In our group we work on the development of environmentally responsive polymer-based nanocarriers that are able to encapsulate and release biological cargoes with pharmaceutical interest. A great deal of work is given to explore the physico-chemical features that should be adjusted in order to yield ideal drug delivery systems that are able to bring biologically active molecules through the tissues like skin and mucose. Targeted diseases are skin cancer, cystic fibrosis, chronic wounds, mastitis, amongst others.

We have observed that the embedment of enzymes into the three dimensional matrix of polymers enhance their biodegradability. A deep investigation will be performed in order to ascertain the key parameters of the degradation to eventually achieve programable materials.

The research interest is focused on process intensification based on structured (bio)catalytic systems (monoliths, foams and meshes) and microchannel reactors.

 The processes objective of these studies are the energy sector (CO2 to fuels and chemicals, reforming reaction for hydrogen production, synthesis of Fischer-Tropsch) and the environmental protection (CO2 adsorption, dye adsorption, oxidation of VOCs, elimination of nitrates in water).

We have access to a wide number of enzymes that can be used to modify or degrade polymers under mild conditions. Yet these enzymes show poor stability under reaction conditions and need to be stabilized using protein engineering techniques.

Tissues are constantly subjected to external stimuli that can be mechanical, electrical or chemical. These stimuli are dynamic input signals that are transmitted to the cell nucleus and translated into responses affecting their survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and more. Thus, controlling the external signals that cells sense allows us to control their fate and, hence, the kind of tissue they produce.

In our group we develop smart stimuli responsive scaffolds that can be actuated remotely after implantation. Very much like in the gym, these stimuli become the training routine of cells on their path to healing and regenerating a healthy and coherent tissue. Currently, we focus on the development of scaffolds that can be actuated with sonic, magnetic and electric signals.

The implantationof a foreign body into a patient results on the activation of an innate immune response. This response is initiated by macrophages and, after an initial inflammatory state can be either resolved or sustained in the time leading to implant rejection. Macrophages contribute to the process by expressing and releasing a series of cytokines that can be considered as pro-inflammatory (M1 phenotype)or pro-regenerative (M2 phenotype) orchestrating the immune response. Thus, it becomes essential to design implant materials that can guide macrophage polarization towards a pro-regenerative phenotype that enables tissue formation.

In our group we investigate the material parameters (chemistry, mechanical, topographycal) in 2D and 3D that promote the polarization of macrophages towards the different phenotypes and extrapolate it to our designer scaffolds.