A team led by CSIC scientists at the Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM), has developed a smart device based on a paper battery, which will make easier diagnosis of cystic fibrosis possible. This small device looks like a plaster and includes the sensing device and the energy source. Now, the scientific team is working for the clinical validation and transferring the device to the market.

Scientists from the IMB-CNM of the CSIC, the CIBER-BNN, ICREA, the ICN2, the ICFO and IDIBAPS have developed and patented a flexible implant based on graphene for measuring electrophysiological activity. It has an outstanding sensibility for recording the most subtle activity of organs like brain, heart, nerves or spinal cord. This breaking technology has been successfully tested on brain and has been highlighted on the cover of Nature Materials. Now it is offered to the research and medical sector, especially neurology.

A CSIC team has developed a biocompatible hydrogel for the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue, which stands out for its lack of toxicity and high porosity. The mechanism is based on a method of cross-linking through diisocyanates.

Drugs that stimulate production of endoglin and adjust the TGF-β path may open new possibilities for the treatment of patients suffering from fibrosis, such as Epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This disease affects especially children, known as “butterfly children”. Developing a therapy for this rare pathology would improve the patients' quality of life.

Researchers from the CSIC and the UAB have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) adheres to human cells. This pathogen is becoming resistant to current antibiotics. The discovery will enable the development of non-antibiotic strategies to stop the bacterial adhesion to cells and, therefore, the infection. The research has led to an international patent application.

A multicentric research, led by the Institute of Marine Sciences of the CSIC, has obtained a test to predict sex in fish when the animals are so small that their organs are not visible. Test reliability is near 90%. The test is based on the detection of epigenetic marks in specific regions of DNA.

Researchers from the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia CSIC study the beneficial effects of natural compounds in food. According to the conclusions of a recent study, fagomine, a natural molecule, counteracts the effects of a high-fat diet.

Scientists at the IQAC-CSIC have developed a lanolin-based synthetic membrane as a model for percutaneous absorption assays. The membrane mimics the behavior of mammal's skin and it can be used for permeability assays of drugs and cosmetics. It improves the current models of artificial skin.