About
The “Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering” group is a multidisciplinary research group focussing its research activities on the development and application of new artificial systems that mimic tissue micro and nanofeatures for biomimetic in vitro assays.
The use of more biomimetic and complex 3D models in in vitro assays is now a hot and extremely relevant topic.
“Flat biology” results are questioned when being transferred to in vivo, while the pressure to decrease animal testing continues increasing. As a group of engineering providers working in the biotechnological field, we see these issues as both a challenge and a clear opportunity to impact the field with novel technological solutions. Our research ambition will be to develop better engineering tools to help in the development of organotypic cell culture models, easy to implement in daily cell culture routines, so they have a real and meaningful impact in the biotechnological arena and, therefore, will impact applications in basic cell research, disease modelling and regenerative medicine.
Along with this line, we are working towards the following objectives: (i) to engineer and validate a complex in vitro model of small intestinal epithelium, (ii) to validate a novel in vitro model of engineered cardiac tissue and (iii) to engineer a novel vessel-on-chip to reproduce the tumor metastatic environment. To carry out our research we employ cutting edge biofabrication technologies such as bioprinting and novel biological tools such as organoids.
Staff
ibecbarcelona.euProjects
| INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| GUT3D-PLATE · Ready-to-use cell culture plates for gut 3D models (2020-2022) | European Commission, ERC-PoC | Elena Martínez |
| COMIET · Engineering Complex Intestinal Epithelial Tissue Models (2015-2022) | ERC Consolidator Grant | Elena Martínez |
| BRIGHTER · BIOPRINTING BY LIGHT-SHEET LITHOGRAPHY (2019-2023) | European Commission FET Open | Elena Martínez |
| PRIVATELY FUNDED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| PROMISE · BioPrinted hydROgel MicrofluIdicS to mimic patient-specific tumor mEtastatic microenvironment (2020-2023) | Obra Social La Caixa, Health Research Call for Proposals | Elena Martínez |
| FINISHED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| ENGUT · Engineered models of intestinal epithelial tissue: assessing in vivo-like functional properties (2019-2020) | Bist Ignite Program | Elena Martínez |
| INDUCT Dispositivo de multitejido intestinal para la monitorización de la comunicación entre epitelio y músculo en condiciones patológicas (2018-2020) | MINECO | Elena Martínez |
| COMIET Engineering Complex Intestinal Epithelial Tissue Models (2015-2020) | ERC Consolidator Grant | Elena Martínez |
| GLAM Glass-Laser Multiplexed Biosensor (2015-2019) | European Commission (H2020) – PHC-10-2015 | Elena Martínez |
| MINAHE5 (Bio)funcionalización de Micro- y NanoHerramientas en Suspensión para Aplicaciones en Células Vivas (2015-2017) | MINECO | Maria Lluïsa Pérez |
Publications
Equipment
Micro and nanofabrication techniques:
- Biomolecule gradients produced by microfluidics
- Large-area nanostructured polymer surfaces produced by diblock copolymers
- 3D microstructures on hydrogel materials
- Mini-bioreactor for 3D cell culture
Characterization techniques:
- Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) measurements on polymer materials
- Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) expertise
- Optical Microscopes (white light/epifluorescence)
- Focused Ion Beam (FIB) / Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of biological specimens
Equipment:
- Biological safety cabinet (class II)
- High precision syringe pumps
- Peristaltic pumps
- Access to the Nanotechnology Platform (IBEC Core Facilities): equipment for hot embossing lithography, polymer processing and photolithography, chemical wet etching, e-beam evaporation and surface characterization (TOF-SIMS)
- Access to the Scientific and Technological Centers (University of Barcelona): equipment for surface analysis (XPS, AFM, XRD) and microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, confocal)
- PRUSA i3MK3S (FDM printer)
- Phrozen Shuffle XL (DLP-SLA printer)
- SOLUS (DLP-SLA printer)
Collaborations
- Prof. Ángel Raya / Dr. Samuel Ojosnegros
Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona (CMRB), Barcelona - Prof. Eduard Batlle
Institut de Recerca Biomédica (IRB), Barcelona - Prof. Pablo Loza
Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO), Castelldefels (Spain) - Dr. Javier Ramón, IBEC
- Dr. Elisabeth Engel, IBEC
- Prof. Raimon Jané, IBEC
- Prof. Josep Samitier, IBEC
- Prof. Javier Santos, Dra. Maria Vicario
VHIR, Barcelona (Spain) - Dr. Bruno Sarmento
i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal - Dr. Sonia García-Blanco
University of Twente, Enschede (The Netherlands) - Dr. Fabio Variola
University of Ottawa (Canada) - Dr. Daniel Riveline
ISIS/IGBMC, Strasbourg (France) - Dr. Matthew Dalby
University of Glasgow (UK) - Prof. Jordi Martorell
Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO), Castelldefels (Spain) - Prof. José Antonio Plaza
CNM-CSIC, Barcelona - Dr. Francesc Mitjans
LEITAT, Barcelona - Francesco Pampaloni
Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (Frankfurt) - Dra. Elena Élez
VHIO
News
Bioingeniería para las terapias emergentes y avanzadas en el 17º Simposio del IBEC
IBEC’s 17th Annual Symposium focused on ‘Bioengineering for Emergent and Advanced Therapies’, one of IBEC’s key application areas. Around 300 people attended the event, including local and international researchers. It was a multidisciplinary environment in which experts from other centres and the IBEC community itself had the opportunity to present their projects and share knowledge.
El IBEC y el Hospital West China refuerzan su colaboración en medicina de precisión
La semana pasada se celebró en Chengdu, China, la segunda Conferencia de Medicina de Precisión IBEC-WCH. Se trata de una alianza entre el Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña (IBEC) y el Hospital West China (WCH) de la Universidad de Sichuan, que busca impulsar la colaboración científica entre ambos países.
Nueva biotinta para sintetizar piel humana mediante bioimpresión 3D
La demanda de tejidos de piel sintetizados en laboratorio ha aumentado tanto para aplicaciones in vitro como in vivo, siendo uno de los puntos clave del proceso la correcta elección … Read more
Bioimpresión 3D para un modelo avanzado de intestino en un chip
Se trata de un dispositivo innovador que contiene un canal bioimprendido en 3D con estructuras que imitan las vellosidades intestinales y reproduce los compartimentos de la mucosa intestinal. Por primera vez, se han incorporado al sistema electrodos que permiten supervisar la formación de la barrera intestinal en tiempo real. El dispositivo es muy versátil y tiene potencial para aplicarse en el modelado de enfermedades y el cribado de fármacos.
El IBEC participa en dos proyectos de colaboración público-privada para avances biomédicos
IBEC y Vitala, una spin-off fundada por investigadoras del IBEC, participarán en tres proyectos de colaboración público-privada con una inversión total cercana a los 4 millones de euros. Estos proyectos, respaldados por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España y la Agencia Estatal de Investigación, buscan avanzar en la monitorización remota de la salud, desarrollar un fármaco oral para la Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal y mejorar la resonancia magnética 13C en investigación terapéutica. Estas iniciativas, impulsadas por enfoques tecnológicos avanzados, tienen como objetivo generar un impacto positivo en la medicina y la investigación biomédica.
El movimiento de las células cancerosas depende de la topografía y la rigidez del entorno
Un estudio reciente del IBEC ha descrito cómo la orientación por contacto de las células no solo depende de la topografía, sino que también se ve afectada por la rigidez … Read more
Mini-intestinos en 3D para estudiar infecciones bacterianas
Investigadoras del IBEC han desarrollado un modelo de intestino humano en 3D que simula las características de la mucosa intestinal y sus relieves. Estos mini-intestinos permitirán estudiar el funcionamiento del … Read more
Mini-intestinos en 3D para estudiar infecciones bacterianas
Investigadores del Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña desarrollan un modelo de intestino humano en 3D que simula las características de la mucosa intestinal y su relieve. Este mini-intestino ha permitido recrear … Read more
Research assistant at the Biomimetic systems for cell engineering Research Group
Data límit: 20/06/2022Ref: RA_EM Biomimetic systems for cell engineering Group is looking for a for a Research Assistant. The contract will be within the framework of an ERC Proof-of-concept project (GUT3DPLATE), whose objective is the fabrication and validation of ready-to-use hydrogel in vitro models of tissue barriers using 3D bioprinting.
BRIGHTER en la radio
Elena Martínez, investigadora principal del IBEC, aparece en radio 5, de RTVE, por su investigación en creación de piel artificial que podría utilizarse para la sustitución de algunos métodos de experimentación animal.
Jobs
Senior researcher at the Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Research Group (Ref. SRR_EM)
Ref: SRR_EM // Deadline: 31/10/2023
Research Assistant at the Biomimetic systems for cell engineering Research Group (RA_EM)
Ref: RA_EM // Deadline; 07/08/2023
Postdoc at the Biomimetic systems for cell engineering Research Group (PD_EM)
Ref: PD_EM // Deadline: 04/08/2023
Laboratory technician at the Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Research Group (LT_EM)
Ref: LT_EM // Deadline 10/02/2023
Postdoc at the Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Research Group (BIOMELD) (PD-EM)
Ref: PD-EM // Deadline: 20/02/2023
Senior researcher at the Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Research Group (SRR_EM)
Ref.: SRR-EM // Deadline: 16/01/2023
Postdoctoral researcher at the Biomimetic systems for cell engineering Research Group
Reference: PD-EM / Deadline: 20/01/2023
Research Assistant at the Research Group Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering
Introduction to the vacant position: The Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Group is looking for a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher to work on the development and optimization of a new fabrication … Read more