Samuel Sánchez

Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya

Engineering Sciences

Samuel (PhD Chemistry, UAB, 2008) is since January 2015 ICREA Professor and Group Leader at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Barcelona. In 2009, he worked at NIMS, Japan and from 2010 until 2013, he was Group Leader at the Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden, Germany. He received several awards: Guinness World Record® 2010 and 2017 for smallest jet engine;  IFW-IIN Research Prize 2011 for outstanding scientist; ERC Starting Grant 2012 “Lab-in-a-tube and Nanorobotic Biosensors”, ERC Proof-of Concept 2016 (Microcleaners) and 2018 (Lab-in-a-patch);  MIT TR35 as “Innovator of the year under 35” Spain 2014; Princess of Girona Scientific Research Award 2015; "Joven Relevante" Award by the Círculo Ecuestre de Barcelona and National Research Award for Young Talent from the Catalan Foundation of Research and Innovation (FCRi) 2016.


Research interests

Samuel Sánchez is leader of the “Smart Nano-Bio-Devices” group, working in the multidisciplinary field of Nanosciences with interest in self-powered micro- and nano-systems, small-scaled robots, integrated and flexible nano-(bio)-sensors, active drug delivery systems and 3D (Bio) Printed Soft Robotics. Sánchez’s group has been consolidated as one of the leading groups in catalytic nano-motors from fundamental aspects to various proof-of-concept applications.  Currently, the main research lines in the group are: 1. Nanofabrication of self-powered micro- and nanorobots using nanotechnology and new fabrication tools for biomedicine and environmental applications. 2. 3D Printing and 3D BioPrinting for soft robotics and biomedical engineering. 3. Fabrication of ultracompact and flexible devices for biosensing. 4. Physics of active colloids near surfaces.

Selected publications

– Parmar J, Vilela D, Villa K, Wang J & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Micro- and Nanomotors as Active Environmental Microcleaners and Sensors‘, Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 140, no. 30, pp 9317-9331.

– Patino T, Feiner-Gracia N, Arque X, Miguel-Lopez A, Jannasch A, Stumpp T, Schaeffer E, Albertazzi L & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Influence of Enzyme Quantity and Distribution on the Self-Propulsion of Non-Janus Urease-Powered Micromotors‘, Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 140, 25, 7896 – 7903.

– Katuri J, Uspal WE, Simmchen J, Miguel-Lopez A & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Cross-stream migration of active particles‘, Science Advances, vol. 4, no. 1, eaao1755.

– Hortelão AC, Patiño T, Perez-Jiménez A, Blanco À & Sánchez S 2018, ‘Enzyme‐Powered Nanobots Enhance Anticancer Drug Delivery‘, Advanced Fundational Materials, vol 28, no. 25.

– Vilela D, Cossio U, Parmar J, Martinez-Villacorta AM, Gomez-Vallejo V, Llop J & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Medical Imaging for the Tracking of Micromotors‘, Acs Nano, vol. 12, no 2, pp1220-1227.

– Katuri J, Caballero D, Voituriez R, Samitier J & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Directed Flow of Micromotors through Alignment Interactions with Micropatterned Ratchets‘, ACS Nano, vol. 12, no. 7, pp 7282-7291.

– Patiño T, Arqué X, Mestre R, Palacios L & Sánchez S 2018, ‘Fundamental Aspects of Enzyme-Powered Micro and Nanoswimmers‘, Accounts of  Chemical Research, vol. 51, no. 11, pp 2662-2671.

– Xuan M, Mestre R, Gao C, Zhou C, He Q & Sanchez S 2018, ‘Noncontinuous Super-Diffusive Dynamics of a Light-Activated Nanobottle Motor‘, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 57,  no 23, 6838 – 6842.

Selected research activities

15+ scientific invited talks, seminars and outreach

ERC-Proof-of-Concept

2 patent applications

20 appearances in the media

Sci. Advisory Board of LabChip Journal

2  cover pages: JACS, App.Mat.Today.

5 Best Poster Awards