Smart nano-bio-devices

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.

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NanoBio Team

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.  

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.

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:

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3D BioPrinted Soft Robotics

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. 

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.

Read more:

3D-bioengineered model of human skeletal muscle tissue with phenotypic features of aging for drug testing purposes  
Rafael Mestre, Nerea García, Tania Patiño, Maria Guix, Judith Fuentes, Mauricio Valerio-Santiago, Núria Almiñana, Samuel Sánchez
Biofabrication (2021) 13, 045011 

Bio-hybrid soft robots with self-stimulating skeletons
Maria Guix,  Rafael Mestre, Tania Patiño, Marco De Corato, Judith Fuentes, Giulia Zarpellon, Samuel Sánchez
Science Robotics (2021) 21, eabe7577

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

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Active matter in complex systems 

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. 

We recently published the collective guidance of out-of-equilibrium systems without using external field, designing an strategy to achieve directed motion without breaking detailed balance, for example by asymmetric topographical patterning. We engineer a two-dimensional periodic topographical design to spontaneous particle edge guidance and corner accumulation of self-propelled particles. This emergent behaviour is guaranteed by a second-order non-Hermitian skin effect, stablishing a fruitful bridge between active and topological matter.

Read more:

Guided accumulation of active particles by topological design of a second-order skin effect
Lucas S. Palacios, Serguei Tchoumakov, Maria Guix, Ignacio Pagonabarraga, Samuel Sánchez, Adolfo G. Grushin
Nature Communications (2021) 12, 4691

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:

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Environmental applications of micro-nano motors 

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. 

Micromotors can remove a wide variety of pollutants in contaminated water.

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:

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(Flexible) Biosensors for non-invasive Point-of-Care diagnostics 

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. 

Electrodes fabricated on flexible substrates are modified with a wide range of materials for selectivity towards biomarkers. Analytes are quickly quantified by electrochemical techniques.

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

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Alumni

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• Àngel Blanco Blanes | 2015-2021 Lab technitian (IBEC)
• Dr. Morgane Valles | 2019-2021 Postdoctoral researcher (IBEC)
• Dr. Ana C. Hortelão | 2015-2021 PhD candidate and Postdoctoral researcher (IBEC)
• Ferran Blasi Moreno | 2021  TFG student (Institut Químic de Sarrià IQS, Spain)
• María Porteiro Figueiras | 2021  Master student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
• Paz Aragón Chivite | 2021  TFG student (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)
• Ibtissam Ghailan Tribak  | 2021  TFG student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
• Arnau Llobera Ris | 2021  TFG student (University of Barcelona, Spain)
• 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
• Dr. Katherine Villa | 2017-2018 Postdoctoral researcher | Current position: Caixa Junior Leader Fellow at the Insitute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ)
• 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)

NATIONAL PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
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

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
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

PRIVATELY FUNDED PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
BLADDEBOTS Enzyme propelled nanobots as efficient nanotech platform for bladder cancer therapy (2021-2024)	Obra Social La Caixa, Health Research Call for Proposals	Samuel Sánchez
Feodor-Lynen Fellowship · Biohybrid wing microactuator based on integrated insect muscle cells (2020 – 2022)	Alexander von Humboldt Foundation	Veronika Magdanz
ENHANCEMENT OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF GROWTH FACTORS USING SELF-PROPELLED NANOBOTS (2021-2022)	Fundació García-Cugat	Samuel Sánchez

FINISHED PROJECTS	FINANCER	PI
IBEC’s International PhD fellowships “la Caixa” Severo Ochoa (2016-2020)	Obra Social La Caixa	Rafael Mestre
Effect of a new cosmectic active ingredient in the regulation of muscular function (2019-2021)	Lipotec, S.A.U	Samuel Sánchez, Tania Patiño
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
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
FPI fellowship (2017 – 2021)	Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness	Lucas Palacios
IBEC’s International PhD fellowships Severo Ochoa (2016-2020)	Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness	Ana C. Hortelão
Smart nano-bio-devices group SGR Grups de recerca consolidats (2017-2021)	AGAUR, SGR
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

For a list of publications prior to joining IBEC, visit the MPI for Intelligent Systems website.

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 DMi1. Inverted microscope for Cell Cultures (Leica Microsystems)
• Leica DM2500MH. Upright microscope (Leica Microsystems)

Characterization

• Leica EM ACE600. High vacuum sputter & carbon thread coater (Leica Microsystems)
• Rheometer MCR 702. Dynamic mechanical Analyzer (Anton Paar)
• Dynamic Light Scattering & Z-Potential (Wyatt)
• UV-Visible Spectrometer (Analytik Jena)

3D Printing

• LumenX Bioprinter (Cellink)
• 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)

• Prof. Cristina Fornaguera
  Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Spain
• Prof. José Garrido
  Catalan Institute of Nanosciences and Nanotechnology-ICN2, Spain
• Prof. Ramón Martínez Mañez
  Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
• Prof. Jan van Hest
  Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
• Prof. Loai Abdelmohsen
  Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
• Prof. Xing Ma
  Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), China
• Prof. Lei Wang
  Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China
• Prof. Islam S. M. Khalil
  University of Twente, Netherlands
• Dr. Simó Schwartz
  Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Spain
• Dr. Toni Vilaseca
  Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain
• Prof. Lorenzo Albertazzi
  Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
• Prof. Esther Julián Gómez
  Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain
• Prof. Xiaohui Yan
  Xiamen University, China
• Prof. Adolfo G. Grushin
  Institut Néel (part of CNRS), France
• Prof. Eduard Torrents Serra
  Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Spain
• Prof. Islam S. M. Khalil
  University of Twente, Netherlands
• Núria Almiñana Domenech, Mauricio Valerio-Santiago
   Lubrizol Life Science Beauty, USA
• Prof. Anna Roig
  Materials Science Institute of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Spain
• Prof. Ignacio Pagonabarraga
  University of Barcelona, Spain
• Prof. Vincent Guillem
  KAUST
• Prof. Marco Filice
  Universidad Complutense de Madrid CNIC, Spain
• Prof. Romain Quidant
  ETH Zürich, Swtizerland
• Prof. Silvia Osuna
  University of Girona, Spain
• Prof. Hailin Huang
  Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China
• Prof. Qiang He
  Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China
• Prof. Joseph Wang
  University of California San Diego (UCSD), USA
• 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. R. Artuch
  Laboratorio de enfermedades metabólicas hereditarias, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona.

ERC Workshop

Crafting a Winning ERC Proposal: A Workshop with ERC officers and grantees

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.

Invited talks

• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited speaker at the ACM International Conference on Nanoscale Computing and Communication | Swarms of chemically powered nanobots as smart nanovehicles | 06.10.2022 ACM NanoCom 2022 || Keynotes
  Barcelona, Spain
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited speaker at the Workshop on Future of nanomachines organized by IBS of Nanomedicine Institute | Next generation of autonomous Hybrid Robots | 10.11.2021
  Seoul, South Korea
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Invited speaker at the IBS Forum on Nanomachines for Biotechnology and Medicine | Swarms of Hybrid and biocompatible Nanobots for Cancer Nanomedicine | 08-09.11.2021 https://www.ibs-conference.org/2021/nm/
  Seoul, South Korea
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote speaker at Innodays EKFZ | Next generation of medical autonomous microrobots | 25.9.2021. https://digitalhealth.tu-dresden.de/innodays/
  Dresden, Germany
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Keynote speaker at 3-M Nano conference (International Conference on Manipulation, Manu­facturing and  Measurement on the Nanoscale) | Swarms of hybrid nanobots move collectively in mice’s bladder | 02-06.08.2021
  Online Conference
• Dr. Maria Guix | Invited speaker and panelist in the round table at the Biohybrid robotics workshop, organized in the framework of the International Converence of Biomimetics and Biohybrid Systems, Living Machines 2021 | High performance hybrid robots based on skeletal muscle tissues | 30.07.2021
  Online workshop
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Artificial Molecular Machines workshop, organized by (Merck KGaA, San José, CA, USA) | How to engineer biofriendly nanobots and bring them from in vitro to in vivo | 02.07.2021
  Online seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Organized by ACER Recerca | Premi Extraordinari de Batxillerat | 30.06.2021
  Online seminar
• Dr. Maria Guix | I encuentro de Mujeres en la Ingeniería, organized by the groups of Afinidad Women in Engineering (WIE) of several universities in Equador | Trayectoría en la ciencia e investigación de alto impacto | 21.06.2021
  Online seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Bienal Ciudad y Ciencia, organized by Barcelona city council | La nit – Pecha Kucha express: art, ciència, tecnologia | 11.06.2021
  Barcelona, Spain
• Dr. Maria Guix | IEEE NTC YP R9 Webinars, organized by EEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC) Young Professions in the IEEE Latin America (IEEE Region 9) | 3D technologies for the development of living robots | 10.06.2021
  Online seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | ICRA 2021 workshop on micro-nano swarm robotics | Monitoring swarms of enzyme-powered nanobots within mouse bladder | 04.06.2021
  Online Workshop
• Dr. Maria Guix | Maker Faire Galicia | Panelist in round table “Conociendo al Homo Deus” | 03.06.2021
  Online Career Fair
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Nanorobots for Biotechnology, Nature Conference | Microrobots and nanorobots with enzymes: a biocompatible solution towards biomedical applications | 25.05.2021
  Online Conference
• Dr. Maria Guix | The MultiScale Talk Series, organized by Dr. Zoran Cenev (Aalto University) | Self-stimulating skeletons for living robotics platforms | 24.05.2021
  Online Seminar
• Dr. Veronika Magdanz | The MultiScale Talk Series, organized by Dr. Zoran Cenev (Aalto University) | Biohybrid microbots – What Sperm can teach us about microrobotics | 10.05.2021
  Online Seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Gira FPdGi, Member of the roundtable on the final act | 29.04.2021
  Alicante, Spain
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Clustering and Global Challenges” (CGC2021) international conference | Swarms of nanorobots: smart nanoparticles swimming in vivo | 09.04.2021
  Online Conference
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | 3^rd MANA reunion Workshop (NIMS, Japan) | Bioengineering hybrid robots: from nanobots to 3D BioRobots | 04-05.03.2021
  Online Seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Co-organizer and speaker | Crafting a Winning ERC Proposal: A Workshop with ERC officers and grantees | 18.02.2021
  Online Workshop
• Rafael Mestre | Workshop: Applications of Functional Printing and Bio-Printing in the Health Sector, organized by Grupo INTERPLATAFORMAS: Plataforma3NEO, FENIN, NANOMED AIMPLAS y el Cluster de Impresión Funcional | November 2020
  Invited speaker and round-table​
  Online Workshop
• Rafael Mestre | Workshop: 3D Bio-printing: advances and applications for the future of medicine, organized by Isaza Scientific (S.A. Madrid) | October 2020
  Invited speaker​
  Online 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
• 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 | 23.10.2020
  Online Seminar
• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | NanoBio&Med Online | July 2020
  Online Conference
• Dr. Maria Guix | International Friends Talk Science | July 2020
  Organized by Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group
  Online Seminar

• Prof. Samuel Sánchez | IBEC Online Seminar | 04.05.2020
  BioEngineering Hybrid Robotic Machines: from nanobots to 3D Bioprinted Robots
  Online Seminar

• Dr. Marco de Corato | Seminar at l’École Polytechnique de Paris | May 2020
  Organized by Laboratoire d’hydrodynamique
  Online 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

• Dr. Maria Guix | Workshop for Early-Career Researchers at EMBL Barcelona, organized by EMBL Barcelona | Biohybrid soft robots with self-stimulating skeletons | 23.06.2021​
  Oral presentation. Online Workshop
• Dr. Maria Guix | Workshop on Multicellular Engineered Living Systems (M-CELS), organized by MIT | Smart training of 3D engineered living robots | 02.06.2021​
  Poster presentation. Online Workshop
• Dr. Maria Guix | Nanorobots for Biotechnology, Nature Conference | 3D printed living robots with self-stimulating skeletons | 26.05.2021​
  Oral presentation. Online Conference
• Xavier Arqué | IBEC PhD Discussions | April 2021
  Oral presentation. Online seminar
• 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 2020
  Smart 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 

Outreach activities

12-14/12/2022 | Group’s Annual Seminar

We had our group seminars (an internal scientific workshop) with lots of new and unpublished results open for discussions, brainstorming sessions, creative thinking and outstanding talks!

Day 1 opened the workshop with a Team brainstorming session pointing out the challenges and goals for 2023 in the field of nanomotors for (1) fundamental undertanding of nanobots and (2) biomedical applications. Many things in our minds, many ideas. Now it is time to tackle the challenges and go for it!

Day 2 was fully packed with seminars and discussions, with feedback from Samuel. Luckily we had some break for lunch! 😊

Day 3 brought us the Biobots and Bioactuators, becuase not everything is nano in the group!

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01/03/2022 | Meritxell Serra-Casablancas, Nanoexperta de l’Escola Lavínia

La Meritxell Serra-Casablancas va visitar l’Escola Lavínia de Barcelona on va actuar com a Nanoexperta i va conversar amb els alumnes de 6è de primària sobre la nanomedicina. Els alumnes van compartir amb ella els dissenys de nanorobots que havien pensat per participar en el concurs Nanoinventum i van fer una pluja de idees conjunta per trobar possibles aplicacions en el camp de la medicina i la bioremediació.

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15/12/2021 | Visit at Natura Encesa at Pedralbes

Some of the group members were gathering at the Nature Encesa immersive experience at the Pedralbes gardens. Collective motion is everywhere if you carefully look at it!

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12/11/2021 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez visits POSTECH in Korea

During his trip to Korea, Prof. Sánchez visited the IBS Center for Nanomedicine, he visited POSTECH. It was definitely a great experience to discuss science and discover korean culture!

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30/07/2021 | Dr. Maria Guix, invited speaker and round table at the workshop “Biohybrid robotics”, organized in the frameword of the Living Machines 2021

Dr. Maria Guix participated as an invited speaker and the round talbe of the Biohybrid Robotics Workshop organized in the framework of the International Living Machines 2021, being online due to the current COVID situation and which celebrates its 10th anniversary.

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15/07/2021 | Laia Marcos Canal participates at the tribute to COVID victims, organized by Casa Real and Moncloa

Laia Marcos Canal, former Batx2Lab student supervised by Dr. Maria Guix, participated in a short video partly recorded at IBEC that was released during the tribute to COVID victims, in which differents personal situation during the pandemic were reflected. Laia was chosen for obtaining the best mark at the selectivity and participating at research related programs, like the BATX2LAB one.

* Check minutes: 35:20 – 38:27

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11/06/2021 | Bienal Ciudad y Ciencia, Dissemination activity “Pecha Kucha express: art, science, technology”

Prof. Samuel Sánchez participated in the dissembination activity Pecha Kucha express in the framework of the Biennal Ciudad and Science, organized by the Barcelona city council. This successful event was followed in-person in an open space concept in Plaça Comercial in Barcelona.

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03/06/2021 | Prof.  Jingyao Tang, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club

Prof. Jinyao Tang, currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong, participated in our NBS Journal Club as a guest scientist to discuss from the electrokinetic effect in microswimmers swarms, a Journal club session hosted by Xavi Arqué and Ana Hortelao. We really enjoyed the discussion with Prof. Tang, and we are looking forward to keep in touch with his group!

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24/05/2021 | Dr. Maria Guix, Talk at the MultiScale Talk Series, organized by Dr. Zoran Cenev (Aalto University)

Self-stimulating skeletons for living robotics platforms

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10/05/2021 | Dr. Veronika Magdanz, Talk at the MultiScale Talk Series, organized by Dr. Zoran Cenev (Aalto University)

Biohybrid microbots – What Sperm can teach us about microrobotics

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01/05/2021 | Meritxell Serra-Casablancas, Nanoinventum contest evaluator

Predoctoral researcher Meritxell Serra-Casablancas participated as a membre of the jury of the  Nanoinventum contest. The 500 participants created almost 100 nanorobot models to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. All the proposals were really innovative. Good job and congratulations to the winning models: “Nanoabella” (Escola Milà i Fontanals) and “Electrobio” (Escola Lavínia)!

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28/04/2021 | Prof.  Islam S. M. Khalil, Guest Scientist at NBS Journal Club

Prof. Islam S. M. Khalil, currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Twente, participated in our NBS Journal Club as a guest scientist to discuss from the sensing capabilities of magnetotactic bacteria to the automation of helical-like motors for thrombosis treatment. Also, he briefly told us about his current research collaboration with the group member Dr. Veronika Magdanz. Thanks for you insightful talk and discussion Prof. Khalil, we are really looking forward to have you visting us in Barcelona soon!

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29/03/2021 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez

Prof. Samuel Sánchez gave a talk at the Escoles del Pallars over the nanomotors impact in ours lives, entitled “Com els Nanorobots milloraran la nostra qualitat de vida”.

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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!

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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.

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11/02/2021 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques

Virtual talk at the School Germans Corbella (Cardedeu)
in the framework of the 100tifiques event.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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28/10/2020 | Dr. Maria Guix | 13th IBEC Symposium 

Dr. Maria Guix wins IBEC Symposium Award for the best flash presentation!

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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

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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!

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04/05/2020 | Samuel Sánchez | IBEC Online Seminar 

BioEngineering Hybrid Robotic Machines: from nanobots to 3D Bioprinted Robots

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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

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11/02/2020 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques

Talk at the School Puig-Agut in Manlleu

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27/10/2019 | Xavier Arqué | Participation at “13a Festa de la Ciència”

Moll de la Fusta of Barcelona

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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”

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05/04/2019 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary Talk at Ateneu Maó

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04/04/2019 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Talk at High School center “Duc de Montblanc”

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22/02/2019 | Dr. Maria Guix | 100tifiques

Talk at the School Escola Lluçanès in Prats de Lluçanès

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09/02/2019 | Rafael Mestre | Biennal Ciutat i Ciència de Barcelona (La Pedrera)

Taller “Què és la Nanoescala i com ens afecta”

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2019-2020 | Rafael Mestre/ Dr. Tania Patiño / Xavier Aqrué | Magnet program for educational innovation

In collaboration with the Fundació Biofill and Escola Gayarre

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7/11/2018 and 21/11/2018 | Xavier Arqué | Workshops “Taller de la célula” at IBEC

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07/11/2018 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | Plenary talk at Setmana de la ciència

Teatre La Sala de Rubí

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2017-2019 | Rafael Mestre | Workshops “Taller de liberación de fármacos” at IBEC

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2019 | Dr. Tania Patiño / Rafa Mestre | Bojos i boges per la Bioenginyeria 2019

Session: Internalization of Nanomotors by cancer and non-cancer cells

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December 2017 | Prof. Samuel Sánchez | El Pais con tu Futuro

Keynote and speach corner. El País, Madrid

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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

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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 | 4^th prize poster award | July 2019
  International Workshop Microscale Motion and Light. Dresden, Germany
• Rafael Mestre | 2^nd prize talk award | July 2019
  8^th 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 | 1^st prize poster award | October 2018
  11^th IBEC Annual Symposium. Barcelona, Spain
• Rafael Mestre | 1^st 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 | 1^st prize talk award | December 2017
  2^nd Biomed PhD Day Symposium. Barcelona, Spain
• Rafael Mestre | 1^st 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