The Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials- CIC biomaGUNE, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), is a non-profit research organization created to promote scientific research and technological innovation at the highest levels in the Basque Country following the BioBasque policy, in order to create a new business sector based on biosciences.

The Biomolecular Nanotechnology group focuses on protein engineering toward the generation of functional nanostructures and bioinspired materials for applications in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. Our main objective is to develop versatile platforms based on simple protein building blocks for the fabrication of multiple protein-based hybrid functional nanostructures and biomaterials. By means of rational design we aim to generate protein assemblies with defined architectures. We use protein engineering and bioconjugation methodologies to produce molecular hybrids by combination of protein scaffolds with metals, nanoparticles, nanoclusters, and/or organic compounds. In particular, we are currently developing nanostructures and materials for applications in molecular electronics, sensing, catalysis, and photoactive systems.

Additionally, we are also interested in the biofunctionalisation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications from disease treatment to diagnosis. We pay special attention to elucidate the fundamental aspects for the design of nanoformulations with optimal properties under clinically relevant conditions. At the same time, we work on the biofunctionalisation of other materials such as polymeric surfaces to generate platforms with defined bio-recognition, anti-bactericial and bacterial-templating properties.