Juan Gallo

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory · Department of Life Sciences

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents 15-25% of the new breast cancer cases diagnosed worldwide every year. TNBC is among the most aggressive and worst prognosis breast cancer, mainly because targeted therapies are not available. Herein, we developed a magnetic theranostic hybrid nanovehicle for targeted treatment of TNBC through pH-trigg...

Olive oil is one of the oldest and essential edible oils in the market. The classification of olive oils (e.g. extra virgin, virgin, refined) is often influenced by factors ranging from its complex inherent physiochemical properties (e.g. fatty acid profiles) to the undisclosed manufacturing processes. Therefore, olive oils have been the target of...

Fluorescence-based probes represent a powerful tool for noninvasive imaging of living systems in real time and with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Amongst several known fluorophores, 3-difluoroborodipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives have become a cornerstone for innovative fluorescent labelling applications, mainly due to their advantageou...

The combination of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and lipid matrices enables the integration of imaging, drug delivery, and therapy functionalities into smart theranostic nanocomposites. SPION confinement creates new interactions primarily among the embedded SPIONs and then between the nanocomposites and the surroundings. Under...

Cancer is currently a leading cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates an increase of 60% in the global cancer incidence in the next two decades. The inefficiency of the currently available therapies has prompted an urgent effort to develop new strategies that enable early diagnosis and improve response to treatment. Nanome...

Polymeric materials have been extensively explored in the field of nanomedicine; within them, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) holds a prominent position in micro- and nanotechnology due to its biocompatibility and controllable biodegradability. In this review we focus on the combination of PLGA with different inorganic nanomaterials in the form...

In this work, KIT-6 silica functionalized with sulfonic acid by the co-condensation method was prepared and evaluated as a catalyst in the transesterification of Brazilian cashew nut oil (BCNO) with butanol for biodiesel synthesis. The catalyst was characterized by SAXS, TEM, N2 adsorption–desorption measurements, 29Si MAS NMR and 13C CP-MAS NMR to...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging tool that combined with the use of contrast agents (CA) provides meaningful and crucial information both in the research and clinical settings. In recent years, strides have been taken towards the development of new CAs with enhanced capabilities (specificity, responsiveness, multimodality…) to...

Smart theranostics are dynamic platforms that integrate multiple functions, including at least imaging, therapy, and responsiveness, in a single agent. This review showcases a variety of responsive theranostic agents developed specifically for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), due to the privileged position this non-invasive, non-ionising imaging m...

A modified diamond–photonics based metrology is proposed to explore the magnetic fields created by agglomerates of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). MNPs are promising for environmental and medical applications; those proposed for cancer magnetic hyperthermia treatments are small superparamagnetic <20 nm iron oxide particles. Inside cells, they assemb...

Nowadays, a number of promising strategies are being developed that aim at combining diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities into clinically effective formulations. Thus, the combination of a modified release provided by an organic encapsulation and the intrinsic physico-chemical properties from an inorganic counterpart opens new perspectives in bi...

Quadruplex structures have been identified in a plethora of organisms where they play important functions in the regulation of molecular processes, and hence have been proposed as therapeutic targets for many diseases. In this paper we report the extensive bioinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and related viruses using an upgraded version...

The combination of diagnostics and therapy (theranostic) is one of the most complex, yet promising strategies envisioned for nanoengineered multifunctional systems in nanomedicine. From the various multimodal nanosystems proposed, a number of works have established the potential of Graphene-based Magnetic Nanoparticles (GbMNPs) as theranostic platf...

Solid lipid particles (SLPs) can sustainably encapsulate and release therapeutic agents over long periods, modifying their biodistribution, toxicity, and side effects. To date, no studies have been reported using SLPs loaded with doxorubicin chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic cancer. This study characterizes the effect of doxorubicin-load...

The great performance of functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is related to the functionalizing agents, once can tune colloidal properties, chemical stability, hydrophilicity, overall toxicity, as well as, dipole interparticle interactions. Phosphonate derivatives have proven to be excellen...

In this paper we report the analysis of the 2019-nCoV genome and related viruses using an upgraded version of the open-source algorithm G4-iM Grinder. This version improves the functionality of the software, including an easy way to determine the potential biological features affected by the candidates found. The quadruplex definitions of the algor...

Temperature is a key parameter for optimal cellular function and growth. Temperature perturbation may directly lead to cell death. This can be used in cancer therapies to kill cells in tumors, a therapeutic approach called hyperthermia. To avoid overheating of tumors that may damage healthy tissues, a knowledge of the intracellular temperature reac...

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 com...

We report a hybrid magnetic nanocomposite (mHNCs) incorporating a chemotherapeutic drug and a dual superparamagnetic and paramagnetic cargo. This system exhibits dual contrast behaviour in magnetic resonance imaging as well...

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 com...

Theranostic magnetic wax nanocomposite vehicles were synthesized through a safe‐by‐design approach which simultaneously incorporated magnetic nanoparticles and the anticancer drug Oncocalyxone A. The obtained formulation showed outstanding performance as a T2‐contrast agent in MRI and offered a synergistic thermo/chemotherapeutic effect in vitro de...

Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) composites are rapidly gaining attention due to their high potential for application in several technological fields. On one hand, polymers contribute to balance the attractive magnetic and van der Waals forces that act on NPs and thus reduce their agglomeration. On the other hand, NPs can bring into the composites their...

The structure of nanoparticles has been difficult to determine accurately because the traditional structure methods rely on large monocrystals. Here, we discuss the structure of nanoparticles based on real-space modeling of the pair distribution function obtained by a Fourier transformation of the high-energy X-ray scattering structure factor. In p...

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one of the most promising candidates for their use as theranostic agents in the biomedical field due to their potential as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and also as heat generators in magnetic hyperthermia treatments. However, despite the large number of publications about this topic, just som...

To fight against cancer, smarter drugs and drug delivery systems are required both to boost the efficiency of current treatments while reducing deleterious side effects, and combine diagnosis/monitoring with therapy (theranosis) in the search for the final goal of personalized medicine. This work presents the design, preparation and proof‐of‐princi...

Purpose: Magnetoliposomes (MLs) have shown great potential as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents and as delivery vehicles for cancer therapy. Targeting the MLs towards the tumor cells or neovascularization could ensure delivery of drugs at the tumor site. In this study, we evaluated the potential of MLs targeting the αvβ3 integrin overexpr...

Self-assembled peptide hydrogels have emerged in recent years as the new paradigm in biomaterials research. We have contributed to this field the development of hydrogels based on dehydrodipeptides N-capped with naproxen. The dehydrodipeptide hydrogels can be loaded with drugs, thus being potential nanocarriers for drug delivery. In this work novel...

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been gaining a significant importance as building blocks to form more complex nanostructures due to the multifunctional performance enabled by their magnetic character, i.e. magnetic resonance...

Magnetic hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two of the most important biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). However, the design of MNPs with good heating performance for hyperthermia and dual T1/T2 contrast for MRI remains a considerable challenge. In this work, ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanopart...

Background Atherosclerosis, a major source of cardiovascular disease, is asymptomatic for decades until the activation of thrombosis and the rupture of enlarged plaques, resulting in acute coronary syndromes and sudden cardiac arrest. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive nuclear imaging technique to assess the degree of atherosclerotic...

A simple tailor-made protocol to synthesize graphene-based magnetic nanoparticles (GbMNPs) for nanomedicine is herein reported. Different GbMNPs with very distinctive physicochemical and toxicological properties were synthesized by adjusting the number of carbon precursors in the coating of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. In vitro tests...

Here we report preliminary catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) experiments performed in the presence of an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. One ferromagnetic graphitic nanocomposite – composed by a cobalt ferrite core and a graphitic shell (CoFe2O4/MGNC), was employed in the process, here named magnetically activated catalytic wet perox...

Magnetoliposomes (MLs) were synthesized and tested for longitudinal monitoring of transplanted pancreatic islets using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rat models. The rat insulinoma cell line INS-1E and isolated pancreatic islets from outbred and inbred rats were used to optimize labeling conditions in vitro. Strong MRI contrast was generated b...

Manganese‐based nanostructured contrast agents (CAs) entered the field of medical diagnosis via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) some years ago. While part of these Mn‐based CAs behave as classic T1 contrast enhancers in the same way as clinical Gd‐based molecules do, a new type of Mn‐nanomaterials are been developed to improve MRI sensitivity and...

The synthesis of hydrophilic graphene-based yolk-shell magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with copolymer pluronic F-127 (GYSMNP@PF127) is herein reported to achieve an efficient multifunctional biomedical system for mild hyperthermia and stimuli-responsive drug delivery⁠. In vitro tests revealed the extraordinary ability of GYSMNP@PF127 to act a...

A new type of biocompatible multimodal contrast agent capable of enhancing the contrast of both magnetic resonance and optical images is reported. The nanoparticles, based on core‐shell lanthanide fluoride, show intense emission at 802 nm upon excitation with near infrared radiation. They also display magnetic field dependent contrasting properties...

A versatile iron oxide nanoparticle platform is reported, which can be orthogonally functionalized to obtain highly derivatized nanomaterials as required for a wide variety of applications such as drug delivery, targeted therapy, or imaging. The facile functionalization of the nanoparticles using two ligands with isocyanate moieties allows for high...

In the search for new chromonic liquid crystals, we have explored the self-assembly behavior in water of a series of high-purity dialkylthiacarbocyanine dyes with different alkyl chain lengths and acetate as counterion. The dimer model was used to fit the UV–vis spectra and estimate the dissociation energy between molecules, which increases with th...

A novel type of multimodal, magnetic resonance imaging/optical imaging (MRI/OI) contrast agent was developed based on core‐shell lanthanide fluoride nanoparticles composed of a ‐NaHoF4 core plus a ‐NaGdF4:Yb3+, Tm3+ shell with an average size of 24 nm. The biocompatibility of the particles was ensured by a surface modification with poly acrylic...

Carbon dots have demonstrated great potential as luminescent nanoparticles in bioapplications. Although such nanoparticles appear to exhibit low toxicity compared to other metal luminescent nanomaterials, today we know that the toxicity of carbon dots (C-dots) strongly depends on the protocol of fabrication. In this work, aqueous fluorescent C-dots...

Additional experimental data.

What is the most significant result of this study? The field of nanostructures-based responsive MRI contrast agents is a relatively new one. In this field, manganese oxides are so far the key player. But on one hand, the availability of oxidation states of Mn complicates the understanding of the processes and species involved in the activation. On...

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Manuel Bañobre-López and Juan Gallo at the INL-International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga (Portugal). Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201704861.

A simple one-pot method was used to prepare a range of manganese oxide nanostructures of different nature (MnO, MnO2, Mn3O4) and shape, to be explored as MRI contrast agents. The availability of redox states of Mn required a special combination of techniques to unequivocally identify the phase of the materials. From the imaging point of view, while...

Gallium-68 (68Ga) has been the subject of increasing interest for its potential in the production of radiotracers for diagnosis of diseases. In this work we report the complexation of 68Ga by the amino acid based tripodal chelate H3Dpaa, and two bifunctional derivatives, H3Dpaa.dab and H4Dpaa.ga, under a range of conditions with particular emphasis...

Functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their synthesis and functionalization methodology strongly affects their performance in vivo. The methodology most used in the literature for the synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs is the thermal decomposition, which has proven to be time-c...

pH homeostasis is strictly controlled at a subcellular level. A deregulation of the intra/extra/subcellular pH environment is associated with a number of diseases and as such, the monitoring of the pH state of cells and tissues is a valuable diagnostic tool. To date, only a few tools have been developed to measure the pH in living cells with the sp...

This work describes the development and characterization of triglyceride-based magnetic nanocomposites for application in magnetic hyperthermia and controlled drug delivery. The magnetic solid lipid nanocomposites (MSLN) constituted by mixtures of trilaurin-tricaprylin and trilaurin-tricaprin have been successfully obtained by emulsification-solven...

The complex and specialised diagnostic process through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be simplified with the implementation of dual T1–T2 contrast agents. T1- and T2-weighted MR are compatible modalities, and co-acquisition of contrast enhanced images in both T1 and T2 will drastically reduce artefacts and provide double-checked results. To...

A colloidally stable dispersion of anisotropic Ni nanowires in water has been achieved showing good performance as T2-contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A wet chemistry approach has been developed that renders water dispersible Ni nanowires of controlled size. Firstly, an array of Ni/Au multilayer nanowires of tailored dimensions w...

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO-PAA), ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO-PAA), and glucosamine-modified iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO-PAA-GlcN) were studied as mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) labels for cell tracking applications by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pronounced differences were found in the labeling performan...

Diagnosis by MRI is frequently non-trivial due to the low sensitivity of the technique. Signal enhancing contrast agents (CAs) are used to aid in the analysis of MR images. We present here a simple protocol for the preparation of responsive CAs based on Mn nanosheets. Mn nanostructures presented here undergo a chemical and structural change in the...

There is increasing interest in the development of new magnetic polymeric carriers for biomedical applications such as trigger-controlled drug release, magnetic hyperthermia (MH) for the treatment of cancer, and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This work describes the synthesis of submicrometer and magnetic polymer nanocompos...

The poor heating efficiency of the most reported magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), allied to the lack of comprehensive biocompatibility and haemodynamic studies, hampers the spread of multifunctional nanoparticles as the next generation of therapeutic bio-agents in medicine. The present work reports the synthesis and characterization, with special foc...

A simple and effective method to prepare an active and stable nanostructured working electrode for electrochemical water splitting is described. Specifically, mixed Fe-Ni diphosphide was prepared by sputtering a 200-nm-thick layer of Permalloy onto carbon paper gas diffusion layer followed by gas transport phosphorization reaction. The mass density...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent imaging modality. However the low sensitivity of the technique poses a challenge to achieving an accurate image of function at the molecular level. To overcome this, contrast agents are used; typically gadolinium based agents for T1 weighted imaging, or iron oxide based agents for T2 imaging. Traditi...