Video highlights
About
We develop different Systems ranging from active nanoparticles (nanobots), 3D Bioprinted Actuators and flexible biosensors. We are interested in fundamental studies of active matter, the use of nanobots for future nanomedicine and environmental applications and the bioengineering of new devices based on hybrid systems.
NanoBio Team

Smart micro- and nanorobots are able to swim, monitor their own activity, sense their environment and deliver drugs to 3D bladder
cancer spheroids using biocompatible and bioavailable fuels such as urea.
The use of enzyme catalysis is emerging as an attractive alternative to power micro- and nanomachines due to their unique features including biocompatibility, versatility and fuel bioavailability. Our group has demonstrated the use of different enzymes, including urease and glucose oxidase, to generate active propulsion of nano– and microparticles, paving the way towards new applications of artificial active matter in biomedicine. We have recently demonstrated that using enzyme-powered nanomotors can enhance anti-cancer drug delivery in vitro, improve the targeting of 3D bladder cancer spheroids and sense their surrounding environment. We are also interested in understanding the fundamental aspects underlying the motion of biocatalytic microswimmers for a safe and efficient design of micro- and nanomotors.
Read more:
Ionic Species Affect the Self-Propulsion of Urease-Powered Micromotors
Xavier Arqué, Xavier Andrés, Rafael Mestre, Bernard Ciraulo, Jaime Ortega Arroyo, Romain Quidant, Tania Patiño, Samuel Sánchez
Research (2020) 2424972
Intrinsic enzymatic properties modulate the self-propulsion of micromotors
Xavier Arqué, Adrian Romero-Rivera, Ferran Feixas, Tania Patiño, Sílvia Osuna, Samuel Sánchez
Nature Communications (2019) 10, 2826
Self-sensing enzyme-powered micromotors equipped with pH responsive DNA nanoswitches
Tania Patiño, Alessandro Porchetta, Anita Jannasch, Anna Lladó, Tom Stumpp, Erik Schäffer, Francesco Ricci, Samuel Sánchez
Nano letters (2019) 19, (6), 3440-3447
Targeting 3D Bladder Cancer Spheroids with Urease-Powered Nanomotors
Ana C. Hortelão, Rafael Carrascosa, Nerea Murillo-Cremaes, Tania Patiño, Samuel Sánchez
ACS nano (2019), 13, 429-439
Fundamental Aspects of Enzyme-Powered Micro-and Nanoswimmers
Tania Patiño, Xavier Arqué, Rafael Mestre, Lucas Palacios, Samuel Sánchez
Accounts of chemical research (2018) 51, 2662-2671
Influence of enzyme quantity and distribution on the self-propulsion of non-Janus urease-powered micromotors
Tania Patiño, Natalia Feiner-Gracia, Xavier Arqué, Albert Miguel-López, Anita Jannasch, Tom Stumpp, Erik Schäffer, Lorenzo Albertazzi, Samuel Sánchez
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2018), 140, 7896-7903
Enzyme‐Powered Nanobots Enhance Anticancer Drug Delivery
AC Hortelão, T Patiño, A Perez‐Jiménez, À Blanco, S Sánchez
Advanced Functional Materials (2018), 28, 1705086
Videos:
3D BioPrinted Soft Robotics

3D-bioprinted bio-actuator based on skeletal muscle used as a force measurement
platform. Upon electrical stimulation, the muscle can contract, bend the post and
their force can be calculated.
In the research line of soft bio-hybrid robotics, we explore the integration of biological tissue and artificial materials at larger length scales. In particular, we take advantage of the 3D bioprinting technique to develop bio-robotic systems composed of skeletal muscle cells embedded in biocompatible hydrogels, which can be 3D bioprinted alongside other artificial materials. Theses materials can act as scaffolds, support, or flexible parts, as well as be responsive upon certain stimuli. By controlling the contractions of skeletal muscle cells via electric fields, we can measure the forces exerted by these bio-actuators against artificial 3D-printed posts. Using this setup, we have performed studies on the adaptability of bio-actuators after applying different training protocols and we have observed how their force generation and gene expression can adapt to the frequency of stimulation and stiffness of the artificial posts.
Read more:
Bio-hybrid soft robots with self-stimulating skeletons
, , , , Judith Fuentes, , BioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.16.299719
Design, optimization and characterization of bio-hybrid actuators based on 3D-bioprinted skeletal muscle tissue
Rafael Mestre, Tania Patiño, Maria Guix, Xavier Barceló, Samuel Sánchez
Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems (2019) 8th International Conference, Living Machines 2019
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer International Publishing (Nara, Japan) 11556, 205-215
Force Modulation and Adaptability of 3D‐Bioprinted Biological Actuators Based on Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Rafael Mestre, Tania Patiño, Xavier Barceló, Shivesh Anand, Ariadna Pérez‐Jiménez, Samuel Sánchez
Advanced Materials Technologies (2018): 1800631
Miniaturized soft bio-hybrid robotics: a step forward into healthcare applications
Tania Patino, Rafael Mestre, Samuel Sánchez
Lab Chip (2016) 1619, 3626-3630
Active matter in complex systems

Phoretic and hydrodynamic interactions with nearby surfaces and flows can be exploited to create a guidance mechanism for self-propelled particles.
We study colloidal suspensions of Pt-coated silica particles as a model system of synthetic active matter. These systems have mostly been studied in homogeneous environments until now. Our interest lies in observing these systems in more complex settings, such as near interfaces, complex media or with flow involved. Since the self-propelled particles generate chemical and hydrodynamic fields around them, they interact in complex ways with flows and nearby surfaces that often leads to interesting behaviour. We could find, for instance, that close to solid surfaces they achieve a stable ‘gliding’ state which could be exploited to develop a system for guiding micro-nano motors using topographical features as shown with our micropatterned ratchets. When flow is present, particles also behave different as they reorient perpendicular to the flow.
Read more:
Self-propulsion of active colloids via ion release: Theory and experiments
Marco De Corato, Xavier Arqué, Tania Patiño, Marino Arroyo, Samuel Sánchez, Ignacio Pagonabarraga
Physical Review Letters (2020) 124, 108001
Guidance of active particles at liquid-liquid interfaces near surfaces
Lucas Palacios, Jaideep Katuri, Ignacio Pagonabarraga and Samuel Sánchez
Soft Matter (2019) 15, 6581-6588
Directed Flow of Micromotors through Alignment Interactions with Micropatterned Ratchets
Jaideep Katuri, David Caballero, Raphael Voituriez, Josep Samitier and Samuel Sánchez
ACS Nano (2018) 12, 7282-7291
Cross-stream migration of active particles
Jaideep Katuri, William E. Uspal, Juliane Simmchen, Albert Miguel-López, Samuel Sánchez
Science Advances (2018) 4
Topographical Pathways Guide Chemical Microswimmers
Juliane Simmchen, Jaideep Katuri, William E. Uspal, Mihail N. Popescu, Mykola Tasinkevych, and Samuel Sánchez
Nature Communications (2016) 7 , 10598
Videos:
Environmental applications of micro-nano motors

Micromotors can remove a wide variety of pollutants in contaminated water.
Micromotors can remove a wide variety of pollutants from contaminated water.
Artificial micromotors, based on bubble self-propulsion have demonstrated to be able to mix solutions and enhance chemical reactions while they swim. These micromotors are mostly based on two main structures, tubular and spherical.
First, we have designed tubular micromotors, which use hydrogen peroxide as a fuel, using different techniques such as, ‘rolling-up’ and electrodeposition. ‘Rolling-up’ microjets with a functional iron-based layer can generate and actively transport free radicals in the solution performing the degradation of organic dyes via Fenton-like reactions in presence of hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, electrodeposited microjets, which are smaller than their ‘roll-up’ counterparts, contain graphene-oxide on the outside working as ‘heavy metal scrubbers’. In this case, the metal is adsorbed and removed from the contaminated water. The metal can thereafter be desorbed and the microjets used again.
In order to target other water pollution problems, such as microorganism contamination, we have developed spherical microbots that can kill bacteria while they swim. These microbots have a Janus structure based on spherical magnesium microparticles, able to dissolve in water producing hydrogen bubbles, covered in one of their faces by Fe, Au and AgNPs which provide magnetic, bacteria attachment and bactericidal properties to the microjets.
Towards scaling-up of the micromotor synthesis for cleaning large volumes of water, we have fabricated micromotors using exclusively chemical methods such as, precipitation, reduction and sol-gel chemistry. These micromotors are based on a silica microtubular structure which contains an inner-layer of a catalytic material (PtNPs or MnO2) capable of removing pollutants efficiently from water while they swim in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The external decoration of these structures with magnetic nanoparticles provides for good magnetic control. Finally, magnetic and catalytic micromotors formed by the aggregation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized to remove antibiotics from water. All these micromotors, due to their magnetic properties can be removed from the solution after finishing their targeting action by the application of an external magnetic field.
Read more:
Microbots Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles Kill Bacteria in Aqueous Media
Diana Vilela, Morgan M. Stanton, Jemish Parmar, and Samuel Sánchez
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces (2017) 9, 22093–22100
Reusable and Long-Lasting Active Microcleaners for Heterogeneous Water Remediation
Jemish Parmar, Diana Vilela, Eva Pellicer, Daniel Esqué-de los Ojos, Jordi Sort, and Samuel Sánchez
Advanced Functional Materials (2016) 26, 4152–4161
Graphene-Based Microbots for Toxic Heavy Metal Removal and Recovery from Water
Diana Vilela, Jemish Parmar, Yongfei Zeng, Yanli Zhao, and Samuel Sánchez
Nano Letters (2016) 16, 2860-2866
Videos:
(Flexible) Biosensors for non-invasive Point-of-Care diagnostics

Electrodes fabricated on flexible substrates are modified with a wide range of materials for selectivity towards biomarkers. Analytes are quickly quantified by electrochemical techniques.
Point-of-care diagnostics allows decentralizing clinical diagnostic practices and monitoring health out of specialized hospital settings. Advantages of such decentralization are improved quality of life of patients, enhanced therapeutic efficacy thanks to more frequent tests, and lower overall cost of the health system. We develop flexible biochemical sensors for non-invasive and cost-effective monitoring of analytes in biological fluids alternative to blood, e.g. sweat, tears, and saliva. We combine electrochemical electrochemical sensors with microfluidics and electronics to achieve fully integrated devices, that are well suited for low-cost, portable and user-friendly medical diagnostics.
Read more:
Inkjet printed flexible non-enzymatic glucose sensor for tear fluid analysis
Agostino Romeo, Ana Moya, Tammy S. Leung, Gemma Gabriel, Rosa Villa and Samuel Sánchez
Applied Materials Today (2018) 10, 133-141
Smart biosensors for multiplexed and fully integrated point-of-care diagnostics
Agostino Romeo, Tammy Sue Leung, and Samuel Sánchez
Lab Chip (2016) 16, 1957-1961
Flexible sensors for biomedical technology
Diana Vilela, Agostino Romeo, and Samuel Sánchez
Lab Chip (2016) 16, 402-408
Staff
Samuel Sánchez Ordóñez | Group Leader / ICREA Research Professor
Maria Guix Noguera | Postdoctoral Researcher
Veronika Magdanz | Postdoctoral Researcher
Morgane Valles | Postdoctoral Researcher
Xavier Arqué Roca | PhD Student
Judith Fuentes Llanos | PhD Student
Lucas Santiago Palacios Ruiz | PhD Student
Noelia Ruiz González | PhD Student
Meritxell Serra Casablancas | PhD Student
Ana Candida Lopes Hortelão | Research Assistant
Angel Blanco Blanes | Laboratory Technician
Laura Armero Hernández | Masters Student
María Porteiro Figueiras | Masters Student
Tania Patiño Padial | Visiting Researcher
Alumni
- Chiara Greco | 2020 Master student (Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
- Giulia Zarpellon | 2018-2019 Research Assistant
- Dr. Lei Wang | 2018-2020 Postdoctoral researcher (IBEC) | Current position: Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology
- Nerea García | 2020 Master student (UB – UPC, Spain)
- Dr. Paul Soto | 2017-2019 Postdoctoral researcher (IBEC) | Current position: postdoctoral researcher at BIAM in Cadarache
- Pascal Blersch | 2019 Master student
- Xavier Andrés | 2019 Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
- Núria Cadefau | 2019 Master student (Université de Lyon, France)
- Joaquim Llàcer Wintle | 2019 Master student (BIST Barcelona, Spain) | Current position: PhD Candidate at ETH Zürich
- Roland Rocafort | 2019 Visiting bachelor student MIT
- Prof. Dong Pyo Kim | 2018 Visiting Researcher
- Dr. Jemish Parmar | 2015-2019 PhD candidate (IBEC)
- Dr. Jaideep Katuri | 2015-2019 PhD candidate (Max Planck for Intelligent Systems and IBEC)
- Dr. Diana Vilela | 2014-2019 Postdoctoral researcher (Max Planck for Intelligent Systems and IBEC) | Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Elisabeth Bigorra | 2018 Bachelor student (TFG, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
- Dr. Agostino Romeo | 2016-2019 Postdoctoral researcher (IBEC) | Current position: Innovation Project Manager at Vall d’Hebron
- Albert Miguel-López | 2015-2018 Master student and research assistant
- Liam K. Herndon | 2018 Visiting bachelor student MIT
- Dr. Mingjun Xuan | 2018 Postdoctoral researcher
- Ander Eguskiza | 2018 Master student (University Pompeu Fabra, Spain)
- Carlos Martínez Martin | 2018 Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
- Rafael Carrascosa | 2018 Master student
- Xavier Barceló | 2018 Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
- Natàlia Salvat | 2018 Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
- Dr. Nerea Murillo-Cremaes | 2017-2018 Postdoctoral Researcher | Current position: Leitat Technological Center
- Ariadna Pérez-Jiménez | 2015-2018 Group technician
- Shivesh Anand | 2017 Research assistant
- Sílvia Vicente Rizo | 2017 Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
- Tania Gonçalves | 2016 Master student
- Dr. Morgan M. Stanton | 2015 Posdoctoral Researcher (Max Planck for Intelligent Systems)
- Dr. Xing Ma | 2015 Postdoctoral Researcher (Max Planck for Intelligent Systems) | Current position: Harbin Insitute of Technology
- Dr. Lluís Soler | 2015 Postdoctoral Researcher (Max Planck for Intelligent Systems) | Current position: Institute of Energy Technologies (INTE), UPC (ETSEIB), Barcelona
- Azaam Aziz | 2015 Master student (Fachhochschule Jena, Germany)
- Varun Shridar | 2015 Master student (Technische Universitat Darmstadt. Germany)
Projects
EU-funded projects
i-NANOSWARMS · Cooperative Intelligence in Swarms of Enzyme-Nanobots (2020-2025) | European Comission, ERC-CoG | Samuel Sánchez |
Beatriu de Pinós · 3DcolorBots: Versatile integration of structural color in 3D printed living robots for advanced control and sensing capabilities (2020 – 2023) | Agaur | MSCA – COFUND | Maria Guix |
National projects
Smart nano-bio-devices group SGR Grups de recerca consolidats (2017-2021) |
AGAUR, SGR | Samuel Sánchez |
BOTSinFLUIDS · Motion of biocatalytic nanobots in biological fluids and complex media for efficient drug delivery” (2019 – 2021)
|
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Retos investigación: proyectos I+D
|
Samuel Sánchez |
IBEC’s International PhD fellowships Severo Ochoa (2016-2020) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Ana C. Hortelão |
FPI fellowship (2017 – 2021) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Lucas Palacios |
IBEC’s International PhD Progamme fellowship (2018-2022) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Xavier Arqué |
FPI fellowship (2020 – 2024) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Noelia Ruiz |
Privately funded projects
MEDIROBOTS · MEdical micro- and nano-Robots for Molecular Imaging (2018 – 2021) | Fundación BBVA | Samuel Sánchez |
TERANOBOTS · Nanorobots for bladder cancer theranostics (2019 – 2021) | Obra Social La Caixa / Caixaimpluse | Samuel Sánchez |
Effect of a new cosmectic active ingredient in the regulation of muscular function (2019-2021) | Lipotec, S.A.U | Samuel Sánchez, Tania Patiño |
Feodor-Lynen Fellowship · Biohybrid wing microactuator based on integrated insect muscle cells (2020 – 2022) | Alexander von Humboldt Foundation | Veronika Magdanz |
IBEC’s International PhD fellowships “la Caixa” Severo Ochoa (2016-2020) | Obra Social La Caixa | Rafael Mestre |
Former projects
BEST An integrated computational and experimental predictive framework for the chemo-hydrodynamics of active catalytic colloidal particles on complex environments (2018-2020) | IBEC | MSCA – COFUND | Marco de Corato |
2018 BIST Ignite Project · MOFtors- Enzyme-powered, metal-organic framework-based motors (2018) | Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology | Vincent Guillerm (ICN2), Tania Patiño (IBEC) |
2018 Ignite Project · ElectroSensBioBots Towards a new generation of programable 3D printed living biobots with nanoelectronics for sensing and local stimulation (2018) | Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology | Maria Guix (IBEC) Steven Walston (ICN2) |
Efecto de un nuevo ingrediente activo nutraceutico en la regulación de la relajación muscular (2019-2020) | Lipofoods, S.L.U | Samuel Sánchez, Tania Patiño |
LABPATCH · Lab-in-a-patch for PKU self-assessment (2018-2020) | European Commission, ERC-PoC | Samuel Sánchez |
Juan de la Cierva Incorporación · 3D printed soft robotics for lab on a chip applications (2018-2020) |
Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Maria Guix |
ENZWIM Nanomotores de nanopartículas mesoporosas impulsados por enzimas (2017-2019) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Explora | Samuel Sánchez |
BEST · Smart core-double-shell nanoparticles for specific and effective action against bacterial infection at different environments (2017-2019) | IBEC | MSCA – COFUND | Diana Vilela |
Juan de la Cierva Formación (2017-2019) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Paul Soto |
Microcleaners Active microcleaners for water remediation (2016-2018) | European Commission, ERC-PoC | Samuel Sánchez |
MicroDia Sistemas Lab-on-a-chip basados en micro-nanomotores para el diagnóstico de enfermedades (2016-2018) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D | Samuel Sánchez |
BEST (2016-2018) | IBEC | MSCA – COFUND | Agostino Romeo |
Juan de la Cierva Formación (2016-2018) | Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Tania Patiño |
LOC-Systems based on Nano/Micromachines for Food Safety Applications (2014-2016) | Alexander von Humboldt Foundation | Diana Vilela |
Mesoporous Silica Micro/Nano-motors as Active Drug Delivery Vehicles (2014-2016) | Alexander von Humboldt Foundation | Ma Xing |
LT-NRBS Lab-in-a-tube and Nanorobotic biosensors (2013-2017) | European Commission, ERC-StG | Samuel Sánchez |
Publications
For a list of publications prior to joining IBEC, visit the MPI for Intelligent Systems website.
Mestre, R., Patiño, T., Sánchez, S., (2021). Biohybrid robotics: From the nanoscale to the macroscale Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
Mestre, R., Cadefau, N., Hortelao, A. C., Grzelak, J., Gich, M., Roig, A., Sánchez, S., (2021). Nanorods Based on Mesoporous Silica Containing Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Catalytic Nanomotors: Study of Motion Dynamics ChemNanoMat 7, (2), 134-140
Hortelao, Ana C., Simó, Cristina, Guix, Maria, Guallar-Garrido, Sandra, Julián, Esther, Vilela, Diana, Rejc, Luka, Ramos-Cabrer, Pedro, Cossíoo, Unai, Gómez-Vallejo, Vanessa, Patiño, Tania, Llop, Jordi, Sánchez, Samuel, (2021). Swarming behavior and in vivo monitoring of enzymatic nanomotors within the bladder Science Robotics 6, (52), eabd2823
Wang, Lei, Song, Shidong, van Hest, Jan, Abdelmohsen, Loai K. E. A., Huang, Xin, Sánchez, Samuel, (2020). Biomimicry of cellular motility and communication based on synthetic soft-architectures Small 16, (27), 1907680
van Moolenbroek, Guido T., Patiño, Tania, Llop, Jordi, Sánchez, Samuel, (2020). Engineering intelligent nanosystems for enhanced medical imaging Advanced Intelligent Systems 2, (10), 2000087
Wang, Lei, Marciello, Marzia, Estévez-Gay, Miquel, Soto Rodriguez, Paul E. D., Luengo Morato, Yurena, Iglesias-Fernández, Javier, Huang, Xin, Osuna, Sílvia, Filice, Marco, Sánchez, Samuel, (2020). Enzyme conformation influences the performance of lipase-powered nanomotors Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 59, (47), 21080-21087
Yang, Y., Arqué, X., Patiño, T., Guillerm, V., Blersch, P. R., Pérez-Carvajal, J., Imaz, I., Maspoch, D., Sánchez, S., (2020). Enzyme-powered porous micromotors built from a hierarchical micro- and mesoporous UiO-type metal-organic framework Journal of the American Chemical Society 142, (50), 20962–20967
Pijpers, Imke A. B., Cao, Shoupeng, Llopis-Lorente, Antoni, Zhu, Jianzhi, Song, Shidong, Joosten, Rick R. M., Meng, Fenghua, Friedrich, Heiner, Williams, David S., Sánchez, Samuel, van Hest, Jan C. M., Abdelmohsen, Loai K. E. A., (2020). Hybrid biodegradable nanomotors through compartmentalized synthesis Nano Letters 20, (6), 4472-4480
Arqué, Xavier, Andrés, Xavier, Mestre, Rafael, Ciraulo, Bernard, Ortega Arroyo, Jaime, Quidant, Romain, Patiño, Tania, Sánchez, Samuel, (2020). Ionic species affect the self-propulsion of urease-powered micromotors Research 2020, 2424972
Hortelão , Ana C., García-Jimeno, Sonia, Cano-Sarabia, Mary, Patiño, Tania, Maspoch, Daniel, Sánchez, Samuel, (2020). LipoBots: Using liposomal vesicles as protective shell of urease-based nanomotors Advanced Functional Materials 30, (42), 2002767
Mestre, R., Cadefau, N., Hortelão, A. C., Grzelak, J., Gich, M., Roig, A., Sánchez, S., (2020). Nanorods based on mesoporous silica containing iron oxide nanoparticles as catalytic nanomotors: Study of motion dynamics ChemNanoMat 7, (2), 134-140
Kaang, Byung Kwon, Mestre, Rafael, Kang, Dong-Chang, Sánchez, Samuel, Kim, Dong-Pyo, (2020). Scalable and integrated flow synthesis of triple-responsive nano-motors via microfluidic Pickering emulsification Applied Materials Today 21, 100854
Xu, D., Wang, Y., Liang, C., You, Y., Sanchez, S., Ma, X., (2020). Self-propelled micro/nanomotors for on-demand biomedical cargo transportation Small 16, (27), 1902464
De Corato, Marco, Arqué, Xavier, Patiño, Tania, Arroyo, Marino, Sánchez, Samuel, Pagonabarraga, Ignacio, (2020). Self-propulsion of active colloids via ion release: Theory and experiments Physical Review Letters 124, (10), 108001
De Corato, M., Pagonabarraga, I., Abdelmohsen, L. K. E. A., Sánchez, S., Arroyo, M., (2020). Spontaneous polarization and locomotion of an active particle with surface-mobile enzymes Physical Review Fluids 5, (12), 122001
Llopis-Lorente, A., García-Fernández, A., Murillo-Cremaes, N., Hortelão, A. C., Patinño, T., Villalonga, R., Sancenón, F., Martínez-Máñer, R., Sánchez, S., (2019). Enzyme-powered gated mesoporous silica nanomotors for on-command intracellular payload delivery ACS Nano 13, (10), 12171-12183
Hortelão, Ana C., Carrascosa, Rafael, Murillo-Cremaes, Nerea, Patiño, Tania, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Targeting 3D bladder cancer spheroids with urease-powered nanomotors ACS Nano 13, (1), 429-439
Wang, Lei, Hortelão, Ana C., Huang, Xin, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Lipase-powered mesoporous silica nanomotors for triglyceride degradation Angewandte Chemie International Edition 58, (24), 7992-7996
Arqué, Xavier, Romero-Rivera, Adrian, Feixas, Ferran, Patiño, Tania, Osuna, Sílvia, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Intrinsic enzymatic properties modulate the self-propulsion of micromotors Nature Communications 10, (1), 2826
Patiño, Tania, Porchetta, Alessandro, Jannasch, Anita, Lladó, Anna, Stumpp, Tom, Schäffer, Erik, Ricci, Francesco, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Self-sensing enzyme-powered micromotors equipped with pH-responsive DNA nanoswitches Nano Letters 19, (6), 3440-3447
Mestre, Rafael, Patiño, Tania, Barceló, Xavier, Anand, Shivesh, Pérez-Jiménez, Ariadna, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Force modulation and adaptability of 3D-bioprinted biological actuators based on skeletal muscle tissue Advanced Materials Technologies 4, (2), 1800631
Palacios, L. S., Katuri, J., Pagonabarraga, I., Sánchez, S., (2019). Guidance of active particles at liquid-liquid interfaces near surfaces Soft Matter 15, (32), 6581-6588
Mestre, R., Patiño, T., Guix, M., Barceló, X., Sánchez, S., (2019). Design, optimization and characterization of bio-hybrid actuators based on 3D-bioprinted skeletal muscle tissue Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems
8th International Conference, Living Machines 2019 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science) , Springer International Publishing (Nara, Japan) 11556, 205-215
Martin, Aida, Vilela, Diana, Escarpa, Alberto, (2019). Carbon nanomaterials for advanced analytical micro- and nanotechnologies
Carbon-based Nanomaterials in Analytical Chemistry (ed. Garcia, C. D., Crevillén, A. G, Escarpa, A.), The Royal Society of Chemistry (London, UK) , 200-240
Patiño, Tania, Arqué, Xavier, Mestre, Rafael, Palacios, Lucas, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Fundamental aspects of enzyme-powered micro- and nanoswimmers Accounts of Chemical Research 51, (11), 2662–2671
Hortelão, A. C., Patiño, T., Perez-Jiménez, A., Blanco, A., Sánchez, S., (2018). Enzyme-powered nanobots enhance anticancer drug delivery Advanced Functional Materials 28, 1705086
Wang, Xu, Sridhar, Varun, Guo, Surong, Talebi, Nahid, Miguel-López, Albert, Hahn, Kersten, van Aken, Peter A., Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Fuel-free nanocap-like motors actuated under visible light Advanced Functional Materials 28, (25), 1705862
Patiño, Tania, Feiner-Gracia, Natalia, Arqué, Xavier, Miguel-López, Albert, Jannasch, Anita, Stumpp, Tom, Schäffer, Erik, Albertazzi, Lorenzo, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Influence of enzyme quantity and distribution on the self-propulsion of non-Janus urease-powered micromotors Journal of the American Chemical Society 140, (25), 7896-7903
Parmar, Jemish, Vilela, Diana, Villa, Katherine, Wang, Joseph, Sanchez, Samuel, (2018). Micro- and nanomotors as active environmental microcleaners and sensors Journal of the American Chemical Society 140, (30), 9317-9331
Katuri, Jaideep, Caballero, David, Voituriez, R., Samitier, Josep, Sanchez, Samuel, (2018). Directed flow of micromotors through alignment interactions with micropatterned ratchets ACS Nano 12, (7), 7282-7291
Vilela, Diana, Cossío, Unai, Parmar, Jemish, Martínez-Villacorta, Angel M., Gómez-Vallejo, Vanessa, Llop, Jordi, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Medical imaging for the tracking of micromotors ACS Nano 12, (2), 1120-1227
Katuri, Jaideep, Uspal, William E., Simmchen, Juliane, Miguel-López, Albert, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Cross-stream migration of active particles Science Advances 4, (1), eaao1755
Xuan, Mingjun, Mestre, Rafael, Gao, Changyong, Zhou, Chang, He, Qiang, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Noncontinuous super-diffusive dynamics of a light-activated nanobottle motor Angewandte Chemie International Edition 57, (23), 6838-6842
Villa, Katherine, Parmar, Jemish, Vilela, Diana, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Metal-oxide-based microjets for the simultaneous removal of organic pollutants and heavy metals ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 10, (24), 20478-20486
Romeo, Agostino, Moya, Ana, Leung, Tammy S., Gabriel, Gemma, Villa, Rosa, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Inkjet printed flexible non-enzymatic glucose sensor for tear fluid analysis Applied Materials Today 10, 133-141
Villa, Katherine, Parmar, Jemish, Vilela, Diana, Sanchez, Samuel, (2018). Core-shell microspheres for the ultrafast degradation of estrogen hormone at neutral pH RSC Advances 8, (11), 5840-5847
Mestre, Rafael, Patiño, Tania, Barceló, Xavier, Sanchez, Samuel, (2018). 3D Bioprinted muscle-based bio-actuators: Force adaptability due to training Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems
7th International Conference, Living Machines 2018 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science) , Springer International Publishing (Paris, France) 10928, 316-320
Parmar, J., Villa, K., Vilela, D., Sánchez, S., (2017). Platinum-free cobalt ferrite based micromotors for antibiotic removal Applied Materials Today 9, 605-611
Katuri, Jaideep, Ma, Xing, Stanton, Morgan M., Sánchez, Samuel, (2017). Designing micro- and nanoswimmers for specific applications Accounts of Chemical Research 50, (1), 2-11
Stanton, Morgan M., Park, Byung-Wook, Vilela, Diana, Bente, Klaas, Faivre, Damien, Sitti, Metin, Sanchez, Samuel, (2017). Magnetotactic bacteria powered biohybrids target E. coli biofilms ACS Nano 11, (10), 9968-9978
Stanton, Morgan M., Sánchez, Samuel, (2017). Pushing bacterial biohybrids to in vivo applications
Trends in Biotechnology , 35, (10), 910-913
Stanton, M. M., Park, B. W., Miguel-López, A., Ma, X., Sitti, M., Sánchez, S., (2017). Biohybrid microtube swimmers driven by single captured bacteria Small 13, (19), 1603679
Vilela, D., Stanton, M. M., Parmar, J., Sánchez, S., (2017). Microbots decorated with silver nanoparticles kill bacteria in aqueous media ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 9, (27), 22093-22100
Vilela, D., Hortelao, A. C., Balderas-Xicohtencatl, R., Hirscher, M., Hahn, K., Ma, X., Sanchez, S., (2017). Facile fabrication of mesoporous silica micro-jets with multi-functionalities Nanoscale 9, 13990
Ma, Xing, Sánchez, Samuel, (2017). Self-propelling micro-nanorobots: challenges and future perspectives in nanomedicine Nanomedicine 12, (12), 1363-1367
Simmchen, Juliane, Baeza, Alejandro, Miguel-Lopez, Albert, Stanton, Morgan M., Vallet-Regi, Maria, Ruiz-Molina, Daniel, Sánchez, Samuel, (2017). Dynamics of novel photoactive AgCl microstars and their environmental applications ChemNanoMat 3, (1), 65-71
Ma, X., Sánchez, S., (2017). Bio-catalytic mesoporous Janus nano-motors powered by catalase enzyme
Tetrahedron , 73, (33), 4883-4886
Parmar, Jemish, Vilela, Diana, Sanchez, Samuel, (2016). Tubular microjets: Fabrication, factors affecting the motion and mechanism of propulsion
The European Physical Journal: Special Topics , 225, (11), 2255-2267
Ma, Xing, Horteläo, Ana C., Patiño, Tania, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Enzyme catalysis to power micro/nanomachines ACS Nano 10, (10), 9111–9122
Ma, Xing, Wang, Xu, Hahn, Kersten, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Motion control of urea powered biocompatible hollow microcapsules ACS Nano 10, (3), 3597-3605
Ma, Xing, Jang, Seungwook, Popescu, Mihail N., Uspal, William E., Miguel-López, Albert, Hahn, Kersten, Kiam, Dong-Pyo, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Reversed Janus micro/nanomotors with internal chemical engine ACS Nano 10, (9), 8751-8759
Ma, Xing, Hortelao, Ana C., Miguel-López, Albert, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Bubble-free propulsion of ultrasmall tubular nanojets powered by biocatalytic reactions Journal of the American Chemical Society 138, (42), 13782–13785
Vilela, Diana, Parmar, Jemish, Zeng, Yongfei, Zhao, Yanli, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Graphene based microbots for toxic heavy metal removal and recovery from water Nano Letters 16, (4), 2860-2866
Parmar, J., Vilela, D., Pellicer, E., Esqué-de los Ojos, D., Sort, J., Sánchez, S., (2016). Reusable and long-lasting active microcleaners for heterogeneous water remediation Advanced Functional Materials 26, (23), 4152-4161
Simmchen, J., Katuri, J., Uspal, W. E., Popescu, M. N., Tasinkevych, M., Sánchez, S., (2016). Topographical pathways guide chemical microswimmers Nature Communications 7, 10598
Maggi, Claudio, Simmchen, Juliane, Saglimbeni, Filippo, Katuri, Jaideep, Dipalo, Michele, De Angelis, Francesco, Sánchez, Samuel, Di Leonardo, Roberto, (2016). Self-assembly of micromachining systems powered by Janus micromotors Small 12, (4), 446-451
Katuri, J., Seo, K. D., Kim, D. S., Sánchez, S., (2016). Artificial micro-swimmers in simulated natural environments Lab on a Chip 16, (7), 1101-1105
Vilela, Diana, Romeo, Agostino, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Flexible sensors for biomedical technology Lab on a Chip 16, (3), 402-408
Safdar, M., Janis, J., Sánchez, S., (2016). Microfluidic fuel cells for energy generation Lab on a Chip 16, (15), 2754-2758
Patino, T., Mestre, R., Sánchez, S., (2016). Miniaturized soft bio-hybrid robotics: a step forward into healthcare applications Lab on a Chip 16, (19), 3626-3630
Caballero, D., Katuri, J., Samitier, J., Sánchez, S., (2016). Motion in microfluidic ratchets Lab on a Chip 16, (23), 4477-4481
Romeo, A., Leung, T. S., Sánchez, S., (2016). Smart biosensors for multiplexed and fully integrated point-of-care diagnostics Lab on a Chip 16, (11), 1957-1961
Stanton, Morgan M., Simmchen, Juliane, Ma, Xing, Miguel-López, Albert, Sánchez, Samuel, (2016). Biohybrid Janus motors driven by Escherichia coli
Advanced Materials Interfaces , 3, (2), 1500505
Ma, X., Jannasch, A., Albrecht, U. R., Hahn, K., Miguel-López, A., Schäffer, E., Sánchez, S., (2015). Enzyme-powered hollow mesoporous Janus nanomotors Nano Letters 15, (10), 7043-7050
Ma, X., Hahn, K., Sánchez, S., (2015). Catalytic mesoporous janus nanomotors for active cargo delivery Journal of the American Chemical Society 137, (15), 4976-4979
Sánchez, S., Soler, L., Katuri, J., (2015). Chemically powered micro- and nanomotors Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 54, (4), 1414-1444
Ma, X., Katuri, J., Zeng, Y., Zhao, Y., Sánchez, S., (2015). Surface conductive graphene-wrapped micromotors exhibiting enhanced motion Small 11, (38), 5023–5027
Choudhury, Udit, Soler, Lluis, Gibbs, John, Sánchez, Samuel, Fischer, Peer, (2015). Surface roughness-induced speed increase for active Janus micromotors Chemical Communications 51, 8660-8663
Stanton, M. M., Trichet-Paredes, C., Sánchez, S., (2015). Applications of three-dimensional (3D) printing for microswimmers and bio-hybrid robotics Lab on a Chip 15, (7), 1634-1637
Stanton, M. M., Samitier, J., Sánchez, S., (2015). Bioprinting of 3D hydrogels Lab on a Chip 15, (15), 3111-3115
Seo, K. D., Kim, D. S., Sánchez, S., (2015). Fabrication and applications of complex-shaped microparticles via microfluidics Lab on a Chip 15, (18), 3622-3626
Parmar, Jemish, Jang, Seungwook, Soler, Lluis, Kim, Dong-Pyo, Sánchez, Samuel, (2015). Nano-photocatalysts in microfluidics, energy conversion and environmental applications Lab on a Chip 15, 2352-2356
Wang, Lei, Sánchez, Samuel, (2015). Self-assembly via microfluidics Lab on a Chip 15, (23), 4383-4386
Arayanarakool, Rerngchai, Meyer, Anne K., Helbig, Linda, Sánchez, Samuel, Schmidt, Oliver G., (2015). Tailoring three-dimensional architectures by rolled-up nanotechnology for mimicking microvasculatures Lab on a Chip 15, 2981-2989
Mendes, Rafael Gregorio, Koch, Britta, Bachmatiuk, Alicja, Ma, Xing, Sánchez, Samuel, Damm, Christine, Schmidt, Oliver G., Gemming, Thomas, Eckert, Jurgen, Rummeli, Mark H., (2015). A size dependent evaluation of the cytotoxicity and uptake of nanographene oxide Journal of Materials Chemistry B 3, (12), 2522-2529
Paxton, W., Sánchez, S., Nitta, T., (2015). Guest editorial: Special issue micro- and nanomachines
IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience , 14, (3), 258-259
Seo, K. D., Kwak, B. K., Sánchez, S., Kim, D. S., (2015). Microfluidic-assisted fabrication of flexible and location traceable organo-motor
IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience , 14, (3), 298-304
Khalil, I. S. M., Magdanz, V., Sánchez, S., Schmidt, O. G., Misra, S., (2015). Precise localization and control of catalytic janus micromotors using weak magnetic fields
International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems , 12, (2), 1-7
Equipment
Microscopy
- Leica THUNDER Imager Live Cell & 3D Cell Culture with Computational Clearing to obtain high-speed and high-quality imaging of thick 3D dimensional specimens (Leica Microsystems)
- Leica DMi8. Inverted Fluorescent microscope with cell incubator, galvo stage for 3D tracking (Leica Microsystems)
- Leica DMI3000B. Inverted Fluorescent microscope (Leica Microsystems)
- Leica DM2500MH. Upright microscope (Leica Microsystems)
Characterization
- Leica EM ACE600. High vacuum sputter & carbon thread coater (Leica Microsystems)
- Rheometer DHR2 (TA Instruments)
- Dynamic Light Scattering & Z-Potential (Wyatt)
- UV-Visible Spectrometer (Analytik Jena)
3D Printing
- Form 2 3D printer (Formlabs)
- Inkredible+ 3D Bioprinter (Cellink)
Surface treatment
- Oxygen Plasma cleaner (Deiner Electronics)
- Spin coater (Laurell)
- Langmuir Blodgett (KSV NIMA)
- UV Irradiation System (Vilber Lourmat)
Biospace
- Biological Safety Cabinet Bio II Advance Plus (Telstar)
- Incubator Galaxy170 S (Eppendorf)
- Orbital Shaker-Incubator ES-20 (Biosan)
- Water bath VWB2 (VWR)
Chromatography
- Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (Bio-Rad)
Sensing & electronics
- Autolab Galvostat/Potentiostat (Metrohm)
- Wave form source; Voltage amplifier (Tabor Electronics)
- Oscilloscope (Rigol)
- Portable Potentiostat-Galvanostat and Multiplexer (PalmSens)
- DC power supply (Hameg)
Microfluidics
- MFCS-EZ Microfluidic flow control system (Fluigent)
- AL4000 Aladdin Double Syringe Pump (WPI)
Recording cameras
- Video camera (1000+ fps) (Hamamatsu)
- High speed camera (10000+ fps) (Vision Research)
- CCD video camera (100fps) (Thorlabs)
Others
- Centrifuge (Eppendorf)
- Test tube heater; Eppendorf tube Shaker (Hach)
- Sonicator (VWR)
- Sonicator (Branson)
- Vortex (VWR)
- TOC Analyser (Analytik Jena)
- Homogenizer (BennetSc)
- Non-Magnetic Stirrer (Daihan)
- Thermolyne Furnace (Thermo Scientific)
- Hydrothermal Reactor (Berghof)
- DUO 3 Dual Stage Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump (Pfeiffer Vacuum)
Collaborations
- Prof. D.P. Kim
National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Korea - Prof. S. Dietrich, Dr. M. Popescu, M. Tasinkevych, Dr. W. Uspal
Theory of Soft Condensed Matter, MPI for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany - Prof. M. Sitti
Physical Intelligence department, MPI for Intelligent Systems - Prof. R. Di Leonardo
Universtità La Sapienza, Rome, Italy - Prof. J. Sort, Dr. Eva Pellicer
Physics Department, Universitat Autònoma de Bellaterra (UAB), Spain - Dr. D. Esqué
The School of Materials, The University of Manchester, UK - Dr. J. Llop
CIC BiomaGUNE, San Sebastián, Spain - Prof. F. Ricci
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy - Dr. Ll. Soler
Institute of Energy Technologies (INTE), UPC (ETSEIB), Barcelona - Prof. E. Shäffer
Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), University of Tübingen, Germany - Dr. L. Albertazzi
Nanoscopy group, IBEC - Prof. J. Samitier
NanoBioengineering Group, IBEC - Dr. D. Caballero
University of Minho, Portugal - Prof. R. Voituriez
CNRS/Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France - Dr. G. Gabriel and Prof. R. Villa
Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC) - Dr. R. Artuch
Laboratorio de enfermedades metabólicas hereditarias, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona.
News/Jobs
We are happy to receive CVs and enquiries from talented individuals. Prospective students and staff are encouraged to contact us to discuss possibilities. Please feel free to suggest new projects, areas of research or new ideas.
Current job openings in the group are listed on the jobs page.
Nanorobots hit the media
A team of researchers led by Samuel Sánchez from IBEC appear in different media for the study published in the prestigious journal Science Robotics, where for the first time they have monitored the behavior of millions of nanorobots inside the bladder of living mice.
Observed in vivo the collective movement of nanorobots
A team of researchers led by Samuel Sánchez from IBEC has monitored, for the first time, the behaviour of a swarm of nanorobots inside living mice. The study, published in the prestigious journal Science Robotics, reveals a coordinated movement, which could result in a very promising future in the field of precision medicine.
IBEC in the Rare Diseases Day
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia appears in “The New Barcelona Post” on the occasion of the Rare Diseases Day.
Nanomedicine against rare diseases joins forces
Nano Rare Diseases Day is an event organized for February 24th within the framework of the World Day for Minority Diseases, in which will be known the latest innovations in the field of Nanomedicine for the treatment and diagnosis of these diseases also known as rare or orphan.
Researchers develop enzyme-powered micromotors based on metal-organic porous materials
In a new article published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers describe how they successfully designed and fabricated bubble-propelled enzymatic micromotors built from a highly porous metal-organic framework (MOF). These new micromotors might lead to applications for drug delivery, and adsorption of pollutants.
Microrobots mobility and ionic strenght: theory and experiments reveal their relationship
The group of ICREA Professor Samuel Sánchez at IBEC leads a work revealing that the self-propelled movement of microrobots depends on the amount of salts, called ionic strength, present in the liquid they navigate in. By combining theoretical and experimental work, researchers develop a model explaining the relationship between ionic strenght and mobility.
The amazing journey of Samuel Sánchez on the radio
Samuel Sánchez, group leader at IBEC is interviewed in the radio program of RNE “Gente Despierta”
Controlling the speed of enzyme motors brings biomedical applications of nanorobots closer
A study by scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), the Universidad Complutense (UCM), Universidad de Girona (UdG), and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), working together with other international centers, has overcome one of the key hurdles to the use of nanorobots powered by enzymes called lipases.
LipoBots in the media
Samuel Sánchez group leader at IBEC featured in diffrent media because of his latest publication about “LipoBots”.
LipoBots: robust nanomotors for biomedical applications developed with encapsulation technology
Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) have developed a new type of encapsulated enzyme nanomotors.
The called LipoBots, which could be used for medical applications. LipoBots are capable to self-propulsate and to retain their enzymatic functionality in conditions similar to those of the human stomach.
Maria Demestre, a senior expert in neuromuscular connections and diseases, joins IBEC from Germany
Maria Demestre, a senior scientist and expert in defining molecular alterations and neurophysiological factors in neurons, and skeletal muscle and neuromuscular connections leading to diseases, joins IBEC within the Smart Nano-Bio-Devices group.
In a recent paper led by Ulm University in Germany and co-authored and co-led by Demestre, researchers describe the effect of SHANK3 protein on muscle tissues of patients with autism disorder.
New biodegradable nanomotors for biomedical applications
A paper published in Nano Letters describes the engineering and functionality of a biocompatible and biodegradable nanomotor. This hybrid structure, which is composed of an organic exterior, propels itself using inorganic nanoparticles acting as an engine that the researchers have synthesized inside the nanomotor.
The research was led by Jan van Hest and Laoi Abdelmohsen from the Institute of Complex Molecular Systems at TU/e in collaboration with Samuel Sánchez from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Barcelona, as well as researchers based in China and the UK.
Artificial systems imitate how cells move and communicate
A review published in the scientific journal Small elegantly summarises the most important cellular biomimicry research of the past few years on synthetic soft-architectures, with a view to inspiring future developments in the field.
Samuel Sánchez, Group Leader at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) co-authored this piece, alongside world-renowned experts in bioengineering and cell synthesis.
Samuel Sánchez, a referent in the nanotechnology field, elected new member of the Young Academy of Spain
An international committee has elected Samuel Sánchez, the European referent in nanomotors, as one of the new 13 researchers, among 185 candidates, who will be a member of the Young Academy of Spain.
Last Thursday, May 28, the General Board of the Young Academy of Spain elected 13 new academic members. An independent international committee composed of highly prestigious researchers from different areas of knowledge participated in the selection process.
School research projects on bioengineering developed at IBEC have great success
Last March Alex Pachón, a stutent that did his research project at IBEC won the CRACKS Prize awarded each year by the University of Girona (UdG) thanks to his School Research Project on nanobiotechnology applied to cancer medicine. Filotea Crasovan won the Foro de Gracia contest.
Alex’s work, entitled ‘The secret of oncological medicine hidden in the nanoworld’, is one of the 25 school research projects tutored last year by IBEC researchers.
Samuel Sánchez elected new member of the Young Academy of Spain
An international committee has elected Samuel Sánchez, the European referent in nanomotors, as one of the new 13 researchers, among 185 candidates, who will be a member of the Young Academy of Spain.
Tania Patiño talks about biobots at RTVE
Tania Patiño at the radio program “Open Future” at RTVE talks about biobots and the future that awaits thanks to the research in the field of biological nanorobots, also known as smart-nano-bio-devices.
Nanomotors at the radio show “la poma de Newton”
Samuel Sánchez, Principal Investigator at IBEC talks about microscopic engines carrying antibodies that selectively destroy cancer cells. Specifically in their group, they create urea-powered nanomotors to fight bladder cancer
Samuel Sánchez wins an ERC Consolidator Grant to study the collective behaviour of self-propelled nanorobots

Samuel Sánchez, Group Leader at IBEC and ICREA Research Professor, has been awarded the prestigious “Consolidator Grant” of the European Research Council (ERC). With his i-NANOSWARMS project, Sánchez and his team at the Smart Nano-Bio-Devices Group will study the collective behaviour of nanorobots capable of self-propelling, and thus study their possible application in drug delivery and imaging diagnosis.
The highly sought-after ERC Consolidator grants are awarded to EU-based principal investigators with at least seven and up to twelve years of experience after his PhD who have demonstrated talent and scientific potential.
Three researchers from IBEC awarded with grants from “la Caixa” for their pioneering and high social impact research
José Antonio del Río, Pau Gorostiza, and Samuel Sánchez have been awarded in two of the “la Caixa” calls.
José Antonio del Río, principal investigator of the Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology Group at IBEC, is one of the winners of the second edition of the call for applications in biomedicine and health. Del Río’s project focuses on analysing the molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and propagation of tau protein in brain cells. This protein is linked with several neurodegenerative processes and is present in numerous diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Pau Gorostiza, principal investigator of the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches Group, also received an award at the second edition of the call for applications for research projects in biomedicine and health. In this case, for his project on degenerative eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, which causes blindness due to the progressive degeneration of the cones and rods, which are the light sensitive cells.
Discovered the determining factors for the propulsion of microrobots
A study led by researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) opens the door to moving new microscopic objects using an entire library of enzymes According to experts, these microrobots will be able to be used in the near future for environmental and biomedical purposes.
Swallowing a pill to cure a serious disease or adding a pinch of a synthetic powder to purify water seemed like concepts from science fiction up to only a few generations ago. However, the appearance of new disciplines, such as bioengineering, is raising the level of sophistication and specialisation of new materials to unforeseen limits.
3D bioprinted robots
IBEC’s Smart Nano-Bio-Devices group – the institute’s experts in micro- and nanorobots – have used 3D bioprinting to produce ‘biorobots’ made of biological elements such as muscle tissue.
These bio-inspired soft robotic devices could offer many more capabilities for movement and performance – such as real-time bio-sensing, self-organization, adaptability, or self-healing – than existing systems, which use solely artificial materials.
“Bio-inspired soft robotics is an exciting new discipline, as it may help us overcome the limitations of traditional robotic systems, such as flexibility, responsiveness and adaptability,” says Samuel Sanchez, group leader at IBEC and ICREA research professor.
Samuel breaks own record for smallest jet engine
Samuel Sanchez has broken his own Guinness World Record for the smallest jet engine.
The ultimate authority in record-breaking achievements has recognized his and Xing Ma’s nanotube, 220nm or 0.00022 millimeters in size, as the world’s tiniest jet engine. Previously, Samuel and his collaborators from IFW Dresden held the record until this year, with a 600nm tube.
The tubular ‘engine’ is powered by an enzyme-triggered biocatalytic reaction using urea as fuel. The reaction creates an internal flow that extends out into the surrounding fluid through one of the cavities, causing a flux of fluid that results in thrust, propelling the nanotube along.
Samuel receives Premi Nacional de Recerca al Talent Jove
Yesterday IBEC group leader and ICREA research professor Samuel Sánchez was one of the five honorees at the ceremony of the Premis Nacionals de Recerca 2016 of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI).
Samuel received his Young Talent award from president of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont, Minister for Business and Enterprise Jordi Baiget, actress Silvia Bel, and FCRI president Antoni Esteve at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya.
Samuel Sánchez wins National Research Award for Young Talent
IBEC group leader and ICREA researcher Samuel Sánchez has been announced as the winner of this year’s Premi Nacional de Recerca al Talent Jove (National Research Award for Young Talent) from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI).
The prestigious honour and cash prize of €10,000 is awarded annually to the most accomplished young researcher in Catalonia.
Samuel wows crowd with nanorobots talk
Yesterday evening, an audience of nearly a hundred enjoyed a special public seminar by IBEC group leader and ICREA research professor Samuel Sánchez.
The Smart nano-bio-devices group leader’s talk, Nanorobots de la ciència-ficció a la realitat, which took place in the PCB’s Sala Dolors Aleu, was one of this year’s Setmana de la Ciència events.
Young and old alike enjoyed Samuel’s evolution of the nanorobots he has been working on for the past few years – their shape, speed and controllability improving all the time, as well as finding new and better methods of propulsion – and he began by dispelling some science fiction myths about what sort of things such nanomachines might expect to encounter on their journeys through the human body.
“Entrevista Samuel Sánchez / J.M.Mainat“
A video of Samuel Sánchez taking part in April’s Festival de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología.
Samuel Sánchez wins FPdGi award for scientific research
IBEC group leader Samuel Sánchez is this year’s winner of the Premio Fundación Princesa de Girona Investigación Científica for his advances in in the field of nanotechnology.
Samuel’s work was recognised in particular for his pioneering design of self-propelled nanorobots that could improve the accuracy of drug delivery, as well as having potential environmental applications.
This year is the sixth edition of the national FPdGi Awards, which are given by the Fundación Princesa de Girona and which recognise the innovative and exemplary careers of young people between the ages of 16 and 35.
Nanorobots hit the media
A team of researchers led by Samuel Sánchez from IBEC appear in different media for the study published in the prestigious journal Science Robotics, where for the first time they have monitored the behavior of millions of nanorobots inside the bladder of living mice.
Observed in vivo the collective movement of nanorobots
A team of researchers led by Samuel Sánchez from IBEC has monitored, for the first time, the behaviour of a swarm of nanorobots inside living mice. The study, published in the prestigious journal Science Robotics, reveals a coordinated movement, which could result in a very promising future in the field of precision medicine.
IBEC in the Rare Diseases Day
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia appears in “The New Barcelona Post” on the occasion of the Rare Diseases Day.
Nanomedicine against rare diseases joins forces
Nano Rare Diseases Day is an event organized for February 24th within the framework of the World Day for Minority Diseases, in which will be known the latest innovations in the field of Nanomedicine for the treatment and diagnosis of these diseases also known as rare or orphan.
Researchers develop enzyme-powered micromotors based on metal-organic porous materials
In a new article published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers describe how they successfully designed and fabricated bubble-propelled enzymatic micromotors built from a highly porous metal-organic framework (MOF). These new micromotors might lead to applications for drug delivery, and adsorption of pollutants.
Microrobots mobility and ionic strenght: theory and experiments reveal their relationship
The group of ICREA Professor Samuel Sánchez at IBEC leads a work revealing that the self-propelled movement of microrobots depends on the amount of salts, called ionic strength, present in the liquid they navigate in. By combining theoretical and experimental work, researchers develop a model explaining the relationship between ionic strenght and mobility.
The amazing journey of Samuel Sánchez on the radio
Samuel Sánchez, group leader at IBEC is interviewed in the radio program of RNE “Gente Despierta”
Controlling the speed of enzyme motors brings biomedical applications of nanorobots closer
A study by scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), the Universidad Complutense (UCM), Universidad de Girona (UdG), and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), working together with other international centers, has overcome one of the key hurdles to the use of nanorobots powered by enzymes called lipases.
LipoBots in the media
Samuel Sánchez group leader at IBEC featured in diffrent media because of his latest publication about “LipoBots”.
LipoBots: robust nanomotors for biomedical applications developed with encapsulation technology
Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) have developed a new type of encapsulated enzyme nanomotors.
The called LipoBots, which could be used for medical applications. LipoBots are capable to self-propulsate and to retain their enzymatic functionality in conditions similar to those of the human stomach.
Maria Demestre, a senior expert in neuromuscular connections and diseases, joins IBEC from Germany
Maria Demestre, a senior scientist and expert in defining molecular alterations and neurophysiological factors in neurons, and skeletal muscle and neuromuscular connections leading to diseases, joins IBEC within the Smart Nano-Bio-Devices group.
In a recent paper led by Ulm University in Germany and co-authored and co-led by Demestre, researchers describe the effect of SHANK3 protein on muscle tissues of patients with autism disorder.
New biodegradable nanomotors for biomedical applications
A paper published in Nano Letters describes the engineering and functionality of a biocompatible and biodegradable nanomotor. This hybrid structure, which is composed of an organic exterior, propels itself using inorganic nanoparticles acting as an engine that the researchers have synthesized inside the nanomotor.
The research was led by Jan van Hest and Laoi Abdelmohsen from the Institute of Complex Molecular Systems at TU/e in collaboration with Samuel Sánchez from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Barcelona, as well as researchers based in China and the UK.
Artificial systems imitate how cells move and communicate
A review published in the scientific journal Small elegantly summarises the most important cellular biomimicry research of the past few years on synthetic soft-architectures, with a view to inspiring future developments in the field.
Samuel Sánchez, Group Leader at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) co-authored this piece, alongside world-renowned experts in bioengineering and cell synthesis.
Samuel Sánchez, a referent in the nanotechnology field, elected new member of the Young Academy of Spain
An international committee has elected Samuel Sánchez, the European referent in nanomotors, as one of the new 13 researchers, among 185 candidates, who will be a member of the Young Academy of Spain.
Last Thursday, May 28, the General Board of the Young Academy of Spain elected 13 new academic members. An independent international committee composed of highly prestigious researchers from different areas of knowledge participated in the selection process.
School research projects on bioengineering developed at IBEC have great success
Last March Alex Pachón, a stutent that did his research project at IBEC won the CRACKS Prize awarded each year by the University of Girona (UdG) thanks to his School Research Project on nanobiotechnology applied to cancer medicine. Filotea Crasovan won the Foro de Gracia contest.
Alex’s work, entitled ‘The secret of oncological medicine hidden in the nanoworld’, is one of the 25 school research projects tutored last year by IBEC researchers.
Samuel Sánchez elected new member of the Young Academy of Spain
An international committee has elected Samuel Sánchez, the European referent in nanomotors, as one of the new 13 researchers, among 185 candidates, who will be a member of the Young Academy of Spain.
Tania Patiño talks about biobots at RTVE
Tania Patiño at the radio program “Open Future” at RTVE talks about biobots and the future that awaits thanks to the research in the field of biological nanorobots, also known as smart-nano-bio-devices.
Nanomotors at the radio show “la poma de Newton”
Samuel Sánchez, Principal Investigator at IBEC talks about microscopic engines carrying antibodies that selectively destroy cancer cells. Specifically in their group, they create urea-powered nanomotors to fight bladder cancer
Samuel Sánchez wins an ERC Consolidator Grant to study the collective behaviour of self-propelled nanorobots

Samuel Sánchez, Group Leader at IBEC and ICREA Research Professor, has been awarded the prestigious “Consolidator Grant” of the European Research Council (ERC). With his i-NANOSWARMS project, Sánchez and his team at the Smart Nano-Bio-Devices Group will study the collective behaviour of nanorobots capable of self-propelling, and thus study their possible application in drug delivery and imaging diagnosis.
The highly sought-after ERC Consolidator grants are awarded to EU-based principal investigators with at least seven and up to twelve years of experience after his PhD who have demonstrated talent and scientific potential.
Three researchers from IBEC awarded with grants from “la Caixa” for their pioneering and high social impact research
José Antonio del Río, Pau Gorostiza, and Samuel Sánchez have been awarded in two of the “la Caixa” calls.
José Antonio del Río, principal investigator of the Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology Group at IBEC, is one of the winners of the second edition of the call for applications in biomedicine and health. Del Río’s project focuses on analysing the molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and propagation of tau protein in brain cells. This protein is linked with several neurodegenerative processes and is present in numerous diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Pau Gorostiza, principal investigator of the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches Group, also received an award at the second edition of the call for applications for research projects in biomedicine and health. In this case, for his project on degenerative eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, which causes blindness due to the progressive degeneration of the cones and rods, which are the light sensitive cells.
Discovered the determining factors for the propulsion of microrobots
A study led by researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) opens the door to moving new microscopic objects using an entire library of enzymes According to experts, these microrobots will be able to be used in the near future for environmental and biomedical purposes.
Swallowing a pill to cure a serious disease or adding a pinch of a synthetic powder to purify water seemed like concepts from science fiction up to only a few generations ago. However, the appearance of new disciplines, such as bioengineering, is raising the level of sophistication and specialisation of new materials to unforeseen limits.
3D bioprinted robots
IBEC’s Smart Nano-Bio-Devices group – the institute’s experts in micro- and nanorobots – have used 3D bioprinting to produce ‘biorobots’ made of biological elements such as muscle tissue.
These bio-inspired soft robotic devices could offer many more capabilities for movement and performance – such as real-time bio-sensing, self-organization, adaptability, or self-healing – than existing systems, which use solely artificial materials.
“Bio-inspired soft robotics is an exciting new discipline, as it may help us overcome the limitations of traditional robotic systems, such as flexibility, responsiveness and adaptability,” says Samuel Sanchez, group leader at IBEC and ICREA research professor.
Samuel breaks own record for smallest jet engine
Samuel Sanchez has broken his own Guinness World Record for the smallest jet engine.
The ultimate authority in record-breaking achievements has recognized his and Xing Ma’s nanotube, 220nm or 0.00022 millimeters in size, as the world’s tiniest jet engine. Previously, Samuel and his collaborators from IFW Dresden held the record until this year, with a 600nm tube.
The tubular ‘engine’ is powered by an enzyme-triggered biocatalytic reaction using urea as fuel. The reaction creates an internal flow that extends out into the surrounding fluid through one of the cavities, causing a flux of fluid that results in thrust, propelling the nanotube along.
Samuel receives Premi Nacional de Recerca al Talent Jove
Yesterday IBEC group leader and ICREA research professor Samuel Sánchez was one of the five honorees at the ceremony of the Premis Nacionals de Recerca 2016 of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI).
Samuel received his Young Talent award from president of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont, Minister for Business and Enterprise Jordi Baiget, actress Silvia Bel, and FCRI president Antoni Esteve at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya.
Samuel Sánchez wins National Research Award for Young Talent
IBEC group leader and ICREA researcher Samuel Sánchez has been announced as the winner of this year’s Premi Nacional de Recerca al Talent Jove (National Research Award for Young Talent) from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI).
The prestigious honour and cash prize of €10,000 is awarded annually to the most accomplished young researcher in Catalonia.
Samuel wows crowd with nanorobots talk
Yesterday evening, an audience of nearly a hundred enjoyed a special public seminar by IBEC group leader and ICREA research professor Samuel Sánchez.
The Smart nano-bio-devices group leader’s talk, Nanorobots de la ciència-ficció a la realitat, which took place in the PCB’s Sala Dolors Aleu, was one of this year’s Setmana de la Ciència events.
Young and old alike enjoyed Samuel’s evolution of the nanorobots he has been working on for the past few years – their shape, speed and controllability improving all the time, as well as finding new and better methods of propulsion – and he began by dispelling some science fiction myths about what sort of things such nanomachines might expect to encounter on their journeys through the human body.
“Entrevista Samuel Sánchez / J.M.Mainat“
A video of Samuel Sánchez taking part in April’s Festival de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología.
Samuel Sánchez wins FPdGi award for scientific research
IBEC group leader Samuel Sánchez is this year’s winner of the Premio Fundación Princesa de Girona Investigación Científica for his advances in in the field of nanotechnology.
Samuel’s work was recognised in particular for his pioneering design of self-propelled nanorobots that could improve the accuracy of drug delivery, as well as having potential environmental applications.
This year is the sixth edition of the national FPdGi Awards, which are given by the Fundación Princesa de Girona and which recognise the innovative and exemplary careers of young people between the ages of 16 and 35.
ERC Workshop
Crafting a Winning ERC Proposal: A Workshop with ERC officers and grantees
Invited talks
Invited talks
-
Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Clustering and Global Challenges” (CGC2021) international conference | Swarms of nanorobots: smart nanoparticles swimming in vivo | 09.04.2021Online Conference
-
Prof. Samuel Sánchez | 3rd MANA reunion Workshop (NIMS, Japan) | Bioengineering hybrid robots: from nanobots to 3D BioRobots | 04-05.03.2021Online Seminar
-
Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Co-organizer and speaker | Crafting a Winning ERC Proposal: A Workshop with ERC officers and grantees | 18.02.2021Online Workshop
- Dr. Tania Patiño | 2020 BIST Conference, Building a sustainable world together | October 2020
Speaker at Roundtable I: MOFs, a Powerful Framework for Pollution Remediation
Online Conference -
Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Florida A&M University – Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) CBE Seminar Series | 23.10.2020Online Seminar
-
Prof. Samuel Sánchez | NanoBio&Med Online | July 2020Online Conference
-
Dr. Maria Guix | International Friends Talk Science | July 2020Organized by Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors GroupVirtual Seminar
-
Dr. Marco de Corato | Seminar at l’École Polytechnique de Paris | May 2020Organized by Laboratoire d’hydrodynamiqueVirtual Seminar
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | European Research Council (ERC) Conference : “Frontier Research: Creating Pathways to Sustainability” | Keynote speaker and discussion panellist | 2.12.2019
Tiny self-powered submarines: Nanorobots for clean water
Brussels, Belgium - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | NanoBio&Med 2019 | Keynote talk | 20.11.2019
Nanomotors: Artificial active matter for nanomedicine
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited AMN Seminar, CEITEC Nanorobots Center | 15.10.2019
Nanorobots as novel theranostic tools: smart drug delivery and imaging
Brno, Czech Republic - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, School of Materials Science and Engineering HIT | 04.09.2019
Nanomotors for environmental and biological applications
Shenzhen, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Engineering Living Systems. Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 03.09.2019
Shenzhen, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, SUSTECH University | 02.09.2019
Nanorobots and Soft Robots
Shenzhen, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Chemical Engineering School, HIT Harbin | 29.08.2019
Chemically powered nanomotor
Harbin, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, Workshop on nanorobots for medicine, HIT Harbin | 28.08.2019
Chemical nanorobots for medicine
Harbin, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, 2nd International Conference on Micro/Nanomachines | 28.08.2019
Enzyme-powered hybrid micro-nano-motors: Fundamentals towards applications
Harbin, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Xiamen University | 24.08.2019
Nanomotors and Biobots
Harbin, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | International Workshop – Microscale Motion and Light | 24.08.2019
Enzyme-powered nanomotors from fundamentals to applications
Dresden, Germany - Dr. Maria Guix | International Workshop – Microscale Motion and Light | July 2019
Organized by Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
Dresden, Germany - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | IBEC-ICMS Symposium | 16.07.2019
Engineering living systems across length scales
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited seminar, University Tor Vergata | 15.07.2019
NanoBOTs to 3D BioBOTs as Future tools
Rome, Italy - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | The Hamelin Symposium on Medical Robotics | 26.06.2019
Enzyme-powered Nanorobots Towards their Applications in vivo: Enhanced Delivery, Sensing and Imaging
London, UK - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk, Opening Symposium B-Cube | 10.05.2019
Hybrid nanomotors: bioengineered active nano-systems powered by enzymes
Dresden, Germany - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | University of Tübingen | 07.05.2019
Active nanoparticles in fluids
Tübingen, Germany - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited ERC-Seminar | 03.05.2019
Nanobots to 3D BioBots as future tools in robotics and medicine
Brussels, Belgium - Dr. Maria Guix | Seminar at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science | May 2019
Thun, Switzerland - Rafael Mestre | 1st Cellink Collaborative Partnership | May 2019
Milan, Italy - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Biennal Ciutat I Ciència, La Pedrera | February 2019
Nanorobots para nuevas terapias y limpieza de agua
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | MRS Fall Meeting | 28.11.2018
Bioengineering hybrid machines: from Nanobots to 3D Biobots
Boston, USA - Dr. Maria Guix | 9 días dimension nano | November 2018
Organized by Sociedad Catalana de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología honoring the end of Feynman’s year
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, NanoBio&Med 2018 | 28.11.2018
Bioengineering hybrid machines for nanomedicine and soft robotics
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, ICMS at TU Eindhoven | 13.09.2018
Enzyme powered nanomotors from fundamentals to drug delivery
Eindhoven, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) | 01.08.2018
Nanorobots as future tools in nanomedicine (and more)
London, UK - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Columbia University, Molecular Machines Workshop | 28.05.2018
Engineering Hybrid Machines: from nanobots to 3D BioBots
New York City, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Synthetic Biogoly Lab/Massachusets Institute of Technology | 25.05.2018
Synthetic multifunctional Nanoswimmers
Cambridge, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Standford Medical School, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS) Department | 01.02.2018
Artificial Nanoswimmers as future tools in nanomedicine
San Francisco, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Panel Chair Talk, Aspen School of Physics | January 2018
Fundamentals of active particles
Aspen, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Talk, El País con tu futuro/Kinepolis | 21.12.2017
Nanorobots
Madrid, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk, Dept. Mat. Sciences, Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Barcelona | 15.12.2017
The chemistry and the materials of Micro-/Nano-machines
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, II Congreso Nacional de Jóvenes Investigadores en Biomedicina | 23.11.2017
Nanorobots and their future in NanoBiomedicine
Valencia, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, NanoBio&Med 2017| 22.11.2017
Enzyme Catalysis to Power Nanovehicles Towards Nanomedicine
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, Nanomedicie Summer School, Hospital Vall d’Hebron | 29.09.2017
Hybrid Micro- and Nano-machines towards their applications in Nanomedicine
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, Workshop Chem BioNano, CSIC | 14.09.2017
Biohybrid Robotic Systems: Learning From Nature
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, International Conference on Nano-Micro-Machines | 26.08.2017
Chemically and Biologically Powered Micromachines
Wuhan, China - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Institut Català d`Investigació Química (ICIQ) | 08.07.2017
Chemically engineered structures for micromotors
Tarragona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Bojos per la Química | 08.07.2017
Química en movimiento: Energía química para propulsar NanoRobots
Tarragona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) | 07.07.2017
NanoRobots and their potential applications in biomedicine
Reus, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Opening talk, BIYSC, La Pedrera House | 11.07.2017
Samuel and Nanorobots, a Fantastic Voyage
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Radboud University | 14.06.2017
Chemically engineered architectures for nanomotors
Nijmegen, The Netherlands - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk, Jornades de Biologia Molecular | 13.06.2017
Biohybrid Robotic Systems: Learning From Nature
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk, EChems Conference | 09.06.2017
Powering tiny particles with catalysis: self-powered nanomachines
Milano Maritima, Italy - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, Catalan Society of Chemistry | 03.05.2017
Nanorobots for biomedical and environmental applications
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, International Center for Leadership Development (CEDE) | 05.04.2017
Experimentando un viaje alucinante
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) | 12.12.2016
Nanomáquinas, ciencia ficción o realidad
Mexico City, Mexico - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, NanoBio&Med 2016 | 22.11.2016
Chemical Nanomachines as active drug nanovehicles
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Universitat Pompeu Fabra | 09.11.2016
Nanomicrorobots what for
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, University of Rome Tor Vergata | 02.11.2016
Enzyme powered nanomachines: Science fiction or reality
Rome, Italy - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Opening talk/Master of ceremony. MIT Innovators U35 Awards | 27.10.2016
Madrid, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Master of Excelence Awards of Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera | 06.10.2016
La ciencia, un viaje alucinante
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Colloquium at the Royal Academy of Sciences | 22-23.09.2016
Nanobots: catalysis powered nanoparticles
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote talk, GABBA International Conference 2016 | 15.07.2016
Nanorobots: smart self-powered nanoparticles towards biomedical applications
Porto, Portugal - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | TED Talk, TEDx Plaça del Fòrum | 28.05.2016
Nanorobots
Tarragona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Public talk, Caixa Forum | 15.04.2016
Nanorobots: esos diminutos submarinos que nos ayudarán en el futuro
Girona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Opening Lecture, PhD award ceremony/ Autonomous University of Barcelona | 08.04.2016
Cómo experimentar un viaje alucinante
Bellaterra, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, International Course on Leadership Development | 16.03.2016
Cómo experimentar un viaje alucinante
Granada, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Lecture, Award ceremony Joven Relevante | 01.03.2016
Nano-Robots and Nano-Machines: how small can you dream them?
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, International workshop Soft Matter at interfaces | 27-29.02.2016
Experiments on active matter at the micro- and nano-scale
Tegernsee, Germany - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Lecture, GABBA International PhD program | 23.02.2016
Nanorobots: the future smart tools in medicine?
Porto, Portugal - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Lecture, Acte premis Catalunya-La Pedrera | 19.02.2016
Fantastic Voyage: Back where everything started
Mont Sant Benet, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Lecture, Círculo Ecuestre de Barcelona | 11.02.2016
Nanobots Relevantes
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Global Robots Expo | 27-19.01.2016
NanoBots for Medicine and more
Madrid, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, POSTECH/Chemical Engineering Department | 3-4.12.2015
Engineering small self-powered nano-bio-devices
Korea, Republic of (South Korea) - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, POSTECH/Chemical Engineering Department | 1-2.12.2015
Ultra-compact smart nano-bio-devices for (bio)sensing and nanorobotics
Korea, Republic of (South Korea) - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Seminar, Gordon Conference Oscillations Instabilities in Chemical Systems | 22-25.09.2015
Strategies for controlling and guiding catalytic micro-motors
Stowe, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Summer School Jülich Forschungzentrum | 21.09.2015
Microswimmers based on tubular micro- and nanojets
Aachen, USA - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Highlight talk, EUROMAT | 22.09.2015
Synthesis of chemically powered nanomotors
Warsaw, Poland - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote Speaker, TNT Conference | 07-11.09.2015
Nano-bots as future trends in nano-bio-medicine
Toulouse, France - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited Appearance at MIT TR35 Germany representing Spanish innovators U35 | June 2015
Berlin, France - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, Engineering Chemical Complexity | 22.06.2015
Engineering Chemical Micro-and Nanomotors
Munich, Germany - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk, Jornades Doctorals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona | 27.05.2015
Fantantic Voyage: where everything started
Bellaterra, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, ZCAM Conference | 22.05.2015
Active Colloidal micromotors
Zaragoza, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited talk, TAU-IBEC Symposium | 16.05.2015
Smart Nano-Bio-Devices
Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Introductory Speaker, GAFOE Meeting | 15.04.2015
Potsdam, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Tutorial Lectures, MRS Tutorial Spring Meeting | 08.04.2015
Bio-inspired Micro-and Nanomachines
San Francisco, USA
Poster and oral contributions
- Xavier Arqué | 13th IBEC Symposium, Bioengineering for Future & Precision Medicine | October 2020
Poster contribution. Online conference - Ana C. Hortelão | 13th IBEC Symposium, Bioengineering for Future & Precision Medicine | October 2020
Poster contribution. Online conference - Dr. Veronika Magdanz | 13th IBEC Symposium, Bioengineering for Future & Precision Medicine | October 2020
Video contest and poster contribution. Online conference -
Dr. Maria Guix | 13th IBEC Symposium, Bioengineering for Future & Precision Medicine | October 2020Smart skeletons for 3D printed living biobots
Online Symposium – Best flash presentation - Dr. Veronika Magdanz | NanoBio&Med Online | July 2020
Oral contribution. Online Conference - Dr. Maria Guix | NanoBio&Med Online | July 2020
Oral contribution. Online Conference - Dr. Maria Guix | NanoBio&Med | November 2019
Oral contribution. Barcelona, Spain - Xavier Arqué | International Workshop – Microscale Motion and Light | July 2019
Poster contribution. Dresden, Germany - Rafael Mestre | 8th Living Machines Conference | July 2019
Oral contribution. Osaka, Japan - Rafael Mestre | NanoBio&Med | November 2018
Oral contribution. Barcelona, Spain - Xavier Arqué | NanoBio&Med | November 2019
Oral contribution. Barcelona, Spain - Xavier Arqué | Workshop on Molecules, Materials, Devices and Systems in Medicine | May 2018
Poster contribution. New York City, USA - Xavier Arqué | NanoBio&Med | November 2017
Poster contribution. Barcelona, Spain
Highlights
Outreach activities
26/02/2021 | Dr. Veronica Iacovacci, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club
Dr. Veronika Iacovacci, currently a Marie Curie Global Fellow jointly at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, joined us for the NBS Journal Club as a guest scientist to discuss about her previous and current work on SPECT Imaging with soft microrobots and the design of magnetic catheter. We really appreciate the time she spent with us and the fruitful discussion!
18/02/2021 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ERC Workshop
Prof. Samuel Sánchez co-organized the online ERC Workshop “Crafting a Winning ERC Proposal: A Workshop with ERC officers and grantees” and gave a talk on initial general tips, covering the myths, worries and fears and how to choose the right panel.
11/02/2021 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques
Virtual talk at the School Germans Corbella (Cardedeu) in the framework of the 100tifiques event.
21/01/2021 | Dr. Toni Llopis and Dr. Loai Abdelmohsen, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club
Dr. Toni Llopis and Dr. Loai Abdelmohsen, researchers at the University of Twente kindly shared some time with us, discussing over some of his papers and also presenting a piece of their recent research work on artificial cells and communication between them and living entities, in order to develop personalized therapeutic treatments. We really appreciate their time and we thank them for the fruitful discussions!
04/12/2020 | Prof. Victoria Webster-Wood, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club
Prof. Victoria Webster-Wood, Assistan Professor from the Carnegie Mellon University (USA) kindly shared her latest research results and accepted our invitation to our Journal Club. We discussed over bio-robotics while discussing three relevant papers from her group presented by Veronika and Judith. We really enjoyed the JC and having her virtually in our lab!
05/11/2020 | Prof. Wei Wang, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club
Prof. Wei Wang, from Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) kindly accepted our invitation to our Journal Club, in order to first discuss two relevant papers from his group to our research, and later present his latest results in the same session. We really appreciate his time and and his insightful presentation!
28/10/2020 | Dr. Maria Guix | 13th IBEC Symposium
Dr. Maria Guix wins IBEC Symposium Award for the best flash presentation!
26/09/2020 | Rafael Mestre /Xavier Arqué / Dr. Maria Guix | Bojos i boges per la
Bioenginyeria 2020
Session: Internalization of Nanomotors by cancer and non-cancer cells
September 2020 | Dr. Maria Guix | Batx2Lab program
Supervision of Sara González (Institut Jaume Almera, Vilassar de Dalt) during the short internship stay in the framework of Batx2Lab Program for the research work “La medecina regenerativa i les cèl·lules mare”, where she explored the creation of 3D printed muscles as models for personalized medicine. Dr. Maria Demestre taugh Sara about the insights of fluorescent microscopy and how it is apply to characterize skeletal muscle structure!
07/03/2020 | Rafael Mestre /Xavier Arqué / Dr. Maria Guix | Bojos i boges per la Bioenginyeria 2020
Session: Internalization of Nanomotors by cancer and non-cancer cells
11/02/2020 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques
Talk at the School Puig-Agut in Manlleu
27/10/2019 | Xavier Arqué | Participation at “13a Festa de la Ciència”
Moll de la Fusta of Barcelona
July 2019 | Dr. Maria Guix | Batx2Lab program
Supervision of Laia Marcos (Institut Puig Castellar) during the short internship stay in the framework of Batx2Lab Program for the research work “Impressió 3D d’un dit bionic basat en cèl·lules musculars”
05/04/2019 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary Talk at Ateneu Maó
04/04/2019 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Talk at High School center “Duc de Montblanc”
22/02/2019 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques
Talk at the School Escola Lluçanès in Prats de Lluçanès
09/02/2019 | Rafael Mestre | Biennal Ciutat i Ciència de Barcelona (La Pedrera)
Taller “Què és la Nanoescala i com ens afecta”
2019-2020 | Rafael Mestre/ Dr. Tania Patiño / Xavier Aqrué | Magnet program for educational innovation
In collaboration with the Fundació Biofill and Escola Gayarre
7/11/2018 and 21/11/2018 | Xavier Arqué | Workshops “Taller de la célula” at IBEC
07/11/2018 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk at Setmana de la ciència
Teatre La Sala de Rubí
2017-2019 | Rafael Mestre | Workshops “Taller de liberación de fármacos” at IBEC
2019 | Dr. Tania Patiño / Rafa Mestre | Bojos i boges per la Bioenginyeria 2019
Session: Internalization of Nanomotors by cancer and non-cancer cells
December 2017 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | El Pais con tu Futuro
Keynote and speach corner. El País, Madrid
Top 10% downloaded papers: “Force Modulation and Adaptability of 3D‐Bioprinted Biological Actuators Based on Skeletal Muscle Tissue”
Advanced Materials Technologies (2019) 4, (2), 1800631
Find more information here
Awards
- Dr. Maria Guix | IBEC Symposium Award for the best flash presentation | 28.10.20
13th IBEC Symposium, Online Symposium - Dr. Maria Guix | Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship (Marie Curie COFUND Programme) | February 2020
- Xavier Arqué | 4th prize poster award | July 2019
International Workshop Microscale Motion and Light. Dresden, Germany - Rafael Mestre | 2nd prize talk award | July 2019
8th Living Machines Conference. Osaka, Japan - Dr. Maria Guix | Awarded BIST-IGNITE Collaborative Project with ICN2 | March 2019
Project: ElectroSensBioBots: Towards a new generation of programable 3D printed living biobots with nanoelectronics for sensing and local stimulation - Dr. Tania Patiño | Awarded BIST-IGNITE Collaborative Project with ICN2 | March 2019
Project: MOFtors: Enzyme-powered, metal-organic framework based motors - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ERC Consolidator Grant 2019 by the Europen Research Council | 2019
- Jemish Parmar | Awarded Premi Pioner from CERCA | December 2018
Doctoral thesis: “Micromotors for Environmental Applications”. See more information here - Xavier Arqué | 1st prize poster award | October 2018
11th IBEC Annual Symposium. Barcelona, Spain - Rafael Mestre | 1st prize poster award | July 2018
7th Living Machines Conference. Paris, France - Xavier Arqué | IBEC International PhD Programme fellowship | June 2018
- Dr. Maria Guix | Juan de la Cierva Incorporación Fellowship | May 2018
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Best Poster Award at MRS Fall Meeting (Science Robotics,USA) | 2018
- Xavier Arqué | 1st prize talk award | December 2017
2nd Biomed PhD Day Symposium. Barcelona, Spain - Rafael Mestre | 1st prize poster award | November 2017
NanoBio&Med Conference. Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant “Lab-in-a-Patch”/ European Research Council | 2017
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Best Poster Award at Micro-Nanomachines International Conference (Wuhan, China) | 2017
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Guinness ® World Record for the smallest tubular jet of the world | 2017
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | National Research Award Young Talent from Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation | 2016
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Relevant Young Person for the Society by Círculo Ecuestre Barcelona (Spain) | 2016
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant “MICROCLEANERS” (European Research Council) | 2016
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | TEDx Talk at Plaça del Fórum (Tarragona) |2016
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Innovator Under30 Europe/ Ambassador and representative at EU Parliament/EU Summit | 2015
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Princess of Girona Scientific Award (Princess of Girona Foundation/Spain) | 2015
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Selected Emerging Investigators Special Issue by Chem Communications Journal | 2015
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Future Leaders in Nano-architectonics at Sci.Tech.Adv.Mater. Journal | 2015
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Innovator of the year and Top 10 Spanish Innovator under 35/MIT Technology Review | 2014
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Full Fellowship for Nobel Laureate Meeting-Chemistry by VW Foundation (Germany) | 2013
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Best poster Award/1st Herrenhäuser conference “Downscaling Science” at VW Foundation (Germany) | 2013
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ERC Starting Grant 2012 by European Research Council | 2012
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | IFW-IIN Research Prize as outstanding scientist/Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW)/Germany | 2011
- Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Guinness World Record ® for the “Smallest Man-Made Jet Engine” | 2010
Covers
Nano Letters
01/02/2019
Patiño, Tania, Porchetta, Alessandro, Jannasch, Anita, Lladó, Anna, Stumpp, Tom, Schäffer, Erik, Ricci, Francesco, Sánchez, Samuel, (2019). Self-sensing enzyme-powered micromotors equipped with pH-responsive DNA nanoswitches Nano Letters 19, (6), 3440-3447
Journal of the American Chemical Society
22/05/2018
Patiño, Tania, Feiner-Gracia, Natalia, Arqué, Xavier, Miguel-López, Albert, Jannasch, Anita, Stumpp, Tom, Schäffer, Erik, Albertazzi, Lorenzo, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Influence of enzyme quantity and distribution on the self-propulsion of non-Janus urease-powered micromotors Journal of the American Chemical Society 140, (25), 7896-7903
Applied Materials Today
16/01/2018
Romeo, Agostino, Moya, Ana, Leung, Tammy S., Gabriel, Gemma, Villa, Rosa, Sánchez, Samuel, (2018). Inkjet printed flexible non-enzymatic glucose sensor for tear fluid analysis Applied Materials Today 10, 133-141
ACS Nano
25/10/2016
Xing Ma, Ana C. Hortelão, Tania Patiño, and Samuel Sánchez (2016). Enzyme Catalysis To Power Micro/Nanomachines. ACS Nano, Volume 10, Issue 10, pp. 9053–9762
Advanced Materials Interfaces
21/01/2016
Morgan M. Stanton, Juliane Simmchen, Xing Ma, Albert Miguel-López, Samuel Sánchez* (2015). Bio-hybrid Janus Motors Driven by Escherichia coli. Adv Mat Interfaces
Small
09/10/2015
Xing Ma, Jaideep Katuri, Yongfei Zeng, Yanli Zhao and Samuel Sanchez (2015). Janus Micromotors: Surface Conductive Graphene-Wrapped Micromotors Exhibiting Enhanced Motion. Small, 11, 38, p4989