Esp
nbeltran@cua.uam.mx
Laboratory members participate in various research projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in cellular and tissue biotechnology, which has direct applications in translational and regenerative medicine.
• Divisional Project: Development and evaluation of innovative methods for detecting and treating ischemia in experimental models, focusing on their application in translational medicine. This project aims to generate new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can eventually be adapted for treating ischemic diseases through carefully designed preclinical models.
• Project funded by the UAM Call for Technological Base Projects in the Maturation Process: Physicochemical characterization and preclinical evaluation of therapeutic patches made from alginate/chitosan. This project aims to develop advanced biomedical devices for tissue regeneration, chronic wound healing, and the treatment of skin injuries. These patches undergo rigorous testing to ensure their biocompatibility, functionality, and therapeutic potential.
• Collaborative project with the Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital of Mexico: Preclinical testing of cardiac patches generated through tissue engineering, using functionalized alginate/chitosan scaffolds and bioreactors. This interdisciplinary project combines cell culture technologies, biomaterials, and tissue engineering to design innovative solutions for treating pediatric cardiovascular diseases.
Academic Group
The Cellular and Tissue Biotechnology Academic Group made up of specialists in cell culture, biomaterials, histological analysis, and regenerative medicine, supports these lines of research. This academic group promotes the generation of applied knowledge, the training of high-level human resources, and collaboration with medical and research institutions.
Academic Participation
These projects provide a space for scientific and technological training involving students from various academic levels. Undergraduate students in Biological Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Experimental Biology actively participate, along with graduate students in the Master’s Program in Natural Sciences and Engineering and the Doctoral Programs in Natural Sciences and Engineering and Biological and Health Sciences. This participation strengthens students’ research capabilities and fosters an interdisciplinary environment focused on innovation, hands-on learning, and knowledge transfer to clinical and technological applications.
The laboratory at Cuajimalpa Campus features specialized infrastructure for cell culture, tissue characterization, and histological analysis, ensuring an optimal environment for research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
For the culture of healthy animal and human cells, the lab is equipped with a dedicated laminar flow hood that provides a sterile, contaminant-free environment. Additionally, there are two CO₂ incubators with water jackets (163880), designed to maintain optimal conditions of temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, allowing for the growth and maintenance of cells in culture dishes or flasks, as well as in bioreactors. Complementing these tools is a vertical laminar flow hood (165429) used for the safe handling of cell cultures.
Cell culture monitoring and analysis are performed using an inverted phase contrast microscope (168574), enabling detailed observation of cultured cells and various tissue types. To ensure accuracy in sample preparation, the laboratory includes an analytical balance (168575) for the precise measurement of reagents and materials.
In the histology and histopathology area, the lab features a rotary microtome (117768) designed to make precise cuts of paraffin-embedded tissues, facilitating their examination through staining techniques and microscopy. It also includes a tissue processor (118095), essential for preparing samples for histological and electron microscopy analysis, ensuring proper preservation and fixation of cellular structures.
This cutting-edge infrastructure supports the advancement of cellular and tissue biotechnology research, enhancing the laboratory’s capabilities for innovation in biomaterials, cell culture, and tissue analysis.
Laboratory Users:
Specialists in cell culture, tissue analysis, and biomaterials design for medical applications primarily use the laboratory. These include biomedical engineers, biologists, chemists, biochemists, biotechnologists, and cellular, molecular, and experimental biologists.
Academic Involvement:
Undergraduate students, social service interns, and students in specialty, master’s, and doctoral programs collaborate in the laboratory, contributing to an interdisciplinary environment for training and research.
Collaborations:
The laboratory maintains research ties with various institutions, including:
• National Research Center for Instrumentation and Medical Imaging (CI3M)
• Tissue Neurobiology Laboratory at the Iztapalapa Campus of UAM
• Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital of Mexico
• Ignacio Chávez National Institute of Cardiology
• Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra National Institute of Rehabilitation
• Dr. Eduardo Liceaga General Hospital of Mexico
Laboratory Usage Guidelines
1. Access Hours
• The laboratory is available Monday through Friday, from 08:00 to 17:00.
• Access outside these hours requires written authorization from the laboratory coordination team.
2. Entry Requirements
• Access is restricted to faculty, technical staff, authorized students, and maintenance personnel.
• All users must have received prior training in safety and equipment handling.
• Wearing a face mask and designated surgical attire is mandatory within the laboratory.
3. Mandatory Training
• Before using the laboratory, it is essential to complete a safety and equipment handling course.
• The training covers biosafety protocols, the use of specialized equipment, and cleaning and decontamination regulations.
4. Safety and Hygiene Regulations
To ensure a safe working environment and prevent contamination risks, all people must follow the rules must be followed:
a) General Regulations
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory, including a surgical gown, gloves, face mask, and safety goggles when required.
• Entry with food, beverages, or electronic devices unrelated to laboratory work is prohibited.
• Backpacks, purses, or personal items not essential to laboratory tasks are prohibited.
b) Personal Appearance Regulations
• Hair must be tied back at all times inside the laboratory.
• Closed-toe shoes are required; sandals, high heels, or open footwear are strictly prohibited.
c) Use of Equipment and Materials
• Removing laboratory equipment, materials, or accessories without written authorization is strictly prohibited.
• Each user must log their entry in the laboratory logbook and the individual logs for any equipment used.
5. Measures to Prevent Contamination
To minimize contamination risks within the laboratory:
• Entering with a face mask and wearing designated surgical attire exclusive to the laboratory is mandatory.
• Disinfection protocols must be strictly followed before and after using each work area.
Compliance with these guidelines is essential to maintaining a safe and efficient work environment. Failure to follow any of these rules may result in restricted access to the laboratory.
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
Facility Location
Cuajimalpa Campus
Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering
8th Floor, L-870
Contact Information
Dr. Nohra Elsy Beltrán Vargasnbeltran@cua.uam.mx
Additional Details
• PatentsIntroduction
At the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory (ITMR) of the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering (DCNI), advanced research is conducted on the cultivation and modification of animal cells to generate various tissues. Additionally, biocompatible biomaterials and nanomaterials are developed and physicochemically characterized to ensure their safety and functionality in living organisms. Bioreactors are also designed and optimized for cell culture and the production of artificial tissues.
The Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory includes a sterile culture room for cultivating animal and human cells. To prevent any form of contamination, entry requires the use of face masks and exclusive surgical attire. In this space, researchers work on the design and characterization of biomaterials for medical use and the development of bioreactors for the growth of animal and human cells and tissues.
Tissue characterization is carried out using advanced processing techniques such as histological analysis with various stains, immunohistochemistry, and molecular analyses, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the properties and functionalities of the generated tissues.
The laboratory features state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a laminar flow hood, CO₂ incubator, microtome, tissue processor, analytical balance, and pH meter, among other essential equipment for its activities.
This space hosts researchers, undergraduate students working on final projects or completing social service, and graduate students at the specialization, master’s, and doctoral levels, fostering an interdisciplinary environment of learning and innovation.
Projects and Activities
Laboratory members participate in various research projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in cellular and tissue biotechnology, which has direct applications in translational and regenerative medicine.
• Divisional Project: Development and evaluation of innovative methods for detecting and treating ischemia in experimental models, focusing on their application in translational medicine. This project aims to generate new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can eventually be adapted for treating ischemic diseases through carefully designed preclinical models.
• Project funded by the UAM Call for Technological Base Projects in the Maturation Process: Physicochemical characterization and preclinical evaluation of therapeutic patches made from alginate/chitosan. This project aims to develop advanced biomedical devices for tissue regeneration, chronic wound healing, and the treatment of skin injuries. These patches undergo rigorous testing to ensure their biocompatibility, functionality, and therapeutic potential.
• Collaborative project with the Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital of Mexico: Preclinical testing of cardiac patches generated through tissue engineering, using functionalized alginate/chitosan scaffolds and bioreactors. This interdisciplinary project combines cell culture technologies, biomaterials, and tissue engineering to design innovative solutions for treating pediatric cardiovascular diseases.
Academic Group
The Cellular and Tissue Biotechnology Academic Group made up of specialists in cell culture, biomaterials, histological analysis, and regenerative medicine, supports these lines of research. This academic group promotes the generation of applied knowledge, the training of high-level human resources, and collaboration with medical and research institutions.
Academic Participation
These projects provide a space for scientific and technological training involving students from various academic levels. Undergraduate students in Biological Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Experimental Biology actively participate, along with graduate students in the Master’s Program in Natural Sciences and Engineering and the Doctoral Programs in Natural Sciences and Engineering and Biological and Health Sciences. This participation strengthens students’ research capabilities and fosters an interdisciplinary environment focused on innovation, hands-on learning, and knowledge transfer to clinical and technological applications.
Key Equipment
Vertical Laminar Flow Cabinet TopAir HC-V120PP-PRO (163888). This equipment ensures a sterile, contaminant-free laboratory environment. It protects samples using HEPA-filtered airflow and is used in Microbiology, Biotechnology, and cell culture research.
Model: TOP AIR HC-V120-PRO (22-456273).
CO₂ Incubator Thermo Scientific (165429). This system is used in biomedical, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical research to culture cells, tissues, and microorganisms under controlled conditions. It maintains a stable environment regarding temperature, CO₂ concentration, and humidity, ensuring viability and growth.
Applications include cell culture, tissue engineering, microbiological research, and pharmaceutical testing.
Available Technologies
The laboratory at Cuajimalpa Campus features specialized infrastructure for cell culture, tissue characterization, and histological analysis, ensuring an optimal environment for research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
For the culture of healthy animal and human cells, the lab is equipped with a dedicated laminar flow hood that provides a sterile, contaminant-free environment. Additionally, there are two CO₂ incubators with water jackets (163880), designed to maintain optimal conditions of temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, allowing for the growth and maintenance of cells in culture dishes or flasks, as well as in bioreactors. Complementing these tools is a vertical laminar flow hood (165429) used for the safe handling of cell cultures.
Cell culture monitoring and analysis are performed using an inverted phase contrast microscope (168574), enabling detailed observation of cultured cells and various tissue types. To ensure accuracy in sample preparation, the laboratory includes an analytical balance (168575) for the precise measurement of reagents and materials.
In the histology and histopathology area, the lab features a rotary microtome (117768) designed to make precise cuts of paraffin-embedded tissues, facilitating their examination through staining techniques and microscopy. It also includes a tissue processor (118095), essential for preparing samples for histological and electron microscopy analysis, ensuring proper preservation and fixation of cellular structures.
This cutting-edge infrastructure supports the advancement of cellular and tissue biotechnology research, enhancing the laboratory’s capabilities for innovation in biomaterials, cell culture, and tissue analysis.
Primary User Groups
Laboratory Users:
Specialists in cell culture, tissue analysis, and biomaterials design for medical applications primarily use the laboratory. These include biomedical engineers, biologists, chemists, biochemists, biotechnologists, and cellular, molecular, and experimental biologists.
Academic Involvement:
Undergraduate students, social service interns, and students in specialty, master’s, and doctoral programs collaborate in the laboratory, contributing to an interdisciplinary environment for training and research.
Collaborations:
The laboratory maintains research ties with various institutions, including:
• National Research Center for Instrumentation and Medical Imaging (CI3M)
• Tissue Neurobiology Laboratory at the Iztapalapa Campus of UAM
• Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital of Mexico
• Ignacio Chávez National Institute of Cardiology
• Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra National Institute of Rehabilitation
• Dr. Eduardo Liceaga General Hospital of Mexico
Access Policies and Guidelines
Laboratory Usage Guidelines
1. Access Hours
• The laboratory is available Monday through Friday, from 08:00 to 17:00.
• Access outside these hours requires written authorization from the laboratory coordination team.
2. Entry Requirements
• Access is restricted to faculty, technical staff, authorized students, and maintenance personnel.
• All users must have received prior training in safety and equipment handling.
• Wearing a face mask and designated surgical attire is mandatory within the laboratory.
3. Mandatory Training
• Before using the laboratory, it is essential to complete a safety and equipment handling course.
• The training covers biosafety protocols, the use of specialized equipment, and cleaning and decontamination regulations.
4. Safety and Hygiene Regulations
To ensure a safe working environment and prevent contamination risks, all people must follow the rules must be followed:
a) General Regulations
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory, including a surgical gown, gloves, face mask, and safety goggles when required.
• Entry with food, beverages, or electronic devices unrelated to laboratory work is prohibited.
• Backpacks, purses, or personal items not essential to laboratory tasks are prohibited.
b) Personal Appearance Regulations
• Hair must be tied back at all times inside the laboratory.
• Closed-toe shoes are required; sandals, high heels, or open footwear are strictly prohibited.
c) Use of Equipment and Materials
• Removing laboratory equipment, materials, or accessories without written authorization is strictly prohibited.
• Each user must log their entry in the laboratory logbook and the individual logs for any equipment used.
5. Measures to Prevent Contamination
To minimize contamination risks within the laboratory:
• Entering with a face mask and wearing designated surgical attire exclusive to the laboratory is mandatory.
• Disinfection protocols must be strictly followed before and after using each work area.
Compliance with these guidelines is essential to maintaining a safe and efficient work environment. Failure to follow any of these rules may result in restricted access to the laboratory.
Information Provided by the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering