has developed dynamic activatable fluorophores (DYNAFLUORS) as chemical tools to image the function and activity of immune cells in disease. We have used the probes to interrogate the dynamics of biology in real time and also translated some of them for clinical applications, including first-in-human studies. My group is currently focused on creating new probes that can help us understand the roles that specific subsets of immune cells play in the tumour microenvironment and improve personalised therapeutic approaches.
Group website: www.dynafluors.co.uk
Marc Vendrell graduated in Chemistry at the University of Barcelona in 2007. He then joined the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium to work with Young-Tae Chang in the design of synthetic fluorophores for optical imaging. In 2012 he started his independent career as an MRC Academic Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and is now a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Imaging. He has over 90 publications, including 11 patents with multiple fluorescent probes being commercialised by Merck and Biolegend and some currently undergoing clinical studies. His research has been recognised with several international awards and distinctions, including an ERC Consolidator Grant (2017), the Marcial Moreno Lectureship (2018) and the SRUK Emerging Talent Award (2019).
He has been invited to Sílvia Pujals and Lorenzo Albertazzi

100tífiques
2020-02-11 08:00 - 17:00 | IBEC, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
On the occasion of the International Day of Woman and Girls in Science researchers from IBEC went to different catalan schools to give a presentation of women in science to encourage all kids to study STEAM digrees.
Furthermore, as IBEC has a partnership with the elementary school “Escola Gayarre” within the frame of the “Magnet Projects” some of our researchers visited their classrooms and also gave an oran exposition of women in science.

100tífiques
2020-02-11 08:00 - 17:00
Amb motiu del Dia Internacional de la Dona i la Nena en Ciència, investigadores de l’IBEC van anar a diferents escoles catalanes per fer una presentació sobre dones i ciència per animar als alumnes a estudiar carreres STEAM.
A més, com l’IBEC té una col·laboració amb l’ “Escola Gayarre” en el marc del Projecte Magnet, alguns dels nostres investigadors van visitar les seves aules per parlar també sobre dones i ciència.

EMBL·IBEC Winter Conference #EIWC20
2020-02-10 08:30 - 2020-02-12 13:30 | La Pedrera
ENGINEERING MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS
Recent breakthroughs in stem cell biology, organ-on-chip assays, 3-D bioprinting, and cell mechanobiology have revolutionized our ability to design and assemble multicellular living systems, from organoids to embryos

This conference will focus on how engineering multicellular living systems is boosting our understanding of tissue and organ function, with applications in disease modelling, drug screening, and tissue engineering.
The conference will take place in La Pedrera Auditorium, one of Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces in Barcelona from 10-12th February 2020. We expect to bring together 150 researchers including stem cell biologists, systems biologists, physicists and engineers.

IBEC Seminar: Gema Esquiva
2020-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Alteraciones en el sistema melanopsínico en la retinosis pigmentaria y durante el proceso de envejecimiento
Gema Esquiva , Universitat d’Alacant
La retinosis pigmentaria es la degeneración hereditaria de la retina más frecuente, siendo la cuarta causa de ceguera en el mundo. Además, en esta enfermedad, se producen alteraciones en los ritmos circadianos, esenciales para llevar una vida saludable, ya que estas alteraciones se relacionan con aumento en el estrés, insomnio, depresión y muchas otras patologías. La regulación de los ritmos circadianos se lleva a cabo a través de un tipo de células ganglionares de la retina, las células melanopsínicas.
En este trabajo se describen los diferentes tipos de células ganglionares melanopsínicas en la retina humana, en la retina de rata y en un modelo animal de retinosis pigmentaria. Además, evaluamos los cambios morfológicos y de densidad producidos en estas células, y estudiamos los efectos producidos en los patrones circadianos durante la progresiva degeneración retiniana que ocurre en esta enfermedad. También evaluamos el efecto neuroprotector de la administración de melatonina exógena.
El estudio morfológico de la retina en estos animales puso de manifiesto la existencia de 3 tipos de células melanopsínicas en rata de las cuales únicamente dos habían sido descritas hasta el momento. Por otro lado, observamos una disminución y degeneración de estas células, asociada a la retinosis pigmentaria y al envejecimiento.
Los resultados obtenidos mediante técnicas electrorretinográficas y mediante los registros de temperatura corporal y de actividad locomotora desvelaron que los animales modelo de retinosis pigmentaria tenían menor respuesta visual y una alteración de los ritmos circadianos. Los animales modelo de retinosis pigmentaria tratados con melatonina mostraron mayor respuesta visual y mejor regulación de los ritmos circadianos que los animales modelo sin tratar.
Estos resultados indican que en modelos de retinosis pigmentaria la degeneración de los fotorreceptores clásicos se acompaña de un proceso de remodelación de la retina interna que afecta al sistema melanopsínico. Deducimos que la alteración en los ritmos circadianos se manifiesta a partir de las alteraciones observadas en la densidad y en los procesos dendríticos de las células ganglionares melanopsínicas. En este sentido, la melatonina ejerce un efecto neuroprotector sobre los fotorreceptores en degeneración, conos, bastones y células melanopsínicas de la retina. Por otro lado, tras el estudio de las retinas humanas concluimos que el envejecimiento se asocia con una pérdida de densidad y arborización dendrítica de las células melanopsínicas lo que posiblemente explica la aparición más frecuente de trastornos del ritmo circadiano en personas de edad avanzada.
Ha sido invitada al IBEC por Pau Gorostiza
