Prof. Dr.
Samitier, Josep
Group Leader
Ed. Modular | Baldiri Reixac 10-12 | 08028 | Barcelona
Email : jsamitier
ibecbarcelona.eu
Research Topics
Microfluidics and lab-on-chip devices / Biosensor functionalisation and anion impedance sensors / Electrochemical biosensors / Nanotechnology applied to the study of bio/non-bio interfaces / Study of single biomolecule interactions
The Nanobioengineering group headed by Prof. Josep Samitier is a truly multidisciplinary team composed by researchers coming from very diverse backgrounds (chemistry, physics, material science, electronic engineering, pharmacy and molecular biology) and working together in applying nanotechnology to the development of new biomedical systems and devices, mainly for diagnostic purposes. The main activities of the group involve the physical and chemical functionalization of materials for the study of biomolecule and cell interactions and for the development of new biosensors that will be integrated in lab-on-a-chip devices. The technology and results obtained in the laboratory are employed in medical applications ranging from portable diagnosis devices to implantable prostheses for regenerative medicine purposes.
Atomic Force Microscopy image of wrinkles on a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface, obtained after plasma oxidation and subsequent application of mechanical stress. © Juan Pablo Agusil
The projects carried out by the group are focused on clinical and industrial problems and are related to four convergent research lines:
1. Optical and electrochemical biosensors for clinical diagnosis and food safety applications
- DNA sensors for cancer biomarker detection
- Antibody-based sensors for pathogenic microorganisms’ detection
- Aptamer-based sensors for toxins detection
- Olfactory receptor-based sensors for odorant and volatile compounds detection
- Polymer nanowires-based biosensors
2. Bio/non-bio interfaces and micro/nano-environments for biomedical studies and regenerative medicine applications
- Design, production and characterization of micro/nanoenviroments with different biocompatible materials for cell behavior studies (adhesion, proliferation, differentiation)
- Design, production and characterization of scaffolds with a topography and chemical composition controlled at the nanoscale for ocular and cardiac tissue regenerative therapies based on stem cells
3. Microfluidic systems for biological studies and lab-on-a-chip devices
- Microfluidic chip for blood/plasma filtering
- Microfluidic chip using hydrodynamic focusing for bacteria counting and sorting
- Microfluidic chip for reagent handling in POC diagnosis devices
4. Nanotechnology applied to biomolecule interaction studies
- Liposome based nanovectors and nanoparticles for drug delivery
- Magnetic nanoparticles-biomolecules interactions and their applications
Schematic representation of a biosensor platform for odorant detection based on olfactory receptors.
© BOND Project
11/04/2011
IBEC associate director Josep Samitier is an expert opinion quoted in El Periodico last week regarding a story about a Japanese study that succeeded in growing an embryonic eye from the stem cells of mice. He describes this first successful attempt to obtain a complex three-dimensional structure spontaneously as an important breakthrough, as it opens new avenues into coaxing the growth of cells using a method that the researchers describe as an 'inside job' rather than using a support structure as is usually the case.
14/03/2011
The members of the BOND consortium met at IBEC at the beginning of last week for the 3rd technical meeting of the EU-funded international project.
09/02/2011
On 2 February the kick-off meeting of a transnational project coordinated by postdoc Beatriz Prieto of the Nanobioengineering group took place at IBEC. The project, ‘Development of innovative tools for Ochratoxin A’, will evaluate and tackle the threat to humans and animals of exposure to mycotoxins (fungal metabolites) in food.
09/02/2011
On a tour of the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB) earlier this week, the Minister for Education, Ángel Gabilondo, paid a visit to IBEC’s Nanobioengineering lab and spoke at length to Associate Director Josep Samitier about his group’s research.
20/01/2011
IBEC associate director Josep Samitier is a contributor to the January edition of Biocat's e-newsletter.
05/10/2010
"A Question of Limits" - an article written by associate director Josep Samitier to accompany a feature by El Pais journalist Mónica López Ferrado, "Los 'nanoriesgos' no son tan diminutos" ("'Nanorisks' are not so small').
01/10/2010
If you’ve ever wanted to move an object using the power of your mind, predict the spread of a virus and the development of a pandemic, or watch a mini robot travel through the body to deliver a drug, you need look no further than the new Tecnorevolució exhibition, which has been created with IBEC’s associate director Josep Samitier as scientific adviser.
23/09/2010
IBEC Project manager Juan Fran Sangüesa made the news on 22 September when he was interviewed for the midday bulletin on TV3, the Catalan television channel.
15/03/2010
In an interview, Josep Samitier, IBEC’s associated director and group leader of Nanobioengineering research group, explains the scientific basis and the development of a bioelectronic device to detect diseases.
14/03/2010
Josep Samitier, IBEC’s associated director and group leader of Nanobioengineering research group, analyzes the challenges and contributions of nanotechnology.
15/10/2009
The Cambrian Explosion is widely regarded as one of the most relevant episodes in the history of life on Earth, when the vast majority of animal phyla first appear in the fossil record. However, the causes of its origin have been object of debate for decades and the question of what was the trigger for the single cell microorganisms Precambrian Age (500 Mio. Years ago) to assemble and organize into multicellular organisms (Metazoans) has remained unanswered until now.
07/10/2009
Advances in odour sensing technologies and artificial intelligence have given impetus to the use of smell in various fields, such as food safety, disease diagnosis, security, and the environment. Current electronic noses, based on electronic sensors, have considerable limitations in terms of sensitivity, reliability, and selectivity.
27/08/2009
"Ask the Experts": In an interview, Josep Samitier, Associate Director of IBEC, talks about the potential, the impact and the contributions of nanobiotechnology.
21/04/2008
Josep Samitier, head of the IBEC nanobioengineering group, was appointed Acting Rector of the University of Barcelona (UB) on 21 April.
15/01/2008
La recerca al Laboratori de Nanobioenginyeria de l'IBEC a El Periódico El passat dilluns 14 de gener, el diari El Periódico de Catalunya, dins la secció de Societat i Ciència, destacava la actualitat i la rellevància de la recerca en cèl·lules mare per a aplicacions terapèutiques, i concretament la recerca que es porta a terme a l’IBEC, dins el grup de recerca de Micro/nanosistemes per aplicacions biomèdiques dirigit pel Prof. Josep Samitier.
12/07/2007
The prestigious reference textbook Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish et al.) has selected for its 6th edition (2008) a figure from the researcher at the nanobioengineering laboratory at the IBEC, Dr. Xavier Fernández-Busquets. Thanks to this important recognition of scientific excellence, the IBEC is the only Spanish institution appearing in the acknowledgements of the textbook, out of a total of 150 universitites and research centres.
