Members

Authorities

Dean: Dr. Galo Soler Illia

gsoler-illia@unsam.edu.ar

Galo Soler-Illia studied Chemistry (MSc and PhD) at Buenos Aires University (1989-1998), and completed a postdoc in C. Sanchez group at University Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris (1999-2003). He worked as a CONICET researcher at the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission (2003-2014). At present, he is the Dean of Instituto de Nanosistemas at San Martín University, Buenos Aires, Principal Researcher of CONICET (Argentina), Associate Professor at the University of Buenos Aires, and Full Member of the National Academy of Exact and Natural Sciences of Argentina (Nanotechnology chair). He has been guest professor at Paris VI, University of Osaka Prefecture and the University of Melbourne. He received several national awards, which include two Houssay Prizes (MinCyT, Chemistry, 2006 ,2010), ANCEFN and ANC prizes, the Konex Platinum Award in Nanotechnology, 2013, and the INNOVAR Great Prize 2016, among others.

He designs and produces new nanosystems with intelligent architectures and custom properties using chemical methods inspired by Nature, with applications in chemical reactors, sensors, and optics. He has published more than 145 papers in reviewed journals, which received more than 10.000 citations (h=44), and filed four patents. In addition, he has published three science dissemination books about chemistry and nanotechnology, and he leads national and international projects with research groups and companies. He recently co-founded Hybridon, a start-up dedicated to valorize knowledge in mesoporous hybrid materials.

Researchgate

Researchers

Ignacio Borón, Associate researcher CONICET
He studied Biological Sciences and received a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires. After finishing a postdoctoral fellowship and exploring novel biosensing techniques, he joined the Nanosystems Institute. He is currently working in the development of low-cost technologies for insitu monitoring of emerging contaminants, combining advanced materials and biological modules along with spectroscopy and electrochemical tools. Published in international journals, attended to the main congresses of his area and participated in citizen science projects with organized communities around various territorial issues.

María Fernanda Cardinal, Associate researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
fcardinal@unsam.edu.ar
Adjunct professor at the National University of San Martin. Together with Gastón Corthey, she is starting a new Laser lab at the INS. She obtained her Bachelor degree in Chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; her PhD degree from the University of Vigo, Spain; and was a postdoctoral fellow at the group of Prof. Richard Van Duyne, at Northwestern University, USA, where she studied glucose, catalysts, and dye molecules sensing with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Her research is focused on the synthesis and functionalization of nanoparticles for catalytic, sensing and medical applications. Her academic interests include lecturing in nanotechnology and chemistry courses, and the development of educational kits to reach low income schools and colleges.

Gastón Corthey, Associate researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
gcorthey@unsam.edu.ar
Leads the Optics Laboratory and the Max Planck Partner Group for Structural Dynamics at INS. He studied chemistry at the National University of La Plata where he also obtained a PhD working at The Research Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physical Chemistry. For his PhD thesis, he received the Ducloux Prize of the Asociación Argentina de Química and mentions in the Prize for Young Chemists of the IUPAC and in the Prof. Hans J. Schumacher prize of the Asociación Argentina de Investigación Fisicoquímica. He was a postdoctoral fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at Prof. R. J. Dwayne
Miller´s group of the Max Planck Institute for The Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany.

Mariana Hamer, Associate researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
mhamer@unsam.edu.ar
PhD in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) She is specialized in the design and development of electrochemical and optical nanoparticulated porphyrinic sensors. She published 13 articles in international scientific journals, exhibited in more than 25 congresses and participates in a PICT-Start Up project. She received the Ducloux Award (2015) from the Argentinian Chemical Association, the UBA Academic Excellence Award (2016 and 2017) and the INNOVAR Award (2016) in the category New Technologies in Scientific Research.

Diego Pallarola, Associate researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
dpallarola@unsam.edu.ar
Since 2016 he leads the Advanced Biosensors Laboratory and the Max Planck Partner Group Nanoelectronics for Cellular Interfaces at the INS. Studied chemistry and obtained a PhD degree at the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). He carried out postdoctoral studies at the Theoretical and Applied Physical Chemistry Research Institute (Argentina) and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Germany). His research interests are focused on the development of highly sensitive label-free optical and electrochemical devices for bioanalytical and biomedical applications. He has published more than 20 papers, and received national and international recognitions.

Marina Simian, Independent researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
msimian@unsam.edu.ar
She is the team leader at the Nanobiology Laboratory. Has a Biology Sciences PhD in the University of Buenos Aires and also a doctoral working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in the United States. She is specialized in novel breast cancer treatment, combining traditional drugs and nanotechnology. She published 29 papers and received awards from national institutions like Accésit Leon Cherny 2013 and international
foundations like Susan G. Komen and Avon Foundation, among others.

Galo Soler Illia, Principal researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile
gsoler-illia@unsam.edu.ar
Studied Chemistry (MSc and PhD) at Buenos Aires University, and completed a postdoc at University Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris. He worked as a CONICET researcher at the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission for more than 10 years. He has published more than 145 papers in reviewed journals, which received more than 10.000 citations (h=46), and filed four patents. He has published science dissemination books about chemistry and nanotechnology, and leads national and international projects with research groups and companies. He designs and produces new nanosystems with intelligent architectures and custom properties using chemical methods inspired by Nature, with applications in chemical reactors, sensors, and optics.

Ianina Violi, Associate researcher CONICET
Researchgate profile

Fellows

Rolando Caraballo
PhD in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires. His thesis involved the study of photoactivatable ruthenium complexes for materials functionalization. He works at INS under the direction of Galo Soler Illia and Mariana Hamer, using porphyrins for nanomaterials development with applications in renewable energies and sensing.
In 2018 he carried out a short stay in University of Ottawa, Canada.
rmcaraballo@unsam.edu.ar

Lilian Fedra Castillo
PhD in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires. As a CONICET fellow, she completed her PhD at the Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine; and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Oncology “Angel H. Roffo”. As an ICRETT scholarship recipient, she stayed at Vincent Goffin’s laboratory, University Paris Descartes, France.

Cintia Belén Contreras
PhD in Chemistry from the National University of Córdoba. She works in the project design and synthesis of hybrid smart nanovectors organic-inorganic for drug transport. She obtained scholarships from CONICET, American Chemical Society and Fulbright program. She did research stays at Georg-August-University Göttingen and Cornell University. She got the honors SAM-CONAMET 2013 and CICYTAC 2014.

Researchgate profile
ccontreras@unsam.edu.ar

María Inés Díaz Bessone
PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. She is a member of the Nanobiology research group, working on new strategies for breast cancer treatment, combining drugs of clinical use with nanoparticles. In 2016 she experienced a research stay at the University of Tartu, Estonia, in the group of Dr. Tambet Teesalu.
Researchgate profile
mdiazbessone@unsam.edu.ar

Diego Onna
Has a Chemistry degree and a PhD from the University of Buenos Aires. He is part of Dr. Galo Soler Illia’s group and currently working on the combination of rational design of nanostructured materials with multidimensional analysis of signals for the development of modular platforms for the colorimetric detection of analytes with biological relevance.
Researchgate profile
donna@unsam.edu.ar

Jazmín Penelas
She has a chemist PhD from University of Buenos Aires. She also teaches chemistry at the School of Science and Technology at UNSAM. Her PhD thesis is dedicated to the development of a platform of hybrid organic-inorganic nanosystems based on surface-modified silica colloids.

Nicolás Saffioti
He obtained a PhD in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from University of Buenos Aires under the supervision of Dr. Mangialavori Irene. His thesis focused on the study of the structure and function of the plasma membrane calcium pump. He has published on international journals and received several awards to congress presentations. He is a teaching assistant in undergraduate and graduate courses at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry in UBA. His postdoctoral project is under the direction of Dr. Diego Pallarola and the co-direction of Dr. Pablo Schwarzbaum.

PhD students

María José Gattás
Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. Directed by Marina Simian, studies new therapies for glia cancer. She worked in the Molecular Biology laboratory in the Department of Biological Chemistry (FCEN-UBA). Her work in TecnoX was highlighted, for which she won - together with the UBA team - the prize for “work with the greatest social impact” in 2016.

Alejandra Ross Beraldi
Graduated in Chemistry Sciences at University of Buenos Aires, where she has been an assistant teacher too. As a student, she received a grant for a short stay at Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. PhD Student under Dr. Diego Pallarola supervision, she develops DNA based sensors for early medical diagnosis. In 2018 she worked in her thesis in the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, in Stuttgart.
arossberaldi@unsam.edu.ar

Tomás Laporte
Graduated in Biotechnology from the National University of San Martin, he completed his thesis at the Institute of Biotechnology Research of the forementioned university. Currently he is part of Nanobiology team under the direction of Dr. Marina Simian, his doctorate is focused on the study of triple negative breast cancer.

María de los Ángeles Ramírez
She has a Degree in Chemistry from the National University of el Litoral. Supervised by Dr. Galo Soler Illia, she is doing a PhD in Chemistry and she is working in the synthesis of multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles to use them as drug delivery systems in the treatment of cancer. She collaborated in the winning proyect of the Nano for one day contest organized by the Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología. In 2017 she was in the University of Tartu, Estonia; doing an research stay.

Fernando Rodríguez Díaz
Physicist from the University of Carabobo (Venezuela); and MSc. in Physics from the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research. Founder member of the Venezuelan Network for Nanotechnology; made research stays at Spain and El Salvador. Supervised by Dr. Corthey and R. J. Dwayne, he is working on his PhD thesis: Ultrafast Structural Dynamics of photosensitive compounds for solar energy applications.

Victoria Gugliemotti
Engineer in Materials from the University of Mar del Plata. Under the direction of Dr. Diego Pallarola, she works on the design and creation of nano-structured microelectrodes for the study of cellular adhesion processes and the development of biomedical devices for the diagnosis of diseases. In 2017 and 2018 she did research stays at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany.

Eithan Hochman
Chemist graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. He is conducting a Ph.D. thesis directed by Dr. Mariana Hamer. The aim of the project is to develop nanocomposites (based on titanium dioxide and porphyrins) to be used as photoelectrodes in the production of hydrogen via water-splitting.

Gastón Magi
Chemist from the University of Mar del Plata. Supervised by Dr. Pallarola, studies nanostructured materials for the optical detection of biologic and chemical species and their use as diagnostic tools of Pyrazinamide-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. His research stays: Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research Stuttgart and Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology (Germany).

Fiona Britto
Degree in Chemical Engineering from the National University of La Plata. Guided by Galo Soler Illia, she is working on the optimization and scale-up of the production of nanoporous particles. During her undergraduate studies, she was awarded with a scholarship to study in France and also carried out research internships in Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory and IFP Energies nouvelles in France.

Priscila Vensaus
Degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires. Directed by Dr. Galo Soler Illia, she is working on the design of nanostructured materials with application in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Got the Estímulo-UBACyT scholarship and was a scholarship recipient from the Bavarian Centrum for Latin America, to study at the Friederich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Bronce -medal-winner in the 45th International Chemistry Olympiads, in Moscow.

Undergraduate students

Rocío Thea
She studies Pharmacy at the University of Buenos Aires and is about to get her degree soon. She works with Dr. Mariana Hamer in the development of nanoparticulated electrochemical and optical sensors for HbA1c.

Luciana Villegas
She will obtain a degree in Biotechnology from the National University of San Martín. Currently she is working on her thesis in the Advanced Biosensors Laboratory, learning how to synthesize gold nanoparticles covered with DNA to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

María Cerrota
She is finishing her studies in Biotechnology at the National University of San Martín. Under Marina Simian supervision, she is developing nanoparticles for prostate cancer treatments.

Technical coordination

Mara Alderete
Knowledge and technological transfer (KTT) manager
Biotechnologist from National University of Tucuman, obtained an MBA in Administration from UADE and a specialization in Technology and Innovation Management from UNSAM. She leads knowledge and technology transfer area; writes and evaluates technological projects. She also manages Hybridon, a spin-off that develops new technologies to prevent infection and contamination. In 2018, she won the SINAPTEC competition, sponsored by the Buenos Aires City Goverment and, consenquently visited Israel.
malderete@unsam.edu.ar

Jennifer Karapen
Analytical and characterization services
Chemistry degree from the University of Buenos Aires, specialized in synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, development, tuning, validation and accreditation of analytical methods under ISO 17025. She worked on a project for the development of a thermally efficient nanoparticle-based coating for energy saving. Taught at Exact and Natural Sciences School at UBA; and worked in private companies at analytical development/technical advisory and laboratory management areas.
jkarapen@unsam.edu.ar

María Amparo Lago Huvelle
Nanobiology Lab Coordinator
PhD in Biological Chemistry and a degree in Biological Sciences from University of Buenos Aires. She received a fellowship to promote undergraduate research (2010), a CONICET internal fellowship (2012) and a Boehringer Ingelheim Travel Grant to perform a short stay in the Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2015).
She is a teaching assistant in undergraduate courses at the UBA since 2011 and participated in exhibitions in more than 20 national and international congresses.
mlago@unsam.edu.ar

Carla Barrios
She has a Chemistry degree from the University of Buenos Aires. Previously, she worked as a Development and Chem Assistant in a company and in 2017, she started her career at INS. Here, she assists in the synthesis and characterization laboratory and in the lab equipment bids.
cbarrios@unsam.edu.ar

Olivia Maceira
Technician specialized in chemistry. Currently she is studying Chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires. She is in charge of the execution of the equipment from the analysis and characterization laboratory.
omaceira@unsam.edu.ar

Administration

Borja Cordeu
After graduation from Buenos Aires National School, he studied Sociology and went to Chile to work as a correspondent for COSAS magazine. Since 2012, he is in charge of the management and the schedule of El Plata cinema, located in Buenos Aires City. In 2015, he was invited by Taiwanese government to assist the 141º Course of National Development in Taipei. He also plays drums at a trip hop band named Rascolnikoff.
ins@unsam.edu.ar

Leila Bitchik
Accountant graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. She is in charge of the management, design and execution of the Institute´s budget. Her duties are related to administration, human resources and accounting management.

Micaela Spagnuolo
She has knowledge of management and administration. She is Dr. Galo Soler Illia personal assistant, but she also helps with the accounting and administrative duties. Currently, she is studying at the University of Buenos Aires in order to become a professional accountant

Institutional Communication

Alejandro Zamponi
Journalist specialized in content production. He is part of UNSAM`s Institutional Communication Management since 2011 and he has been working in INS institutional communication from the very beginning. Currently he is pursuing a Sociology degree at IDAES Institute, at the University of San Martin.
azamponi@unsam.edu.ar

Virginia Zubieta
She has a degree in Social Communication from the University of Buenos Aires, and also obtained a MA in Persuasive Communication from Shih Hsin University, in Taipei, Taiwan. She has worked as a copywriter in advertising agencies, editorials and design studios, and occasionally collaborates as a guest speaker for the Taiwanese Commercial Office in Buenos Aires.
vzubieta@unsam.edu.ar

UNSAM - INS

Nanosystems Institute