Who are we
The principal investigator behind the innovation, Concepción Jiménez López, belongs to the Biomineralization research group (RNM 938) in the Microbiology department at the University of Granada (Spain). They focus on the processes of mineral formation by organisms, and the applications of these processes. Other relevant collaborators belong to the departments of Applied Physics (Guillermo Iglesias) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I (M. Paz Carrasco) from the University of Granada, to the University of Zaragoza, the University of Piemonte Orientale and the University of Verona.
The PI has received funding to develop this technology from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CGL2004-03910, CGL2007-63859, CGL2010-18274, CGL2013-46612-P, CGL2016-76723, PDC2021-121135.100), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20-01658), Junta de Andalucía (P20_00208) and FEDER Operational Program 2014-2020 (A-BIO-376-UGR18, B-BIO-432-UGR20).
TEAM
Team Leader
Concepción Jiménez-López
- Full Professor
- Biomineralization lab Group Leader.
- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- cjl@ugr.es
My expertise is mineral production mediated by (micro)organisms. I have developed the idea of producing Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoparticles mediated by MamC from Magnetococcus marinus MC-1 and I have initiated many collaborations to explore applications for these BMNPs.
ORCID: 0000-0002-5645-2079
BMNP technology
PhD student- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- monicajc@ugr.es
My role in the project is to produce Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoparticles, functionalize them with specific molecules, and apply the resultant nanoassemblies in biotechnology (biosensor design) or biomedicine (antimicrobial or antitumoral applications).
ORCID: 0000-0002-5867-2083
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- yjabalera@ugr.es
My role in the project is the design, production and characterization of magnetic nanoformulation with different properties for their use in different biotechnological applications.
PhD student- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- tamapg25@ugr.es
My role in this research group consists in the purification of proteins and the biomineralization of BMNPs, in addition to their characterization and functionalization with different drugs used for cancer therapies.
Postdoctoral Researcher- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- foltolina@ugr.es
My role in the project is the production of monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor associated markers and the functionalization of the BMNPs with these specific probes and with chemotherapeutic drugs used for cancer therapies.
BMNP applications
Mª Paz Carrasco Jiménez
- Full Professor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I. University of Granada
- Biomembranes lab Group Leader
- mpazcj@ugr.es
Currently, our line of research is focused on studying the action of various synthetic inhibitors that interfere with lipid metabolism and the mechanism of action responsible for their antitumor activity.
Alberto Sola-Leyva
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I. University of Granada
- albertosola@ugr.es
In this project we are testing the biocompatible properties of BMNPs for biomedical applications. These include their potential as drug carriers and hyperthermic therapy agents.
Manuel Montalbán López
- Associate Professor
- Departament of Microbiology
- manuelml@ugr.es
My research focuses on the isolation of bacterial strains that can produce antimicrobial compounds, their purification and characterization. With the model circular antimicrobial peptide AS-48 as a lead compound we are testing its clinical potential against pathogens. We have recently developed a system to test this compound as well as antibiotics against bacterial biofilms in a quantitative manner.
Matilde Fernández Rodríguez
- Associate Professor
- Department of Microbiology. University of Granada
- matildefernandez@ugr.es
My research line includes new strategies to fight against antibiotic multi-resistant biofilm forming bacteria. In this project my role is the design and implementation of assays to test the effect of BMNPs bound to antimicrobial compounds, alone or in synergy with different antibiotics and physical agents against bacterial biofilms.
Massimiliano Perduca
- Assistant Professor.
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona – Italy.
- massimiliano.perduca@univr.it
Our research group is in charge of enhancing the cellular uptake and the bioavailability of BMNPs coating them with biocompatible and biodegradable polymers.
Salvatore Calogero Gaglio
- PhD student
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona – Italy.
- salvatorecalogero.gaglio@univr.it
In this project, my task is to prepare nanoparticles coated by biocompatible and biodegradable polymers and to study the physico-chemical properties of the new nanoassemblies.
Guillermo Iglesias Salto
- Associate Professor
- NanoMag Laboratory. Department of Applied Physics. University of Granada
- iglesias@ugr.es
Our research group is in charge of studies the physical properties of magnetic nanostructures, focusing on the behaviour under the application of different external electromagnetic stimuli such as alternating magnetic fields (magnetic hyperthermia), laser irradiation (photothermia) and rotating magnetic fields for biomedical applications.
Marina Lázaro Callejón
- PhD student
- NanoMag Laboratory. Department of Applied Physics. University of Granada
- marinalc@ugr.es
My role in the project is to study the behavior of magnetic nanostructures under alternating magnetic field (magnetic hyperthermia) and laser irradiation (photothermia) for biomedical applications.