Nanoprobes and nanoswitches

Prof. Dr. Gorostiza, Pau
(ICREA Research Professor)
Group Leader


Edifici Hèlix | Baldiri Reixac 15-21 | 08028 | Barcelona
Email : pgorostizaibecbarcelona.eu

Research Topics

Mechanics and nanostructure of biomembranes / Molecular self-assembling / Electrochemical STM-STS / Nanoelectrochemistry / Optical switches and protein nanoengineering

The group’s research focuses on developing nanoscale tools to study biological systems. These tools include instrumentation based on proximity probes, such as electrochemical tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy that is being applied to the study of metal oxides and redox proteins. Another set of nanotools that we are developing is based on molecular actuators that can be switched with light, such as azobenzene, which can be chemically attached to biomolecules in order to optically
control their activity.

Prof. Dr. Sanz, Fausto
Group Leader


Dept. Química Física | Universitat de Barcelona | Martí i Franquès 1 | 08028 | Barcelona
Email: fsanz@ub.edu

• Prof. Dr. Pau Gorostiza | Group Leader
• Prof. Dr. Fausto Sanz | Group Leader
• Dr. Mireia Oliva | Senior Researcher
• Dr. María Isabel Bahamonde | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Ismael Díez Pérez | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Kay Eckelt | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Marina Ines Giannotti | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Ana Trapero | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Juan Manuel Artés | PhD Student
• Antonio Bautista | PhD Student
• Xavier Gómez | PhD Student
• Javier Hoyo | PhD Student
• Mercè Izquierdo | PhD Student
• Andrés Martín Quirós | PhD Student
• Helena Masanas | PhD Student
• Silvia Pittolo | PhD Student
• Lorena Redondo | PhD Student
• Albert Cortijos | Master Student
• Míriam Ferrer | Master Student
• Montse López | Master Student
• Anna Palacios | Master Student
• Dra. Núria Camarero | Senior Technician
• Ariadna Pérez | Laboratory Technician

• Redondo, L., Oncins, G. & Sanz, F. (2012). Force Spectroscopy Reveals the Effect of Different Ions in the Nanomechanical Behavior of Phospholipid Model Membranes: The Case of Potassium Cation. Biophysical Journal, 102(1), 66-74.
• Redondo, L., Giannotti, M. I. & Sanz, F. (2012). Lipid bilayer response under AFM-based force-clamp. Langmuir, 28, 6403-6410.
• Redondo, L., Giannotti, M. I. & Sanz, F (2012). Stability of Lipid Bilayers as Model Membranes: Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopy Approach. In Baró, A. M. & Reifenberger, R. G. (editors), in Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid. Weinheim, Germany : Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.KGaA.
• Díez Pérez, I., Hihath, J., Hines, T., Wang, Z., Zhou, G., Mullen, K. & Tao, N. (2011). Controlling single-molecule conductance through lateral coupling of π orbitals. Nat Nanotechnol., 6(4), 226-31.
• C., S., Mas-Torrent, M., Crivillers, N., Lloveras, V., Artés, J. M., Gorostiza, P., Veciana, J. & Rovira, C. (2011). A robust molecular platform for non-volatile memory devices with optical and magnetic responses. Nature Chemistry, 3, 359–364.
• Artés, J. M., Díez Pérez, I. & Gorostiza, P. (2011). Transistor-like Behavior of Single Metalloprotein Junctions. Nano Letters, in press.
• Artés, J. M., Díez Pérez, I., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2011). Direct measurement of electron transfer distance decay constants of single redox proteins by electrochemical tunneling spectroscopy. ACS Nano, 5(3), 2060–2066.
• Roa, J., Oncins, G., Diaz, J., Capdevila, X., Sanz, F. & Segarra, M. (2011). Study of the friction, adhesion and mechanical properties of single crystals, ceramics and ceramic coatings by AFM. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 31(4), 429-449.
• Roa, J., Oncins, G., Diaz, J., Sanz, F. & Segarra, M. (2011). Calculation of young's modulus value by means of AFM. Recent Patents on Nanotechnology,, 5(1), 27-36.
• Gorostiza, P. & Isacoff, E (2011). Photoswitchable ligand-gated ion channels. In Chambers, J., J., Kramer & H., R. (editors), Photosensitive molecules for controlling biological function. Saskatoon, Canada, Springer.
• Giannotti, M. I., Kutnyanszky, E. & Vancso, G. J (2010). Force spectroscopy of single polymer chains with atomic force microscopy. In Goh, N. T. (editor), Scanning Probe Microscopy. World Scientific Pub Co.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Redondo, L., Oncins, G. & Sanz, F. (2010). Nanomechanics of Lipid Bilayers: Heads or Tails?. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 132(37), 12874-86.
• Garcia-Manyes, S. & Sanz, F. (2010). Nanomechanics of lipid bilayers by force spectroscopy with AFM: A perspective. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes, 1798(4), 741 - 749.
• Caballero-Briones, F., Palacios-Padrós, A., Calzadilla, O. & Sanz, F. (2010). Evidence and analysis of parallel growth mechanisms in Cu2O films prepared by Cu anodization. Electrochimica Acta, 55(14), 4353 - 4358.
• Caballero-Briones, F., Artés, J. M., Díez-Pérez, I., Gorostiza, P. & Sanz, F. (2009). Direct Observation of the Valence Band Edge by in Situ ECSTM-ECTS in p-Type Cu2O Layers Prepared by Copper Anodization. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113(3), 1028-1036.
• Giannotti, M. I., Shi, W., Zou, S., Schönherr, H. & Vancso, G. J (2009). Stretching and rupturing single covalent and associative macromolecules by single molecule force spectroscopy AFM. In Förch, R., Schönherr, H. & Jenkins, A. T. (editors), Surface Design: Applications in Bioscience and Nanotechnology. Wiley-VCH.
• Numano, R., Szobota, S., Lau, A. Y., Gorostiza, P., Volgraf, M., Roux, B., Trauner, D. & Isacoff, E. Y. (2009). Nanosculpting reversed wavelength sensitivity into a photoswitchable iGluR. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(16), 6814-6819.
• Gómez, M. L., Hoppe, C. E., Zucchi, I. A., Williams, R. J., Giannotti, M. I. & López-Quintela, M. A. (2009). Hierarchical Assemblies of Gold Nanoparticles at the Surface of a Film Formed by a Bridged Silsesquioxane Containing Pendant Dodecyl Chains. Langmuir, 25(2), 1210-1217.
• Nussio, M. R., Oncins, G., Ridelis, I., Szili, E., Shapter, J. G., Sanz, F. & Voelcker, N. H. (2009). Nanomechanical Characterization of Phospholipid Bilayer Islands on Flat and Porous Substrates: A Force Spectroscopy Study. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 113(30), 10339-10347.
• Oncins, G., Vericat, C. & Sanz, F. (2008). Mechanical properties of alkanethiol monolayers studied by force spectroscopy. jcp, 128(4), 044701/1-044701/9.
• Caballero-Briones, F., Palacios-Padrós, A., Na, J. L. & Sanz, F. (2008). Phase tailored, potentiodynamically grown p-Cu2-xTe/Cu layers. Electrochemistry Communications, 10(11), 1684 - 1687.
• Olmedo, I., Araya, E., Sanz, F., Medina, E., Arbiol, J., Toledo, P., Álvarez-Lueje, A., Giralt, E. & Kogan, M. J. (2008). How Changes in the Sequence of the Peptide CLPFFD-NH2 Can Modify the Conjugation and Stability of Gold Nanoparticles and Their Affinity for β-Amyloid Fibrils. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 19(6), 1154-1163.
• Gorostiza, P. & Isacoff, E. Y. (2008). Nanoengineering Ion Channels for Optical Control. Physiology, 23(5), 238-247.
• Gorostiza, P. & Isacoff, E. Y. (2008). Optical Switches for Remote and Noninvasive Control of Cell Signaling. Science, 322(5900), 395-399.
• Oncins, G., Torrent-Burgues, J. & Sanz, F. (2008). Nanomechanical Properties of Arachidic Acid Langmuir−Blodgett Films. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 112(6), 1967-1974.
• Arimon, M., Grimminger, V., Sanz, F. & Lashuel, H. A. (2008). Hsp104 Targets Multiple Intermediates on the Amyloid Pathway and Suppresses the Seeding Capacity of A[beta] Fibrils and Protofibrils. Journal of Molecular Biology, 384(5), 1157 - 1173.
• Oncins, G., Picas, L., Hernandezborrell, J., Garciamanyes, S. & Sanz, F. (2007). Thermal Response of Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy and Force Spectroscopy. Biophysical Journal, 93, 2713-2725.
• Díez Pérez, I., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2007). Diving in Solid/Liquid Nanointerfaces. Imaging & Microscopy, 9(1), 61-62.
• Gorostiza, P. & Isacoff, E. (2007). Optical switches and triggers for the manipulation of ion channels and pores. Mol. BioSyst., 3, 686-704.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Domènech, Ò., Sanz, F., Montero, M. T. & Hernandez-Borrell, J. (2007). Atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy study of Langmuir-Blodgett films formed by heteroacid phospholipids of biological interest. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes, 1768(5), 1190 - 1198.
• Díez Pérez, I., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2006). In situ studies of metal passive films. Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, 10(3-4), 144 - 152.
• Oncins, G., Torrent-Burgues, J. & Sanz, F. (2006). Lateral force microscopy study of Langmuir-Blodgett films of a macrocyclic compound. Tribology Letters, 21(3), 175-184.
• Torrent-Burgués, J., Pla-Roca, M., Escriche, L., Casabó, J., Errachid, A. & Sanz, F. (2006). Characterization of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of a thiomacrocyclic ionophore by surface pressure and AFM. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 301(2), 585 - 593.
• Ferreira, A. A., Colli, W., Alves, M. J., Oliveira, D. R., Costa, P. I., Güell, A. G., Sanz, F., Benedetti, A. V. & Yamanaka, H. (2006). Investigation of the interaction between Tc85-11 protein and antibody anti-T. cruzi by AFM and amperometric measurements. Electrochimica Acta, 51(24), 5046 - 5052.
• Domènech, Ò., Sanz, F., Montero, M. T. & Hernández-Borrell, J. (2006). Thermodynamic and structural study of the main phospholipid components comprising the mitochondrial inner membrane. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes, 1758(2), 213 - 221.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Bucior, I., Ros, R., Anselmetti, D., Sanz, F., Burger, M. M. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2006). Proteoglycan Mechanics Studied by Single-molecule Force Spectroscopy of Allotypic Cell Adhesion Glycans. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281(9), 5992-5999.
• Díez Pérez, I., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2006). Electronic barriers in the iron oxide film govern its passivity and redox behavior: Effect of electrode potential and solution pH. Electrochemistry Communications, 8(10), 1595 - 1602.
• Díez-Pérez, I., Güell, A. G., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2006). Conductance Maps by Electrochemical Tunneling Spectroscopy To Fingerprint the Electrode Electronic Structure. Analytical Chemistry, 78(20), 7325-7329.
• Díez Pérez, I., Vericat, C., Gorostiza, P. & Sanz, F. (2006). The iron passive film breakdown in chloride media may be mediated by transient chloride-induced surface states located within the band gap. Electrochemistry Communications, 8(4), 627 - 632.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Gorostiza, P. & Sanz, F. (2006). Titration Force Microscopy on Supported Lipid Bilayers. Analytical Chemistry, 78(1), 61-70.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Oncins, G. & Sanz, F. (2005). Effect of Ion-Binding and Chemical Phospholipid Structure on the Nanomechanics of Lipid Bilayers Studied by Force Spectroscopy. Biophysical Journal, 89(3), 1812 - 1826.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Oncins, G. & Sanz, F. (2005). Effect of Temperature on the Nanomechanics of Lipid Bilayers Studied by Force Spectroscopy. Biophysical Journal, 89(6), 4261 - 4274.
• Garcia-Manyes, S., Güell, A. ~., Sanz, F. & Gorostiza, P. (2005). Nanomechanics of silicon surfaces with atomic force microscopy: An insight to the first stages of plastic deformation. Journal of Chemical Physics, 123(11), 114711.

Projects

• OPTICALBULLET Neurosecretion by Remote Control of Exocytosis and Endocytosis with Light (2008-2013) Pau Gorostiza
• Photosyn-STM Single-Molecule Studies of Photoconductance on Photosynthetic Molecular Systems by SPM Break- Junction Measurements (2008-2011) Fausto Sanz
• PASVD Photo-activated SVD (2010-2012) Pau Gorostiza
• OPTICAL SWITCH Development of Photoswitchable Molecules with Biological Applications (2008-2011) Pau Gorostiza

Collaborations

• Prof. Amadeu Llebaria Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona (Spain)


• Prof. Ernest Giralt Dept. de Química Orgànica, UB (Spain)


• Prof. Miquel Àngel Pericàs Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ), Tarragona (Spain)


• Dr. Piotr Bregestovski Institut de Neurobiologie de la Mediterraneé (INMED), Marseille (France)


• Dr. Jordi Hernando Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain


• Dr. Ehud Isacoff Dept. Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley, United States


• Dr. Teresa Montero Dept. Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain


• Dr. Jordi Hernández Dept. Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Espanya


• Dra. Mireia Oliva Dept. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain


• Dr. Ernest Giralt

  Organic Chemistry Dept, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain



• Dr. Artur Llobet Dept. Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain


• Dr. Joan Torrent Escola Universitària d'Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa, Spain


• Dr. Dirk Trauner Dept. Chemistry, UC Berkeley, United States


• Dr. Carles Solsona Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics Dept, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

• iMic molecular imaging system
• Electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) for molecular imaging
• Asylum Research Molecular Force Probe
• Multimode SPM Nanoscope III (SCT-UB)
• Autolab potentiostat
• Patch clamp setup with Heka EPC10 amplifier, Olymp
• Molecular Imaging Electrochemical STM with Nanotec

7/07/2011

"Líders en recerca: Pau Gorostiza, aportant llum a l’activitat cel·lular"

Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group leader and ICREA professor Pau Gorostiza is featured in an interview in Recercat, the online newsletter of the Commission for Universities and Research of the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge.

28/03/2011

Two papers for Nanoprobes group

IBEC researchers have found a way to measure the rate of electron transfer (ET) – an important process which is essential in many chemical and biological processes such as cellular respiration and photosynthesis – at the single-molecule level.

02/03/2011

Electromechanics at the nanoscale

Flick a switch, turn a knob or pull a lever and you’re operating an electromechanical device, albeit a complex one. Now an IBEC researcher and his collaborators have broken new ground with a proven concept for the first such electronic component to operate using just a single-molecule electrical contact.

21/02/2011

Funding from RecerCaixa for photopharmacology project

ICREA group leader Pau Gorostiza’s project ‘Development of light-modulated ligands for remote, non-invasive regulation of neuropathic pain’ was announced today as one of the first twenty projects to be chosen for funding by a brand new programme, RecerCaixa.

13/02/2011

RecerCaixa video about photopharmacology project

Pau Gorostiza features in a short video produced by funders RecerCaixa about the project 'Development of light-modulated ligands for remote, non-invasive regulation of neuropathic pain', of which he is the coordinator.

22/10/2010

Telethon funds for collaborative project

A scientific project involving IBEC researchers has received a funding boost of €475,000 from Fundació La Marató de TV3.