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A Bit About Us
NanoSelf is leaded by two Ramón y Cajal assistant Professors, Dr Jesús Mosquera and Dr Alejandro Criado. This research group is located at the multidisciplinary research center CICA at Universidade da Coruña. Our research covers multiple projects in the fields of supramolecular chemistry, chemical biology, and nanotechnology. Our main goal is to develop nanostructured materials mainly for biomedical applications.
Meet The Team
Get to know us a little more
Leaders
Was born in Vilalba, Lugo (Spain) in 1983. He received his BSc degree in chemistry, followed by his PhD in organic chemistry at the University of Santiago de Compostela. In 2013, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Trieste (Italy) with Prof. Maurizio Prato, working on new chemical modification approaches of carbon-based nanomaterials. In 2015, he moved to CIC biomaGUNE research center (Spain), where he developed modified nanomaterials for bioapplications. Currently, he is an independent researcher at the Universidade da Coruña (UDC, Spain) from 2021.
Was born in 1984 in Arzúa, A Coruña (Spain). Following undergraduate and graduate studies (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, USC) in Spain (2015), he undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Cambridge with Prof. J. Nitschke on the design of molecular containers (2015-2017). In 2018, he moved to CIC biomaGUNE with Prof. Luis Liz-Marzán, where he worked on preparing plasmonic nanoparticles. In 2020, he joined the group of Prof. E. W. Meijer as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral researcher to develop artificial extracellular matrixes based on supramolecular polymers. After a short stay as an assistant professor at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), he started an independent research career at the Universidade da Coruña (UDC, Spain) in 2021.
Distinguished Researcher
was born in 1990 in Crecente, Pontevedra (ES). She received her BSc in 2013 and her Master’s degree in Chemistry in 2014 from the University of Santiago de Compostela. In 2018, she obtained her PhD in Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Maurizio Prato at the University of Trieste and Ca’ Foscari University (IT), where she explored the synthesis and functionalization of carbon dots for biomedical applications. In 2018, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at CEITEC (CZ) with Prof. Lenka Zajíčková, focusing on the preparation of graphene membranes and their use in charged particle optics. In 2020, she received a co-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship (MSCAfellow4@MUNI) to work as a postdoctoral fellow at Masaryk University (CZ), where she researched tailoring low-dimensional materials for potential use as photocatalysts and biological carriers. In 2023, she received a María Zambrano grant for the attraction of international talent from the Ministry of Spain. Currently she is a distinguished researcher at University of A Coruña (ES), where she has been awarded with Beatriz Galindo grant and has been hosted at Nanoself since 2023.
Post doctoral researchers
Was born in Palmanova (Italy) in 1989. He received his MSc degree in Medical Biotechnology at University of Trieste in 2013. In 2022, after several years between academic and industrial experience, he obtained his PhD in Science and Technology of Bio and Nanomaterials at Ca’ Foscari University (Venice) exploring electrochemical features of nanostructured materials for biosensing purposes. From may 2024 member of nanoself group.
Was born in Monforte de Lemos (Spain) in 1988. He received his BSc degree in Chemistry at University of A Coruña in 2012 and did the Master Thesis and Doctoral Degree in Science Materials at the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2018. In 2019, he was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Warsaw under Prof. Dorota Pawlak designing and characterizing photonics and metamaterials. In 2021, he moved to Spain to work as project manager of european projects at University of Santiago, and after 1 year working in the private sector he comed back to the University of A Coruña to work under Alejandro and Jesús as project manager of the group.
Telma Domingues was born in Faro (Portugal) in 1996. She submitted her doctoral thesis in January 2025 in Physics from University of Minho. During the PhD she developed microfabrication and biofunctionalization processes to fabricate an DNA-sensor based on electrolyte-gated graphene field-effect transistors. The main goal of her thesis was the multiplex detection of circulating tumor DNA in plasma samples of patients with glioblastoma using the graphene transistores. In February 2025, she started her work in CICA – Interdisciplinary Center of Chemistry and Biology, Universidade da Coruña, in NanoSelf group, as a research support technician., to work on the modification and characterization of the surface of gFETs with CRISPR-defective Cas9 to provide affinity and selectivity toward the target DNAs.
He was born in Ostiglia (Italy) in 1994. He obtained his MSc degree in Chemistry from the University of Bologna in 2020. In 2024, he completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg (France), focusing on the synthesis of multifunctional conjugates based on carbon nanotubes and plasmonic nanoparticles. In February 2025, he joined the Nanoself group, working on the preparation of graphene.
She was born in Santiago de Compostela (1989). She obtained her MSc degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2019. In 2024, She completed her PhD in Chemical Science and Technology at the University of Santiago de Compostela, focusing on the synthesis of acenes, azulenes and open-shell graphene derivatives. During her PhD she did a research stay at the University of Oxford where she specialized in the characterization of open-shell molecules using electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. In February 2025, she joined the Nanoself group, working on the preparation of functionalized graphene derivatives.
PhD students
In 2020, I obtained my BsC. degree in Chemistry at University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) after finishing my final project on synthesis of CO2 attractor amines with modulable hydrophilia in the group of prof. Antonio Rumbo. For my master thesis in Organic Chemistry at USC, I worked on the synthesis of nanoporous graphene precursors under the supervision of prof. Diego Peña.
In October 2021, I started as PhD candidate in this group to investigate the synthesis of graphene nanoribbon precursors.
In 2020, I received my BSc. Degree in Chemistry at Universidade da Coruña (UDC) after a final bachelor’s project in the group of prof. dr. David Esteban Gómez. During this project I focused on the synthesis of manganese complexes with potential application in clinical diagnosis. Afterwards, I went to Denmark to study a Master in Chemistry at Syddansk Universitet (SDU). During this period, I have worked on the synthesis of porphyrin catalysts for chemoenzymatic reactions and studied the structure and properties of iron phosphate minerals. In 2021, I started as a PhD-candidate in this group to combine traditional covalent chemistry and self-assembly for the preparation of molecular containers, under guidance of Dr. Jesús Mosquera and Dr. Alejandro Criado.
In 2022, I received my B.Sc. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of A Coruña (UDC). My final bachelor’s project, supervised by Dr. Jesús Mosquera and Dr. Vanessa Valdiglesias, involved the synthesis of nanomaterials with varying net surface charges and evaluating their biological behavior. I then pursued an M.Sc. in Chemical Research and Industrial Chemistry, specializing in Nanochemistry and New Materials, at the same university. My master’s thesis was focused on synthesizing antibody-bioconjugated graphene derivatives for an early detection of cancer cells using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. In November 2023, I began my doctoral studies with the NanoSelf group under the guidance of Dr. Jesús Mosquera and Dr. Alejandro Criado, focusing on the synthesis of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and 2D nanomaterials.
In 2022, I received my BSc in Biology and Chemistry from the Universidade da Coruña (UDC) after a bachelor’s thesis in Chemistry focused on the modification of carbon nanotubes with conductive polymers for serotonin detection under the supervision of Dr. Alejandro Criado Fernández. For my bachelor’s thesis in Biology, I worked on the development of a value-based task to characterize sex-related differences in decision-making, under the guidance of Dr. José Luis Pardo Vázquez.
Afterwards, I went to Denmark to study an MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at Syddansk Universitet (SDU). My master’s thesis, supervised by Dr. Martina Tuttolomondo, was focused on the designing of DMBT1 derived-cell penetrating peptide variants for tumor targeting in melanoma.
In September 2024, I started as a PhD-candidate in the NanoSelf group under the guidance of Dr. Alejandro Criado Fernández and Dr. Jesús Mosquera Mosquera focused on the development of biosensors based on graphene field effect transistors for the detection of emerging viruses.
In 2024, I obtained my Master Degree in Chemistry at the University of Palermo (Italy) in 2024, discussing an experimental thesis entitled “Graphene oxide-based materials for white light sources”. I have a passion for research and a particular interest in the development of innovative materials and their characterization. I have a solid knowledge of Material Chemistry, which I broadened during two internships at the “CNR – ISMN” in Palermo. To enhance my knowledge in this field, I carried out a two-month internship period at the International Facility “Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.”, during which I delved into the X-ray photoemission spectroscopy technique and I attended the “Giornate Didattiche SISN” to learn about the possibilities of neutrons as a probe to investigate matter.
In September 2024, I started as a PhD-candidate to work in ECL-active dye doped C-dots at CIC BiomaGUNE under the supervision of Professor Maurizio Prato and in the NanoSelf group under the guidance of Dr. Alejandro Criado Fernández.
I was born in A Coruña in 1999. In 2021, I earned my Chemistry Degree at the University of A Coruña (UDC), after completing my final year project in the field of Physical Chemistry. In 2022–2023, I completed the Master’s degree in Chemical Research and Industrial Chemistry (MIQQI) at the same University, obtaining a specialization in Biological Chemistry. During this year, I carried out my Master’s thesis at the Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA), within the current research group, under the supervision of Dr. Alejandro Criado Fernández and Dr. Jesús Mosquera Mosquera, with a project focused on the design of nanoarchitectures based on carbon dots and transition metal dichalcogenides.
Recently, in 2025, I joined the NanoSelf group with a predoctoral contract, under the supervision of Dr. I. Jénnifer Gómez Pérez and Dr. Jessica Rodríguez Villar, continuing the previously mentioned line of research, focusing on carbon dots for sensing and biomedical applications, among others.
I earned my Pharmacy degree from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in 2022, but my curiosity quickly pulled me toward computational science. While finishing my studies, I taught myself programming fundamentals and bioinformatics and joined the Computational Biophysics group at CIC biomaGUNE in San Sebastián under Dr. Ivan Coluzza. My final-degree project there involved re-training a single-protein neural-network model so it could pinpoint interaction sites within multi-protein complexes.
I am now pursuing a Ph.D. with Dr. Coluzza at UPV/EHU. During the early stage of my doctorate I worked at BCMaterials and the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), focusing on improving protein-sequence design algorithms so they generate natural-like sequences with tailored structural and functional properties.
Most recently, I joined the NanoSelf group, where I contribute computational simulations to the FLUFET project.
I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from the University of A Coruña in 2024, where I developed a strong interest in photonic materials and bio-inspired nanostructures. My Final Degree Project, carried out in the QANAP group, focused on the synthesis of monodisperse silica nanoparticles and the fabrication of synthetic opal films. This work received honours and was later presented at the XI International Congress on Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NyNA 2024).
I complemented my undergraduate training with a research stay at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), working within the Natural and Artificial Photonic Structures group. There, I contributed to the fabrication and characterization of polymer-based photonic structures, gaining experience in nanofabrication workflows and optical measurement techniques.
Finnaly I completed the Master’s in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology and Photonics at the Autonomous University of Madrid. My Master’s Thesis, developed at the Spanish Institute of Optics (IO-CSIC), focuses on the design, fabrication and optical characterization of hydrogel-based photonic structures for light-harvesting applications, with emphasis on controlling resonant modes in the UV–VIS spectral range.
Throughout my academic training, I have acquired laboratory experience in chemistry, materials science and photonics, together with proficiency in Python for data processing and visualization. I have also participated in scientific dissemination activities at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of A Coruña.
Most recently, I joined the NanoSelf group, where I started my Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Alejandro Criado and Dr. Jesús Mosquera
I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Universidade da Coruña in 2024, where I developed a strong interest in molecular self-assembly and functional nanostructures. My Final Degree Project, carried out in the NanoSelf group at the Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA-UDC), focused on the synthesis and characterization of molecular nanocontainers, combining supramolecular self-assembly with classical covalent chemistry.
I pursued the Master’s Degree in Chemical Research and Industrial Chemistry at the Universidade da Coruña. My Master’s Thesis, also conducted within the NanoSelf group, continues this line of work by integrating molecular self-assembly and covalent strategies for the design of functionalizable molecular cages.
Throughout my academic training, I have acquired experience in synthetic chemistry, supramolecular design and structural characterization techniques, with a focus on building and studying nanoscale systems with tailored properties.
I have joined the Nanoself group to pursue my PhD, thanks to an FPU scholarship from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Past Members
He was born in 1990 in Bailén, Jaén (Spain). He earned a BSc in Chemistry (Universidad de Jaén, 2014) and an MSc in Organic Chemistry (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 2015). He completed his PhD in 2020 under Prof. Maurizio Prato at CIC biomaGUNE and Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, focusing on the functionalization of graphene-based devices—such as SGFETs and MALDI arrays—for early disease detection. As a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Steven De Feyter’s group at KU Leuven, he worked on the modification and STM characterization of 2D materials. In 2022, supported by a Margarita Salas Grant, he joined Nanoself (Universidade da Coruña) and BCMaterials. In September 2024, he moved to the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, where he focuses on biosensing systems operating under microfluidic conditions.
In 2020, I received my BSc Degree in Chemistry at University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) after a final bachelor’s Project in the group BioNanoTools at CIQUS. During this Project I focused on the development of biomimetic nanomaterials. In 2021, I received mi MSc in Organic Chemistry with my graduation thesis under the supervision of prof. Dr Eugenio Vázquez and prof. Dr José Luis Mascareñas, where I developed Pd(II) catalitic WW domains. Since september of 2021 I am a PhD student in the group NanoSelf focused on the synthesis of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and 2D nanomaterials.
Sandra, the first PhD graduate of the Nanoself group, defended her thesis on July 11, 2025. The title of her dissertation was «Towards the Preparation of Chiral Plasmonic Nanoparticles.»
