Francesco De Chiara | Postdoctoral Researcher
Juanma Fernandez Costa | Postdoctoral Researcher
Irene Marco Rius | Postdoctoral Researcher
Maria Alejandra Ortega Machuca | Postdoctoral Researcher
Júia Rodríguez Comas | Postdoctoral Researcher
Laura Clua Ferré | PhD Student
Xiomara Gislen Fernández Garibay | PhD Student
Ferran Velasco Mallorquí | PhD Student
Albert Garcia Castaño | Laboratory Technician
Jordina Balaguer Trias | Laboratory Assistant
Víctor Parra Monreal | Laboratory Assistant
Rodrigo Alvarez Velasco | Visiting Researcher
Minseong Kim | Visiting Researcher
About

Formation of 3D ESC aggregates in GelMA hydrogel using dielectrophoresis (DEP). The stem cells in the GelMA prepolymer were introduced into the 100 µm height chamber and localized by DEP forces to the low electric field regions within the microelectrodes. The GelMA prepolymer was then exposed to UV light, embedding the cells in a stable microscale organization. Scale bar shows 100 µm.
Drug discovery pathway relies heavily on in vivo animal models and in vitro cell mediums. In the case of animal models we have not only some ethical problems but also the ability to extrapolate data to human conditions is limited and in vitro platforms often do not simulate the complex cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions crucial for regulating cell behaviour.
The Biosensors for Bioengineering group is focused in a new line of research that has become of extreme importance in the last years. The idea is to integrate biosensor technology and nanotechnology with stem cell research and with tissue engineering. Engineered tissues are integrated with biosensing technology to obtain microdevices for detecting cellular responses to external stimuli, monitoring the quality of the microenvironment (e.g., metabolites, nutrients), and supporting diverse cellular requirements. This research on 3D-functional engineered tissues is expected to develop knowledge of tissue construction and their functions and relation with some human diseases. Integration of fully functional tissues with microscale biosensor technology allowed us to obtain “organs-on-a-chip”. These chips could be used in pharmaceutical assays and could be a step toward the ultimate goal of producing in vitro drug testing systems crucial to the medicine and pharmaceutical industry.
Right: Picture of aligned C2C12 muscle cells within hydrogel as obtained by the dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique using 50 µm electrode 50 µm gap device (A). Phase contrast images of the aligned C2C12 muscle cells within hydrogel at different culture times (B and C). Scale bar shows 0.25 cm, 400 μm, and 50 μm in A, B, and C, respectively.

Myotubes differentiated in a groove-ridge topography GelMA-CNTs composite loaded with 0.3 mg/mL CNTs. Immunostaining of cell nuclei/myosin heavy chain showing the highly aligned C2C12 myotubes. Z-lines were also observed for the myotubes indicating high maturation of muscle myofibers. Scale bar show 20 µm.
News/Jobs
IBEC researcher’s ERC project highlighted in Madrid exhibition
28/03/17
This weekend Javier Ramon’s European Research Council-funded project, DAMOC, was one of eight highlighted in a special exhibition in Madrid to mark the ERC’s tenth anniversary.
ERC funding for new diabetes approach at IBEC
04/10/16
IBEC’s Dr. Javier Ramón is one of just six researchers in Catalonia to have been awarded a 2016 Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC).
Projects
EU-funded projects
‘Diabetes Approach by Multi-Organ-on-a-Chip’ (DAMOC) | ERC | Javier Ramón |
Publications
Ortega, María A., Fernández-Garibay, Xiomara, Castaño, Albert G., De Chiara, Francesco, Hernández-Albors, Alejandro, Balaguer-Trias, Jordina, Ramón-Azcón, Javier, (2019). Muscle-on-a-chip with an on-site multiplexed biosensing system for in situ monitoring of secreted IL-6 and TNF-α Lab on a Chip 19, 2568-2580
de Goede, M., Dijkstra, M., Obregón, R., Ramón-Azcón, J., Martínez, E., Padilla, L., Mitjans, F., Garcia-Blanco, S. M., (2019). Al2O3 microring resonators for the detection of a cancer biomarker in undiluted urine Optics Express 27, (13), 18508-18521
Hernández-Albors, Alejandro, Castaño, Albert G., Fernández-Garibay, Xiomara, Ortega, María Alejandra, Balaguer, Jordina, Ramón-Azcón, Javier, (2019). Microphysiological sensing platform for an in-situ detection of tissue-secreted cytokines Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X 2, 100025
García-Lizarribar, Andrea, Fernández-Garibay, Xiomara, Velasco-Mallorquí, Ferran, Castaño, Albert G., Samitier, Josep, Ramon-Azcon, Javier, (2018). Composite biomaterials as long-lasting scaffolds for 3D bioprinting of highly aligned muscle tissue Macromolecular Bioscience 18, (10), 1800167
Ino, Kosuke, Nashimoto, Yuji, Taira, Noriko, Ramón-Azcon, Javier, Shiku, Hitoshi, (2018). Intracellular electrochemical sensing Electroanalysis 30, (10), 2195-2209
de Goede, M., Chang, L., Dijkstra, M., Obregón, R., Ramón-Azcon, J., Martínez, E., Padilla, L., Adan, J., Mitjans, F., García-Blanco, S.M., (2018). Al2O3 Microresonator based passive and active biosensors ICTON 2018
20th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks , IEEE Computer Society (Bucharest, Romania) , 8473820
de Goede, M., Chang, L., Dijkstra, M., Obregón, R., Ramón-Azcon, J., Martínez, E., Padilla, L., Adan, J., Mitjans, F., García-Blanco, S.M., (2018). Al2O3 Mmicroresonators for passive and active sensing applications Sensors 2018
Optical Sensors , OSA - The Optical Society (Zurich, Switzerland) Part F110, 1-2
Mohammadi, M. H., Obregón, R., Ahadian, S., Ramón-Azcón, J., Radisic, M., (2017). Engineered muscle tissues for disease modeling and drug screening applications
Current Pharmaceutical Design , 23, (20), 2991-3004
Obregón, R., Ramón-Azcón, J., Ahadian, S., (2017). Nanofiber composites in blood vessel tissue engineering
Nanofiber Composites for Biomedical Applications (ed. Ramalingam, M., Ramakrishna, S.), Elsevier (Duxford, UK) Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials, 483-506
(See full publication list in ORCID)
Equipment
Micro and nanofabrication techniques:
- 3D microstructures on hydrogel materials
- Mini-bioreactor for 3D cell culture
- Microelectrodes fabrication
- Synthesis and chemical modification of polymers and surfaces
- Dielectrophoretic cells and micro particles manipulation
Characterization techniques:
- Optical Microscopes (white light/epifluorescence)
- Electrochemical techniques (Potentiometric/Amperometric/Impedance spectroscopy)
- Immunosensing techniques (Fluorescence ELISA/Colorimetric ELISA/magneto ELISA)
Equipment:
- Microfluidic systems (High precision syringe pumps/Peristaltic pumps/Micro valves)
- Biological safety cabinet (class II)
- Epifluorescence microscope for live-cell imaging
Access to the Nanotechnology Platform (IBEC Core Facilities): equipment for hot embossing lithography, polymer processing and photolithography, chemical wet etching, e-beam evaporation and surface characterization (TOF-SIMS)
Access to the Scientific and Technological Centers (University of Barcelona): equipment for surface analysis (XPS, AFM, XRD), organic structures characterization (NMR) and microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, confocal)
Collaborations
- Prof. Josep Samitier
IBEC - Dr. Elena Martinez
IBEC - Dr. Anna Novials
Institut D´Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) - Dr. Ramon Gomís
Institut D´Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)