This interdisciplinary group aims to exploit the convergence of chemistry, biology and physics with nanotechnology to solve not only fundamental questions about the structure and biomolecular dynamics and rational design of peptides, proteins and molecules, but also to understand the molecules and parameters involved in the fertility and reproduction of mosquitoes; as well as the development of nano-bioassemblies for the diagnosis and intervention of diseases.
Research Lines and/or Areas
Mosquito Reproductive Biology
Biophysics of Tropical Diseases
Nanobioengineering
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Group Coordinator
Jahir Orozco Holguín, PhD. In Chemistry
University of Barcelona and Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona.
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Potsdam, Germany)
Max Planck Institute of Polymers Research (Mainz, Germany)
Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology (Berlin, Germany)
Max Planck Institute of Biophysics (Frankfurt, Germany)
University of Cornell (New York, USA)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Madrid, España)
University of Wisconsin (Madison, USA)
Syracuse University (New York, USA)
Princeton University (New Jersey, USA)
University of Aalto (Helsinki, Finlandia)
Highlighted Projects
Tandem Max Planck groups, Universidad de Antioquia
Academic-Scientific Consortium for the strengthening of the Colombian educational system focused on Nanobioengineering for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Colon Cancer. Scientific Ecosystems Program, Nanobiocancer.
Nanobiosensors for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. Mincienciatón.
Ultrasensitive electrochemical nanobiosensors for monitoring a panel of tumor biomarkers associated with early diagnosis of colon cancer, at the point of care. Nanobiocancer.
Key Research Findings
The first micromotor in Colombia was developed: a device that autonomously propels itself in a fluid transforming a catalytic reaction into motion. As it is as small as a cell, it can travel in spaces where other larger devices could not, and movement can accelerate reactions that take place in its environment. It is a capsule that uses biocompatible and biodegradable materials to accelerate enzymatic reactions of great utility in environmental remediation and industrial catalysis. It protects biomolecules such as enzymes from the adversity of their environment so that they interact with their substrate more quickly and efficiently, being able, for example, to decompose persistent contaminants, antibiotics, dyes, pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi) etc; or accelerating chemical reactions in an industrial reactor. The findings were recently published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces of USA https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c14663 (IF = 10.38) and due to their relevance they were also cover of the magazine.
The first gene sensor was developed for the differential detection of ZIKA and the discrimination of homologous arboviruses of dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV): Target, capture and signal molecular probes were selected by a rigorous bioinformatic design, which were highly specific for the target strand. The gene sensor was optimized and its performance in the detection of ZIKA virus in enriched serum, urine, saliva, and in samples from infected patients was demonstrated. In addition, an electrochemical signal amplification strategy was developed based on gold nanoparticles decorated with DNA strands. The development resulted in three publications (Genosensors for differential detection of Zika virus https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2019.120648, Gold nanoparticle/DNA-based nanobioconjugate for electrochemical detection of Zika virushttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-020-04568-1 and Differential detection of zika virus based on PCR https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114459); to the Shizu and Yu Takeuchi 2021 prize for the best master's thesis in Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (Daniel Alzate) and to the prizes for the best research work in the Nanobiomaterials (Nestor S. Cajigas) and Nanomedicine (Daniel Alzate) sections at the IX Symposium of Applied Chemistry (IX Siquia) and I International Congress of Nanochemistry, Nanophysics and Nanomedicine (ICINNN), in August 21-23, 2019, Armenia, Colombia.
The first electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the determination of the colorectal cancer biomarker (CRC) β-1,4-GalT-V: The detection system by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was simple and reliable, and allowed to detect it at levels of clinical relevance in undiluted serum, with high specificity (β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase-V colorectal cancer biomarker immunosensor with label-free electrochemical detection https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123337). By nanostructuring the detection system and using electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy, our team improved the detection system with a system that detects 350 times lower concentrations of the biomarker (Capacitive nanobiosensing of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase-V colorectal cancer biomarker https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2022.132784). The systems offer new opportunities for early diagnosis/prognosis of CRC in decentralized environments.
A genosensor (Electrochemical genosensor for the specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123482), an immunosensor (SARS-CoV-2 electrochemical immunosensor based on the spike-ACE2 complex https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2022.339718) and a peptide-based biosensor (Peptide-based simple detection of SARS-CoV-2 with electrochemical readout https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2022.339739) for the simple and rapid detection of the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, and of S protein were developed. For example, the latter is the first peptide-based impedimetric biosensor for the detection of Spike proteins in only 15 min. It is based on the direct immobilization of a synthetic peptide on screen-printed electrodes, which did not have cross-reactivity with homologous viruses such as MERS and SARS-CoV. It showed high selectivity and S protein could be detected even in clinical samples with results comparable to those of PCR.
Services and/or Products Portfolio
The group provides services according to the equipment available in this link.
