About
We are chemists, physicists, mathematicians, engineers, biologists who work alongside to design bionic units that mimic specific biological functions and/or introduce operations that do not exist in Nature. We apply a constructionist approach where we mimic biological complexity in the form of design principles to produce functional units from simple building blocks and their interactions. We called such an approach: Molecular Bionics.
We are engaged in several activities involving the synthesis and characterisation of novel hierarchal materials whose properties are the result of the holistic combination of its components:
Molecular Engineering
We combine synthetic and supramolecular chemistry to tune inter/intramolecular interactions and self-assembly processes to form dynamic soft materials whose molecular, supramolecular and mesoscale structures are tuned and fit for the final application (pictured right: molecular engineering of nanoscopic structures starting from molecule passing to polymers and finally to supra molecular structures).
Physical Biology
Our materials are designed to interact with living systems and thus its biological activity is studied in high detail. We have developed and established new methodologies to study living systems and how synthetic materials interact with them combining holistically physical and life sciences (Physical Biology).
Synthetic Biology
Both know-hows are applied to study biological organisation and complexity creating synthetic surrogates that act as models, as well as to engineer novel sophisticated ways to interact with living organisms.
Somanautics
In analogy to medical bionics, where engineering and physical science converge to the design of replacement and/or enhancement of malfunctioning body parts, we take inspiration from viruses, trafficking vesicles and exosomes to apply molecular engineering to create nanoscopic carriers that can navigate the human body (Somanautics) with the final aim to improve drug delivery or create new diagnostic tools.
Visit our external website to find out more.
Staff
Giuseppe Battaglia
ibecbarcelona.euProjects
| INTERNATIONAL GRANTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| CheSSTag · Chemotactic Super-Selective Targeting of Gliomas (2020-2023) | European Comission / ERC-CoG | G. Battaglia |
| NATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| BrainPePN · Nanomedicinas de precisión que penetran el cerebro (2021-2024) | MICIU / Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D | G. Battaglia |
| FUNDRAISING PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| A por la COVID-19 (2021-2022) | IBEC / Faster Future 2020 | G. Battaglia |
Publications
Equipment
- State-of-the-art facilities for cell culture including 5 class A cell cabinets: one dedicated for LPS and RNAse free cell culture and one dedicated for infected tissues
- Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)
- Confocal microscope to perform live cell 4D imaging
- Thermocycler
- Real-time PCR
- Automated Western Blot
- Gel Permeation Chromatography
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
- Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography equipped with fluorescence, UV/Vis and Infrared and light scattering detectors
- Dynamic light scattering unit
- Nanoparticle tracking analysis
- UV and Fluorescence spectroscopy
- Automated liquid handling units
- Nanoparticle production units
Collaborations
- Xavier Salvatella
IRB Barcelona - Francesca Peiro
Physics-University of Barcelona - Kostas Kostarellos
Life Science- University of Manchester/ICN2 - Giorgio Volpe
Chemistry-UCL - Simona Parrinello
Cancer Institute -UCL - Finn Werner
Structural Biology -UCL - Nick Lane
Evolutionary Biology -UCL - Darren Hargraves
Pediatric Neuro-Oncology -UCL - Timothy McHugh
Clinical Microbiology =UCL - Sebastian Brander
Neurology -UCL - Joan Abbott
Physiology -King’s College London - Molly Stevens
Bioengineering -Imperial College London - Stefano Angioletti-Uberti
Materials Science -Imperial College London - Ricardo Sapienza
Physics -Imperial College London - Daan Frenkel
Chemisty-University of Cambridge - Charlotte Williams
Chemistry -University of Oxford - Francesco Gervasio
Pharmacology -University of Geneve/UCL, UK - Francesco Stellacci
Bionegineering -EPFL Switzerland - Tambet Tessalu
Cancer Biology -University of Tartu (Estonia)/ Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute - Darrel Irvine
Bioengineering -MIT - Xiaohe Tian
Life Sciences University of Anhui - Yupeng Tian
Chemistry University of Anhui - Lei Luo
Pharmacy -Southwest University, China - Kai Luo
HuaXi hospital Sichuan University - Darren Hargrave
Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCLH London - Sebastian Brander
Queen Square National Centre for Neurology, UCLH London
News
Una inmersión en la ciencia para fomentar vocaciones STEAM
El EspaiCiència se consolida como un referente en la divulgación científica dentro del Saló de l’Ensenyament, y proporciona a los jóvenes herramientas y conocimientos para adentrarse en el mundo de la ciencia y la tecnología
IBEC and ICMS meet again in Eindhoven for their annual joint symposium
The joint ICMS-IBEC-MPIP symposium took place today, 24 March. The event was jointly organised by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP). During the day, researchers from the three centres presented their areas of research, with the aim of strengthening the scientific relations between the institutions.
IBEC stands out at BIST Forum with 4 BIST Ignite projects and a BIST Ignite Award
Today, the BIST Forum, an event that brings together the BIST scientific community, focused this year on the joint initiative of the seven CERCA centres to promote precision medicine in healthy ageing. During the event, the new BIST Ignite projects to promote multidisciplinary research were announced, with IBEC involved in four of the five selected projects. In addition, one of the projects in which IBEC is involved won a BIST Ignite Award.
IBEC co-funds new state-of-the-art electron microscope
The President of the Catalan Government, Salvador Illa, and the Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, inaugurated this unique infrastructure at the Barcelona Science Park today. The microscope, funded by IBEC and FEDER*, opens the door to the reconstruction of biomolecules and viruses in three dimensions, among other applications.
IBEC and SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital strengthen their collaboration with a day of translational innovation
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and the Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital have held a joint conference to strengthen collaboration in bioengineering and translational medicine. The event, held this morning at the IBEC, highlighted innovative projects, presented a joint PhD programme and encouraged the exchange of ideas between researchers from both institutions.
IBEC and VHIR hold a collaboration day to promote synergies
The 1st Translational Collaboration Day between the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), held on 21st November, was an opportunity to learn about the projects and research lines of both institutions and to promote interaction between professionals.
Advances in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine explored at the 12th International NanoBio&Med Conference
The latest developments in nanotechnology, biotechnology and medicine were presented at the NanoBio&Med 2024 International Conference, held this week at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) from 5 to 7 November. This is an annual event designed to establish new collaborations and promote innovative projects in the scientific-industrial sector.
IBEC and BST strengthen ties with Translational Collaboration Day
IBEC and the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia (BST) held a day to explore new collaborations in bioengineering and translational medicine. The meeting, held yesterday at IBEC, highlighted innovative projects, presented a joint PhD programme and strengthened the link between biomedical research and clinical applications.
IBEC and West China Hospital strengthen collaboration in precision medicine
The second IBEC-WCH Precision Medicine Conference took place last week in Chengdu, China. This is a partnership between the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the West China Hospital (WCH) of Sichuan University, which aims to strengthen scientific collaboration between the two countries.
IBEC hosts first Barcelona Blood-Brain Barrier Symposium
The event, held on 21 and 22 May, brought together experts in biology, engineering and medicine to discuss the latest advances in research into the blood-brain barrier and its role in brain disorders. This is the first edition of the symposium organised by IBEC.
Jobs
Postdoctoral Researcher at the Molecular Bionics Research Group
Ref: PR_GB // Deadline: 11/08/2024
Postdoctoral Researcher at the Molecular Bionics Research Group (PD_GB)
Ref: PD_GB // Deadline: 24/05/2024
Senior Laboratory Technician at the Molecular Bionics Research Group (SLT_GB)
Ref: SLT_GB // Deadline: 24/12/2023
Research Assistant at the Molecular Bionics Research Group (RA_GB)
Ref: RA_GB // Deadline 12/12/2023
Part-time lab manager (Tissue Engineering) in the Molecular Bionics Group (LM_GB)
Ref: LM_GB // Deadline: 31/08/2023
Senior Translational Material Scientist/Chemist at the Molecular Bionics Group (STM_GB)
Ref: STM_GB // Deadline: 31/08/2023