Garcia-Hevia Lorena

Garcia-Hevia Lorena Country: Portugal
Laboratory webpage
E-mail: lorena.hevia@inl.int

Participation in Working Groups

  • WG1 - Biophysics of cell and tissue structure
  • WG3 - New methodologies to study mechanobiology of cells and tissues
  • WG4 - Mechanobiological principles of rare and common diseases

Research Interests

I have a degree in Biology and I did a Master in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine. My thesis was focused on the evaluation of the cytotoxicity of different nanomaterials and their use in cancer treatment. During this period, I acquired experience in cell biology techniques such a primary mouse cultures and human cancer explants, different cell cultures, transfection, immunofluorescence… In fact, I am familiarized with Fluorescence Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy and Video - microscopy time-lapse. I have worked with animal models so I have Animal text Certificate. In addition, I got familiar in molecular biology such a transformation, western blot, immunoprecipitation, etc. After that, I got my first postdoc position at Stephenson Cancer Centre, in Oklahoma, USA. During this period I was working on a project called deciphering molecular mechanisms of anti-angiogenic property of gold nanoparticles. I specialised in synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and I also learned generating multicellular tumor spheroids. I was working on the use of gold nanoparticles to inhibit proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells and spheroids. I am focused on the development of nanostructures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and the combination of both. I combine chemotherapy with magnetic hyperthermia in the search for more efficient and controlled treatment programs. The engineering of theranostic agents combining imaging and therapy properties constitute a strong research line within our group, advancing towards the design of a new generation of materials that enable applications such as image-guided drug delivery or real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses. In this context, my research is devoted to the validation of these theranostic nanostructures in different in vitro and in vivo scenarios.

Technologies offered to other EuroCellNet participants

The INL is the first International Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) in Europe focused on Nanosciences and Nanotechnology. It operates a 1000m2 cleanroom facility for 200mm wafers devoted to novel beyond CMOS and More than Moore devices (e.g. NEMS, spintronics, graphene based devices, nanophotonics, etc.). The laboratory has been projected for a research community of about 400 people at full operation, including around 200 postdoctoral scientists exclusively dedicated to address the major challenges of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. One of the aspects that stand out at INL is its infrastructure, which provides a high-tech research environment equipped with the latest technologies. INL campus extends over a total area of 47,000 m2, with a built area of about 26,000 m2. It is also especially worthwhile to mention the High Accuracy Labs, for nanocharacterization analysis, which provide an extremely low vibration and noise-shielded space for state-of-the-art characterization methods, equipped for example with the latest electron microscopes and high accuracy techniques: SEM; TEM, FIB; XRD, SAXS; AFM; XRF and XPS, among other.
The Life Sciences Department at INL aims to improve citizen’s wellbeing and health by generating knowledge and developing applications of nanotechnologies in the fields of food, health, and environment.

Technologies sought from other EuroCellNet participants

I hope to gain more experience in the field of Morphology and functional imaging of cells that is more important for my career as well as acquiring knowledge in the field of Biophysics and mechanobiology of cells and tissues.

Publications

L. García-Hevia, M. Bañobre-Lopez, J. Gallo. Recent progress on manganese‐based nanostructures as responsive MRI contrast agents. Chemistry. 2018, doi.org/10.1002/chem.201802851.

L. García-Hevia, R. Valiente, R. Martín-Rodríguez, C. Renero-Lecuna, J. González L. Rodríguez-Fernández, F. Aguado, J. C. Villegas and M. L. Fanarraga. Nano-ZnO leads tubulin macrotube assembly and actin bundling triggering cytoskeletal catastrophe and cell necrosis. NanoScale. 2016. 8(21):10963-73.

L. García-Hevia, R. Valiente, J. González, JL. Fernández-Luna, J. C. Villegas and M. L. Fanarraga. Anticancer Cytotoxic Effects of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes. Curr. Pharm Des. 2015. 21:1920-1929.

L. García-Hevia, R. Valiente, JL. Fernández-Luna, E. Flahaut, L. Rodríguez-Fernández, J. C. Villegas, J. González and M. L. Fanarraga. Inhibition of Cancer Cell Migration by Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2015. 4:1640-1644.
L. García-Hevia, F. Fernández, C. Grávalos, A. García, J. C. Villegas and M. L. Fanarraga. Nanotube interactions with microtubules: implications for cancer medicine. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2014. 9:1581-8.

News

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