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Strategic lines of research of the programme NM 1. NANODIAGNOSIS:
• Development of biosensor devices based on micro / nanotechnologies to detect specific biomarkers of disease .
• Evaluation and validation of new biomarkers of disease through new strategies and devices based on micro / nanotechnologies .
• Development of new contrast agents . Nanodiagnosis consists on developing systems and image analysis techniques both in vivo and in vitro for
the early detection of disease, at cellular or molecular level .
One of the detection systems developed to date is based on diagnosis with nanoparticles (semiconductor, or magnetic metal) such as quantum dots that are used as cell labeling, identification of tumors or diseased areas .
Another line of action within this field is the diagnosis with nanobiosensors . These integrated nanoscale devices for a biological receptor (proteins, DNA, cells) are prepared to specifically detect a substance and a transducer or sensor, capable of measuring biomolecular recognition reaction and translate it into a mea- surable signal .
The use of these techniques would allow diagnosis with a more solid biological base and more reliable re- sults, which would translate into greater precision in the diagnosis of different pathologies .
NM 2. THERAPEUTIC NANOSYSTEMS:
• Study and development of new agents (enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids . . .) and nanostructures with therapeutic properties .
• Development of nanosystems to improve pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapy of therapeutic agents .
This line will concentrate on the development of new pharmacological therapies based on the intelligent design of guided nanoconjugates .
Therapeutic nanosystems research line includes both the development of pharmacological release systems optimized to traverse the blood-brain barrier, and the specific release of enzymes, proteins or gene inhibi- tion strategies by means of siRNA .
The line must assure that toxicological and therapeutic activity data are obtained in all the newly designed nanoconjugates . The basic objective is to obtain suitable proofs of concept for therapy .
The development of therapeutic nanoconjugates and of local and controlled release systems for these na- noconjugates, would allow guiding the treatment to the area of action, in the attempt to achieve perfect control of the therapy, thereby preventing the action of the drug or therapeutic particle in areas that might entail a potential risk for the patient .
NM 3. NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY:
• Study of biocompatibility and toxicity of therapeutic nanosystems and nanodevices . • Biological processes research (physiology, cell adhesion or communication, cell biophysics and
epigenetic) and development of techniques for their study . • Theranostic systems development .
28 CIBER-BBN » Annual report 2014