A study led by the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia demonstrates that laminin, a protein present in breast tissues, prevents the effects of stiffening, protecting cells against tumor growth. While the mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro, persuasive indications suggest its potential applicability in vivo, as observed in patient samples.
On World Embryologist Day, the HYLIGHT project stands out as a powerful technology that will boost the field of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) by facilitating the selection of embryos with … Read more
IBEC researchers uncover how mechanical forces disrupt the circadian clock in cells, the mechanism governing daily physiological changes. The finding may help to better understand aging and specific diseases, like … Read more
Researchers from the IBEC and the University of Barcelona (UB) have identified new biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer, the most common lung cancer. The results, published in the journal Modern … Read more
One of the great challenges in the fight against cancer is to design new technologies for a personalized treatment for each patient. Depending on the molecular characteristics —DNA mutations for instance— of each tumour, precision medicine aims to make it easier for cancer patients, both adult and paediatric, to receive a personalized treatment that is appropriate to their pathology. But is it possible to know whether or not a patient can benefit from a treatment before starting therapy?
A study led by the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) describes the development of an organ-on-a-chip that mimics the human blood-brain barrier. With this system, researchers can study the barrier permeability to different drugs and screen the most effective ones, avoiding animal tests. The device could also incorporate cells from patients to make a personalized study of the disease.
A recent IBEC study has described how cells contact guidance is not only topography-dependent but also affected by the stiffness of the environment. The work highlights the importance of considering … Read more
Chronic wounds are a challenge for microbiologists due to biofilms, complex structures where bacteria protect themselves from antibiotics, preventing infections from being treated effectively. A research team led by the … Read more
Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the University of Barcelona (UB) uncovered a similarity between liquid droplets and cell groups, revealing that surface tension helps cells to … Read more
A team of experts led by Jordi Alcaraz, professor at the UB and associated researcher at IBEC, found a mechanism of recruitment for tumour-associated cells (cancer-associated fibroblasts or CAFs) which are essential … Read more