By Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC)
The Nanomedicine for Therapeutic Applications group develops advanced therapeutic strategies based on the design of smart nano- and biocarriers for the targeted delivery of drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins. These nanocarriers are designed to improve the stability, specificity, and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents, increasing their efficacy and minimizing side effects. We work with diverse systems, including polymeric micelles, liposomes, iron oxide and photothermal nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and hybrid systems such as EV–liposome combinations. These technologies are applied to unmet medical needs in cancer, lysosomal storage diseases, chronic wounds, and immune system-related diseases. A key focus of our research is cancer therapy. We develop polymeric micelles loaded with chemotherapeutic agents and combine them with photothermal strategies to enhance tumor selectivity, optimize cytosolic delivery, and stimulate immune responses. This includes light-activated nanotreatments designed to induce immunogenic cell death and support the development of whole-cell cancer vaccines. We integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate the design and optimization of nanomedicines, and work with advanced in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, safety, biodistribution, and immune modulation, connecting basic research with translational application. Main Research Lines Smart nanocarriers for therapeutic delivery: Design and development of polymeric nanoparticles and micelles, liposomes, magnetic and photothermal nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and hybrid systems for the delivery of drugs, siRNA, and proteins. Photothermal and light-responsive nanotechnologies: Use of light-activated nanomaterials and pulsed laser excitation to facilitate intracellular entry, enable endosomal escape, and selectively eliminate tumor cells. Immunomodulatory nanotherapies: Study of the interaction of nanosystems with the immune system and development of strategies to induce immunogenic cell death and generate cancer vaccines. AI-guided nanomedicine development: Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to design, optimize, and predict the performance of nanocarriers in collaboration with computational chemistry groups. Preclinical models and translational research: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of therapeutic systems in oncology and metabolic diseases, focused on efficacy, safety, biodistribution, and immunological profile.
