Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow | Webinar 10 – Scaled-up Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles at Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Join us for the tenth webinar in our series, where we explore materials research and technologies at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Dr. Helena Gavilán will lead us through her latest research on Scaled-Up Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles: From Controlled Production to Hyperthermia and Magnetic Particle Imaging Applications.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) enable powerful biomedical technologies, from minimally invasive cancer therapies based on magnetic hyperthermia to next-generation diagnostic tools such as Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI), and other recent non-biomedical applications. Yet, a major barrier preventing their broader impact is the difficulty of producing high-quality MNPs at large scale while preserving precise control over size, shape, magnetic anisotropy, and colloidal stability — all key parameters that determine heating performance and MPI signal.

At the webinar, Dr. Helena Gavilán will present scalable synthetic strategies to produce magnetic nanoparticles with controlled morphology and superior magnetic properties, highlighting how design and process optimisation at the gram scale can achieve reproducibility without compromising performance. She will discuss the relationship between synthesis conditions and magnetic behavior, linking structural descriptors (shape, composition, agglomeration state) to functional outputs such as SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) and MPI signals. Her examples will include high-quality nanocubes and other shapes that simultaneously maximise heating efficiency and MPI sensitivity, enabling dual theranostic applications.

Dr. Helena Gavilán is a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She works at the Department of Physical Chemistry as Principal Investigator of the group of NanoColloids and Magnetism Lab. Her research focuses on the design, large-scale synthesis, and magnetic characterisation of magnetic nanoparticles and heterostructures for biomedical applications, evaluating their potential for magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic particle imaging.

Helena earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Institute of Material Science at the Spanish National Research Council and has carried out research in internationally renowned institutions such as the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). She is co-author of more than 30 publications, including Nature Protocols, and two patent applications related to gram-scale production of magnetic nanocrystals. She is a member of the Una Europa Self-Steering Committee in Future Materials and Technologies, representing Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and she is the coordinator of an Una Europa Seed Funding project on nanomedicine.

Discover Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area with the 'Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow' Webinar Series.

Standing at the intersection of science, technology and innovation, Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area presents a webinar series dedicated to exploring solutions to global challenges through a multidisciplinary lens. The series will tackle issues including energy, the environment, and medical global challenges, bridging the gap between science, and society.

These interactive webinars provide a platform for participants to engage with experts from across Una Europa’s 11 partner universities, together delving into the latest research findings and asking necessary questions. The series encourages the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of novel approaches to tackle complex problems.

Embracing open knowledge sharing and adapting to emerging technologies are fundamental aspects driving these webinars. As a participant, you have the chance to be part of discussions on novel developments in Future Materials and Technologies, contributing to a collective pool of knowledge across diverse disciplines.

Mark your calendars for our next webinar date:

• 22 January 2026: Professors Nadia Elghobashi-Meinhardt and Liana Zoumpouli, University College Dublin.