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Research news

Under pressure: when tension builds up, the nucleus escapes

Researchers at IBEC have discovered that epithelial tissues adapt to prolonged stretching by slowly reorganising their keratin cytoskeleton into large multicellular networks. Using advanced live imaging, engineered tissue models and computational simulations, the team found that this process eventually pushes the cell nucleus out of its surrounding keratin cage. The findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism by which tissues respond to sustained mechanical stress, with potential implications for development, organ physiology and diseases linked to defective keratin organisation.

IBEC-led consortium develops light-activated drugs that restore sight in blind mice

A consortium led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) developed this approach based on photopharmacology, a technique to reversibly control drug activity with light. The newly developed compounds, called prosthe6, mimic the function of photoreceptor cells, which degenerate in blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). These photoswitchable molecules show preliminary safety profiles and represent potential drug candidates for restoring vision in patients with degenerative retinal diseases, without the need for genetic manipulation or implanted devices.

New study reveals how protein behaviour drives blood–brain barrier specialization

The research, led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, reveals that the blood–brain barrier is defined not only by the proteins it expresses, but by how it uses them, through a dynamic property known as endocytic turnover rate (ETOR). This discovery shows that brain endothelial cells have a unique molecular behaviour that distinguishes them from other blood vessels and can be disrupted during inflammation. The results provide new insight into how the barrier functions and fails in disease which may help identify novel therapeutic strategies to restore neurovascular health.

How cells decide when to react could shape future treatments for cancer and fibrosis

Scientists from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and King’s College London have discovered that cells do not just sense mechanical forces but also measure how long those forces last before responding. The findings, published in Nature Materials, reveal a timing mechanism that allows cells to ignore brief mechanical noise while reacting to sustained changes, a process that is crucial in diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.

Scientists create living tissues capable of changing shape in a programmed manner

Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering for Catalonia (IBEC), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) have developed a new strategy for ‘programming’ the shape of biological tissues in vitro. The study, published in the journal Science, is the first to demonstrate that it is possible to guide the forces and final shape of living tissue by controlling the orientation of its cells. The research opens the door to new applications in tissue engineering, biohybrid robotics, and the design of smart living materials.

An unprecedented mutation map reveals how amylin mutations influence type 2 diabetes

A study by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has created a mutational map of the hormone amylin, the aggregation of which can damage pancreatic cells and lead to type 2 diabetes. The team analysed 1,916 variants of the protein and compared the results of this mutational map with genetic and clinical data from 500,000 individuals. The study, published in Nature Communications, sheds new light on the role of genetics in diabetes and could lead to the development of safer and more effective drugs.

New insights into how bacteria control DNA synthesis open the door to next‑generation antimicrobials 

A study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB) provides the most detailed picture to date of NrdR — the master regulator of ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) in bacteria. Researchers obtained the first detailed images of the complete NrdR protein structure and showed how changes in the shape and grouping of this protein affect the way it controls key processes inside the cell. The findings, recently published in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, increase our understanding of how bacteria regulate the production of the molecular building blocks of DNA, a crucial aspect for both fundamental microbiology and the development of new antimicrobial strategies.

A biological material that becomes stronger when wet could replace plastics 

A new study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has unveiled the first biomaterial that is not only waterproof but actually becomes stronger in contact with water. The material is produced by the incorporation of nickel into the structure of chitosan, a chitinous polymer obtained from discarded shrimp shells. The development of this new biomaterial, published in Nature Communications, marks a departure from the plastic-age mindset of making materials that must isolate from their environment to perform well. Instead, it shows how sustainable materials can connect and leverage their environment, using their surrounding water to achieve mechanical performance that surpasses common plastics.

Mobile technology revolutionises the diagnosis of sleep apnoea after a stroke 

A research team led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has developed an innovative, portable, smartphone-based system for assessing sleep apnoea in individuals with different health conditions. The study, published in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, in collaboration with the Guttmann Institute, shows that this technology can facilitate the early detection of a common but underdiagnosed disorder, which negatively impacts the recovery and rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke.