Cell-biomaterial Interactions (BIOUCM)

Strategic objectives

The main objective of the current project “Regenerative nanomaterials in bone pathology scenarios: osteoporosis and infection”, granted by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Reference MAT2016-75611-R) with Daniel Arcos (GIBI) and María Teresa Portolés (BIOUCM) as Principal Investigators, is to develop nanomaterials for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. These nanosystems, based on bioactive mesoporous nanoparticles, stimulate bone formation and function as drug delivery systems. The ultimate goal is for the new nanoparticles to act as on-demand release systems for combined anti-osteoporotic drugs (antiresorptive and anabolic drugs). The effects of these nanoparticles are evaluated in vitro with pre-osteoblasts, osteoblast/osteoclast cocultures and macrophages, analysing their polarisation towards the pro-inflammatory M1 and reparative M2 phenotypes. A previous project (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Reference MAT2013-43299-R) was focused on the design and preparation of endosseous implants with growth factors, capable of stimulating tissue regeneration in bone defects, ensuring adequate behaviour in osteoporotic bone. In vivo studies have recently been carried out with these implants in an osteoporotic ovine model.

BIOUCM also maintains an active collaboration with the aforementioned groups, with the aim of reinforcing the study of the interaction mechanisms between specific cell types and different biomaterials, in order to know their possible in vivo application with different biomedical objectives.

Lines of research

  • Study of the interaction of specific cell types and growth factors with biomaterials designed for tissue engineering.

Other members of the group

  • Laura Casarrubios Molina
  • Mónica Cicuéndez Maroto
  • Rosalía Diez Orejas
  • Maria Jose Feito Castellano
  • Alberto Polo Montalvo

Publications

Projects