News

Monday, 15 March 2021

Nanotechnology provides new solutions for microbiome-based diagnostics and personalized medicine

A review recently published in "Advanced Materials" by members of the ICN2 Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors group, led by ICREA Prof. Arben Merkoçi, in collaboration with other institutes and in the framework of the MICROB-PREDICT project, presents the potentialities of nanotechnology for developing biosensors for the monitoring of the human microbiome. These studies can open new paths for the diagnostics of diseases such as cirrhosis, acute liver failure and colorectal cancer, and to personalized therapy.

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Using graphene flakes to combat anxiety

A paper published in ‘Biomaterials’ reports the possible use of graphene nanoparticles to combat anxiety-related behaviour in vertebrates. This study envisions the application of these graphene flakes as nanotools for improved precision medicine.

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Tweed texture revealed in vanadium dioxide in metal-insulator transitions

The study of metal-insulator transitions in VO2 through atomic scale imaging has allowed to uncover a periodical tweed structure: a weaving of vanadium dimers acting like the threads of an actual tweed at the atomic level. This research, led by ICN2 group leader ICREA Prof. Gustau Catalan and ICMAB researcher Dr Felip Sandiumenge and published in Advanced Materials, provides relevant information for the understanding of transitional states in specific classes of materials.