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Samuel Sanchez

Group leader

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: 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.