Ramón Torrecillas San Millán
CSIC Research Lecturer and Director of the Centro de Investigación en Nanomateriales y Nanotecnología (CINN-CSIC). Member of the International Academy of Ceramics. He is a Doctor of Physics and Materials Science, and inventor of 19 patents, the most notable of which include three patents on new biomaterials for dental and hip implantology applications, one patent on bone substitutes and four patents for inorganic antimicrobial materials. He has supervised 13 PhD theses and participated as a researcher in over 40 private-sector contracts and 60 R&D projects, the most significant of which include: the Bioker “Extending the life span of orthopaedic implants: development of ceramic hip and knee prostheses with improved zirconia toughened alumina nanocomposites” project, selected as an example of success in the European Commission 5th Framework Programme, and the IP NANOKER “Structural ceramic nanocomposites for top-end functional applications” project, designated one of the European projects with the greatest scientific and socio-economic impact of the 5th, 6th and 7th European Commission Framework Programmes. He is author of more than 200 scientific publications, approximately 45% of which have centred on biomaterials in the last five years.
Avenida de la Vega 4-6
33940 El Entrego, Asturias, Spain.
| Name | Organisation | Activity | Euraxess classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabal Álvarez, Belén | CSIC | Research | R2 |
| Díaz Rodríguez, Luis Antonio | CSIC | Research | R3 |
| Fernández Valdés, Adolfo | CSIC | Research | R4 |
| Moya Corral, Jose Serafín | CSIC | Research | R3 |
| Suárez Menéndez, Marta | CSIC | Research | R2 |
| Díaz Velasco, Raquel | CSIC | Research | No classification |
The development of new biomaterials and tissue engineering techniques has become extremely important in recent decades as new therapeutic strategies for repairing, recovering or substituting damaged or lost functions, tissues or organs. CINN-CSIC’s research in the biomaterials field dates back to 2001. At that time, the Nanostructured Materials group, which was directed by Dr Torrecillas at the Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono (INCAR-CSIC), led the “Extending the lifespan of orthopaedic implants: development of ceramic hip and knee prostheses with improved zirconia toughened alumina nanocomposites” project, which formed part of the European Commission’s 5th Framework Programme. This project successfully developed a new composite material with fatigue strength values that had never been achieved before in oxide ceramic materials.
From 2005 onwards, in a clear commitment to expanding this line of research, CINN-CSIC began to collaborate with and recruit new researchers from the fields of biology and medicine, forming an interdisciplinary team that we knew would be vital for achieving an in-depth scientific understanding of the interactions generated between implantable materials and the biological medium. Additionally, the applications of nanoparticles in the biomedical sector led us to expand areas such as the biocidal materials line of research, in which the interaction between nanoparticles and cells came to be a key focus for investigation.
Researching multifunctional materials for biomedical applications
Ceramic materials are of particular interest for use in implantology. From a chemical point of view, they are similar to natural bones and resist corrosion. In fields such as dentistry, they have an additional aesthetic advantage. However, their mechanical limitations still need to be resolved.
When it comes to antimicrobials, their inappropriate use in the past and present threatens the wellbeing of future generations. The apparition and propagation of resistance to antimicrobials among many microorganisms is a global problem that requires urgent research. Resistance to antimicrobials already takes a heavy toll on society and the economy: it is estimated that it is responsible for 25,000 deaths per year in the European Union alone, and for 700,000 deaths per year across the world. Resistance to antimicrobial agents is particularly important in hospitals, whose populations are extremely susceptible and may act as a permanent reservoir of resistance, or as a source of amplification of the transmission of resistant bacteria, in the absence of effective infection control programmes. Faced with this scenario, it is vital to promote research, development and innovation to bridge the gaps in current knowledge, creating new solutions and instruments to prevent and treat infectious diseases.
The objectives of this line of research include: the development of ceramic prostheses with longer lifespans; the development of implants with improved biological response through biofunctionalisation, and research into new bioactive glasses and vitroceramics that can be used in biomedical applications in such a way that gives them better mechanical properties and greater biosolubility and antimicrobial activity than the products currently on the market.
- Goyos-Ball, L; Prado, C;Diaz, R; Fernandez, E; Ismailov, A; Kumpulainen, T; Levanen, E; Torrecillas, R; Fernandez, A. The effects of laser patterning 10CeTZP-Al2O3 nanocomposite disc surfaces: Osseous differentiation and cellular arrangement in vitro. Ceramics International 44, 8, 1, 9472-9478, 2018
Impact factor: 3.057 Quartile: Q1
- Suarez, M; Gomez, E; Murillo, A; Fernandez, A; Carrocera, S; Martin, D; Torrecillas, R; Munoz, M. Development of a novel 3D glass-ceramic scaffold for endometrial cell in vitro culture. Ceramics International 44, 12,14920-14924, 2018
Impact factor: 3.057 Quartile: Q1
- Lidia Goyos-Ball; Esther García-Tunón; Elisa Fernández-García; Raquel Díaz; Adolfo Fernández; Catuxa Prado; Eduardo Saiz; Ramón Torrecillas. Mechanical and biological evaluation of 3D printed 10CeTZP-Al2O3structures. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 37, pp. 3151 – 3158. 2017.
Impact Factor: 3.794 Quartile: Q1
- Lidia Goyos-Ball; Elisa Fernández; Raquel Díaz; Adolfo Fernández; Catuxa Prado; Ramón Torrecillas; Eduardo Saiz. Osseous differentiation on freeze casted 10CeTZP-Al2O3 structures. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 37, pp. 5009 – 5016, 2017.
Impact Factor: 3.794 Quartile: Q1
- Esteban-Tejeda, L.; Zheng, K.; Prado, C.; Cabal, B.; Torrecillas, R.; Boccaccini, A.R.; Moya, J.S.Bone tissue scaffolds based on antimicrobial SiO2-Na2O-Al2O3-CaO-B2O3 glass. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 432, pp. 73 – 80. 2016.
Impact Factor: 2.124 Quartile: Q1
- Diaz, LA; Cabal, B; Prado, C; Moya, JS; Torrecillas, R; Fernandez, A; Arhire, I; Krieg, P; Killinger, A; Gadow, R. High-velocity suspension flame sprayed (HVSFS) soda-lime glass coating on titanium substrate: Its bactericidal behaviour. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 36 – 10, pp. 2653 – 2658. 2016.
Impact Factor: 3.454 Quartile: Q1
- Moya, J.S.; Martínez, A.; López-Píriz, R.; Guitián, F.; Díaz, L.A.; Esteban-Tejeda, L.; Cabal, B.; Sket, F.; Fernández-García, E.; Tomsia, A.P.; Torrecillas, R.. Histological response of soda-lime glass-ceramic bactericidal rods implanted in the jaws of beagle dogs. Scientific Reports. 6, 2016.
Impact Factor: 4.259 Quartile: Q1
- Esteban-Tejeda, L.; Smirnov, A.; Prado, C.; Moya, J.S.; Torrecillas, R.; Bartolomé, J.F. Multifunctional ceramic-metal biocomposites with Zinc containing antimicrobial glass coatings. Ceramics International. 42 – 6, pp. 7023 – 7029. 2016.
Impact Factor: 2.986 Quartile: Q1
- Sierra MI; Valdés A; Fernández AF; Torrecillas R; Fraga MF. The effect of exposure to nanoparticles and nanomaterials on the mammalian epigenome. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 11, pp. 6297 – 6306. 2016.
Impact Factor: 4.3 Quartile: Q1
- Esteban-Tejeda, L; Prado, C; Cabal, B; Sanz, J; Torrecillas, R; Moya, JS. Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of ZnO Containing Glasses. PLOS ONE. e0136490, 2015.
Impact Factor: 3.057 Quartile: Q1
- López-Píriz R; Solá-Linares E; Rodriguez-Portugal M; Malpica B; Díaz-Güemes I; Enciso S; Esteban-Tejeda L; Cabal B; Granizo JJ; Moya JS; Torrecillas R. Evaluation in a Dog Model of Three Antimicrobial Glassy Coatings: Prevention of Bone Loss around Implants and Microbial Assessments. PLOS ONE. 10 – e0140374, 2015.
Impact Factor: 3.057 Quartile: Q1
- Martinez A; Guitián F; López-Píriz R; Bartolomé JF; Cabal B; Leticia Esteban-Tejeda; Ramón Torrecillas; José S. Moya. Bone Loss at Implant with Titanium Abutments Coated by Soda Lime Glass Containing Silver Nanoparticles: A Histological Study in the Dog. PLoS ONE. 9 – 1, pp. e86926. 2014.
Impact Factor: 3.234 Quartile: Q1
| Principal Investigator | Title | Funding Body | Duration | Amount |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | ECOPLACKAGING-Vegetal fibres-reinforced PLA antimicrobial composites for packaging applications | CINN-CSIC | 01/05/2019-28/02/2022 | €94,500 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Development of antimicrobial coatings based on bioglasses for prevention of infections on surgical implants (IMPLABIO18) | Private-sector contract | 20/12/2018-19/12/2019 | €499,900 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Synthesis, Preparation and Characterisation of Multifunctional Materials Research Group | Principado de Asturias | 01/01/2018-31/12/2020 | €152,625 |
| Luis Antonio Díaz Rodriguez | A non-invasive solution for periodontal and peri-implant diseases | Private-sector contract | 01/09/2018-31/01/2020 | €98,750 |
| Luis Antonio Díaz Rodriguez | Task force to formulate strategies for decreasing microbial contamination in meat products | Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación | 01/05/2018-30/09/2018 | €5,666 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Application of ATEG3 bioglass in the development of a second generation of platelet-rich fibrin concentrates | Private-sector contract | 19/01/2016-29/04/2016 | €45,610 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Development a new generation of advanced, sustainable glass with antimicrobial and luminescent properties | Private-sector contract | 08/10/2015-31/12/2016 | €15,000 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Biomaterials and sensors based on graphene and nanoparticles for regenerative medicine | Private-sector contract | 01/12/2015-31/05/2017 | €30,000 |
| Ramón Torrecillas San Millán | Customised ocular implants and sensors based on graphene and nanoparticles for biomedical applications | Private-sector contract | 29/12/2014-01/05/2016 | €35,000 |
| PhD Student | Title | Supervisors | Organisation | Date | Honours |
| Sergio Rivera Monte | Structural ceramic materials based on zirconia (ZrO2) stabilised with ceria (CeO2) and reinforced with alumina (Al2O3): their application in the dental and biomedical fields | Francisco Javier Belzunce VarelaRamón Torrecillas San Millán | Universidad de Oviedo | May 2016 | |
| Lidia María Goyos Ball | Development of nanostructured ceramic biomaterials within the ZrO2-CeO2-Al2O3 system, for application in dental implantology | Catuxa Prado CuetoAdolfo Fernández Valdés | Universidad de Oviedo | November 2015 | International Honours |
| Elisa Fernández García | The design and evaluation of ceramic/metal composite materials for biomedical applications | Adolfo Fernández ValdésCarlos Fidel Gutiérrez González
Sonia López Esteban
|
Universidad de Oviedo | July 2014 |
Crystalline ceramic material: the production process and its application against phytopathogens that affect plants
- Inventors: José Serafín Moya Corral, Ramón Torrecillas San Millán, María Belén Cabal Álvarez
- Registration Number: P201831257
