Bioanalytical Chemistry Lab
Complutense University of Madrid
Design and synthesis of novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications
Our research focuses on the evaluation of metallic nanoparticles with biomedical potential.
These metallic nanoparticles are delivered using mesoporous silica nanoparticles, in order to develop multifunctional hybrid nanosystems capable of being targeted to the cells of interest using vectorization ligands.
Currently, nanosystems with antitumor potential against different types of cancer, as well as nanosystems with bactericidal potential, are being developed.
Recently, we have also started to develop nanosystems with potential as sensitizing agents in photodynamic therapy.
Evaluation of the biomolecular mechanisms involved in the therapeutic potential of the proposed nanosystems
In order to identify the biomolecular mechanisms of action of the proposed nanosystems, we employed omics discovery strategies
Transcriptomics
We employ DNA microarrays that allow the simultaneous analysis of more than 20,000 genes in a single experiment. We use RT-qPCR as a technique to evaluate the expression levels of specific genes.
Proteomics
The SILAC approach is based on the metabolic labeling of proteins and allows us to quantify hundreds of proteins in a single experiment, thus allowing the identification of targets involved in the process under study.
Metabolomics
We use both the non-targeted metabolomics strategy for the discovery of metabolites altered in the process under study, and the targeted metabolomics strategy, which, based on the use of the MRM mode, allows us to evaluate the levels of specific metabolites.
Use of animal models for
in-vivo validation
Candidate nanosystems that have demonstrated good in-vitro properties are finally evaluated in mouse models or in chicken embryos.