Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, member of the Microfluidics Cluster at the University of the Basque Country (EHU), recently attended an information session on the Innovation Lighthouses (Faros de Innovación) programme launched by the Basque Government.

The session provided an overview of this new strategic initiative, which aims to promote high-impact scientific and technological projects aligned with the main innovation priorities of Euskadi. The programme, running from 2026 to 2030, will support research, infrastructures and innovation strategies through dedicated funding instruments.

The Innovation Lighthouses are part of the Basque Country’s broader science and innovation strategy and are designed to generate cutting-edge knowledge with a clear societal impact, addressing key transitions such as digital, energy, and health challenges.

Participation in this session reflects the Microfluidics Cluster’s active engagement with emerging funding opportunities and strategic initiatives that can foster collaborative research and innovation in microfluidics and related fields.

Today, March 26th, 2026, Joseba Totoricaguena Gorriño, a member of our microfluidics group, successfully defended his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the UPV/EHU.

His thesis, entitled “Advancing Screen-Printed Electrochemiluminescent Point-of-Care Devices through Laser Activation, Wireless Rectenna Powering, and Chlorine Enhanced L-012 Signal Amplification”, focuses on the development of fast, accessible, and low-cost point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices, aligned with the WHO REASSURED criteria.

Joseba carried out his doctoral research at BCMaterials under the supervision of Dr. Fernando Benito and Ikerbasque Professor Javier del Campo.

We are proud of Joseba’s achievement and the work he has accomplished throughout his PhD journey. It has been a pleasure to have him as part of the group, and we are excited to see what comes next for him!

CONGRATULATIONS, JOSEBA! 🎉

MANY CONGRATULATIONS SEPI!!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU continues to grow through outstanding research initiatives. We are proud to share that Sepideh has been awarded a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the University of the Basque Country (EHU), enabling the development of her research over the next three years.

This project will be carried out through an international collaboration with the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands) and EHU, further strengthening connections between leading institutions in microfluidics and advanced materials.

Her research will focus on the development of novel hybrid microfluidic devices based on smart materials, an innovative approach aimed at enhancing the biomedical applicability of lab-on-a-chip technologies. In particular, the project seeks to enable the early detection of cancer biomarkers, contributing to faster, more accessible, and more efficient diagnostic solutions.

The work is supported by leading experts in the field, including Albert Schenning, Fernando Benito López, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, and Dr. Daniel Patko.

From the Microfluidics Cluster, we warmly congratulate Sepideh on this achievement and wish her great success in this exciting new stage. We look forward to following the progress and impact of her work in advancing microfluidic technologies for biomedical applications.

Last Wednesday, Andrea successfully defended her Bachelor’s Thesis in Chemistry at the Universidad del País Vasco EHU, carried out in collaboration with the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU.

Her thesis, titled “Characterization and standardization of PDMS prototyping using CO₂ laser for the generation of hydrogel microstructures for 3D cell culture”, addresses a key challenge in microfluidics: optimizing PDMS micromachining via CO₂ laser to fabricate reproducible microchannels and enable rapid prototyping of advanced microfluidic devices. It also explores the viability of these systems to recreate more precise and realistic cellular microenvironments, opening new pathways in biomedical research and therapeutic development.

This excellent work was supervised by Gorka Albizu, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, and Juncal Anne Alonso, whose guidance was instrumental throughout the project.

In recognition of her dedication and excellence, Andrea was awarded the highest possible grade: 10 with Honors, a distinction that reflects both the quality of her research and her strong commitment to science.

This milestone marks the end of a remarkable academic chapter and the beginning of an exciting journey filled with new challenges and opportunities.

We wish Andrea continued success in her future research career—congratulations!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU will be participating in the 39th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS 2026), taking place from January 25–29, 2026, in Salzburg, Austria. This conference is one of the leading international forums in MEMS and microfluidics, bringing together top researchers from around the world.

Lourdes Basabe will have a prominent role at the conference as:

1-Keynote Talk (Invited Lecture) enitled: BEYOND 2D: 2.3D Platforms and Functional Assays as Intermediate Physiological Systems: SCADA and CellStudio. Session: VIIIb: Microfluidics. Date & Time: 16:30, Mozart Hall, Ground Floor

This lecture will present the development of 2.3D platforms and functional assays as intermediate physiological systems, demonstrating how our advanced tools may enable more accurate modeling of biological processes.

2-Scientific Communicationentitled: AUTONOMOUS PAPER VALVES USING PDMS VACUUM PUMPS by Pablo E. Guevara-Pantoja, Franco N. Nazar, Idoia Postigo, Fernando Benito-Lopez, and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts. Poster: W120-i

This work introduces innovative strategies for integrating autonomous paper valves with PDMS vacuum pumps, offering new solutions for colorimetric analysis in portable microfluidic systems.

Additionally, Lourdes serves as a member of the Technical Program Committee (TPC), contributing to the review and selection of high-level scientific work, further strengthening the international presence of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU.

Our participation highlights our commitment to innovation in microfluidics and MEMS systems and reinforces the visibility of our group at top-tier international conferences.

Fernando Benito takes a leave of absence from the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU to begin a new chapter as Vice-Rector for Faculty and Research at Euneiz University

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU announces that Fernando Benito López is taking a leave of absence from the group to embark on an exciting new professional chapter as Vice-Rector for Faculty and Research at Euneiz University.

Over the years, Fernando has played a key role in the growth and international visibility of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, combining scientific excellence with a genuinely human and collaborative vision. Beyond publications, projects, and achievements, we will especially remember the conversations, the constant support, and the atmosphere of trust and closeness that he helped to build.

Although he will be away from the group during this new stage, Fernando remains very much part of the Microfluidics Cluster family. We are delighted to see him take on this challenge with the same passion and commitment that have always defined him, and we are confident that Euneiz University gains an exceptional Vice-Rector.

From everyone at the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, we sincerely thank him and wish him every success in this new role. Fernando, this will always be your home.

May the Microfluidics be with you!

We are proud to announce our latest study, "Analyzing the Relationship Between Solid-Phase Molecular Presentation and Cell Proliferation, Morphology and Secretion Using CellStudio," now published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Led by Enrique Azuaje-Hualde and the Microfluidics Cluster team, this work expands the capabilities of our CellStudio platform to investigate how localized molecular cues shape cellular behavior.

The research introduces a "present-and-measure" framework using functionalized microbeads that act simultaneously as molecular carriers and biosensors. By delivering solid-phase FGF-2 directly to patterned mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) clusters, we demonstrated:

•Dose-Dependent Control: Precise regulation of cell proliferation, survival, and cytoskeletal remodeling.

•Integrated Secretomics: Real-time, in situ capture of VEGF secretion in response to localized growth factor stimulation.

•High-Resolution Analysis: Linking specific microenvironmental interactions to individual cellular responses without the need for traditional external assays.

This versatile tool offers a practical solution for regenerative medicine and drug screening by providing high-resolution control over cell-microenvironment interactions.

Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c17189 

•Asier, Isabel and Gamalier were selected for the flash oral presentation and Lourdes y Pablo for the poster presentation at the II Passion for Science Conference organized by the Personalized Medicine Aula EHU and i+Med, which took place at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain the 13th of November of 2025.

•Asier presented his work entitled: SINGLE-CELL ADHESION DOT ARRAY (SCADA) ENABLES HIGHRESOLUTION PROFILING OF BREAST CANCER CELL–MATRIX INTERACTIONS, by  A. Inchaurraga-Llamas, F. Benito-Lopez, M. Muñoz-Caffarel and L. BasabeDesmonts.

•Isabel presented her work entitled: A PAPER-BASED MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE FOR THE COLORIMETRIC DETECTION OF SCOPOLAMINE WITH THE NAKED EYE, by I. Poves-Ruiz, E. Azuaje-Hualde, L. Lartitegui-Elorza, O. Díaz-Cantos L. Basabe-Desmonts and F. Benito-Lopez.

•Gamalier presented his work entitled: SLAMF3 EXPRESSION AND ADHESION DYNAMICS OF JURKAT CELLS IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE, by A. G. Casado-Cedano, N. Lartitegui-Meneses, F. N. Nazar, P. E. Guevara-Pantoja, F. Benito-Lopez, I. Postigo and L. Basabe-Desmonts.

•Pablo presented his work entitled: AUTONOMOUS PAPER VALVES USING PDMS VACUUM PUMPS AS ACTUATORS FOR COLORIMETRIC CHRONO-SAMPLING, by P. E. Guevara-Pantoja, F. Nicolas Nazar, I. Postigo, F. Benito-Lopez, and L. BasabeDesmonts.

•Lourdes presented her work entitled: Generation and combination of ionogel microstructures using vacuum-driven lithography technique

                         Congratulations on these great contributions!!

Sukayna Ezquerro Berdouzi was awarded with the best oral communication at the II Passion for Science Conference organized by the Personalized Medicine Aula EHU and i+Med, which took place at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain the 13th of November of 2025.

Next year, the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU will organise MicroTAS 2026, which will be held in Granada. We had a lot of fun promoting the event in Adelaide!

We hope you all learnt of how to dance Flamenco!!

Zientzia Astea Marks 25 Years: Lourdes Basabe‑Desmonts Discusses Microtechnology and Science Outreach. In an interview with Cadena SER, researcher Lourdes Basabe‑Desmonts highlighted the participation of her Group in the 25th edition of Zientzia Astea, the University of the Basque Country’s (UPV/EHU) Science Week, celebrating a quarter-century of bringing science closer to Basque citizens.

New cover article in Lab on a Chip! Congratulations to all authors.

Our review paper was awarded with one of the covers of this Lab on a Chip issue.

Present and Future of Smart Functional Materials as Actuators in Microfluidic Devices, S. Izaddoust, I. Poves-Ruiz, E. Azuaje Hualde, D. Patko, L. Florea, C. Delaney, L. Basabe-Desmonts, F. Benito-Lopez*, Lab Chip, 2025, 25, 6075-6099.

Fernando Benito‑Lopez has received official recognition from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Ramón y Cajal program. The acknowledgement, signed by Minister Diana Morant, highlights his scientific career and his contribution to strengthening Spain’s research ecosystem.

The ministry emphasized the importance of the Ramón y Cajal community—over 8,000 researchers—whose work drives scientific excellence and positions Spain at the forefront of international research. Benito‑Lopez’s trajectory as a Ramón y Cajal fellow reflects this commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation with social and economic impact.

This recognition underscores the vital role of researchers in shaping a more competitive, innovative, and fair society.

•Gema, Ramon, Sukayna and Naiara were selected for the oral presentation at the II Passion for Science Conference organized by the Personalized Medicine Aula EHU and i+Med, which took place at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain the 13th of November of 2025.

•Gema presented her work entitled: DEVELOPMENT OF PEDOT:PSS-BASED MICROSTRUCTURED ELECTRODES FOR BIOELECTRONIC INTERFACES IN CANCER RESEARCH, by Gema del Rocio Lopez-Buenafe, Juncal Anne Alonso-Cabrera, Carlos Marcuello, Maider Ortiz-Perez, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Adai Colom, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Janire Saez.

•Ramon presented his work entitled: RNAZYME-BASED STRATEGIES FOR MICRORNA DETECTION IN FORENSIC APPLICATIONS, by Ramon Roset, F. Nicolas Nazar, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, and Fernando Benito-Lopez.

•Sukayna presented her work entitled: MICROFLUIDIC FIBER-OPTIC LSPR SENSOR FOR VEGF DETECTION IN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL CULTURE, by Sukayna Ezquerro-Berdouzi, Franco N. Nazar, Raquel Catalan-Carrio, Lucero Hernandez-Cedillo, Pablo E. Pantoja-Guevara, Asier Inchaurraga-Llamas, Joel Villatoro, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Concepcion Alonso and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

•Naiara presented her work entitled: EVALUATION OF PCSK6 EXPRESSION AND SECRETION IN TESTICULAR GERM CELL TUMORS BY IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELLSTUDIO PLATFORM, by Naiara Lartitegui-Meneses, Aiane Arranz, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Jon Luzuriaga, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Edurne Alonso.

                         Congratulations on these great contributions!!

Juncal Alonso-Cabrera is doing a three-month research stay at Trinity College Dublin. From September to December, she is working in Dr. Larisa Florea’s research group. During this period, she will focus on learning two-photon polymerization direct laser writing (2PP-DLW), an advanced laser-based fabrication technique used to create intricate micro- and nanoscale structures.

Juncal´s expertise in printing and vacuum lithography (PnV litho) will be combined with state-of-the-art 2PP-DLW, creating new possibilities for multimaterial polymerization. As a result, generation of multicomponent patterns of  2D and 3D materials (PnV litho) with the precision and resolution of 2PP-DLW can be achieved.

The research carried out during this stay has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of innovative micro- and nanoscale systems.

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU participated in Zientzia Astea 2025 with a stand at the BIBAT Museum from 6 to 9 November.

Our stand, “Micro and Nanotechnology at the Service of Society,” introduced visitors to some of the technologies developed by our group. Both children and adults showed strong interest and actively engaged with the demonstrations and explanations.

Events like this help bring science closer to the public and highlight the importance of research in everyday life. We thank everyone who visited and took part in the activities.

We are proud to announce that eight members of our group were selected to present their research at the Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences – Micro-Total Analysis Systems (µTAS 2025) Conference, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre (Adelaide, Australia) from 2–6 November 2025.

This prestigious international conference brings together leading researchers in microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip technologies, and miniaturized systems for life sciences. Our team contributed eight poster presentations, showcasing innovative advances in microfluidics, biosensing, ionogels, bioelectronics, and cell analysis.

 Our µTAS 2025 Contributions:

1. Generation and Combination of Ionogel Microstructures Using Vacuum-Driven Lithography Technique
Authors: Juncal Alonso-Cabrera, Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Alexia Ramos-Gutiérrez, Mikel Diez-Bravo, Fernando Benito-Lopez and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

2. Advances in Cell Affinity Assays with SCADA: Simple and Rapid Analysis of Cell–Molecule Interactions
Authors: Asier Inchaurraga-Llamas, Pablo E. Guevara-Pantoja, Fernando Benito-Lopez and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

3. Autonomous Paper Valves Using PDMS Vacuum Pumps as Actuators for Colorimetric Chrono-Sampling
Authors: P. E. Guevara-Pantoja, F. Nicolas Nazar, I. Postigo, F. Benito-Lopez, and L. Basabe-Desmonts.

4. Fiber-Optic Sensor Integrated in a Microfluidic Device for VEGF Detection via LSPR and Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Sukayna Ezquerro-Berdouzi, F. Nicolas Nazar, Raquel Catalán-Carrió, Lucero Hernández Cedillo, Pablo E. Guevara-Pantoja, Joel Villatoro, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Concepción Alonso and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

5. Alginate-Based Colorimetric Biosystem for the Detection of Cortisol
Authors: Sepideh Izaddoust, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Fernando Benito-Lopez.

6. Autonomous μPAD for Rapid Colorimetric Detection of Scopolamine in Adulterated Beverages
Authors: Isabel Poves-Ruiz, Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Laura Lartitegui-Elorza, Oihana Díaz Cantos, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Fernando Benito-Lopez.

7. Fabrication of PEDOT:PSS-Based Microstructured Electrodes as Bioelectronic Interfaces
Authors: Gema del Rocio Lopez-Buenafe, Juncal Anne Alonso-Cabrera, Carlos Marcuello, Maider Ortiz-Perez, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Adai Colom, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Janire Saez.

8. A Factorial Study of Microenvironmental Effects on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using CellStudio
Authors: Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Marian Martinez de Pancorbo, Fernando Benito-Lopez and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

Congratulations to Enrique, Asier, Pablo and Sukayna, which where in Adelaide presenting the posters!

Your hard work, creativity, and scientific excellence made an outstanding impact at µTAS 2025. We are incredibly proud of your contributions and look forward to seeing these projects grow even further for MicroTAS 2026 in Granada.

We are pleased to announce our latest publication in the journal Soft Matter, resulting from a collaborative effort between the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU at the University of the Basque Country and the University of Barcelona.

This work has been carried out in close collaboration with the research group led by Prof. Aurora Hernández-Machado. By combining expertise in microfluidics and soft matter physics, the study addresses fundamental questions with relevance to microfluidic systems and complex fluids.

This publication reflects the strength of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration and reinforces our commitment to high-quality research at the interface of microfluidics, physics, and soft matter science.

Gemma has been awarded a prestigious Basque Government Predoctoral Fellowship, enabling her incorporation as a PhD candidate into the Microfluidics Cluster at UPV/EHU. This highly competitive fellowship supports the training of early-stage researchers and recognizes academic excellence and research potential.

Through this fellowship, Gemma will carry out doctoral research in forensic analysis, contributing to the group’s ongoing scientific activities and reinforcing its commitment to research excellence.

Congratulations and welcome!

We’re proud to share that the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU made a strong showing at the I Jornada SESMOOC, a conference focused on recent advances in micro‑physiological systems (MPS) and Organ‑on‑Chip technologies. Sesmooc.

Our contributions:

Congrats to Lourdes for giving an oral presentation at the Scientific Talks Session : "When the Chip Also Listens: New Strategies for Integrated Physiological Monitoring.”

Big shout‑out to Asier, Gema and Naiara who presented posters and shared their work with the community.

• Development of PEDOT:PSS-based Microstructured Electrodes for Bioelectronic Interfaces in Cancer Research. G. R. Lopez-Buenafe, J. Anne Alonso-Cabrera, C. Marcuello, M. Ortiz-Perez, F. Benito-Lopez, A. Colom, L. Basabe-Desmonts, J. Saez 
• Evaluation of PCSK6 Expression and Secretion in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors by Immunohistochemistry and CellStudio Platform. N. Lartitegui-Meneses, A. Arranz,  F. Benito-Lopez, J. Luzuriaga, L. Basabe-Desmonts, E. Alonso 
• Photopatterned SCADA Platform for Rapid, Simple and High-Resolution Cell Affinity Assays. A. Inchaurraga-Llamas, Pablo E. Guevara-Pantoja, F. Benito-Lopez, L. Basabe-Desmonts 

Their contributions underscore the depth and diversity of our work in microfluidics, sensors, lab‑on‑chip platforms and their biomedical applications. The teamwork across chemistry, biology and engineering within the cluster continues to deliver novel systems and insights.

Thank you to all members, collaborators and mentors who make these achievements possible. We look forward to applying the feedback and connections gained at the conference to our ongoing and future projects.

Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of micro‑ and nanotechnologies together!