Dr. Muro obtained her PhD in Sciences from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, was then a Research Assistant Professor in Pharmacology in the University of Pennsylvania, and next a Tenured Associate Professor in the University of Maryland. Since November 2017, she is an ICREA Professor in the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia. She has published 100+ articles and chapters in drug delivery and received awards from the Controlled Release Society, the American Society for Nanomedicine, has been a member of the USA NIH Nanomedicine Study Section, and is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Research interests
Dr. Muro's research sits at the interface between cellular biology, nanotechnology, and drug delivery. She studies the biological mechanisms ruling how our tissues transport cargoes within our bodies and applies this knowledge to design of nanodevices for delivery of therapeutics to specific disease sites. Focusing on genetic conditions that cause metabolic, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular syndromes, as well as on a new transport pathway she helped discover, her goal is to gain efficient access within the body and its cells, to enable effective treatment of these life-threatening disorders.
Selected publications
- Muro S et al 2024, 'Isoform-specific vs. isoform-universal drug targeting: a new targeting paradigm illustrated by new anti-ICAM-1 antibodies', Journal of Drug Targeting, 1–13.
- Muro S et al 2024, 'New cellular models to support preclinical studies on ICAM-1-targeted drug delivery', Journal of drug delivery science & technology, 101 - 106170.
Selected research activities
Articles accepted:
-Vigo M, Placci M, Muro S. Isoform-specific vs. isoform-universal drug targeting: a new targeting paradigm illustrated by new anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. J Drug Target. 2024 Dec 17:1-13.
-Vigo M, Placci M, Muro S. Presence of ICAM-1 isoforms in human cells impacts the selection of antibodies for nanocarrier targeting. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol. 2024, 106582.
Patents:
-Antibodies against ICAM-1 & applications thereof. EP24382946 filed on 03/09/2024.
Education:
-Thesis Director: Investigating therapeutic targeting to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 through epitope, isoform, and cross-reactivity selection, Marco Vigo, Sep. 2024, U.Barcelona.
Leadership:
-Advisory Board, Nocturna Therapeutics.
-Strategic Plan Consultant, Spanish Society for Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency.
-Editorial board, WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology & Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews.
Invited talk:
-ICAM-1 targeting drug delivery: fundamental aspects and applications. 28 Feb 2024. Molecular Biotechnology Master Program, U.Barcelona, Barcelona.
Conference posters:
-Placci M et al. Nanomechanics of glucosylceramide enriched membrane domains in lipidosis. Jun 2024. European South Atlantic Biophysics Congress, Donostia.
-Vigo M et al., BBB-organ-on-a-chip to study clathrin-independent receptor-mediated transcytosis of anti-ICAM-1 nanocarriers. May 2024. Barcelona Blood-Brain Barrier Symposium, Barcelona.
-Vigo et al., Development of new anti-ICAM-1 antibodies, generation of drug delivery system and characterization of their targeting behavior. Oct 2024. Symposium of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona.