INMA seminar: Brad R. Weiner, from the University of Puerto Rico
Conference: Advances in carbon nanocomposites for biomedical applications
Speaker: Dr Brad R. Weiner, a researcher with over 35 years of experience at the University of Puerto Rico and author of more than 170 publications and 8 patents.
About the session: The talk will explore the development and applications of Carbon-Based Quantum Dots (CBQDs). Recent breakthroughs in the synthesis of gold-silver alloy nanocomposites coated with CBQDs will be presented, which have been designed to:
- Reduce drug hydrophobicity (using Andrographolide as a model), allowing for easier administration without the need for encapsulation.
- Improve entry into prostate cancer (PC-3) cells, enabling their localisation via confocal microscopy.
- Decrease cytotoxicity, as the layer of quantum dots stabilises the oxidation of the metals in the core.
Event details:
- Date: 13 March 2026.
- Time: 12:00.
- Venue: Conference Room, Edificio de Institutos, Campus Río Ebro.
- Organised by: The Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (INMA), CSIC, and the University of Zaragoza.
About the speaker: Dr Weiner holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California – Davis and served as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory. His current research group focuses on the use of carbon and metal hybrid nanoscale materials for cancer treatments, antibacterial agents, and next-generation batteries.
