In the third instalment of our ‘STARSTEM researchers’ series, we reached out to Arantxa Albornoz of ICFO to find out more about nanoparticle optimisation and the STARSTEM nanostar.
Created in 2002, ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is located in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, and hosts more than 350 researchers, organized in 26 research groups in 60state-of-the-art research laboratories.
Prof. Romain Quidant (formerly ICFO, now ETH Zürich), Dr Ignacio de Miguel and Arantxa Albornoz Grados were responsible for the optimisation of production of our gold nanostars in collaboration with NUIG-TOMI. ICFO plays an essential role in ensuring that STARSTEM nanostars reach clinical trial. Consistency, high-quality production, and regulatory compliance are particular areas of expertise for ICFO.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role in ICFO.
I am an organic chemist with expertise in biomedical applications of gold nanocomposites.
At ICFO, I work as Research Engineer where I collaborate on the development of gold nanoparticles synthesis for photothermal therapy and cosmetic applications, synthesis of different kind of gold nanocomposite materials and surface modification of surgical implants with gold nanoparticles to achieve bacteriostatic activity.
What is your role in STARSTEM?
My role in STARSTEM is to develop the optimized synthesis of the new contrast medium, the gold nanostars.
I have studied the optimisation of the reaction as well as the characterization of these gold nanoparticles achieving a high-quality product compatible with a feasible scale-up.
Besides, I am in charge to supply all the partners with quantities enough for the whole project and for further clinical development.
Why is STARSTEM important to ICFO? What unique opportunities does it present?
This leading-edge project brings to ICFO the opportunity to continuous working in the research and production of metallic nanoparticles, as well as, progressing our work towards pre-clinical and clinical impact in regenerative medicine.
The optimisation and production of gold nanostars has many challenges. What do you see as the major ones?
This nanoparticles synthesis is a quite sensitive reaction and in the search of a scale up production, it supposed a new devise of the initial method, implying a complete optimisation study. Produce a high-quality product in small quantities is not the same as production in large quantities.
Personally, what has been the best part of working on STARSTEM?
As a young research, STARSTEM has provided me the opportunity to work with leader researchers of different fields for developing together an innovative idea.
This opportunity has enriched me in several aspects, as for example, understanding how important is to share the how-know and to have a good communication between the partners.