Can you imagine peering into a world unseen by the naked eye. That world exists and we are standing on the doorstep of IMDEA Nanociencia. This is where scientists delve into the mysteries of nanoscience. IMDEA Nanociencia was founded in 2006-2007. It emerged from a collaboration between the Community of Madrid and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.
IMDEA Nanociencia is a private, non-profit foundation. It is part of the IMDEA Institutes network. The goal of IMDEA Nanociencia is to shorten the distance between research and society. It provides new capacity for research and technological development. The focus is on nanoscience, nanotechnology, and molecular design.
This institute aims at transferable innovations. It seeks close contact with industries. IMDEA Nanoscience is a member of the Campus of International Excellence. This is a research institutes consortium. It is promoted by the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Spanish National Research Council.
The foundation is governed by a board of trustees. This board includes representatives from the Institute Administration. Involved universities and the regional government are also represented. Scientific experts and industrial collaborators are included too. A Scientific Advisory Committee also exists. It consists of leading experts in nanoscience. Since February 2007, Dr. Rodolfo Miranda has been the director of the Institute.
Research at IMDEA Nanoscience concentrates on nanoscience and nanotechnology developments. Specialists in diverse fields combine their efforts. These fields include condensed matter physics and chemistry. Computer modeling and spectroscopy are also included. Microscopy, surface sciences, and molecular biology play a role too.
One aim is to attract international scientists. They are recruited on a competitive basis. Raising new generations of Spanish scientists is also important. More than 50 international and regional projects run in parallel. These projects include work on polymer solar cells and OLED. Biosensors, lasers, and drug delivery are studied too. Bioimaging is another research area.
These projects fall under seven scientific programs. Molecular nanoscience is one such program. Another is scanning probe microscopies and surfaces. Nanomagnetism is also explored. Nanobiosystems is an area of focus. It includes biomachines and manipulation of macromolecules. Nanoelectronics and superconductivity are investigated. Nanosurfaces and nanodevices are studied. Nanomedicine is another key program.
The Neural Interfaces Lab is located here. They fabricate and characterize nanostructured devices. These are used as neural interfaces. They enhance performance compared to classic neural electrodes. Their research follows two parallel approaches.
Electrical electrodes are covered by vertical metallic nanowires. They aim to fabricate improved neural electrodes. These are used for electrical stimulation of neural activity. By nanostructuring the electrodes, they aim to enhance biocompatibility and efficiency.
Sensors of neural activity are based on magnetoresistive materials. They aim to demonstrate that these materials can sense neural activity. This is achieved without cryogenic liquids. They measure the sensitivity and accuracy of the devices.
IMDEA Nanociencia continues to push the boundaries of what is possible. Its work shapes the future of technology and medicine. As we move on, remember that here, the very small can make a very big difference.