Última generación de sistemas luminiscentes multiconmutados en flujo con aplicación en los campos agroalimentario y farmacológico

En esta Memoria se proponen una serie de mejoras científico-técnicas relativas al desarrollo y aplicación de sistemas automatizados en flujo para el análisis de moléculas de diferente índole en los campos farmacológico y agroalimentario, plasmadas en las nueve publicaciones científicas que se presentan, mostrando su versatilidad y aplicabilidad analítica. Se ha puesto especial hincapié en incrementar el nivel de automatización de los sensores en flujo descritos hasta la fecha, perfeccionando el uso de los sistemas multiconmutados en flujo en este tipo de sistemas analíticos. Se han empleado técnicas de detección luminiscentes, incidiendo especialmente en aquellas que han permitido un incremento en la selectividad y cuyo desarrollo hasta la fecha ha sido reducido, como es el caso de la Fluorescencia Inducida Fotoquímicamente. Igualmente, se han utilizado nanopartículas fluorescentes para poder llevar a cabo la determinación luminiscente de analitos que no presentan fluorescencia nativa.In this Report, several scientific/technical improvements concerning the development and the application of automated flow systems are proposed. The systems developed were applied to the analysis of molecules of different nature in the pharmacological and agri-food fields, showing its versatility and its analytical applicability. The research here described gave origin to nine scientific publications in scientific international journals. Special emphasis was placed on increasing the level of automation of the flow sensors described to date, particularly improving the potential of multicommutated flow injection analysis methods. The selection of luminescent detection techniques was performed by paying special attention to two aspects: a) increasing the selectivity of the analytical methods; b) the use of detection techniques that have been underused in flow systems, such as Photochemically Induced Fluorescence. Likewise, fluorescent nanoparticles have been used to carry out the luminescent determination of analytes that do not exhibit native fluorescence.Tesis Univ. Jaén. Departamento Química Física y Analítica. Leída el 26 de noviembre de 2018

Biofabrication of a tri-layered 3D-bioprinted CSC-based malignant melanoma model for personalized cancer treatment

Conventional in vitro cancer models do not accurately reproduce the tumor microenvironment (TME), so three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinting represents an excellent tool to overcome their limitations. Here, two multicellular tri-layered malignant melanoma (MM) models composed by cancer stem cells (CSCs) isolated from a MM established cell line or a primary-patient derived cell line, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and endothelial cells, embedded within an agarose-collagen type I hydrogel were bioprinted. Embedded-cells showed high proliferation and metabolic activity, and actively remodeled their TME. MM hydrogels displayed similar rheological properties that skin and were able to support an early onset of vascularization. Besides, MM hydrogels displayed different response to vemurafenib compared with cell cultures, and supported tumorigenesis in murine xenotransplant achieving more mimetic in vivo models. For the first time a tri-layered 3D-bioprinted CSC-based human MM model is developed recreating TME in vitro and in vivo and response to treatment, being useful for precision treatment regimens against MM.Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía (Project No. PIN-0224-2019)Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad de la Junta de Andalucía (FEDER Funds, Projects PY18-FR-2470, B-CTS-230-UGR18, A-CTS-180-UGR20, PYC20 RE 015 UGR and P18-FR-2465),Ministry de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FEDER funds, Projects Nos. DTS19/00145 and DTS21/00098)Chair ‘Doctors Galera-Requena in cancer stem cell research’ (CMCCTS963)Universidad de Granada/CBUA.Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (PAIDI 2020— FEDER funds—Ref: DOC_01574)

Evaluation of Novel Doxorubicin-Loaded Magnetic Wax Nanocomposite Vehicles as Cancer Combinatorial Therapy Agents

The development of nanotechnology-based solutions for cancer at a preclinical level advances at an astounding pace. So far, clinical translation of these new developments has not been able to keep the pace due to a range of different reasons. One of them is the mismatch between in vitro and in vivo results coming from the expected difference in complexity. To overcome this problem, extensive characterisation using advanced in vitro models can lead to stronger preliminary data to face in vivo tests. Here, a comprehensive in vitro validation of a combinatorial therapy nanoformulation against solid tumours is presented. The information extracted from the different in vitro models highlights the importance of advanced 3D models to fully understand the potential of this type of complex drugs."Local specific treatment of triple-negative-breast-cancer through externally triggered target-less drug carriers" project - FCT 031142ERDF through NORTE2020Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UTAP-EXPL/NTec/0038/20172014-2020 INTERREG Cooperation Programme Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 0624_2IQBIONEURO_6_

Differences in the prevalence of diagnosis of overweight-obesity in Spanish children according to the diagnostic criteria set used

Objective: To examine relevant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 2-15 years according to different sets of criteria (Orbegozo Foundation, International Obesity Task Force and World Health Organization), and how their use affects the trends in obesity recorded for both sexes between 1995 and 2011 in Spain. Method: Cross-sectional study, a population between 2 and 15 years. Three diagnosis criteria of overweight and obesity were be used. Results: The boys according to the three criteria, showed higher values of overweight and obesity compared to the girls. The lowest levels of overweight and obesity were observed using the Orbegozo tables. Discussion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity varies significantly according to the criteria used to define overweight and obesity. The percentiles of the Foundation Orbegozo gave the lowest estimates and the standards of growth of the World Health Organization were higher

A chloroplast redox relay adapts plastid metabolism to light and affects cytosolic protein quality control

In chloroplasts, thiol-dependent redox regulation is linked to light since the disulfide reductase activity of thioredoxins (Trxs) relies on photo-reduced ferredoxin (Fdx). Furthermore, chloroplasts harbor an NADPH-dependent Trx reductase (NTR) with a joint Trx domain, termed NTRC. The activity of these two redox systems is integrated by the redox balance of 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx), which is controlled by NTRC. However, NTRC was proposed to participate in redox regulation of additional targets, prompting inquiry into whether the function of NTRC depends on its capacity to maintain the redox balance of 2-Cys Prxs or by direct redox interaction with chloroplast enzymes. To answer this, we studied the functional relationship of NTRC and 2-Cys Prxs by a comparative analysis of the triple Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant, ntrc-2cpab, which lacks NTRC and 2-Cys Prxs, and the double mutant 2cpab, which lacks 2-Cys Prxs. These mutants exhibit almost indistinguishable phenotypes: in growth rate, photosynthesis performance, and redox regulation of chloroplast enzymes in response to light and darkness. These results suggest that the most relevant function of NTRC is in controlling the redox balance of 2-Cys Prxs. A comparative transcriptomics analysis confirmed the phenotypic similarity of the two mutants and suggested that the NTRC-2-Cys Prxs system participates in cytosolic protein quality control. We propose that NTRC and 2-Cys Prxs constitute a redox relay, exclusive to photosynthetic organisms that fine-tunes the redox state of chloroplast enzymes in response to light and affects transduction pathways towards the cytosol.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2017-85195-C2-1-

Persistence of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) latrines and its implication for monitoring programs

Counting latrines is a standard method to estimate European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) abundance. This method plays an important role in endangered predators’ conservation programs in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in potential reintroduction areas for the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, since the last half-century, rabbit populations have declined dramatically within their native range, mainly due to the effect of two viral diseases, which have caused even local extinctions of natural populations. Hence, we raise the question regarding how reliable the method of counting latrines may be in ensuring the abundance of rabbit populations after an event of sudden decline or even local extinction. To answer this question, we carry out a simple experiment where we set ten lines with rabbit latrines with two different sizes each (small and large) and simulated low- and high-abundant rabbit population scenarios on five latrine lines each, respectively

Role of beta-stabilizing elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties evolution of modified PM Ti surfaces designed for biomedical applications

Invited keynotes paper from EUROPM2017, Milan.This work focuses on the evaluation of modified surfaces on Ti produced by powder metallurgy. These newly designed surface modifications are achieved by deposition and diffusion of a stable aqueous suspension prepared in one case from micro-sized Nb powder (Ti beta-stabilizer element) and in another case from Nb plus the addition of ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, (thermo-reactive diffusion process). Different design parameters such as diffusion element (Nb or Mo), state of the Ti substrate (green or sintered) and the treatment process (diffusion or thermo-reactive diffusion) lead to all the surface-modified materials, GreenTi-Nb, SintTi-Nb and Ti-Nb-NH4Cl, GreenTi-Mo, SintTi-Mo and Ti-Mo-NH4Cl. The modified Ti surfaces present a gradient in composition and microstructure (beta / alpha+beta / alpha phases) resulting in an improvement in some of their mechanical properties: (1) higher micro-hardness in all the modified materials and (2) lower elastic modulus (more similar to that of the human bone) in those without NH4Cl.The authors would like to thank the funding provided for this research by the Regional Government of Madrid (program MULTIMAT-CHALLENGE-CM, ref. S2013/MIT- 2862), and by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (program MINECO, ref. PCIN-2016-123 and Ramón y Cajal contract RYC-2014-15014)

Role-playing games para la adquisición de competencias en el Grado en Ingeniería Química

Se propone la realización de un juego de rol con el objetivo de que los alumnos comprendan una asignatura a priori tediosa, Gestión Integrada en la Industria Química, de una forma práctica y amena. Este tipo de prueba facilita la evaluación de varias competencias a la vez, englobando tanto habilidades técnicas, como la comunicación oral y la puesta en escena. En este caso concreto los alumnos se han introducido en la situación de una auditoría de los distintos sistemas de gestión de la Universidad de Alicante, incluyendo calidad, medio ambiente y prevención de riesgos laborales. Los profesores han valorado las competencias adquiridas y los alumnos han realizado una encuesta para comprobar si ellos tienen la percepción de haberlas adquirido. Además se estudia su utilidad en un entorno laboral, en prácticas en empresa, ya que varios alumnos realizan las asignaturas de Prácticas Externas después de haber cursado la asignatura de Gestión Integrada en la Industria Química. El trabajo se completa con el estudio del posible interés de los juegos de rol en otras asignaturas de la titulación