Nanomotors can be propelled by light

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
nanomotors, light, fuel-free

Researchers working at IBEC and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed nanomotors that are powered by a fuel-free, biofriendly and unlimited power source: light.

How perception shapes our actions

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
neuroscience, sensory-motor process

Last Saturday, another “Classico” saw Messi and Ronaldo display their other-worldly skills and ball control. At the heart of their performance stands the amazing ability to control their bodies in...

Joining forces with FEDER to collaborate on solutions for rare diseases

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
rare diseases, IBEC, FEDER

IBEC has signed a collaboration agreement with the Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras (FEDER), a non-profit organization that represents the three million people suffering from rare diseases ...

A molecular mechanism could explain how bacteria resist antibiotics

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, Bacterial infections

IBEC researchers have shown for the first time how bacteria make DNA under stressful conditions, such as drug treatments. This new knowledge could help develop new antibiotics that work, tackling the...

Enzyme-powered nanomotors deliver anti-cancer drugs more efficiently

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
drug delivery, enzyme-powered nanobots

IBEC researchers have demonstrated that their enzyme-powered nanobots show a marked improvement in drug delivery efficiency over passive ones.

Cells feel their environment to explore it

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

6 years ago
cells, groping, ligands

The way cells find their way around is by ‘groping’ rather than seeing their surroundings: this is the main conclusion of a study published in Nature last week involving several IBEC groups and th...

Deciphering cell language

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
regenerative medicine, EphB2 receptor, ephrin ligand

New insights into the intercellular communications mechanism that regulates cell repositioning leads the way towards the development of targeted therapies in regenerative medicine

IBEC researchers make an electrical contact out of a single protein

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
single-protein electrical contact, biomolecule, metabolic redox processes

IBEC’s Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group have designed a single-protein electrical contact which can efficiently transfer an electrical charge. Through a subtle mutation in a copper protein which is...

FUNDALUCE grant for IBEC research into vision restoration

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
FUNDALUCE 2016, prosthetic molecular switches, retina

IBEC group leader and ICREA professor Pau Gorostiza has won the research grant ‘FUNDALUCE 2016’ for a project that aims to develop prosthetic molecular switches that could replace degenerated phot...

IBEC investigators show that physical forces activate genes involved in cancer

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
cancer, physical forces, genes

In their effort to shed light on the role that physical forces play in the body, Pere Roca-Cusachs’ group at IBEC has shown how these forces ‘switch on’ the expression of genes that may result i...

IBEC researchers uncover flaws in one of the most commonly used bacterial strain in laboratories

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
PAO1, ribonucleotide reductase RNR, microbiology

Eduard Torrents’ group at IBEC has published some important findings that could lead to a change in common experimental protocol. One enzyme that is essential for cell division in PAO1 is ribonucleo...

An effective strategy for the targeted delivery of new antimalarials

by Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

7 years ago
immunoliposomes, antimalarial drugs, lipohilic compounds

Xavier Fernàndez Busquets’ joint IBEC-ISGlobal Nanomalaria group has moved a step closer to the validation of immunoliposomes as a vehicle for antimalarial drugs by showing that they increase the e...