May 18 2012
Ainhoa Lejardi, an engineer at the UPV/EHU, has created a new polymer material which could improve the preparation of nanospheres for their use as a method of controlling the release of pharmaceuticals, research which is currently ongoing at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) (Spanish National Research Council) in Madrid.
During Lejardi’s research, water soluble materials and materials which swell greatly in water with gel-like behaviour have been created, characteristics which make these materials an interesting alternative in the preparation of nanoparticles.
Ainhoa Lejardi
The material created by Lejardi allows for the abstention of surfactant material (substances which affect the contact surface) for the preparation of nanospheres, since the method normally used leaves surfactant residue on the surface of the nanospheres even after various washings.
Lejardi is currently at the Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros de Madrid (ICTP-CSIC) (Institute of Polymer Science and Technology) to continue with her research, in collaboration with professor Dr. Carmen Mijangos. The objective of her practicum is to delve deeper into her research to study the self-organizing properties of the materials.
Ainhoa Lejardi has conducted a practicum at the Department of Nanobiotechnology at BOKU in Vienna and has collaborated with the Centre for Cooperative research CIC biomaGUNE.