The Project “Advanced Lipid Nanostructures to Overcome Blood-Brain-Barrier” seeks to design nanometric particles and treat efficiently the disease of the central nervous system (CNS), as the Alzheimers. The research is led by Olga López, from the Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña (IQAC-CSIC), and Mercedes Balcells, from MIT.

Scientists have developed a new technique to study the interaction between molecular systems and how these systems adapt to environmental changes. The potential uses are in several fields, such as molecular sensors or the study of the origin of life.

Científicos han desarrollado este nuevo método que serviría para aplicaciones microelectrónicas y biomédicas, incorporando moléculas de forma ordenada “a la carta”. El trabajo, liderado por el CSIC, se ha publicado en la revista Advanced Materials. Los segmentos de ADN se acoplan entre ellos como piezas de ‘lego’ y pueden usarse como  “adhesivo” para acoplar otras moléculas funcionales o nanomateriales

Scientists at the CSIC are designing advanced lipid systems for skin treatments. In the last experiment, they have obtained chemical maps of skin samples, which show how the lipid molecules enter the inner skin.

Imitating the chemistry of nature in order to obtain clean and sustainable chemical processes is the goal of project CarbaZymes, funded in the European EU’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. The consortium held its mid-term review meeting in Brussels, at the Directorate General for Research & Innovation.

Organic molecules can be constructed from smaller ones in prebiotic conditions, very selectively and efficiently and without using organic solvents. The method, presented in Nature Chemistry, uses enzymes modified by "protein engineering".

Experts in ecological chemistry at the CSIC have participated in a study that unveils, in aphids, the first case of aggressive mimicry against ants. The scientists have found out that the aphid mimics the cuticular chemicals -and therefore the smell- of the ant larvae in order to be transported to the nest, where it will feed on the hemolymphs of ant larvae.

Scientists at the CSIC and at the IRB Barcelona have obtained a nanosensor based on small DNA fragments, using an advanced technique known as DNA origami. It has the size of 100 nanometres: it is a thousand times smaller than a bacteria and it would be necessary millions of sensors like this to fill the hole in a sewing needle.