About
The Nanobioengineering group is a truly multidisciplinary team composed by researchers coming from very diverse backgrounds working together in applying nanotechnology for the development of new biomedical systems and devices, mainly for diagnostic purposes, and integrated microfluidic Organ-on-Chip devices for the study of organ physiology, disease etiology, or drug screening.
The goal is to fabricate microsystems containing living cells that recapitulate tissue and organ level functions in vitro and new portable diagnosis devices that can be used as Point-of-Care systems.
The main research activities of the group include the engineering and biochemical functionalization of biomaterials integrated with microfluidics systems. The bioengineered microdevices are used to study cell responses to biomolecular compounds applied to Organ-on-Chip devices, or for the development of new lab-on-a-chip based biosensors.
The projects carried out by the group are focused on clinical and industrial problems and are related to three convergent research lines:
1. Biosensors and Lab-on-a-Chip devices for clinical diagnosis and monitoring
- DNA sensors-arrays integrated in lab-on-a-chip for portable point of care diagnosis
- Vascular implantable sensors for circular cancer biomarker detection.
- Antibody-based sensors for pathogenic microorganisms’ detection and neurodegenerative early detection
- Implantable physiological sensors-array for tissue in vivo hypoxia and ischemia monitoring.
- 3D printing microfluidic technology.
- Microfluidic chip using hydrodynamic forces for cell counting and sorting. Application for detection of circulating tumours cells (CTCs).
2. Nanotechnology applied to biomolecule interaction studies and micro/nano-environments for regenerative medicine applications
- Development of bioengineered 2D and 3D micro/nanoenvironments with a topography and chemical composition controlled at the nanoscale for cell behavior studies (adhesion, proliferation, differentiation). Application to musculoskeletal system regeneration.
- Biophysical description of cellular phenomena (adhesion, cell migration, differentiation) using micro/nanotechnologies, cell biology tools and soft matter physics.
- Study of biological mechanisms at single molecule level.
- Study of magnetite nanoparticles – Amyloid-Beta interaction in Alzheimer disease.
3. Microfluidic systems for biological studies and Organ-on-Chip devices
- Microfluidic chip for blood/plasma filtering and anemia diseases characterization
- Spleen-on-a-chip development.
- Nanoporous-based systems for kidney-on–a-chip developments.
- Engineering microfluidic platforms for neurobiological studies.
- Development of 3D neuromuscular tissue models for soft robotics and clinical applications
- Microfluidic system to monitor cancer therapy response. Tumor Cancer on a chip in vitro development.
- Microfluidic vessel on-a-chip for screening drug delivery systems.
Staff
ibecbarcelona.euProjects
| NATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| BASE3D (2019-2022) | RIS3CAT Tecnologies Emergents | Josep Samitier |
| PREMED Desarrollo de un ensayo microfluídico funcional en células para el tratamiento personalizado contra el cáncer (2019-2022) | MICIU: Retos investigación | Joan Montero |
| Sistema microfisiológico para mimetizar las barreras hemato-sistema nervioso central: aplicación a la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (2019-2022) | MICIU: Retos investigación | Anna Lagunas |
| BATMAN Nanopartículas biomiméticas para el tratamiento dirigido del neuroblastoma pediátrico (2021-2023) | MICIU, Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D. | Aranzazu Villasante |
| Neuroblastoma en un chip para investigar la resistencia a fármacos y el uso de nanopartículas terapéuticas (2018-2022) | Asociación Española contra el Cáncer (AECC) | Aranzazu Villasante |
| Evaluación Funcional de respuesta celular a la quimioterapia neoadyuvante en Sarcoma de tejido blando (2021-2024) | Fundación Mari Paz Jiménez Casado (FMPJC), Beca Trienal FMPJC Investigación Sarcomas | Joan Montero |
| INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| ASCTN-Training Training on Advanced Stem Cell Technologies in Neurology (2018-2022) | European Comission Marie Curie ITN | Josep Samitier |
| EVIDENCE Erythrocytes properties and viability in dependence of flow and extra-cellular environment (2020-2023) | European Comission Marie Curie ITN | Josep Samitier |
| PANDORA Pandemics Outbreaks Rationalized: towards a universal therapy to eliminate intracellular pathogens (2020-2025) | European Commission, ERC – StG | Josep Samitier |
| BEST Postdoctoral Programme in Bioengineering Excellence Scientific Training (2017-2022) | European Commission, COFUND – Marie Sklodowska-Curie Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes | Josep Samitier |
| SCIFI From Scientists to Innovators for Industry (2022-2024) | EIT Health, EITHealth BP2022 Education | Josep Samitier |
| PRIVATELY-FUNDED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| Descubrimiento de nuevos marcadores terapéuticos en neuroblastoma mediante la generación de modelos basados en técnicas de ingeniería de cáncer (2021-2023) | Associació pacients NEN | Josep Samitier /Aranzazu Villasante |
| Understanding and measuring mechanical tumor properties to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival: Application to liquid biòpsies (2017-2022) | Obra Social La Caixa | Josep Samitier |
| BCNatal Artificial Placenta Project (2021-2022) | Obra Social La Caixa | Maria José López |
| Descubrimiento de nuevos marcadores terapéuticos en neuroblastoma mediante la generación de modelos basados en técnicas de ingeniería de cáncer (2021-2023) | Associació pacients NEN | Aranzazu Villasante |
| FINISHED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| Personalizing pediatric cancer treatment with kinome analyses, cell-based funcional assays and microfluidics (2017-2021) | CELLEX | Josep Samitier / Joan Montero |
| ISCHEMSURG Miniaturized electrochemical sensor for monitoring of free flap ischemia in post-surgery (2019-2021) | AGAUR | Josep Samitier |
| Joint Programme – Healthy Ageing (2016) | Obra Social “La Caixa” | Josep Samitier |
| PLANTOID Innovative Robotic Artefacts Inspired by Plant Roots for Soil Monitoring | ICT | Josep Samitier |
| Universal diagnostic platforms based on oligonucleotide cofidied nanoparticles and DNA microarray sensor devices | MINECO, I+D-Investigación fundamental no orientada | Josep Samitier |
| ELECTRA-G (2014-2016) | Conveni GENOMICA S.A.U. | Josep Samitier |
| Desarrollo de una nueva tecnología lab-on-a-chip para la detección y cuantificación de secuencias de ADN/ARN (2014-2016) | Conveni GENOMICA S.A.U. | Josep Samitier |
| BIOBOT Engineered biological soft robots based on neuro-muscular junction control (2015-2018) | MINECO, Proyectos EXPLORA Ciencia / Tecnología 2015 | Josep Samitier |
| Advancecat Acceleradora pel desenvolupament de teràpies avançades | ACCIÓ / Smart Specialization funds (RIS3) | Josep Samitier |
| MINDS Plataforma MIcrofluídica 3D de cultivo Neuronal compartimentada para el estuDio de enfermedades neurológicaS (2016-2018) | MINECO, Proyectos I+D Excelencia | Josep Samitier |
| nanoET-leukemia Nanoconductance of electron transfer proteins of the respiratory chain. Direct measurementat the single molecular level and therapeutic regulation in cancer stem cells (2015-2018) | MINECO, Proyectos RETOS 2015 / CIBER | Anna Lagunas / Marina Giannotti |
| Desenvolupar un sistema d’assistència robòtica per medicina i cirurgia fetal (2016-2019) | CELLEX | Josep Samitier |
| Monitoring neurocognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases using saliva or blood-derived biomarkers and a multiplexed approach (2016-2018) | Obra Social “La Caixa” | Josep Samitier |
| ISCHEMSURG Miniaturized electrochemical sensor for monitoring of free flap ischemia in post-surgery (2019-2020) | CaixaImpulse | Monica Mir |
| Personalizing Melanoma Treatment Using Dynamic BH3 Profiling (2018-2020) | Dana-Farber Cancer Institut | Joan Montero |
| NANOVAX Nanovacunas diseñadas para inmunoterapia antitumoral (2016-2020) | EuroNanoMed (ERA-Net) | Josep Samitier |
| Understanding and measuring mechanical tumor properties to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival: Application to liquid biopsies (2017-2020) | Obra Social “La Caixa” | Josep Samitier |
| Personalizing pediatric cancer treatment (2018-2020) | Fundación FERO | Joan Montero |
Publications
Equipment
Nanofabrication and nanomanipulation
- 3D Printing system for microfluidic devices
- Graphtech
Characterization
- Potentiostates
- Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscope (OWLS)
- Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
- Optical Microscopes (white light/epifluorescence)
- Electrical Impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
- Multi-frequency Lock-in Amplifier
- Sub-femtoamp Remote SourceMeter Instrument
Molecular/cell biology
- Biological safety cabinet (class II)
- Microwell plate readers
- Protein and DNA electrophoresis systems
- Microincubator Okolab
- Nanodrop spectrophotometer
- CO2 incubator for cells: Galaxy® 48 S, 48 L, 230 V/50/60 Hz, standard
- Cell culture cabin: Bioii-Advance 3
Microfluidics
- High precision syringe pumps
- Peristaltic pumps
Collaborations
- Prof. Fernando Albericio
Institut de Recerca Biomédica (IRB), Barcelona, Spain - Dr. José Antonio Andrades
Universidad de Málaga, Spain - Prof. Ezequiel Pérez
Inestrosa Centro Andaluz de Nanomedicina y Biotecnología (BIONAND), Málaga, Spain - Prof. Joan Bausells
Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM-CSIC), Barcelona - Prof. Albert van den Berg
University of Twente, The Netherlands - Prof. Andre Bernard
Institut für Mikro- und Nanotechnologie (MNT-NTB), Buchs, Switzerland - Prof. H. Börner
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Golm, Germany - Prof. Josep Maria Canals
University of Barcelona, Spain - Dr. Matthew Dalby
University of Glasgow, UK - Prof. Paolo Dario
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA), Pontedera, Italy - Prof. Ramón Eritja
Institut de Recerca Biomédica (IRB), Barcelona, Spain - Prof. E. Faszewski
Wheelock College, Boston, USA - Prof. G. Fuhr
FhG Biomedicine, St. Ingbert, Germany - Dr. Juan C. Izpisúa
Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California - Dr. Nicole Jaffrezic
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France - Dr. Graham Johnson
Uniscan Instruments Ltd, Buxton, UK - Dr. Mª Pilar Marco
Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research, Barcelona - Prof. Jean-Louis Marty
Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, France - Prof. Barbara Mazzolai
IIT Center for Micro-BioRobotics (CMBR), Pontedera, Italy - Dr. Edith Pajot
Biology of Olfaction and Biosensors group (BOB) at INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France - Dr. M. Lluïssa Pérez
Dept. Farmacología, University of Barcelona, Spain - Dr. Hernando del Portillo
Centro de Investigación en Salud Internacional de Barcelona (CRESIB), Barcelona, Spain - Dr. Jaume Reventós
Hospital Vall d’Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain - Prof. L. Reggiani
Nanotechnology Laboratory, INFM, Lecce, Italy - Prof. Daniel Riveline
Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, Strasbourg - Prof. M. Sampietro
Politecnico di Milano, Italy - Prof. Molly M. Stevens
Imperial College, London, UK - Dr. Christophe Vieu
Laboratoire d’analyse et d’architectures des systèmes (LAAS-CNRS), Toulouse, France - Prof. Pau Gorostiza
IBEC - Prof. Irene Díaz Moreno
3IIQ-cicCartuja, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Spain - Prof. Miguel A. de la Rosa
3IIQ-cicCartuja, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Spain - Dr. María del Mar Mañú Pereira
Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain - Dr. Joan Lluis Vives
Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
Industry partners:
- Biokit S.A. (Werfen group); Genomica S.A.U. (Zeltia group); Tallers Fiestas S.L.; Enantia S.L.; Microfluidic ChipShop GmbH; Minifab; Microliquid
News
The scientific-technological alliance of IBEC and Leitat in the media
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) appears in the “Diari de Terrassa” for its alliance with the LEITAT Technological Center to promote the development and application of cutting-edge technologies that will combine engineering and biology to find solutions to health problems.
LEITAT and IBEC will promote last generation biotechnologies from Barcelona
A recent alliance between the LEITAT Technological Center and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) will give a new impulse in the development and application of cutting-edge technologies that will combine engineering and biology to find solutions to health problems. Both institutions have established a new agreement to promote innovation in different scientific and technological areas, including 3D bioprinting with bioinks.
Advance in research against childhood cancer in the #WorldResearchCancerDay
IBEC researchers appear in different media for the recent study senior-authored by Joan Montero and first-authored by Albert Manzano, Senior Researcher and PhD student in IBEC’s Nanobioengineering group in which they have used a state-of-the-art analysis technique to evaluate new drug combinations to successfully treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Personalised medicine to beat pediatric leukemia
IBEC researchers have used a state-of-the-art analysis technique to evaluate new drug combinations to successfully treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This study brings personalised medicine closer to the clinic for this cancer type.
A chip against chronic bacterial infections
IBEC researchers develop a device that allows to grow biofilms and analyze their susceptibility to different antibiotics in a simple way and using patient samples. BiofilmChip, a low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic device, opens the way to finding effective and custom treatments against chronic infections produced by biofilms.
The third medical revolution: regenerative medicine
Josep Samitier, director of IBEC, appears in an article published in the journal “Muy Interesante” that deals with the revolution of regenerative medicine and its possible medical applications.
Josep Samitier and the “Science Law” in the media
Josep Samitier, director of IBEC and president of the Catalan Association of Research Entities (ACER) appears in different media because of the latest draft of the “Science Law” approved by the Catalan Government, which will strengthen research and try to retain talent.
IBEC at National Geographic
Josep Samitier, Nuria Montserrat and Samuel Sánchez’s biobots appear in the National Geographic documentary “Ciencias de la vida: Trasplantes” for scientific innovation that addresses the growing demand for organs.
Supporting science is not a luxury, it is an investment for the future
Josep Samitier, director of IBEC and president of the Catalan Association of Research Entities (ACER) appears in various media talking about the precariousness of resources in the research world.
Experts aim to promote biomedical research
Josep Samitier, Teresa Sanchis and Nuria Montserrat highlight the advances made in nanomedicine and bioengineering for health in the XIV Annual Conference of Biomedical Research Technology Platforms, and support the voices that recommend increasing resources for the entire sector of basic and clinical research.