Lourdes and Fernando visitied the laboratories of TE connectivity (Microliquid) in Arrasate-Mondragón.

It was a great opportunity to show the work we do in our laboraories. Lourdes gave a presentation and then we had the opportunity to visit all the laboratories.

Thanks for the great visit and we are looking forward to continue our collaborations!

Congratulations Sandra and Sergi, your review paper entitle: "A physiological perspective of the relevance of sweat biomarkers and their detection by wearable microfluidic technology: a Review" by Sergi Cinca-Morros, Sandra Garcia-Rey, Jesús Álvarez-Herms, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Fernando Benito-Lopez   present a critical and meaningful insight into the real applicability and potential use of wearable technology for improving health and sport performance. It also discusses the current limitations and future challenges of microfluidics, aiming to provide accurate information about the actual needs in this field. This work is expected to contribute to the future development of more suitable wearable microfluidic technology for health and sports science monitoring, using sweat as the biofluid for analysis.

What a lovely day we all had in Zumaia last 11th of July!!

It was a great opportunity to know more about the research we are all performing and then we have wonderful time all together visiting the Flysch landscape.

Enrique Azuaje and Juncal Alonso have recently published a review paper in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry IF:3.8.

The title of the review is "Integration of Secreted Signaling Molecules Sensing on Cell Monitoring Platforms: A Critical Review" by Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Juncal A. Alonso-Cabrera, Marian M. de Pancorbo, Fernando Benito-Lopez, and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

Abstract: Monitoring cell secretion in complex microenvironments is crucial for understanding cellular behavior and advancing physiological and pathological research. While traditional cell culture methods, including organoids and spheroids, provide valuable models, real-time monitoring of cell secretion of signaling molecules remains challenging. Integrating advanced monitoring technologies into these systems often disrupts the delicate balance of the microenvironment, making it difficult to achieve sensitivity and specificity. This review explored recent strategies for integrating the monitoring of cell secretion of signaling molecules, crucial for understanding and replicating cell microenvironments, within cell culture platforms, addressing challenges such as non-adherent cell models and the focus on single-cell methodologies. We highlight advancements in biosensors, microfluidics, and three-dimensional culture methods, and discuss their potential to enhance real-time, multiplexed cell monitoring. By examining the advantages, limitations, and future prospects of these technologies, we aim to contribute to the development of integrated systems that facilitate comprehensive cell monitoring, ultimately advancing biological research and pharmaceutical development.

Sergi Cinca Morros has published his first paper as first author in Microorganism (MDPI) IF:4.1!

The paper entitled " The Importance of Maintaining and Improving a Healthy Gut Microbiota in Athletes as a Preventive Strategy to Improve Heat Tolerance and Acclimatization" by Sergi Cinca-Morros and Jesús Álvarez-Herms deals with  the direct consequences induced by a state of GM dysbiosis on maladaptive responses suffered by athletes exposed to HS. The main goal of the study is to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy GM balance in athletes as a therapeutic treatment, which can specifically contribute to the prevention of premature fatigue during HS exposure and exercise.

We are delighted to announce that Enrique, one of our outstanding PhD students, has received the prestigious Extraordinary Doctorate Award from the Doctoral School of the University of the Basque Country!

The award ceremony took place on June 20th at 18:00 hours in the Mitxelena Auditorium of Bizkaia Aretoa, Bilbao, during the “Doktorego Eguna” event, themed “Open the Door to Our Doctorate.” This event celebrated the Extraordinary Doctorate Awards of the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years.

The Doctoral School (DOKe) organized the event, which was presided over by the Vice-Rector of Postgraduate and Continuing Education of UPV/EHU, Montse Maritxalar. Gotzone Barandika, the director of DOKe, presented the doctoral study offerings (67 programs) spanning all branches of knowledge and discussed institutional accreditation.

This year, the event focused on the contribution of doctoral theses and doctoral training to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined in the EHUagenda 2030.

The event also featured a presentation by Rikardo Bueno Zabalo, Director General of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), titled “Doctors in Technological and Non-University Research Centers: Training and Employment.”

We are incredibly proud of Enrique's achievement and the recognition it brings to our research group. This milestone not only highlights Enrique's individual excellence but also the high standards of mentorship and academic support within our team.

Please join us in congratulating Enrique on this remarkable accomplishment and wishing him continued success in his career. We are confident that this is just the beginning of many more achievements to come.

Many congratulations to Enrique, and may many more successes come in your career!

https://www.ehu.eus/es/-/acto-doktorego-eguna-2024

On 24th May 2024 the UPV/EHU hold an Investiture Ceremony for all the new Doctors who defended their theses in 2023. The Vice-chancellor of the University of the Basque Country, Eva Ferreira García, led the ceremony at the Aula Magna  of the University of the Basque Country, Leioa.

Congratulations Sepi, Alba and Yara!

Sergi Cinca, in collaboration with Dr. Álvarez-Herms, Kilian Jornet, and the professional NNormal team, aims to develop protocols for assessing individual physiological responses in athletes and establish correlations with performance under high-intensity, maximum-level exercise conditions.

You can watch the project report at: NNormal - YouTube

Isabel presented a poster at the Hilton Head Workshop 2024: A Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, 2-6 of June 2024. It is the first time our reseach group presents at this important conference in the USA.

The title of the poster was  Autonomous microfluidic device for the naked-eye detection of benzodiazepines in adulterated beverages by I. Poves-Ruiz, E. Azuaje-Hualde, I. Corchado-Gonzalez, L. Basabe-Desmonts, F. Benito-Lopez

What a great experience at Hilton Head Island!

Raquel Catalán has started an exciting journey for her PhD international stay at the renowned Trinity College Dublin in Irleand under the supervision of Dr. Colm Delaney. During her stay, she will collaborate to characterise cellulose polymers obtained by the two-photon lithography technique to push the boundaries of 3D printing at the nanoscale and to incorporate this new technique into her microfluidic devices for environmental analysis.

On the 8th of May, a team from the Universidad Publica de Navarra, (Institute of Smart Cities / Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Dept.) visited the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU’s facilities.

We are developing a detection system for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEFG) utilizing Gold Nanoparticles and an integrated optical system based on Lossy Mode Resonances (LMRs) in a microfluidic cell.

We are truly looking forward to following up on this collaboration!!

Many congratulation to Daniel!

His manuscript entitled Spatial and Temporal Detection of Root Exudates with a Paper-based Microfluidic Device by D. Patko, U. B. Gunatilake, B. Gonzalez-Gaya, L. X. Dupuy, L. Basabe-Desmonts and F. Benito-Lopez has been just published in Soil Biology and Biochemistry IF: 9.7, 2022 Q1 95.9 % (Soil Science).

The manuscript describes a paper-based microfluidic device with integrated colorimetric sensors for the continuous extraction and analysis of root exudates along plant roots and it is one of the mayor outputs from his Marie Skłodowska-Curie  fellowship RhizoSheet Grant agreement ID: 101028242.

Fernando visited the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya to participate as evaluator of the thesis by Pooya Azizian.

Thesis entitle: MICROFLUIDICS FOR BIOSENSING WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING:SIMULATION MODEL AND FABRICATION.

Congratulations Dr. Azizian! Great Thesis

Thanks to the directors: Prof. Dr. Jasmina Casals Terre,  Dr. Joan Marc Cabot Canyelles, Dr. Jordi Ricart and Dr. Adrian Ortega for the kind invitation.

We are all very happy to welcome a new member of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU.

Gamalier Casado, original from Dominican Republic, has joined our team to do his PhD. He is a Medical Doctor from Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), which studied a Master´s degree in Advanced Immunology specializations in Medical Immunology at the University of Barcelona (UB) and Autonomous University Barcelona (UAB). He will be working on the CellStudio Platform.

WELCOME!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU welcomes Nerea Zhang. She is a Practice Student from CESA Institute, specifically in the Pathological Anatomy and Cytopathology Professional Training Specialization. Nerea will work during the next 11 weeks within the framework of the PreDeSTom project, gaining experience in determining molecular mediators of responses to various environmental stressors, using DNAzyme and RNAzyme technologies.

Welcome Nerea, we wish you have a nice stay while learning about this technologies!

Today, March 18, 2024, we have carried out the scientific kickoff meeting for the QEETOF project: Quantum-Based Optical Fiber Device for Drug Development, funded under the Convocatoria 2023 – Proyectos Prueba de Concepto  (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación).

The event took place at the Lucio Lascaray building of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Professor Ikerbasque Lourdes Basabe gave an initial presentation on the scope and objectives of the project, followed by Professor Concepción Alonso and Professor Ikerbasque Joel Villatoro, who described the work packages together with the PhD students involved in the project: Sukayna Ezquerro and Lucero Hernandez. Finally, Researcher Nicolas Nazar and Professor Fernando Benito concluded the meeting by outlining the project milestones and key deliverables.

We envisage a great time ahead until the end of 2025!

“Financiado por la Unión Europea – NextGenerationEU”. PDC2023-145917-I00 / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033

Many congratulations Emilio, TFM at the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, Raquel López Robles and Mario Escribano Elorriaga, they are finalists with their project "GreenDrive Innovation", of the Challenge Universitario de la Fundación Repsol.

They will fight for the first position next 8 and 9 of March in Madrid.

Best of luck! sure you will do great!

GreenDrive Innovations - Catalizando nuestro futuro: uso de catalizadores para controlar la longitud de las cadenas de eFuels

The 23rd of February the "Fibers" team of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU had the pleasure of visiting the laboratories of Prof. Joel Villatoro at Engineering Faculty of UPV/EHU.

It was a great opportunity to discuss about new ideas and projects.

Thanks for hosting us!

Isabel got awarded the 4-years long Basque Country Predoctoral Research Grant at the University of the Basque Country.

She will continue her doctoral thesis in the Development of a microfluidic devices for the naked eye detection of date-rape drugs in beverages.

Last Friday 1st of March, with the aim of bringing the world of research closer to 1st and 2nd year Secondary School students, Juncal Alonso-Cabrera gave a talk about what means to be a scientist and to work in microfluidics at the Bertendona High School (Bilbao).