Group Leader: Daniel Ruiz-Molina
The project, led by Dr Salvio Suárez, is focused on producing biomaterials with antimicrobial properties that can be used to treat lesions and skin regeneration. Caixa Impulse aims to promote the creation of new products, services and companies related to life sciences and health.
ICN2 researchers have developed a novel data encoding system based on luminescent materials. Additionally, one of the illustrations from their study has been selected as a frontispiece in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
Their awarded technology offers innovative solutions for anti-counterfeiting, smart windows, and other cutting-edge applications.
This company, in which ICN2 is involved, is celebrating its tenth anniversary by highlighting its achievements since its creation in 2014.
'Research Features' recently published an article that disseminates one of the latest research results published in the 'Chemical Engineering Journal' focusing on a new smart window concept based on paraffin-polymer composites. This technology was patented in 2022-2023 by some members of the Nanostructured Functional Materials group, led by Daniel Ruiz-Molina with UAB Associate Professor, Jordi Hernando.
The ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, under the leadership of CSIC Prof. Daniel Ruiz-Molina, has recently developed novel and efficient antimicrobial materials to combat pathogen spread, infections, and resistance to antibiotics.
Researchers from various Spanish institutes, including the ICN2, have developed a novel synthesis technique for the generation of multi-metallic rare earth metal-organic frameworks (MTV RE MOFs). The pioneering approach used by the authors of this study, published in ‘Advanced Functional Materials’ and featured on its back cover, opens pathways for tailoring combinations of these ions to design materials with specific and diverse applications.
An ICN2, UAB and CSIC-originated start-up, Distinkt has recently achieved several relevant results and received grants that will enable it to accelerate the development of its innovative technology. Their high-security fluorescent inks have the potential to make a major impact on several industrial sectors.
A new edition of the 'From Science to Business' course, taught by high-profile professionals from the ESADE Business School, has just ended. Six young researchers from our institute participated and returned with a wealth of new knowledge on entrepreneurship, business planning and how to bring brilliant technological solutions to the market.
Three researchers from the ICN2 presented their projects in this meeting dedicated to industrial research and technology transfer in the field of green energy and sustainability.
The new journal dedicated to high-quality research in “Frontiers in Coatings, Dyes and Interface Engineering” has been just launched and the Editorial Board put together.
A study published in ‘Chemical Engineering Journal’ and led by researchers from ICN2 and UAB proposes a novel composite material that allows modulating sunlight transmittance in smart windows in response to different stimuli. Being cost-effective, stable, flexible, and scalable, the polymer-paraffin films developed by the authors can help to reduce energy consumption in buildings, among other possible applications.
ICN2 was present at Transfiere Málaga, a forum that connects the international R&D+I ecosystem. Claudia Nieva, Business Developer at ICN2's Business and Innovation team, presented innovative technologies from the ICN2 Groups and spin-off companies that are gaining recognition. These companies include Cooling Photonics, FutureChromes, and GraphenicaLab.
The ICN2 community held a successful Welcome Event for its new members today, showcasing the Institute's commitment to accompanying and providing resources to its newest additions. As the ICN2 continues to grow, all members are encouraged to work together towards its mission and values.
Representatives of two ICN2 spin-off companies, Futurechrome and DistInkt, took part in the meeting.
Experts in various branches of nanomedicine discuss recent developments and provide their vision about the future of the field in a Roadmap article published in the 'Journal of Physics, Materials'. Researchers from the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group and the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona contributed a section dedicated to the use of nanoparticles as carriers for drug delivery in Parkinson’s disease treatments.
The R+D+I Energy for Society Network (XRE4S) provides consultancy and mentoring in industrial strategy, property protection, and market positioning to researchers who are interested in transferring their technologies to an existing company or founding a new one. Five spin-offs have been recently created with the support of XRE4S and one more (from the ICN2) may be established soon.
A team of researchers led by members of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group has developed a technology that allows creating photo- and thermo-responsive fluorescent materials starting from a unique dye, while adapting the matrix in which it is dispersed. This approach simplifies the applicability of fluorescence switching materials, in particular in anticounterfeiting and optical sensing technologies.
Distinkt sprang from years of research by Dr. Àlex Julià-López, Dr. Claudio Roscini and CSIC Prof. Daniel Ruiz-Molina, from the Nanosfun group at the ICN2, and Prof. Jordi Hernando, from the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona. They have developed an invisible ink for anti-counterfeiting applications in official documents, banknotes, luxury goods, and more.
The SMART-ER project has been granted funding by the Spanish Research Agency to produce photoresponsive materials based on a conceptually new paradigm. It will be led by the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group (Nanosfun).
The projects SOLAR, REFILCAP and COVICAP, all led by members of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, have been selected for funding through the Public-Private Partnership Grants 2021 by the Spanish Research Agency. In collaboration with private companies, the group will apply nanotechnologies to concrete needs.
Thanks to this funding, researchers at the ICN2 will develop photo-sensitive materials for smart windows, membranes for skin regeneration and a device for rapid detection and discrimination of respiratory viruses.
In October a delegation from the ICN2 visited the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), with which last May our institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaborations. A video of the laboratory tour is now available.
The Barcelona Deep Tech Summit (September 22) unfolds a dense programme of roundtables, discussions, and pitches for investors.
Former PhD student and currently postdoctoral fellow at the ICN2 in Prof. Daniel Ruiz’ group.
A study led by researchers from the ICN2 and the ICMAB and published in “Chemistry of Materials” demonstrated the remarkable and tunable optical properties of a set of new materials –made of metal-organic frameworks combined with lanthanide and carbon-boron clusters. By suspending these materials in water, luminescent watermarks and bar-codes that change in the microsecond scale can be printed on papers for anticounterfeiting purposes.
The event, which was organised by group leader Prof. Laura Lechuga and counted on the participation of many members of the ICN2 community, aimed at bringing together researchers in the field of nanomedicine, clinicians from relevant hospitals, and healthcare industry experts to share results and views both on recent advances in the field and on effective procedures to transfer new technologies into clinical practice.
The Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia organised a conference dedicated to innovation and technology transfer in materials science with the collaboration of the ICMAB, the ICN2 and the IMB-CNM. A set of presentations was followed by a guided tour to the laboratories of the three centres.
A publication in “Coordination Chemistry Reviews” by members of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group discusses synthesis approaches, properties and applications of MOFs and COFs based on triphenylene molecules.
A paper in “Materials Horizons” introduces a novel approach, based on solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured composites, to produce multicolour-emissive materials responding to temperature changes. Cost-effective, high-tuneable and easily integrable into devices, they can be applied in smart displays and in anti-counterfeiting inks. Dr Claudio Roscini, from the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, is one of the corresponding authors.
A research team coordinated by Dr. Víctor J. Yuste of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) demonstrated that the administration of a substance called “gossypol” to cells of glioblastoma, an incurable type of brain cancer, facilitates their death through the natural apoptosis mechanism. This study, in which took part members of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, opens up a new avenue in the search for a treatment for glioblastoma.
A team of researchers demonstrated that 2D porous crystalline molecular frameworks can be grown with excellent control over their morphology and homogeneity by using a custom-made microfluidic device. This approach recreates on Earth the microgravity environment of laboratories on the International Space Stations.
In a study just published in “ACS Nano”, polymeric nanoparticles inspired by natural neuromelanin were used to encapsulate dopamine and to be administered via intranasal to reach the brain for Parkinson’s disease treatment. This work was coordinated by ICN2 Group Leader Dr Daniel Ruiz-Molina and Dr Julia Lorenzo, Group Leader at the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB) of UAB, and developed in collaboration with the group led by Prof. Miquel Vila at VHIR.
A review published in Coordination Chemistry Reviews reports on the use of nanoparticles and, specifically, coordination polymer nanoparticles in the field of bioimaging for diagnostics. It describes the progress done in several techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging or photoacoustic imaging.
The ICN2 is involved in a series of initiatives to support this day to raise awareness of the persistent gender gap un the world of research. Some ICN2 women researchers will participate in “100tífiques” to bring science and the role of women in Science closer to young students.
Researchers of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials group and of the Futurechromes SL company have developed a simple and straightforward technique to produce solid photochromic films whose light-response is fast and tunable. Thanks to their high transparency, these materials can be applied to fabricate smart glasses, helmets and windows, as well as rewritable displays.
The Catalan Society of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SCN2) will hold the Second Edition of its Annual Congress of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IICANN-SCN2 2020) on November 19th. This year’s edition will take place online and aims to promote and give visibility to researchers developing their work in this field in Catalonia.
The Nanostructured Functional Materials group, led by Dr Daniel Ruiz Molina, has been recently awarded three AGAUR-FEDER grants – one INNOVADORS and two LLAVOR – to develop smart windows, photoactive inks and nanofilms for medical applications.
Researchers from the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, in collaboration with other institutions, have used a liquid phase exfoliation process to obtain nanosheets with enhanced electrocatalytical properties. The work is published in Ultrasonics Sonochemistry.
The MINECO and FEDER funded MICROREP project, participated by the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, concluded recently with the production of smart microcapsules containing repellent substances and fragrances for application on textiles.
Dyes and Pigments is a journal that covers the scientific and technical aspects of the chemistry and physics of dyes, pigments and their intermediates.
The awarded projects are BIOVAC (ICN2 / IBEC), which aims to develop a new generation of vaccines against untreatable infections and multi-resistant bacteria, and BIOSPAD (ICFO / IFAE), which will develop more affordable brain diagnostic tests. ICN2 is involved in 4 of the 5 projects selected in the 2020 Ignite Programme, leading one of them (SensMOF) through Dr Leyre Gómez Navascués.
The project aims to populate nanoparticles with antigens to create a new generation of vaccines against untreatable infections and multi-resistant bacteria. The other award-winning project is BioSpad (ICFO / IFAE).
On the occasion of the World Cancer Day, occurring on February 4 and dedicated to global awareness about cancer, we would like to highlight various research lines oriented at improving tumour diagnosis and treatment in which the ICN2 is involved.
The programme intends to encourage collaborations among the BIST researchers. The winners receive 20,000€ to develop their projects in 8 months. Among the five awarded projects, MOFtors, ElectroSensBioBots and BioVac are projects awarded with ICN2 co-leadership.
A new technique allows the design of solid materials that are coloured in the dark. ICN2 researchers from the Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, led by Dr Daniel Ruiz, have developed it in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry of the UAB. Their results, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces with Dr Claudio Roscini as its last author, can have applications in rewritable displays or optical data storage systems.
Catechols play a key role in natural adhesion processes in wet conditions. Dr Javier Saiz-Poseu and Dr Daniel Ruiz-Molina have published a review in Angewandte Chemie that summarises the chemistry involved in natural and synthetic catechol-based adhesive materials and offers guidance for the development of new ones.
ICN2 researchers were involved in a number of dissemination activities held during Science Week (9-18 November 2018). The figure of Richard Feynman and science aimed at young girls were the theme of some of the events in which the ICN2 participated during this intense week.
Watch the whole interview to learn more about the research lines led by the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group and their impact in our lives.
The regular back cover interview in regional newspaper La Vanguardia features the surprising inventions and research led by Prof. Haeshin Lee, who recently visited the ICN2.
Nature is full of wonderful, time-tested solutions to different challenges. Science has turned its attention to reproducing and repurposing these phenomena to create more sustainable responses to human challenges. This relatively new field, known as biomimicry, has been growing exponentially over the past decade to create entire scientific community inspired by the natural world. This week, a sizeable chunk of this community attended a two-day international workshop organised here at the ICN2.
She is a PhD student at the Nanostructured Functional Materials Group pursuing her doctoral degree with the support of one of these prestigious fellowships. “la Caixa”, as well as the ICN2, supports talented young researchers.
Lab tours give young students the opportunity to interact with real scientists and get a sense of what happens at a research centre. Last week almost 100 students came through our doors to learn about the research carried out at the ICN2. This event was made possible thanks to the participation of the researchers and admin personnel who gave up some their time to organise some unique experiences.
The reprint of the Biomimetics 2017 Special Issue on Bioinspired Catechol-Based Systems: Chemistry and Applications, edited by Prof. Marco d’Ischia and CSIC Prof. Daniel Ruiz-Molina, leader of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, is now available.
Last Friday several members of the ICN2 were at CaixaForum Madrid for the Obra Social La Caixa awards ceremony. Among those receiving grants to complete their doctoral studies were Xiaoman Mao, Marc Vila and Ramón García.
Within the framework of the Setmana de la Ciència (Science Week) ICN2 received two institutional visits: Aules d’Extensió Universitària of Sant Pau, composed by people over 55 years old, and Font del Ferro Institute, composed by teenagers who made a tour through the UAB Campus.
The Chemical Communications journal reviews the advances made towards the confinement of chemical reactions within small droplets. The focus of the article falls to the tip-assisted chemistry, a technique recently amended by the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group.
The online resources of the last Manuel Cardona Lecture with Prof. Susan Trolier-McKinstry are already available. Access the whole Lecture or a personal interview in the ICN2 YouTube Channel. Prof. Nazario Martín will offer the next Lecture on November 4: "Carbon Nanostructures for the Ébola Virus".
This Catalan magazine offered in its last issue a deep insight of the activity of ICN2. Do you want to know what we do at the nanoscale? Then you must read it!
The UAB doctorate Extraordinary Awards will be announced today during the ceremony organised by the UAB Doctorate Program and Alumni. Dr. Javier Saiz Poseu is among the awarded doctorates from the UAB Chemistry Department for his thesis defended in 2011 and developed within the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group led by the CSIC Research Scientist Prof Daniel Ruiz-Molina.
Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRi) organised, together with ICN2 and sponsored by Ibercaja, a visit to the ICN2 facilities. The visit included a guided tour and interaction with scientists who presented samples of technology.
El Mundo Innovadores covered the colaboration between the CSIC researcher Daniel Ruiz, Group Leader at ICN2, and Carinsa. They developed a microencapsulation technique to provide a longer freshness to fabric softeners.
The ceremony of the second edition of the PIONER Awards has been held today at the headquarters of the CERCA Institution in Barcelona.
The UAB will head the European Network TRANSAUTOPHAGY. The project seeks to achieve biomedical advances in prevention, diagnosis and therapy for several pathologies, as well as improvements in food and alternative sources of clean energy. Led from the UAB's Institute of Neuroscience this network includes members from the ICN2 Functional Nanostructured Materials Group.
The ICN2 seminar by Prof Nicholas D. Spencer, from the Department of Materials at the ETH Zürich (Switzerland), was introduced by Prof Daniel Ruiz, Group leader of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group.
During his presentation, Prof. José Ramón Galan-Mascaros explored the state of the art in the field, as exemplified by the versatility observed in the family of triazole-based spin crossover compounds. The speaker was introduced by CSIC Research Prof Daniel Ruiz, Group Leader at ICN2.
The time machine imagined in Back to the Future travelled to October 21, 2015. How close was the future imagined in this movie to our nowadays life? Many journalists approach the issue. La Vanguardia includes quotes by CSIC Research Prof Daniel Ruiz, Group leader at ICN2, about how the textile industry is including nanotechnology in their products.
The section about innovation of the Spanish newspaper El Mundo covered the recent conference about Industrial Applications of Nanotechnology organized by ICN2 and INA. CSIC Prof Daniel Ruiz, Group Leader at ICN2, enumerates related with modern clothing some opportunities together with Elena Piera from Nurel.
The ICN2 hosted the Scientific Workshop HINTBCN under the umbrella of HINT COST Action MP1202. Over 70 participants including COST members and representatives of different European research institutions participated in the meeting and had the opportunity to share experience and research advances from different areas and focused on the bio-applications of hybrid materials.
The research Group led by CSIC Prof Daniel Ruiz at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) publishes in Advanced Functional Materials a universal encapsulation method to integrate those compounds into solid materials keeping their useful properties unaltered under the title 'Liquid-Filled Valence Tautomeric Microcapsules: A Solid Material with Solution-Like Behavior'.
Hospitals and biomedical related initiatives gathered at ICN2 to discuss about the potential of nanotechnology in the field of biomedicine, with a special emphasis on biosensors. The workshop, organised as part of the Biosensors B30 project, explored the opportunities of establishing shared biosensor projects.
HINT (Rational Design of Hybrid Interfaces) is a Research Network, funded by the European COST programme. On June 8-9 it will hold at ICN2 a workshop, coordinated by Dr. Fernando Novio (ICN2) and Dr. Anna Laromaine (ICMAB-CSIC), to promote exchanges between chemists, physicists, biologists and engineers on the most recent achievements in hybrid materials with bio-applications. REGISTER TODAY!
ICN2 is hiring highly talented young researchers thanks to opportunities offered by the Severo Ochoa Award achieved last year through the Nanodevices for Societal Challenges Program. Blanca Chocarro and Christian Bellacanzone were the two first PhDs to recently enter ICN2 thanks to an ICN2-SO fellowship. Learn about them and their objectives!
Prof. Andrea Danani, from the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), was invited by the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group to explain how Molecular Modeling can act as a virtual microscope to have insight on molecular mechanisms.
Members of ICN2 Nanostructures Functional Materials Group published a series of works developing robust nanoparticles based on coordination polymers for application on theranostics (therapy + diagnosis). They opened a wide variety of possibilities into high added-value medical applications.
The book, edited by CSIC Research Prof. Daniel Ruiz-Molina, Group Leader of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group (Nanosfun), Dr. Fernando Novio and Dr. Claudio Roscini, both members of the same group, offers a comprehensive overview of nanomaterials that are inspired by or targeted at biology.
Dr. Fernando Novio is Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Research in Nanostructured Functional Materials Group (NanosFun) at ICN2.
Relevant factors governing the adhesion of catechol groups in model systems may help design new protective coatings and powerful wet adhesives.
Nanosfun research group develops robust hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings for textiles waterproofing applications based on a novel approach to the biomimetic polymerization of mussel-inspired catechol derivatives.
ICN2 and INA researchers make the front cover of the June 4th issue of Advanced Materials, which features an experimental study of the magnetic stray field.
Photochromic oil-core polymeric capsules get Adv. Opt. Mater. cover story.
