Cellular and Molecular Biology

Prof. Jesus de la Fuente
Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials of Aragón, CSIC/ University of Zaragoza

“Designing Biofunctional Nanoparticles”

14th March, 2024h 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

The lecture will last 1 hour and it will be followed by discussion
Host: Prof.Giovanna Gambarotta

Seminar Room, University Didactic Center, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano
Link: https://unito.webex.com/meet/giovanna.gambarotta

Nanotechnology is considered by many to be the next "Technological Revolution". Thanks to this technology we can control materials at the nanoscale level and develop nanometric devices such as nanoparticles. Today there are a multitude of applications for these nanoparticles, ranging from fields such as electronics, communications, optics, chemistry, energy and of course also biology. Why are these nanoparticles interesting from a biotechnology application point of view? Mainly because these materials, due to their nanometric size, acquire different properties, thus creating new uses. It should also be borne in mind that it is in this nanometre range that all biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, etc. are found. In recent years, a multitude of applications of nanoparticles have emerged in the field of biology, such as fluorescent labelling of proteins or high-resolution visualisation of organelles inside cells. The use of these "nanosystems" in the field of medicine has given rise to what is known as nanomedicine. Nanomedicine simply aims to exploit the interesting physical, chemical and biological properties of materials at the nanometric level to achieve major advances in improving healthcare. The main challenges Nanomedicine aims to achieve are to enable the early detection of different pathologies, helping to prevent these diseases, and on the other hand to improve treatments to make them more effective and with the lowest possible degree of side effects. The aim of these objectives is to improve the quality of life of the patient.
In our research group at the Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials of Aragon (INMA, CSIC/Univ Zaragoza), we are developing magnetic, gold and polymeric nanoparticles for application in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, developing new therapies ranging from a controlled release of drugs in a preferential manner in the desirable tissue, and developing ultrasensitive biosensors for the diagnosis and prognosis of different pathologies. What is done is to use the nanoparticles as a drug transport system and to use the original properties of these nanomaterials to ensure the release of the drug only where it is desired. Moreover, thanks to the use of biological markers (molecules capable of directing these nanoparticles exclusively to specific areas), they will ensure a more effective treatment, reducing the dose and side effects.