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Journal of Biotechnology and Phytochemistry
Volume 1 Issue 3 Chemistry World 2017
November 13-15, 2017 Athens, Greece
7th World Congress on
Chemistry
Gerard Tobias, J Biotech and Phyto 2017
Nanoengineering of inorganic and carbon
materials
In this talk we will review some recent progress on
the design and nanoengineering of inorganic and
carbon nanomaterials for tailored applications. Special
emphasis is paid in the group to exploit the synergies
of both types of materials by the preparation of
nanohybrids with novel or enhanced properties. We
will mainly focus on the development of nanomaterials
for application in the biomedical field, but we will also
highlight work performed in other areas such as the
isolation and template assisted-growth of rolled-up
single-layered 2D materials. Among the different types
of carbon nanomaterials, one advantage of using
nanotubes is that their inner cavity can be filled with a
chosen payload whilst the outer surface can be modified
with biomolecules to improve their dispersibility,
biocompatibility and even for targeting purposes. For
instance, following this approach we have shown that by
filling radioactive isotopes it is possible to achieve ultra-
sensitive imaging and the delivery of an unprecedented
amount of radiodose density. The presence of selected
heavy elements allows even mapping of subcellular
organelles via X-ray fluorescence imaging. Furthermore,
functionalization of the external walls of these filled
carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with monoclonal antibodies
allows targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR), over expressed by several cancer cells. We
have also recently developed CNTs for dual imaging
by radio-labelling iron oxide decorating the external
surface of CNTs. The resulting hybrids allow single
photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Worth noting is the
enhancement of the MRI signal by modification of the
nanocarrier (non-MRI active) rather than the magnetic
nanoparticles themselves. The formation of such hybrid
systems is not limited to the biomedical field. A large
deal of attention is being devoted towards the isolation
and growth of single layers of a wide variety of inorganic
materials which is of interest for both fundamental
research and advanced applications. When an individual
layer is seamlessly wrapped into a cylinder, the resulting
single-layered nanotube combines the characteristics
of both two-dimensional (2D) and one-dimensional (1D)
materials. Yet, despite their interest, reports on single-
walled inorganic nanotubes are scarce because their
multiwalled counterparts are generally favored during
growth. We have reported on a versatile approach that
allows the formation of high quality, single-crystalline
single-layered inorganic nanotubes.
Biography
Gerard Tobias obtained the degree in Chemistry (with Honours) from the
Autonomous University of Barcelona (2000), Master in Materials Science and
Ph.D. with European mention (UAB, 2004). He was a research visitor at Ames
Laboratory (United States) and at the Electron Microscopy for Materials Science
center (EMAT, Belgium). Between 2004-2009 he was a postdoctoral Fellow at the
Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford (UK). Since 2009 he leads
research on "Nanoengineering of Carbon and Inorganic Materials" at the Materials
Science Institute of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC). Dr. Tobias has been a member of
the European COST Action TD1004 on "Theragnostics Imaging and Therapy”,
has coordinated the FP7 European project RADDEL involving 11 groups (2012-
2016) "Nanocapsules for Targeted Delivery of Radioactivity " and has been recently
granted an ERC Consolidator Grant (NEST, 725743).
Gerard Tobias
Institute of Material Science of Barcelona – CSIC, Spain