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Research

Development of artificial extracellular matrices based on multifunctional 3D scaffolds for cancer (immuno)therapy

We develop different 3D synthetic and hybrid hydrogels to imitate extracellular matrices of different healthy and diseased tissues, especially from the immune system, with the objectives to 1) elucidate cancer- and immunotherapy-related cellular mechanisms, 2) improve immune cell cultures, and 3) develop novel patient-derived organoids, to have a positive influence on cancer (immuno)therapy and related disciplines.

Main publications
  1. M. Castellote-Borrell, M. Domingo, F. Merlina, H. Lu, S. Colell, M. Bachiller, M. Juan, S. Guedan, J. Faraudo, J. Guasch. Lymph-node inspired hydrogels enhance CAR expression and proliferation of CAR T cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025, 17(11), 16548.
  2. E. Pérez Del Río, S. Rey-Vinolas, F. Santos, M. Castellote-Borrell, F. Merlina, J. Veciana, I. Ratera, M.A. Mateos-Timoneda, E. Engel, J. Guasch. 3D Printing as a Strategy to Scale-Up Biohybrid Hydrogels for T Cell Manufacture. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 50139.
  3. M. Castellote-Borrell, F. Merlina , A.R. Rodríguez, J. Guasch. Biohybrid synthetic hydrogels for tumoroid culture. Adv. Biol. 2023, 7(12), 2300118.
  4. F. Santos, J. Valderas-Rodríguez, E. Pérez del Río, M. Castellote-Borrell, X. Rodriguez Rodriguez, J. Veciana, I. Ratera, J. Guasch. Enhanced human T cell expansion with inverse opal hydrogels. Biomater. Sci., 2022, 10, 3730.
  5. E. Pérez del Río, F. Santos, X. Rodriguez Rodriguez, M. Martínez-Miguel, R. Roca-Pinilla, A. Arís, E. Garcia-Fruitós, J. Veciana, J. P. Spatz, I. Ratera, J. Guasch. CCL21-loaded 3D hydrogels for T cell expansion and differentiation. Biomaterials, 2020, 259, 120313.
Patent applications
  1. Guasch, J.; Castellote-Borrell, M.; Merlina, F.; Faraudo, J.; Domingo, M.; Guedan, S.Inverse opal hydrogel and its use in immunotherapy. EPO (EP24382629.4). Priority date 11/06/2024.
  2. Guasch, J.; Ratera, I.; Veciana, J.; Santos, F.; Pérez del Río, E.; Castellote-Borrell, M. Inverse opal hydrogel and its use. EPO (EP22382293.3). Priority date 29/03/2022.
  3. Guasch, J.; Ratera, I.; Veciana, J.; Pérez del Río, E.; Santos, F.; Miguel, M. M.; Rodriguez, X. R.; Timoneda, M. Á. M.; Engel, E. A synthetic hydrogel and its use for immunotherapy and 3D-printing. PCT application (WO2021/234141 A1). Priority date 21/05/2020.

Design and fabrication of multifunctional 2D nanostructured surfaces for initiating immune cell responses related to cancer immunotherapy

We develop different functional 2D nanostructured surfaces on rigid substrates and hydrogels based on the block copolymer micellar lithography technique. These functional nanostructures are used to study the influence of different biomolecules and their cross-talk on (T) cell behavior.

Main publications
  1. A. Sales, K. Ende, J. Diemer, A. R. Kyvik, J. Veciana, I. Ratera, R. Kemkemer, J. P. Spatz, J. Guasch. Cell type-dependent integrin distribution in adhesion and migration responses on protein-coated microgrooved substrates. ACS Omega, 4 (2019) 1791-1800.
  2. J. Guasch, M. Hoffmann, J. Diemer, H. Riahinezhad, S. Neubauer, H. Kessler, J. P. Spatz. Combining Adhesive Nanostructured Surfaces and Costimulatory Signals to Increase T Cell Activation. Nano Lett., 18(9) (2018) 5899-5904.
  3. J. Guasch, C. Muth, J. Diemer, H. Riahinezhad, J. P. Spatz. Integrin-Assisted T-Cell Activation on Nanostructured Hydrogels. Nano Lett., 17(10) (2017) 6110-6116.