Clément Sanchez

Afiliación:

Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Collège de France

Título:

Integrative chemistry of functional nanostrustructured and hierarchically structured Inorganic and hybrid materials

Abstract:

Hybrid inorganic-organic materials can be broadly defined as synthetic materials with organic and inorganic components which are intimately mixed. They can be either homogeneous systems derived from monomers and miscible organic and inorganic components, or heterogeneous and phase-separated systems where at least one of the components’ domains has a dimension ranging from a few Å to several nanometers. Hybrid phases can also be used to nanostructure or texture new inorganic nanomaterials (porous or non-porous). The versatile synthetic conditions provided by bottom-up strategies such as reactive molecular precursors or clusters, tunable processing temperatures and solvents and the adjustable rheology of the colloidal state allow for the mixing of the organic and inorganic components at the nanometer scale in virtually any ratio. These features, and the advancement of organometallic chemistry and polymer and sol-gel processing, make possible a high degree of control over both composition and structure (including nanostructure) of these materials, which present tunable structure-property relationships. This, in turn, makes it possible to tailor and fine-tune properties (mechanical, optical, electronic, thermal, chemical…) in very broad ranges, and to design specific systems for applications. Hybrid materials can be processed as gels, monoliths, thin films, fibers, particles or powders or can be intermediates to design materials having complex shapes or hierarchical structures. The seemingly unlimited variety, unique structure-property control, and the compositional and shaping flexibility give these materials a high potential in sensing, membranes, catalysis, biocatalysis, photocatalysis, nanomedicine, the tailoring of smart functional surfaces etc…. This lecture will describe some recent advances on this integrative materials chemistry that allows via a chemistry-process coupling to tailor made nanostructured and hierarchically structured functional inorganic and hybrid materials. Some of their properties will also be discussed.For more information see few recent reviews (for all articles check )

Jaime Martín Pérez

Afiliación:

Universidad de Coruña

Título:

Decoding the Structure of Donor Polymers for Organic Solar Cells

Abstract:

The performance of organic electronic devices, such as solar cells, depends on understanding and controlling the solid-state microstructure of semiconducting polymers. In this talk, I will discuss on our recent understanding of the aggregate states, solid-state microstructure, and thermotropic behavior of the best-performing family of polymers for solar cells, i.e., benzodithiophene-based semiconducting polymers. I will argue that the microstructure of these polymers does not seem to fit neither in the traditional structural models developed for polymers, i.e. the amorphous and semi-crystalline models, nor with other stablished low-order structures, a.k.a. solid mesophases, such as condis crystals, liquid crystals, hexagonal phases, columnar phases, paracrystals, and so on. Conversely, these polymers organize into a unique solid mesophase comprising stacked solid-like and liquid-like layers. This mesophase resembles sanidic structures while also sharing features with columnar mesophases like condis-crystals and paracrystals. At a larger length-scale, the mesophase organizes into nanoscale fibril-like domains, with polymer backbones aligned along the fibril axis, coexisting with amorphous-like glassy regions, reported in our work for the first time. I will also discuss on the thermotropic behavior of this biphasic nanomorphology, providing insights into how thermal annealing influences polymer structure. The understanding of the structure of semiconducting polymers enables a more precise framework for defining structure-function relationships, impact thus on the entire field of organic electronics, from organic photovoltaics to bioelectronics to wearable electronics.

Susana Carregal Romero

Afiliation:

CIC biomaGUNE

Title:

Optimization of inhalable nanomedicines through the use of magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract:

Pulmonary administration of nanomedicines, including viral vaccines, offers a direct, noninvasive route for both systemic delivery and lung-targeted therapy. However, natural lung defense mechanisms often lead to rapid clearance or degradation, limiting clinical translation. This challenge contrasts with the growing burden of lung diseases in aging populations and emerging infectious threats, underscoring the need for optimized pulmonary nanomedicines.

We employ bottom-up synthetic protocols to develop iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bimodal positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI imaging. These nanoparticles are encapsulated or integrated into lipid- or protein-based drug carriers. Using proteomics and molecular imaging, we analyze their interactions with lung barriers.

Our findings show how molecular imaging provides insights into lung retention, penetration, and cellular uptake. Moreover, we highlight the use of magnetic separation in studying lung surfactant corona formation. We present multifunctional nanoparticles capable of drug encapsulation and contrast agent labeling, enabling multi-scale characterization of nano-bio interactions. Finally, we show how different surface coatings influence lung retention, macrophage clearance, and tissue penetration, impacting nanomedicine efficacy.

Alicia Torrado Varela

Afiliation:

Eli LillyDiscovery Chem Res & Technol

Title:

DNA Encoded Library (DEL) Technology in Drug Discovery

Abstract:

DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology is a powerful platform for small-molecule discovery that has gained prominence in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry over the past 20 years. This approach involves linking chemical building blocks to oligonucleotides through DNA-compatible synthesis, allowing for the efficient creation and screening of large and diverse libraries. DEL technology offers several advantages, including minimal resource requirements, easy multiplexing, and streamlined screening processes, making it ideal for discovering bioactive ligands for various therapeutic targets. The success of DELs relies on the availability and diversity of chemical building blocks, robust DNA-compatible reactions, and thoughtful library design.

Rui Miguel Andrade Domingues

Afiliation:

INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal

Title:

The cellular microenvironment and submolecular control of their mechanosignaling in tendon tissue specification and function

Abstract:

Tendons exhibit complex physiology and poor regenerative capacity, making the treatment of tendinopathy a significant challenge. Tendon’s heterogeneous cell population is composed of distinct subtypes with specialized functions, within a dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) with context-dependent composition and architecture. As highly mechanosentive tissues, resident cells are primed by different types if mechanical forces transduced by specialized cell membrane mechanoreceptors. However, the biological mechanisms driving the onset and progression of tendinopathy remain poorly understood. A major limitation in the field is the lack of representative human in vitro models that can provide mechanistic insights into tendon homeostasis, development, and disease, which are often difficult to study in vivo using animal models. But beyond the tendon microenvironment, we also currently lack experimental tools enabling us to unveil the mechanotransduction mechanisms mediated by specific cell force sensors such as PIEZO channels.

To address this gap, we have applied a range of bioengineering approaches to develop 3D human-based microphysiological systems. This talk will focus on the design principles and fabrication strategies we have explored to develop these tendon-on-chip models using two distinct platforms: conventional microfluidic devices and automated 3D writing within support matrices. While differing in technical implementation, both approaches share the common goal of recreating the anisotropic architecture, cell organization, and phenotype of the intrinsic (core) tendon compartment and its bidirectional crosstalk with different tendon cell populations of the extrinsic compartment, including vascular system and adaptive immune cell responses. This talk will address how we are developing a new technology exploring molecular imprinting concepts combined with magnetic systems to produce tailor-made nanoswitches enabling targeted wireless actuation on PIEZO channels with submolecular precision in different cells relevant for tendon physiology, with potential for regenerative applications.

Overall, the merging of these two technologies will provide powerful new tools for investigating the biological mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying tendon physiology and pathology, as well as for evaluating potential therapeutic strategies.

Acknowledgements: EU Horizon 2020 ERC under grants No. 772817 and 101171765, as well as the FCT projects 10.54499/2020.03410.CEECIND/CP1600/CT0013 and 10.54499/2022.05526.PTDC. The TENET COST Action CA22170.

Martina Huranova

Afiliation:

Laboratory of Cilia Genetics and Pathology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

Title:

Primary Cilia in Health and Disease

Abstract:

Primary cilia are microtubule-based structures extending from the surface of most mammalian cells, excluding hematopoietic cells. Once thought to be vestigial, cilia are now recognized as vital organelles involved in signal transduction and sensing extracellular cues. Cilia house receptors for key signaling pathways like Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and WNT, essential for tissue development and function. Genetic mutations disrupting cilia function lead to ciliopathies, a group of disorders with diverse symptoms, including obesity, renal cysts, retinal degeneration, polydactyly, and neurological issues. Our research focuses on understanding cilia’s physiological roles and the mechanisms behind ciliopathies, with a particular emphasis on Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. We investigate ciliary dynamics and receptor turnover in developmental signaling, aiming to identify potential therapeutic approaches for these disorders.

Nicolás Ramos

Afiliation:

UVigo

Bio:

Nicolás Ramos Berdullas, PhD in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling. His research focuses on molecular electronics, molecular sensing, and simulations of biologically relevant systems. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vigo under the talent retention program.

María Gallardo

Afiliation:

IISGS & IPO - Porto

Bio:

Epigenetician researching in determinants of response to immunotherapy in advanced solid tumors, focused on biomarker discovery for precision medicine applying multi-omic data analysis. She currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship from GAIN-Xunta de Galicia.

Ana Covelo

Afiliation:

CINBIO - UVigo

Bio:

Neuroscientist at CINBIO, where she holds a Ramón y Cajal contract leading research on astrocyte-neuron communication. Her research line investigates how astrocytes regulate neuronal activity, synaptic transmission and animal behaviour through their participation in the tripartite synapse, with a special focus on the brain reward system.