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ICMAB RESEARCH LINES

Materials for Health Research Line

Advanced bioactive materials, nanomedicine, theranostics and materials interfaces for future healthcare technologies.

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Materials science for future healthcare

The Materials for Health Research Line brings together ICMAB expertise in advanced, bioactive and innovative materials for health-related applications.

Its research connects molecular design, nanocarriers, soft materials, hydrogels, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon materials, biointerfaces and biological evaluation to support new approaches in drug delivery, diagnostics, cancer therapies and theranostics.

The line benefits from ICMAB’s scientific ecosystem, shared biological infrastructure such as Bioservice, collaborations with biomedical experts and links to initiatives such as NANBIOSIS ICTS and OITB-Phoenix.

Research focus

The line advances materials-based solutions for healthcare challenges through bioactive materials, nanomedicine, interfaces and translational biological evaluation.

Materials design

Bioactive materials

Advanced molecules, polymers, hydrogels, nanovesicles and hybrid structures designed to interact with biological systems.
Therapeutic platforms

Nanomedicine and carriers

Nanocarriers, quatsomes, magnetic nanoparticles and carbon-based materials for drug delivery, diagnostics and theranostics.
Health impact

Cancer and infection challenges

Materials strategies for antimicrobial interfaces, infection prevention, soft materials for cancer models and targeted therapies.
Research infrastructure

Biological testing

Cell and bacterial assays, biological screening and shared workflows supported by Bioservice and biomedical collaborations.

From materials design to biomedical translation

Materials for Health combines fundamental materials science with translational research workflows. Researchers design, synthesize and process advanced materials, tune their physicochemical and biological properties, and evaluate them in collaboration with biomedical partners.

The line has reported strong scientific activity in recent years, expanding the range of materials used for health applications, including curcuminoids, natural hydrogel polymers, bacterial cellulose, PEG-based hydrogels, nanoparticles and cellular systems.

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Research Groups

DELOS and quatsomes

Encapsulation of small molecules and biomaterials using DELOS and non-liposomal nanovesicles such as quatsomes.

Boron compounds

Carboranes and derivatives as versatile carriers for diagnosis and anticancer agents, including BNCT-related research.

Theragnostic particles

Development of carriers and theragnostic particles, with emphasis on magnetic nanoparticles and carbon materials.

Diagnostic platforms

MRI-active molecules, porphyrins and platforms for biological interaction screening and in vivo models such as C. elegans.

Strategic health challenges

The line is structured around health challenges where materials science can provide new tools, interfaces and therapeutic platforms.

Interfaces engineering for infection prevention

Microbial adhesion to surfaces and antimicrobial resistance are major global health concerns. Biofilms formed on living tissues, wounds, medical devices or water systems are highly resistant and are associated with chronic and recurrent infections.

ICMAB addresses this challenge through rational molecular design, interface engineering and the development of active molecules, quatsomes, hydrogels, nanostructured bioactive surfaces and therapeutic nanocarriers.

Soft materials to battle cancer

Cancer remains one of the most critical health challenges in Europe. ICMAB researchers contribute materials science tools to the oncology community, with particular attention to lung cancer and collaboration with clinical, preclinical and industrial partners.

The line develops 3D scaffolds, rational material-biomolecule interaction tools, patient-derived organoid models, radiotherapeutic and diagnostic agents, and injectable hydrogels for localized therapeutic delivery.

People leading Materials for Health

Coordinators, researchers and early-career scientists connected to the Materials for Health research line.

Coordinator

Emeritus

Postdoctoral researchers

PhD researchers

Connected to the ICMAB research ecosystem

Materials for Health connects strategic research, research groups, shared infrastructure and biomedical collaborations.

Find the right health materials expertise

This page acts as an entry point for researchers, students, industry partners and biomedical collaborators looking for ICMAB expertise in materials for health.

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Collaboration

For researchers

Identify expertise in biomaterials, nanomedicine, biointerfaces, hydrogels and theranostics.
Training

For students

Explore research environments and possible PhD or postdoctoral directions in health materials.
Innovation

For industry

Find collaboration opportunities in nanomedicine, biological testing and translational materials platforms.
Healthcare research

For biomedical partners

Connect materials science capabilities with preclinical, diagnostic and therapeutic research needs.

Advancing materials science for health technologies

Explore the people, challenges and research ecosystem behind ICMAB’s Materials for Health Research Line.

Research Lines Overview
Research Groups