Current projects
Nanosensor-based diagnostics and rapid identification in disruptor solutions of the interaction of the SARS-Cov-2 virus with its cell receptor (NANOCOMPETE)
August 04, 2019
Duration: 2020-2022
Prof. Francisco García-Cózar (coordinator)
Dr. Daniel Ortega (partner)
The COVID-19 Fund, which is managed by ISCIII, has allocated 5 million euros to promote projects and programmes aimed at generating knowledge about the virus and seeking short-term solutions to improve the lives of patients and the work of health professionals and researchers. In total, it has received more than 1,300 applications from all over Spain. We succeeded in securing one of the 15 funded projects, with a proposal focused on a quick detection method for antibodies and/or viruses from unprocessed plasma or serum samples using a bespoke nanosensor.
Nanotechnology Applied to Healthcare (RYC2018-025253-I)
August 07, 2019
Duration: 2019-2024
Dr. Daniel Ortega (coordinator)
These grants are aimed at promoting the incorporation of national and foreign researchers with an outstanding career in R&D centres by means, on the one hand, of the granting of aid for their employment and, on the other hand, the granting of aid for the creation of permanent jobs for their subsequent incorporation among the agents of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System benefitting from these aids.
Nanotechnology in Traslational Hyperthermia (HIPERNANO)
November 30, 2019
Duration: 2019-2022
Dr. Daniel Ortega (coordinator)
Hyperthermia is the best known 'generic' adjuvant to chemo- and radiotherapy, and the joint efforts of the international scientific community are extending their potential in clinical oncology. In particular, the application of local heat to tumors by the excitation of magnetic nanoparticles with an alternating field represented a milestone that has now been raised with the incorporation of luminescent nanoparticles such as heaters and nanothermometers to monitor treatments. A realistic analysis of the national panorama reveals that, in order to continue sustaining this innovative trajectory, a coordinated effort of large proportions is required, which at present cannot occur as a result of the fragmentation existing between the different relevant actors. The strength of HIPERNANO lies precisely in the strategic regrouping of these actors, representing a unique blend of expertise in the creation of software and simulators, synthesis of biocompatible nanostructures, nanothermometry, nanometrology, manufacture of magnetic sensors, design of preclinical and clinical analysis techniques , design of instrumentation for hyperthermia, development of techniques and clinical intervention protocols. The application of nanotechnology to translational hyperthermia proposed by HIPERNANO aims to take advantage of the biological phenomena fostered by both techniques: inhibition of damage repair in tumor tissues, immunological stimulation, reoxygenation phenomena, changes in perfusion, effects on macromolecular transport and nanoparticles, as well as induction and manipulation of the tumor response to the heat shock in a localized manner using nanoparticles.
Advanced magnetic nanoparticles for detection and quantification of biomarkers in biological fluids (BioMag)
March 04, 2019
Duration: 2019-2022
Prof. Dr. Francisco Terán (coordinator)
An ever-increasing number of medical applications is adopting nanotechnology to go beyond the current state-of-the-art. BioMag aims to provide a quick, sensitive, reliable and low-cost in vitro diagnostic methodology based on functionalised magnetic nanoparticles (F-MNPs) for detection of biomarkers present in bodily fluids. The project aims to 1) design F-MNPs with recognition ligands that specifically interact with cardiac biomarkers related to myocardial infarction and MNP surface engineering to minimize unspecific interactions with off target biomolecules present in blood samples; 2) monitor changes of AC hysteresis loops of F-MNPs after specific interaction with biomarkers; 3) develop numerical simulations to model the variation of the AC hysteresis loops for quantifying the biomarker amount present in the studied sample. The BioMag consortium gathers excellent and multidisciplinary research teams for approaching material science fundamentals towards market applications.
Radiotherapy Coupled with Hyperthermia -Adapting the Biological Equivalent Dose Concept (RaCHy)
January 09, 2019
Duration: 2019-2022
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Durando (coordinator)
Radiotherapy is a frontline cancer treatment that destroys or damages cancer cells to stop their proliferation. However, it can only be applied in limited doses as it is also toxic to normal tissue and this can affect the subsequent quality of life of patients. Therefore, novel multimodal techniques are under development including radiotherapy coupled with hyperthermia. This treatment locally increases tissue temperature and enhances radiosensitivity by an order of magnitude. A metrology framework needs to be developed for the evaluation and optimisation of the biological equivalent dose concept for a class of radiation-based therapies coupled with hyperthermia. This will require in-vitro and in-vivo experiments to be undertaken to establish the best combination in terms of equivalent dose and biological effect.
COST action CA17115 "European network for advancing electromagnetic hyperthermic medical technologies" (MyWAVE)
June 17, 2018
Duration: 2018-2022
Prof. Dr. Lourdes Farrugia (coordinator)
Electromagnetic (EM) hyperthermic technologies hold great potential in the treatment of diseases, especially for cancers that are resistant to standard regimens. These technologies modify tissue temperature: hyperthermia heats the diseased tissue to make it susceptible to treatments, and ablation heats the tissue until it is destroyed. Hyperthermia is particularly effective in treatment of cervical and breast cancer, head and neck cancers, sarcoma in adults, and germ cell tumours in children; while radiofrequency and microwave ablation offer promise for treating liver, kidney, and lung cancers.
To address these challenges, the MyWAVE Action takes a holistic approach by bringing together key players in the field of dielectric spectroscopy, translational research, and medical professionals. Conjoining these varied communities into one collaborative network is critical to advance the design, development, and commercialisation of EM hyperthermic technologies, so that they can reach patients faster and improve treatment outcomes.
NANOLICO "Functional nanomaterials for the validation of in silico predictions of nanothermometry and magnetic hyperthermia"
December 31, 2017
Duration: 2018-2020
Dr. Francisco J. Terán (coordinator)
The work proposed here has the potential to move nanoparticle-mediated magnetic hyperthermia (MH) closer to widespread clinical application. The proposed activities will not only supply results of interest for cancer therapy, but also will address other barriers to clinical translation present in other thermal therapy modalities. By acquiring the ability to accurately measure temperature maps while applying MH as described in the proposal, we believe the results will provide important tools needed to realize the full potential of MH therapy. The comparison between prediction and experimental evidences will allow to validate the former as partial replacement of current in vivo assays. Eventually, this approach will also help clinicians to design clinical trials of magnetic hyperthermia.
NanoBioAp "Bioaplicaciones de nanopartículas"
January 03, 2023
Duration: 2017-2018
Dr. M. Carmen Blanco (Coordinator) and Dr. Montserrat Rivas (coordinator)
NanoBioAp (Nanoparticles for Bio-Applications) is a cluster of excellence financially supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spanish Government (MINECO) through MAT2016-81955-REDT.
The consortium brings together a vast experience covering nanoparticle synthesis, both by classical and novel routes, their application to point-of-care bioanalytical devices, hyperthermia or controlled drug release, as well as a large variety of characterization techniques and standardized nanometrology methods for industrial utilization.
NoCanTher "Nanomedicine Upscaling for Early Clinical Phases of Multimodal Cancer Therapy"
February 23, 2023
Duration: 2016-2021
Prof. Rodolfo Miranda (coordinator) and Dr. Alvaro Somoza (PI)
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an orphan disease with a very bad prognosis, even when diagnosed early. The survival rate after 5 years (< 5%) has not changed over the last 30 years, despite tremendous efforts at the preclinical and clinical stage. There is an urgent need to develop effective treatments for this disease, and since the standard approaches have not afforded any significant improvement, the use of novel therapies might be the solution for this particular case. In this regard, the use of nanotechnology-based approaches have been applied in the last years for the detection and treatment of multiple diseases. In this context, the consortium NoCanTher aims to scale-up under GMP conditions and evaluate a nanoformulation based on magnetic nanoparticles for a combined therapy against this disease.
NANOMAGCOST-CM "Magnetism Solutions for Societal Challenges"
December 31, 2018
Duration: 2019-2022
Prof. Rodolfo Miranda (PI)
The NanomagCOST Programme integrates a select interdisciplinary group of 80 scientists from four academic institutions (UAM, UCM, CSIC e IMDEA Nanociencia) from Madrid, organized in five research groups. We aim at exploring in close collaboration with a large group of companies that will take care of the prototyping and industrial level scaling, external experts and hospitals, some practical applications of nanomagnetism, going from the production of magnets without rare earths and their 3D printing to the development of magnetoelastic sensors for biomedical applications, magnetoresistive sensors to detect the neural signals in order to by-pass spinal cord injuries or the use of magnetic nanoparticles to kill selectively cancer cells.
Thematic Network Europe-Japan “Nanoparticles for biomedicine”
August 31, 2015
Duration: 2015-2020
Prof. Dr. Alexander Pfeifer (coordinator)
Within the research network Europe-Japan, research groups of the University of Bonn cooperate with partners of UK, Japan and Spain, to develop new magnetic nanoparticles and to test them in biomedical applications.
RADIOMAG "Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Indirect Radiation Therapy
May 28, 2023
Duration: 2014-2018
Dr. Simo Spassov (Chair) and Dr. Daniel Ortega (Vice-chair)
RADIOMAG aims to bring together and to organise the research outcomes from the different participating network members in a practical way to provide clinicians with the necessary input to trial a novel anti-cancer treatment combining magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and radiotherapy, also identifying future research objectives upon appraisal of the obtained results. Feedback between the different working groups here is essential, and is expected that the lifetime of this Action proposal will eventually result in a compendium of best practices for magnetic hyperthermia.
RADIOMAG will generate new and strengthen the existing synergies between technical advances (thermal imaging / MH), new treatment concepts (combined targeting radiosensitisation and magnetic thermotherapy) and biocompatible coating in order to achieve a breakthrough in the clinical application of magnetic hyperthermia. Due to the complexity of this aim, synergies can only be achieved on a longer time frame, by means of workshops, STSMs, joint publications, common Horizon 2020 research proposals and exchange with other COST Actions.
EMF-MED "European network for innovative uses of EMFs in biomedical applications"
January 01, 2020
Duration: 2014-2018
Dr. Antonio Sarolic (Chair) and Dr. Mirjana Moser (Vice-chair)
COST EMF-MED provides a cooperative framework to support the research on beneficial biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their use in biomedical applications. Research on biological effects of EMFs has traditionally focused on health risks. Inspired by promising recent studies on useful biomedical EMF interactions and applications, this Action focuses on beneficial effects, aiming for breakthrough results, new discoveries and innovative biomedical technologies. The Action will provide a better understanding of underlying physical and biological interaction mechanisms, related to both cancer and non-cancer applications, filling the gaps in present state of knowledge. Ultimately, the Action aims to contribute to development and optimization of innovative EMF-based medical devices and procedures, which will be safer, more efficient and less invasive. Interdisciplinarity of the proposed topic and significance of the expected outcomes require a concerted research network at the European level.
NONAFRONTMAG-CM "New frontiers in fundamental and applied nanomagnetism"
December 31, 2013
Duration: 2014-2018
Prof. Rodolfo Miranda (PI)
The NANOFRONTMAG-CM project includes the manufacture, study and applications of organic magnetic nanostructures (individual molecules and organic films) and inorganic nanostructures (nanoparticles, films, nano- and microwires). The project consortium brings together more than 70 representatives of leading research groups from the Community of Madrid in Spain related to Nanomagnetism in different fields (biomedicine, oncology, chemistry and information technologies), profiles (large and small companies, hospitals, universities and research centers), and two laboratories of the Network of Laboratories and Infrastructures of Madri+d (RedLab), the Nanomagnetism laboratory of IMDEA Nanoscience (NanomagLab) and the Laboratory of Low Temperatures of the UAM.
Past projects
NANOTER "Multifunctional Nanostructures for Cancer Imaging and Controlled Thermotherapy"
Duration: 2014-2017
Dr. Francisco Terán (PI) and Dr. Daniel Ortega (PI)
NANOTER is a multidisciplinary project aiming to develop novel multifunctional nanostructures for biomedical applications, mainly cancer therapy. NANOTER involves three research groups from UAM (coordinators), URV and iMdea, whose main goal is the synthesis and validation of novel nanostructures that combine: (i) remotely activated generation of local heat by IR light or AC magnetic fields, (ii) intratumoral temperature monitoring through luminescent probes, and (iii) medical imaging. It is precisely the combination of these features in a single platform where the originality of NANOTER lies upon. These multifunctional nanostructures are intended to increase the efficacy of thermal therapies against cancer by providing the means to control intratumoral heat exposure, which is one of the greatest challenges for using nanoparticle mediated hyperthermia in clinical settings.
"Magnetocaloric effect in nanostructured materials"
Duration: 2014-2015
Dr. Daniel Ortega (PI)
Magnetocaloric (MC) and giant-magnetocaloric (GMC) materials, those showing a reversible temperature change in response to a changing magnetic field are key for the development of magnetic refrigeration at room temperature. This technology would reduce considerably the current consumption of electricity caused by refrigeration and airconditioning. Scaling these down to the nanoscale opens up a new range of applications for MC and GMC materials: lighter and highly permeable MC materials for small devices or nanofluids for more efficient cooling systems for high-power- density devices. Furthermore, it has been envisioned that MC and GMC nanomaterials would contribute to cater the new demands of modern medicine, especially diagnostics and therapeutics. Besides exploring the MC effect at the nanoscale, this project is devoted to design MC and GMC nanomaterials for technological and medical applications.