Nanobioengineering

Prof. Dr. Samitier, Josep
Group Leader


Ed. Modular | Baldiri Reixac 10-12 | 08028 | Barcelona
Email : jsamitieribecbarcelona.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

• Prof. Dr. Josep Samitier | Group Leader
• Dr. Xavier Fernández-Busquets | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Elena Martínez | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Mateu Pla-Roca | Senior Researcher
• Dr. Antoni Homs | Senior Postdoc
• Dr. Maria Bulwan | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Patrizia Iavicoli | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Anna Lagunas | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Mònica Mir Llorente | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Beatriz Prieto | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Juan José Valle | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Dr. Eduardo Vilanova | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Juan Pablo Agusil | PhD Student
• Wilmer Alfonso Pardo | PhD Student
• Marilia Barreiros dos Santos | PhD Student
• Luís Botaya | PhD Student
• Cristina Casas | PhD Student
• Òscar Castillo | PhD Student
• Jordi Comelles | PhD Student
• Mariana De Niz | PhD Student
• Beatriz del Moral | PhD Student
• Teresa Galán | PhD Student
• Verónica Hortigüela | PhD Student
• Joana Marques | PhD Student
• Ernest Moles | PhD Student
• Ana Mª Oliva Brañas | PhD Student
• César Parra | PhD Student
• Luís G. Rigat Brugarolas | PhD Student
• Mafalda Rodrigues | PhD Student
• Marta Sanmartí | PhD Student
• José Luis Sebastián | PhD Student
• Bogachan Tahirbegi | PhD Student
• Patricia Urbán | PhD Student
• Rosa Letizia Zaffino | PhD Student
• Ana Carro | Master Student
• Albert Garcia | Master Student
• Maria Valls | Master Student
• Juan Manuel Álvarez | Research Technician
• Javier Soraluce | Research Technician
• Miriam Funes | Laboratory Technician
• David Izquierdo | Laboratory Technician
• Dr. Reyes Malavé | Laboratory Technician

• Martínez, E., Pla-Roca, M. & Samitier, J. (2012). Micro/Nanopatterning of Proteins Using a Nanoimprint-Based Contact Printing Technique. Methods in Molecular Biology, 811, 79-87.
• Oberhansl, S., M., H., Lagunas, A., Eritja, R., Martínez, E., Fuchs, H. & Samitier, J. (2012). Facile Modification of Silica Substrates Provides a Platform for Direct-Writing Surface Click Chemistry. Small, in press.
• Urbán, P., Estelrich, J., Cortés, A. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2011). A nanovector with complete discrimination for targeted delivery to Plasmodium falciparum-infected versus non-infected red blood cells in vitro. J Control Release, 151(2), 202-211.
• Esquivel, J., Castellarnau, M., Senn, T., Löchel, B., Samitier, J. & Sabaté, N. (2011). Fuel cell-powered microfluidic platform for lab-on-a-chip applications. Lab Chip, in press.
• Ivon Rodriguez-Villarreal, A., Tarn, M., Madden, L., Lutz, J., Greenman, J., Samitier, J. & Pamme, N. (2011). Flow focussing of particles and cells based on their intrinsic properties using a simple diamagnetic repulsion setup. Lab on a Chip, 11(7), 1240-1248.
• Lagunas, A., Comelles, J., Martínez, E., Prats-Alfonso, E., Acosta, G. A., Albericio, F. & Samitier, J. (2011). Cell adhesion and focal contact formation on linear RGD molecular gradients: study of non-linear concentration dependence effects. Nanomedicine: NBM, In press.
• Castillo, Ò., Salieb-Beugelaar, G., Nieuwkasteele, J. W., Bomer, J., Arundell, M., Samitier, J., van der Berg, A. & Eijkel, J. (2011). Electrokinetic DNA transport in 20 nm-high nanoslits: Evidence for movement through a wall-adsorbed. Electrophoresis, 32(18), 2402–2409.
• Mir, M., Martinez-Rodriguez, S., Castillo, Ò., Homs, A. & Samitier, J. (2011). Electrokinetic techniques applied to electrochemical DNA biosensors. Electrophoresis, 32(8), 811-821.
• Sánchez-Martín, M. J., Urbán, P., Pujol, M., Haro, I., Alsina, M. A. & Busquets, M. A. (2011). Biophysical Investigations of GBV-C E1 Peptides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV-1 Fusion Peptide. ChemPhysChem, 12(15), 2816-22.
• Urbán, P., Estelrich, J., Adeva, A., Cortés, A. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2011). Study of the efficacy of antimalarial drugs delivered inside targeted immunoliposomal nanovectors. Nanoscale Research Letters, 6(620).
• Juanola-Feliu, E., Colomer-Farrarons, J., Miribel-Catala, P., Samitier, J. & Valls-Pasola, J (2011). Challenges facing academic research in commercializing event-detector implantable devices for an in-vivo biomedical subcutaneous device for biomedical analysis. In VLSI Circuits and Systems V. Prague, Czech Republic (2011). Published by SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, USA (2011/05/01).
• Punter-Villagrasa, J., Colomer-Farrarons, J., Miribel-Catala, P., Puig-Vidal, M. & Samitier, J (2011). Discrete to full custom ASIC solutions for bioelectronic applications. In VLSI Circuits and Systems V. Prague, Czech Republic (2011). Published by SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering (2011/05/01).
• Mir, M (2011). Aptamers: The new biorecognition element for proteomic biosensing. In Baginski & J., S. (editors), Biochemistry Research Updates. Hauppauge, USA, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
• Martínez, E. & Samitier, J (2011). Soft lithography and variants. In Campo, ., A., Arzt & E. (editors), Generating micro- and nanopatterns on polymeric materials. Weinheim, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH&Co.
• Valle-Delgado, J. J., Alfonso-Prieto, M., de Groot, N. S., Ventura, S., Samitier, J., Rovira, C. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2010). Modulation of Aβ42 fibrillogenesis by glycosaminoglycan structure. The FASEB Journal, 24(11), 4250-4261.
• Marques de Oliveira, I., Vocanson, F., Uttaro, J., Asfari, Z., Mills, C. A., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2010). Characterization of a self-assembled monolayer based on a calix[4]crown-5 derivate: fabrication of a chemical sensor sensitive to calcium.. J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 10(1), 413-20.
• Valente, T., Gella, A., Fernández-Busquets, X., Unzeta, M. & Durany, N. (2010). Immunohistochemical analysis of human brain suggests pathological synergism of Alzheimer's disease and diabetes mellitus. Neurobiology of Disease, 37(1), 67 - 76.
• Rajzer, I., Castaño, O., Engel, E. & Planell, J. A. (2010). Injectable and fast resorbable calcium phosphate cement for body-setting bone grafts. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 21, 2049-2056.
• Mir Llorente, M., Dondapati, S. K., Duarte, M. V., Chatzichristidi, M., Misiakos, K., Petrou, P., Kakabakos, S. E., Argitis, P. & Katakis, I. (2010). Electrochemical biosensor microarray functionalized by means of biomolecule friendly photolithography. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 25(9), 2115 - 2121.
• Estévez, M., Fernandez-Ulibarri, I., Martínez, E., Egea, G. & Samitier, J. (2010). Changes in the internal organization of the cell by microstructured substrates. Soft Matter, 6, 582-590.
• Lagunas, A., Comelles, J., Martínez, E. & Samitier, J. (2010). Universal Chemical Gradient Platforms Using Poly(methyl methacrylate) Based on the Biotin−Streptavidin Interaction for Biological Applications. Langmuir, 26(17), 14154-14161.
• Caballero, D., Villanueva, G., Plaza, J. A., Mills, C. A., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2010). Sharp high-aspect-ratio AFM tips fabricated by a combination of deep reactive ion etching and focused ion beam techniques.. J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 10(1), 497-501.
• Comelles, J., Estévez, M., Martínez, E. & Samitier, J. (2010). The role of surface energy of technical polymers in serum protein adsorption and MG-63 cells adhesion.. Nanomedicine, 6(1), 44-51.
• Sanmartí, M., Iavicoli, P., Pajot-Augy, E., Gomila, G. & Samitier, J. (2010). Human olfactory receptors immobilization on a mixed self assembled monolayer for the development of a bioelectronic nose. Procedia Engineering, 5, 786 - 789.
• Darwish, N., Caballero, D., Moreno, M., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2010). Multi-analytic grating coupler biosensor for differential binding analysis. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 144(2), 413 - 417.
• Fernández-Busquets, X., Körnig, A., Bucior, I., Burger, M. M. & Anselmetti, D. (2009). Self-Recognition and Ca2+-Dependent Carbohydrate–Carbohydrate Cell Adhesion Provide Clues to the Cambrian Explosion. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 26(11), 2551-2561.
• Caballero, D., Samitier, J., Bausells, J. & Errachid, A. (2009). Direct Patterning of Anti-Human Serum Albumin Antibodies on Aldehyde-Terminated Silicon Nitride Surfaces for HSA Protein Detection. Small, 5(13), 1531-1534.
• Mir, M., Homs, A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Integrated electrochemical DNA biosensors for lab-on-a-chip devices. ELECTROPHORESIS, 30(19), 3386-3397.
• Hosta, L., Pla-Roca, M., Arbiol, J., López-Iglesias, C., Samitier, J., Cruz, L. J., Kogan, M. J. & Albericio, F. (2009). Conjugation of Kahalalide F with Gold Nanoparticles to Enhance in Vitro Antitumoral Activity. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 20(1), 138-146.
• Fernandez, J. G., Mills, C. A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Complex Microstructured 3D Surfaces Using Chitosan Biopolymer. Small, 5(5), 614-620.
• Mir Llorente, M., Cameron, P. J., Zhong, X., Azzaroni, O., Álvarez, M. & Knoll, W. (2009). Anti-fouling characteristics of surface-confined oligonucleotide strands bioconjugated on streptavidin platforms in the presence of nanomaterials. Talanta, 78(3), 1102 - 1106.
• Saiz-Vela, A., Miribel-Catala, P., Colomer, J., Puig-Vidal, M. & Samitier, J. (2009). Charge pump design for high-voltage biasing applications in piezoelectric-based miniaturized robots. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 59, 169-184.
• Sporer, C., Casals, L., Caballero, D., Samitier, J., Errachid, A. & Perez-Garcia, M.-L. (2009). Novel Anionophores for Biosensor applications: Nano Characterisation of SAMs based on amphiphilic Imidazolium Protophanes and Cyclophanes on Gold Surfaces. Sensor Letters(7), 757-764.
• Sporer, C., Barreiros dos Santos, M., Sanvicens, N., Errachid, A., Pascual, N., Martínez, E., Marco, M.-P., Teixeira, V. & Samitier, J. (2009). Detection of pathogenic Bacteria by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: Influence of the immobilization strategies on the sensor performance. Procedia Chemistry(1), 1291-1294.
• Bucior, I., Burger, M. M. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2009). Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions. The Sugar Code. Fundamentals of Glycosciences, 22, 347-362.
• Ruiz, A., Zychowicz, M., Buzanska, L., Mehn, D., Mills, C. A. & Martínez, E. (2009). Single stem cell positioning on polylysine and fibronectin microarrays. Micro and Nanosystems, 1, 50-56.
• Giménez-Oya, V., Villacañas, Ó., Fernández-Busquets, X., Rubio-Martinez, J. & Imperial, S. (2009). Mimicking direct protein–protein and solvent-mediated interactions in the CDP-methylerythritol kinase homodimer: a pharmacophore-directed virtual screening approach. Journal of Molecular Modeling, 15, 997-1007.
• Pla, D., Sischka, A., Albericio, F., Álvarez, M., Fernández-Busquets, X. & Anselmetti, D. (2009). Optical Tweezers Study of Topoisomerase Inhibition. Small, 5(11), 1269-1272.
• Arbat, A., Edqvist, E., Casanova, R., Brufau, J., Canals, J., Samitier, J., Johansson, S. & Diéguez, A. (2009). Design and validation of the control circuits for a micro-cantilever tool for a micro-robot. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 153(1), 76 - 83.
• Rodríguez-Seguí, S., Pla-Roca, M., Engel, E., Planell, J., Martínez, E. & Samitier, J. (2009). Influence of fabrication parameters in cellular microarrays for stem cell studies. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 20, 1525-1533.
• Martínez, E., Lagunas, A., Mills, C., Rodríguez-Seguí, S., Estévez, M., Oberhansl, S., Comelles, J. & Samitier, J. (2009). Stem cell differentiation by functionalized micro- and nanostructured surfaces. Nanomed, 4(1), 65-82.
• Garibotti, A., Sisquella, X., Martínez, E. & Eritja, R. (2009). Assembly of Two-Dimensional DNA Crystals Carrying N4-[2-(tert-Butyldisulfanyl)ethyl]cytosine Residues. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 92(8), 1466-1472.
• Merolli, A., Rocchi, L., Catalano, F., Planell, J. A., Engel, E., Martínez, E., Sbernardori, M. C., Leali, P. T. & Marceddu, S. (2009). In vivo regeneration of rat sciatic nerve in a double-halved stitch-less guide: A pilot-study. Microsurgery, 29(4), 310-318.
• Ruiz, A., Mills, C. A., Valsesia, A., Martínez, E., Ceccone, G., Samitier, J., Colpo, P. & Rossi, F. (2009). Large-Area, Nanoimprint-Assisted Microcontact Stripping for the Fabrication of Microarrays of Fouling/Nonfouling Nanostructures. Small, 5(10), 1133-1137.
• Martínez, E., Engel, E., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Effects of artificial micro and nano structured surfaces on cell behaviour. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 191(1), 126 - 135.
• Tort, N., Salvador, J. P., Eritja, R., Poch, M., Martínez, E., Samitier, J. & Marco, M. P. (2009). Fluorescence site-encoded DNA addressable hapten microarray for anabolic androgenic steroids. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 28(6), 718 - 728.
• Guix, F. X., Ill-Raga, G., Bravo, R., Nakaya, T., de Fabritiis, G., Coma, M., Miscione, G. P., -Freixa, J. V., Suzuki, T., Fernández-Busquets, X., Valverde, M. A., de Strooper, B. & Muñoz, F. J. (2009). Amyloid-dependent triosephosphate isomerase nitrotyrosination induces glycation and tau fibrillation. Brain, 132(5), 1335-1345.
• Engel, E., Martínez, E., Mills, C. A., Funes, M., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2009). Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation on microstructured poly (methyl methacrylate) substrates. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 191(1), 136 - 144.
• Rodriguez-Trujillo, R., Castillo, Ò., Garrido, M., Arundell, M., Valencia, A. & Gomila, G. (2008). High-speed particle detection in a micro-Coulter counter with two-dimensional adjustable aperture. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 24(2), 290 - 296.
• Arundell, M., Diego, A. C., Castillo, Ò. & Samitier, J. (2008). Chips & Tips: Rapid prototyping of a PMMA microfluidic chip with integrated platinum electrodes. Lab on a Chip - Chips and Tips, 8(11).
• Fernandez, J. G., Mills, C. A., Martínez, E., Lopez-Bosque, M. J., Sisquella, X., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2008). Micro- and nanostructuring of freestanding, biodegradable, thin sheets of chitosan via soft lithography. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 85A(1), 242-247.
• Colomer-Farrarons, J., Miribel-Catala, P., Saiz-Vela, A., Puig-Vidal, M. & Samitier, J. (2008). Power-conditioning circuitry for a self-powered system based on micro PZT generators in a 0.13-mu m low-voltage low-power technology. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS, 55(9), 3249-3257.
• Castellarnau, M., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Madrid, C., Juárez, A., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2008). ISFET-based biosensor to monitor sugar metabolism in bacteria. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 28(5-6), 680 - 685.
• de Oliveira, I. M., Risco, D., Vocanson, F., Crespo, E., Teixidor, F., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2008). Sodium ion sensitive microelectrode based on a p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene ethyl ester. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 130(1), 295 - 299.
• Martínez, E., Engel, E., López-Iglesias, C., Mills, C. A., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2008). Focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy characterization of cell behavior on polymer micro-/nanopatterned substrates: A study of cell-substrate interactions. Micron, 39(2), 111 - 116.
• Bravo, R., Arimon, M., Valle-Delgado, J. J., Garcia, R., Durany, N., Castel, S., Cruz, M., Ventura, S. & Fernández-Busquets, X. (2008). Sulfated Polysaccharides Promote the Assembly of Amyloid beta1-42 Peptide into Stable Fibrils of Reduced Cytotoxicity. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283(47), 32471-32483.
• Mills, C. A., Fernandez, J. G., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2008). The use of high glass temperature polymers in the production of transparent, structured surfaces using nanoimprint lithography. Microelectronic Engineering, 85(9), 1897 - 1901.
• Lopez, M. J., Caballero, D., Campo, E. M., Perez-Castillejos, R., Errachid, A., Esteve, J. & Plaza, J. A. (2008). Focused ion beam-assisted technology in sub-picolitre micro-dispenser fabrication. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 18(7), 075021.
• Morell, M., Bravo, R., Espargaró, A., Sisquella, X., Avilés, F. X., Fernández-Busquets, X. & Ventura, S. (2008). Inclusion bodies: Specificity in their aggregation process and amyloid-like structure. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research, 1783(10), 1815 - 1825.
• Fernández-Busquets, X., de Groot, N. S., Fernandez, D. & Ventura, S. (2008). Recent Structural and Computational Insights into Conformational Diseases. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 15(13), 1336-1349.
• Errachid, A., Mills, C. A., Pla-Roca, M., Lopez, M. J., Villanueva, G., Bausells, J., Crespo, E., Teixidor, F. & Samitier, J. (2008). Focused ion beam production of nanoelectrode arrays. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 28(5-6), 777 - 780.
• Akimov, V., Alfinito, E., Bausells, J., Benilova, I., Paramo, I., Errachid, A., Ferrari, G., Fumagalli, L., Gomila, G., Grosclaude, J., Hou, Y., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Martelet, C., Pajot-Augy, E., Pennetta, C., Persuy, M.-A., Pla-Roca, M., Reggiani, L., Rodriguez-Segui, S., Ruiz, O., Salesse, R., Samitier, J., Sampietro, M., Soldatkin, A., Vidic, J. & Villanueva, G. (2008). Nanobiosensors based on individual olfactory receptors. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 57, 197-203.
• Gustavsson, J., Altankov, G., Errachid, A., Samitier, J., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2008). Surface modifications of silicon nitride for cellular biosensor applications. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, 1839-1850.
• Issle, J., Pla-Roca, M., Martínez, E. & Hartmann, U. (2008). Patterning of Magnetic Nanobeads on Surfaces by Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Stamps. Langmuir, 24(3), 888-893.
• Barhoumi, H., Haddad, R., Maaref, A., Bausells, J., Bessueille, F., Léonard, D., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Martelet, C., Zine, N. & Errachid, A. (2007). Well engineered Na+-implanted membrane for a capacitive sodium electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor microsensors. Sensor Letters (Accepted).
• Mills, C. A., Pla-Roca, M., Martin, C., Lee, M., Kuphal, M., Sisquella, X., Martínez, E., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Structured thin organic active layers and their use in electrochemical biosensors Measurement and Control. (Institute of Measurement and Control, London), 40(3), 88-91.
• Piana, C., Güll, I., Gerbes, S., Gerdes, R., Mills, C., Samitier, J., Wirth, M. & Gabor, F. (2007). Influence of surface modification on vitality and differentiation of Caco-2 cells. Differentiation, 75(4), 308 - 317.
• Fernández-Busquets, X. (2007). The Sponge as a Model of Cellular Recognition (Invited Review). Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research (Humana Press) III, 10(75).
• Martínez, E., Ríos-Mondragón, I., Pla-Roca, M., Rodríguez-Segui, S., Engel, E., Mills, C. A., Sisquella, X., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Cell-Surface Interactions Studies to Trigger Stem Cell Differentiation. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 3(4), 349 - 349.
• Vidic, J., Pla-Roca, M., Grosclaude, J., Persuy, M.-A., Monnerie, R., Caballero, D., Errachid, A., Hou, Y., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Salesse, R., Pajot-Augy, E. & Samitier, J. (2007). Gold Surface Functionalization and Patterning for Specific Immobilization of Olfactory Receptors Carried by Nanosomes. Analytical Chemistry, 79(9), 3280-3290.
• Maalouf, R., Fournier-Wirth, C., Coste, J., Chebib, H., Saïkali, Y., Vittori, O., Errachid, A., Cloarec, J.-P., Martelet, C. & Jaffrezic-Renault, N. (2007). Label-Free Detection of Bacteria by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy:  Comparison to Surface Plasmon Resonance. Analytical Chemistry, 79(13), 4879-4886.
• Biloivan, O. A., Dzyadevych, S. V., El'skaya, A. V., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2007). Development of bi-enzyme microbiosensor based on solid-contact ion-selective microelectrodes for protein detection. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 123(2), 1096 - 1100.
• Pla-Roca, M., Fernandez, J. G., Mills, C. A., Martínez, E. & Samitier, J. (2007). Micro/Nanopatterning of Proteins via Contact Printing Using High Aspect Ratio PMMA Stamps and NanoImprint Apparatus. Langmuir, 23(16), 8614-8618.
• Errachid, A., Caballero, D., Crespo, E., Bessueille, F., Pla-Roca, M., Mills, C. A., Teixidor, F. & Samitier, J. (2007). Electropolymerization of nano-dimensioned polypyrrole micro-ring arrays on gold substrates prepared using submerged micro-contact printing. Nanotechnology, 18(48), 485301.
• Martínez, E., Ríos-Mondragón, I., Pla-Roca, M., Rodríguez-Segui, S., Engel, E., Mills, C. A., Sisquella, X., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Production of functionalised micro and nanostructured polymer surfaces to trigger mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Journal of Biotechnology, 131(2, Supplem), S67 - S67.
• Mills, C. A., Martínez, E., Errachid, A., Engel, E., Funes, M., Moormann, C., Wahlbrink, T., Gomila, G., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Nanoembossed Polymer Substrates for Biomedical Surface Interaction Studies. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 7, 4588-4594(7).
• Mills, C., Fernandez, J., Martínez, E., Funes, M., Engel, E., Errachid, A., Planell, J. A. & Samitier, J. (2007). Directional Alignment of MG63 Cells on Polymer Surfaces Containing Point Microstructures. Small, 3(5), 871-879.
• Rodriguez-Trujillo, R., Mills, C., Samitier, J. & Gomila, G. (2007). Low cost micro-Coulter counter with hydrodynamic focusing. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 3, 171-176.
• Fernandez, J.  ., Mills, C.  ., Pla-Roca, M. & Samitier, J. (2007). Forced Soft Lithography (FSL): Production of Micro- and Nanostructures in Thin Freestanding Sheets of Chitosan Biopolymer. Advanced Materials, 19(21), 3696-3701.
• Fumagalli, L., Ferrari, G., Sampietro, M., Casuso, I., Martínez, E., Samitier, J. & Gomila, G. (2006). Nanoscale capacitance imaging with attofarad resolution using ac current sensing atomic force microscopy. Nanotechnology, 17(18), 4581.
• Villanueva, G., Plaza, J. A., Sánchez-Amores, A., Bausells, J., Martínez, E., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). Deep reactive ion etching and focused ion beam combination for nanotip fabrication. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 164 - 168.
• Prats-Alfonso, E., García-Martín, F., Bayo, N., Cruz, L. J., Pla-Roca, M., Samitier, J., Errachid, A. & Albericio, F. (2006). Facile solid-phase synthesis of biotinylated alkyl thiols. Tetrahedron, 62(29), 6876 - 6881.
• Hleli, S., Martelet, C., Abdelghani, A., Bessueille, F., Errachid, A., Samitier, J., Hays, H. C., Millner, P. A., Burais, N. & Jaffrezic-Renault, N. (2006). An immunosensor for haemoglobin based on impedimetric properties of a new mixed self-assembled monolayer. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 322 - 327.
• de Oliveira, I. M., Pla-Roca, M., Escriche, L., Casabó, J., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). New membrane for copper-selective electrode incorporating a new thiophosphoril-containing macrocycle as neutral carrier. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 394 - 398.
• Hou, Y., Helali, S., Zhang, A., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Martelet, C., Minic, J., Gorojankina, T., Persuy, M.-A., Pajot-Augy, E., Salesse, R., Bessueille, F., Samitier, J., Errachid, A., Akimov, V., Reggiani, L., Pennetta, C. & Alfinito, E. (2006). Immobilization of rhodopsin on a self-assembled multilayer and its specific detection by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 21(7), 1393 - 1402.
• Fernandez, J. G., Mills, C. A., Rodríguez, R., Gomila, G. & Samitier, J. (2006). All-polymer microfluidic particle size sorter for biomedical applications. physica status solidi (a), 203(6), 1476-1480.
• Mills, C. A., Navarro, M., Engel, E., Martínez, E., Ginebra, M. P., Planell, J., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2006). Transparent micro- and nanopatterned poly(lactic acid) for biomedical applications. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 76A(4), 781-787.
• Biloivan, O. A., Verevka, S. V., Dzyadevych, S. V., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). Protein detection based on microelectrodes with the PPy[3,3-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)]2 solid contact and immobilized proteinases: Preliminary investigations. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 574 - 577.
• Zazoua, A., Zougar, S., Kherrat, R., Samar, M. H., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Errachid, A. & Abbaci, A. (2006). Development of a hexavalent chromium ISFET sensor with a polymeric membrane including tributylphosphate. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 568 - 570.
• de Oliveira, I. M., Pla-Roca, M., Escriche, L., Casabó, J., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Teixidor, F., Crespo, E., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2006). Novel all-solid-state copper(II) microelectrode based on a dithiomacrocycle as a neutral carrier. Electrochimica Acta, 51(24), 5070 - 5074.
• Zine, N., Bausells, J., Vocanson, F., Lamartine, R., Asfari, Z., Teixidor, F., Crespo, E., de Oliveira, I. M., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). Potassium-ion selective solid contact microelectrode based on a novel 1,3-(di-4-oxabutanol)-calix[4]arene-crown-5 neutral carrier. Electrochimica Acta, 51(24), 5075 - 5079.
• Zine, N., Bausells, J., Teixidor, F., Viñas, C., Masalles, C., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). All-solid-state hydrogen sensing microelectrodes based on novel PPy[3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2] as a solid internal contact. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 26(2-3), 399 - 404.
• 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.
• Caballero, D., Pla-Roca, M., Bessueille, F., Mills, C. A., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). Atomic force microscopy characterisation of a micro-contact printed, self assembled thiol monolayer for use in biosensors. Analytical Letters, 39(8), 1721-1734.
• Seguí, S. R., Pla-Roca, M., Minic, J., Pajot-Augy, E., Salesse, R., Hou, Y., Jaffrezic-Renault, N., Mills, C. A., Samitier, J. & Errachid, A. (2006). Detection of olfactory receptor I7 self assembled multilayer formation and immobilization using a quartz crystal microbalance. Analytical Letters, 39(8), 1735-1745.
• de Oliveira, I. A., Torrent-Burgués, J., Pla-Roca, M., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Escriche, L., Casabó, J., Errachid, A. & Samitier, J. (2006). Nanostructuring of Langmuir-Blodgett films containing a novel thiomacrocyclic ionophore on Si3N4/SiO2/Si for copper ion recognition. Analytical Letters, 39(8), 1709-1720.
• Ponce, J., Fernández-Busquets, X. & Durany, N. (2006). Advanced glycation endproducts induce amyloid aggregation and reduce cell toxicity. Alzheimer’s disease: New advances, 409-412.
• 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.
• Rodriguez-Segui, S. A. Application of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance to the Study of Multivalent CarbohydrateCarbohydrate Adhesion. Sensor Letters, 7, 782-787(6).
• Dieguez, L., Darwish, N., Mir Llorente, M., Moreno, E. & Samitier, J. Effect of the Refractive Index of Buffer Solutions in Evanescent Optical Biosensors. Sensor Letters, 7, 851-855(5).

Projects

• NANOMALARIA Development of nanovectors for the targeted drug delivery of antimalarials (BIO2008-01184)
• ONCOLOGICA Nuevas estrategias basadas en biomarcadores para la detección del cáncer, su pronóstico, la predicción de respuesta y el desarrollo de nuevos tratamientos (2009-2012) Josep Samitier
• CARDIO-STEM Terapias regenerativas con células madre para el fallo cardíaco (2009-2012) Josep Samitier
• MAPTECH Training for Micro-Analytical Platform Technology (2005-2010) Josep Samitier
• ARAKNES Array of Robots Augmenting the KiNematics of Endoluminal Surgery (2008-2012) Josep Samitier
• BOND Bioelectronic Olfactory Neuron Device (2009-2013) Josep Samitier
• Nanoanálisis de células individuales vivas: Combinación de nanotecnologías y microsistemas – Cell on chip, CIBER-BBN projects
• ONCONANOTARGET Advancing the field of drug delivery - combined targeted treatments against human breast cancer and human leukemia INL Capacitation program in Nanotechnology
• NANOMEDIAG Nanobioanalytical platforms for improved medical diagnosis of infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms
• BIO-SCAFF Desarrollo de nuevos conceptos de andamiajes y cultivos celulares para medicina regenerativa (CIBER-BBN projects)
• MICROPLEX Micro/Nanotecnologías para la InmunoDeteccion Multiplexada de Microorganismos Patógenos (CIBER-BBN projects)
• VECTOR Versatile Endoscopic Capsule for gastrointestinal Tumor Recognition and therapy (IP, FP6)
• THERAEDGE An integrated platform enabling Theranostic applications at the Point of Primary Care (Large-scale project, FP7)
• DVT-IMP Deep vein thrombosis: Impedimetric Microanalysis system (STREP, FP6)
• Early diagnostics of prostate cancer by nanobiosensors based on olfactory receptors (FIS project)
• CellPROM Cell Programming by nanoscaled devices (IP, FP6)
• NANO2LIFE Bringing Nanotechnologies to Life (Network of Excellence, FP6)
• ONCNOSIS - Research and development of diagnostic-prognostic technologies and products y therapeutic applications in neoplastic disease
• Desarrollo des tecnologias en bionanomedicina para diagnostico y terapia (2009-2012) Fundación Botin

Collaborations

• Prof. Albert van den Berg University of Twente (The Netherlands)


• Dr. Jaume Reventós Hospital Vall d’Hebrón, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Manuel Fuentes Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca (Spain)


• Dr. Carme Cantos ENANTIA SL, Barcelona (Spain)


• Jordi Carrera STAT-Diagnostica SL, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Mª Luisa Villahermosa Genómica SA, Coslada (Spain)


• Dr. Juan C. Izpisúa CMRB, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Mª Pilar Marco IIQAB-CSIC, Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. M. Lluïssa Pérez Dept. Farmacología, University of Barcelona (Spain)


• Dr. Miguel Manso CMAM-UAM, Madrid (Spain)


• Dr. Mª Jesús Vicent Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia (Spain)


• Prof. Joan Bausells CNM-CSIC, Barcelona (Spain)


• Prof. Vasco Teixeira Universidade do Minho, Braga (Portugal)


• Prof. Jean-Louis Marty Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (France)


• Dr. Nicole Jaffrezic Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (France)


• Dr. Matthew Dalby University of Glasgow, Glasgow (UK).


• Prof. Molly M. Stevens Imperial College, London (UK)


• Dr. Graham Johnson Uniscan Instruments Ltd, Buxton (UK)


• Prof. G. Fuhr FhG Biomedicine, St. Ingbert, Germany


• Dr. Max M. Burger Novartis AG, Switzerland, and Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA


• Prof. D. Anselmetti Universität Bielefeld, Germany


• Prof. François Rossi JRC - ISPRA


• Prof. M. Madou University of California at Irvine, USA


• Prof. M. Sampietro Politecnico di Milano, Italy


• Prof. H. Börner Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Golm, Germany


• Prof. Paolo Dario

  Center for Micro-BioRobotics IIT@SSSA, Pisa, Italy



• Prof. R. SalesseI NRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France


• Dr. Edith Pajot INRA, France


• Dr. Christophe Vieu LAAS-CNRS Toulouse, France


• Prof. José Rivas Iberian Nanotechnology Institute, Braga, Portugal


• Prof. E. Faszewski Wheelock College, Boston, USA


• Prof. L. Reggiani

  INFM, Nanotechnology Laboratory, Lecce, Italy

• Molecular/cell biology

  Biological safety cabinet (class II)
  Microwell plate readers
  Protein and DNA electrophoresis systems
  Nanodrop spectrophotometer

• Sub-femtoamp Remote SourceMeter Instrument
• Precision Impedance Analyzer
• Impedance spectroscopes
• Dip-Pen Nanolithography system (DPN)
• Microplate Manager. BioRad
• Biologic LP Chromatography System. BioRad
• Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscope (OWLS)

  (Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscopy)

• Automatized microcontact printing system (custom-made)
• Surface Plasmon Resonance
• Access to characterisation facilities

  http://www.pcb.ub.es |  http://www.sct.ub.es

• Atomic Force Microscope
• Electrochemical sensor characterization equipment

  (impedance analysis, voltammetry, flow cell system)

• Chemical functionalization
• Microfluidics laboratory

  High precision syringe pumps
  Peristaltic pumps

• Nanoplotter equipment NPM
• Quartz crystal microbalance
• Soft lithography
• Access to fabrication facilities

  Nanotechnology Platform (PCB): equipments for hot embossing lithography, polymer processing and photolithography, chemical wet etching, e-beam evaporation
  http://www.pcb.ub.es/plataforma/nanotecnologia

11/04/2011

"Sin un andamio de apoyo"

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

3rd BOND Consortium Meeting at IBEC

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

Better tools for food safety

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

Spanish Minister for Education visits Nanobioengineering group

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

E-News Biocat: "Nanomedicine: Where Nanotechnology, biotechnology and the health sciences come together"

IBEC associate director Josep Samitier is a contributor to the January edition of Biocat's e-newsletter.

05/10/2010

El Pais: "Cuestión de límites"

"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

IBEC lends nanotech expertise to national exhibition

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

Famous for five minutes: TV3

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

El Periódico de Catalunya: “Estamos desarrollando una nariz bioelectrónica que será capaz de diagnosticar enfermedades”

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

La Vanguardia Sunday debate section: "El reto de la nanotecnología – Aportación minúscula, mejora grande"

Josep Samitier, IBEC’s associated director and group leader of Nanobioengineering research group, analyzes the challenges and contributions of nanotechnology.

15/10/2009

Novel Evolutionary Theory for the Explosion of Life

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

Project Kick-off for a New Bioelectronic Nose

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

21/04/2008

Josep Samitier appointed Rector of the University of Barcelona

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

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 textbook Molecular Cell Biology selects a figure from a nanobioengineering researcher at IBEC

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.