Nanomaterials and Sensors – NANOSENS
Our research group focuses on the design and development of advanced functional materials for applications in biomedicine, agri-food, and environmental fields.
A central line of research involves the development of controlled release nanoparticles such as mesoporous materials containing molecular gates, lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, giant unilamellar vesicles, metallic nanoparticles, and related nanosystems. These platforms enable the precise delivery of drugs, genetic material, including DNA and RNA, and antimicrobial agents.
In addition, the group develops advanced nanosystems for chemical communication, nanomotors, and smart materials capable of responding to specific chemical signals. These systems enable more efficient and controlled release of active compounds, while providing a basis for understanding interactions and communication processes between nanoparticles and other synthetic or biological entities.
In parallel, the group develops molecular probes, nanosensors, and biosensors for electrochemical, chromogenic, and fluorogenic detection of cells, biomarkers, ions, metabolites, and pathogens, with applications in diagnosis, environmental monitoring, food safety, and point-of-care testing.
Another recent key area is the development of molecular cages for biological applications, creating encapsulation and recognition systems for the selective delivery of drugs and the detection of biomarkers, with particular relevance in oncology and diagnosis.
CV Prof. Ramón Martínez Máñez
Ramón Martínez Máñez is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at UPV, Director of the Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development (IDM), and former Scientific Director of CIBER-BBN from 2015 to 2024. He coordinates joint research units in nanomedicine and sensors with La Fe Hospital and the Príncipe Felipe Research Center. With over 30 years of experience, his research has focused on molecular probes, chemical sensors, chromo-fluorogenic sensing and controlled-release systems for biomedical applications. He has coordinated 188 national and European projects, participates in 9 European projects, including the ERC Advanced Grant EDISON, and has collaborated in more than 50 industry-linked projects. He has published more than 643 articles, holds 50 patents, and co-founded three spin-offs. His awards include the RSEQ Research Excellence Award, King Jaume I Award, and Juan de la Cierva National Research Award.
Research Lines
Gated mesoporous silica for controlled release.
Lipid nanoparticles and RNA/mRNA delivery systems.
Molecular cages and supramolecular systems for biological applications.
Molecular probes as optical chemosensors.
Nanosensors, biosensors and metabolomics for diagnosis, prognosis and point-of-care testing.
Self-propelled and stimuli-responsive nanomotors.
Chemical communication and artificial cell-like systems.
Smart antimicrobial and anti-biofilm nanotechnology.
Highlighted Funding
Smart Implants for Life Enrichment (SMILE). 101136376. European Commission – Horizon RIA. 2025–2029. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
A Novel Immunotherapy for Infectious Diseases (NANOBICAR). 101186252. European Commission – Horizon EIC. 2025–2028. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Specific Universal Immunotherapeutic Method for Cancer (ONCOFLAG). 101248697. European Commission – Horizon ERC Proof of Concept. 2025–2027. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA). 101156595. European Commission – Horizon COFUND. 2024–2031. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Postdoctoral Program in Biomedicine and Health Sciences (ARISTOS). 101081334. Horizon TMA MSCA Cofund. 2023–2028. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Engineered Particles for Chemical Communication (EDISON). 101052997. European Commission – Horizon ERC Advanced. 2022–2027. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Development of photonic multi-sensing systems based on molecular-gates biorecognition and plasmonic sensors (PHOTONGATE). 101093042. European Commission – Horizon RIA. 2022–2026. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Immunological incompatibility as a basis for cancer curing and vaccination (ULISES). 899708. European Commission – Horizon 2020 FET Open. 2020–2024. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Safety testing in the life cycle of nanotechnology-enabled medical technologies for health (SAFE-N-MEDTECH). 814607. European Commission – Horizon 2020 IA. 2019–2023. Ramón Martínez Máñez.
Highlighted Publications
Montà-González, G.; Garrido, E.; Climent, E. et al. Molecular Cages as Probes in Indicator Displacement Assays: The Case of Scopolamine Detection. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2026. 65, e23575. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202523575
Torres-Mesado, A.; Caballos, I.; López-Palacios, A. et al. Test Strips Based on Gated Nanoporous Anodic Alumina for the Rapid and Accurate Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Clinical Samples. Analytical Chemistry. 2026. 98, 11807–11821. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c07621
Martínez-Latorre, J.; Soriano-Teruel, P. M.; Candela-Noguera, V. et al. Harnessing Pre-Existing Measles Immunity: mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Measles Hemagglutinin Expression Boosts Antitumor CD8⁺ T Cell Responses. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 2026. 11, 164.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-026-02716-2
Ortuño-Bernal, A.; Clara-Trujillo, S.; Lucena-Sánchez, E. et al. Bi-Functional Topospecific Nanoparticles to Promote Immune-Tumor Cell Engagement as a New Immunotherapeutic Strategy. Advanced Materials. 2025. e18838.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418838
Esteve-Moreno, J. J.; Escudero, A.; Silvestre, O. F. et al. Bioorthogonal Photoactivation of 2-Nitrobenzyl Caged Doxorubicin Anticancer Prodrugs on Gold Nanostars. Advanced Materials. 2025. e10898.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202510898
Escudero, A.; Hicke, F. J.; Lucena-Sánchez, E. et al. Glucose-Fueled Gated Nanomotors: Enhancing In Vivo Anticancer Efficacy via Deep Drug Penetration into Tumors. ACS Nano. 2025. 19, 20932–20955.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c03799
Rojas-Vázquez, S.; Lozano-Torres, B.; García-Fernández, A. et al. A Renal Clearable Fluorogenic Probe for In Vivo β-Galactosidase Activity Detection During Aging and Senolysis. Nature Communications. 2024. 15, 775.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44903-1
Llopis-Lorente, A.; Shao, J.; Ventura, J. et al. Spatiotemporal Communication in Artificial Cell Consortia for Dynamic Control of DNA Nanostructures. ACS Central Science. 2024. 10, 1619–1628.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.4c00702
Žiemytė, M.; Escudero, A.; Díez, P. et al. Ficin–Cyclodextrin-Based Docking Nanoarchitectonics of Self-Propelled Nanomotors for Bacterial Biofilm Eradication. Chemistry of Materials. 2023. 35, 4412–4426.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c00587
Lozano-Torres, B.; Galiana, I.; Rovira, M. et al. An OFF–ON Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe for Tracking Cell Senescence In Vivo. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2017. 139, 8808–8811.
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b04985
Prof. Mª Dolores Marcos Martínez
Prof. Elena Aznar Gimeno
Prof. Félix Sancenón Galarza
Prof. Jose Ramón Murguía Ibáñez
Prof. Andrea Bernardos Bau
Prof. Vicente Martí Centelles
Prof. Luis Ángel Villaescusa Alonso
Prof. Estela Climent Terol
Dr. Antoni Llopis Lorente
Dra. Paula Díez Sánchez
Dra. Alba García Fernández
Dra. Sandra Pradana López
Dra. Ana Mª. Pérez Calabuig
Dra. Carla Arnau del Valle
Dr. Alfredo López Olvera
Dra. Erika Pineda Ramírez
Dra. Marcia Domínguez Rodríguez
Dra. Eva María Garrido García
Dra. Serena Medaglia
Dr. Giovanni Montá González
Dr. Vicente Candela Noguera
Dra. Sandra Clara Trujillo
Dra. Andrea Escudero Noguera
Dra. Paula María Soriano Teruel
Dr. Javier Martínez Latorre
Ángela Morellá Aucejo
Miguel Reyes Torres
Víctor Sanz Álvarez
Jordi Ventura Cobos
Jessie García Fleitas
Guillermo Hernández Sigüenza
Francisco Javier Hicke García
Carolina López Benet
Rocío López Lima
Guillermo Luciano Fiorini
Rafael Napoleón Guzmán Ferreira
Adriana Gabriela Camino de Prinzio
Eva Caudé Rubicos
Lara Mollá Guerola
Pablo José Alarcón Meseguer
Eduardo Ortiz Gómez
María Miralles Buleo
Laura Martínez Forner
Aritz Martínez Rodríguez
Carla Beseler León
Carolina Alventosa Díaz
David Azorín Soriano
Karlamercy de la Caridad Sánchez Llerena
Isabel Montoya Méndez
Alba Amparo Ortuño Bernal
Faustino Palomo Matarranz
Noelia Pérez Ventura
Andrea Torres Mesado
Sofía Doménech Dauder
Faustino Palomo Matarranz
Noelia Pérez Ventura
Andrea Torres Mesado
Sofía Doménech Dauder
Pedro Javier Vargas Machado
Yoel Esteve Sánchez