CSIC Investiga, the science outreach magazine of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), highlights some of the most significant research carried out by CSIC researchers across a wide range of scientific fields. The latest issue focuses on materials science and features several articles showcasing research being conducted at ICN2. With topics ranging from biomedicine and next-generation electronics to sustainability and renewable energy, the publication explores how advanced materials are driving many of tomorrow's technologies.

The articles featuring ICN2 research cover the following areas:

Graphene brain devices: the present and future of neuromedicine?

Graphene-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are advancing rapidly towards clinical neurology applications. This is one of the Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group's main areas of research, where CSIC researchers Dr Elena del Corro and Dr Eduard Masvidal are developing new devices to interact with the brain.

One of the featured articles explores how this technology is being evaluated for use in treating disorders of the central nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease, and for improving the precision of brain tumour surgery. A clinical trial in humans is currently nearing completion to assess the use of BCIs during neurosurgical procedures. These interfaces work by detecting and modulating brain signals with high precision, opening up new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.

Light, heat, and nanomaterials: the future of clinical diagnostics

Another article highlights the work of the NanoBiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group led by Prof. Laura Lechuga and Dr M. Carmen Estévez, which develops nanosensors for clinical diagnostics. Their technology is based on photonic chips that use light to directly detect biomarkers, including proteins and other molecules, in real time. When a target molecule binds to the sensor's functionalised surface, it alters the device's optical properties. This change can be measured as an optical signal, enabling the detection of very low concentrations of biomarkers in biological samples.

The team is also working to integrate these devices into portable platforms that can be used outside of laboratory settings by non-specialist personnel. To help translate this research into clinical practice, the group founded the spin-off company Eroica DX, which aims to develop these biosensors into fast and accessible diagnostic tools for more personalised healthcare.

Nanoparticles: advancing next-generation cancer treatments

Nanotechnology has enormous potential in many areas of healthcare and biomedicine, including oncology. One article explains how researcher Dr Alejandro G. Roca and the Magnetic Nanostructures Group are developing new, nanotechnology-based strategies to make potential cancer treatments more precise and personalised. Their work includes magnetic nanoparticles that can be guided to tumours using external magnetic fields. There, they release drugs or generate heat to destroy cancer cells.

Another promising approach involves Trojan cells, which use immune cells to carry nanoparticles deep into solid tumours. Although most of these technologies are still in the research phase, they could improve the effectiveness of treatment while reducing side effects by targeting tumours more selectively.

Spintronics: the tiny electronic magnets that will drive technology

Another article explores several spintronics research projects being developed at centres including INMA and ICN2. Spintronics exploits the spin of electrons, rather than just their electrical charge, to store and process information more efficiently. At ICN2, Dr Juan F. Sierra, of the Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices Group, is investigating the properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials for future spintronic technologies. While graphene is exceptionally good at transporting spin, controlling it remains challenging. To address this issue, the team is developing van der Waals heterostructures that combine graphene with other two-dimensional materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, to impart new properties to graphene.

The goal is to generate, control and manipulate spin currents using light and other stimuli, paving the way for faster electronic devices with lower energy consumption and greater data storage capabilities.

We are delighted to contribute to CSIC Investiga and to see the work of our researchers featured in a publication that makes scientific research accessible to a broad audience. Sharing these advances beyond the research community is an important part of our commitment to making science accessible and ensuring that the knowledge generated at ICN2 reaches as many people as possible.

Find here the full issue: https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/229367.