The NanoBiotechnology Group is mainly focused on the use of bioactive molecules and nanoparticles in nanomedicine & nanotechnology. It holds a multidisciplinary philosophy, and it is led by Dr. Alvaro Somoza, an expert in the use of modified oligonucleotides and nanostructures in nanomedicine. The group deals with several research lines, centered on the use of modified oligonucleotides and proteins to create new nanomedical tools and sensors.

Main research topics:

• Modified oligonucleotides preparation for different therapeutic and diagnosis purposes.
• Nanoparticles in drug delivery, using different nanostructures to deliver different drugs and nucleic acids for the treatment of different diseases.
• The design of new strategies for efficient editing of Uveal Melanoma and Pancreatic cancer cell lines based on the delivery of the CRISPR system.
• Nanosensors for multiples diseases, such as Uveal, Melanoma, Pancreatic cancer COVID or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
• Modified magnetic nanoparticles for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. (NoCanTher project)
• The design of non-viral vehicles  for the delivery of CRISPR proteins (Cas12, Cas9, Cas13) in complex with the guide RNA (RNP), to obtain efficient gene editing for therapeutic applications.
• Antibacterial activity of inorganic nanoparticles.
• Combination of Cas12a or Cas13 target interaction and nanotechnology to design “point of care” sensing systems for the diagnosis of cancer and infectious diseases.

Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain & CNB-CSIC-IMDEA Nanociencia Associated Unit “Unidad de Nanobiotecnología”.

IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the ‘Severo Ochoa’ Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grant SEV-2016-0686)