Passionate, extrovert, a multi-tasker, an always busy girl, my name is Andrea Díaz Gaxiola. Age: twenty two, and one year far from graduating from nanotechnology's bachelor. I have found in Nanobiotech an amazing tool which I aim to use and develop in order to create novel therapeutics, and more effective drug delivery systems.
I am Virtus-Parva Team leader, and the responsible for spreading the urge to be a part of iGEM. It is a dream I shared with my friends, and we've all together made it possible.
My vision of the world involves all disciplines working together towards a deeper understanding of ourselves and what surrounds us, creating knowledge but never seeking for absolute truths.

Hi, my name is Abraham Mauleon Amieva. I'm twenty two, and I'm from the State of Puebla, Mexico. I'm studying the last semester of the degree in Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering, at Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). My personal interest in Nanobiotechnology is the research of novel complex materials. Hence my contribution within Virtus-Parva, for our 2014 iGEM project, is the idea of using biomaterials coupled to magnetic particles for the manufacture of biocompatible, magnetically controlled devices. Besides my scientific formation, I'm currently the President of the Civic Youth Council of Puebla; and one of my main goals is the scientific diffusion among youth in the city.

Yo! I’m Tania Hidalgo, a kind-of-crazy vegetarian studying her 7th semester of the Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering bachelor, even though people think I’m an Arts major. I’ve participated in research regarding the inorganic part of chemistry, so biotechnology and synthetic biology is a new field that I’m exploring with my teammates. I’m interested in using these to explore bioremediation and apply my chemist formation to deal with environmental issues. My love for science is shared with photography, stringed instruments, animals and beer. The participation in the iGEM competition has granted me an opportunity to continue my learning experience and to collaborate with my friends to make something awesome (like our beautiful magnetite nanoparticles). I hope with this my family and friends finally know what I’m studying and what I’m passionate about.

I’m Sabás Sánchez Tellechea, I’m 22 years old and I’m from Hermosillo, Sonora México. I’m a student of the 9th semester of the Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering degree at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). My involvement within the project isn’t limited to the laboratory work, it extends to the genesis of the idea to use a resonant structure guided by a magnetic nanoparticle and the research to find biocompatible materials for the construction of the device. My interests inside science and nanotechnology embraces the creation of new materials trying to solve the new needs of society, the efficient use of renewable energies and the pursuit of treatments for genetic syndromes.

As a nanotechnologist I am fascinated by the way nanostructures can boost energy conversion and storage as well as bioremediation, but as a human I want to increase quality of life and access to information for people, leading me to participate in all kind of projects giving the best of me. My name is Diego Rosas I was born in the city of Puebla and I’m in my senior year of nanotechnology’s bachelor at Universidad de las Américas Pueba. I’ve participated in researches regarding solar energy and photocatalysis. As a member of virtus-parva I synthesized the inorganic part of the project but now I am focused on bionanotechnology diffusion and mathematical modeling. Currently I am starting a project on electrospun nanofibers for wound dressing hopping to work in partnership with a local hospital.

Enthusiast and always willing to lend a hand. Hi! My name is Armando, I currently am 22 years of age, and I’m native from the state of Coahuila, México. Studying the 9th semester of the nanotechnology and molecular engineering baccalaureate at the University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP). Within the team I am envolved in the organization of Human Practices, as well as starring in the play Copenhage, interpreting the physicist Werner Heisenberg. My inclination towards synthetic biology lies in my growing interest towards the comprehension, mimicry, and incorporation of microscopic organic mechanisms that could be exploited by mankind in order to achieve a better adaptation into our ever changing Mother Nature without procuring harm to it and improving our quality of life.

Hi! I’m Tamara, a slightly grumpy and always-in-the-mood-for-candy, 7th semester Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering student at Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Among other things I love a good raspberry cheesecake, a gripping fantasy fiction book and a bright, sunny day. Born and raised in Mexico City, my academic interests lie in molecular biology and the dissemination of science. Within my team I have been in charge of keeping a written record of our progress and to process this information in order to give back to our community. From this experience I have learned plenty on organization, teamwork and the importance of communication for even the smallest of tasks.

Greetings, last but not least, I am Emmanuel, a last year Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering student at UDLAP. I currently have 23 years old and I was raised in Guadalajara , Jalisco . I may seem a little bit demure and serious but I’m always fretful as well as highly sarcastic. I find joy in challenging diversions like strategy based games as well as interesting reading. Within my academic interests lies medical sciences, economics , anthropology as well as the parrying arts of verbal debate. I’m always looking for demiurgic solutions to solve problems. I’ve got experience in working with active microfluidics components and processes that include optical, cellular and digital integration to microelectromechanisms. Within my team I’ve been charged with the treasury of the project as well as with the administrative part, withal I did lab work related to the biological part of the project and with the record and digitalization of the work done there.

The first part of the synthesis of our magnetite was trying out different methods and characterizing them, to note which method had given us the smallest size nanoparticles. Our first method was synthesis by coprecipitation, of which we prepared nine samples with different concentrations of iron(II) chloride and ammonium hydroxide; from this method we consistently obtained nanoparticles rounding 0.9 to 1nm. Our following method was very similar, but included water in the synthesis: the size of our particles would vary greatly, from 3.89 micrometers to 171 nanometers in size.

After choosing the best method possible, it was time to silanize our magnetite in order for it to be biocompatible with DNA and be able to tie them together. In order for the silanization to take place, we used a solution of TEOS (tetraethoxysilane) dispersed in a medium of water and propanol and dripped this mix slowly onto our magnetite. Just like when we synthesized our particles, we tested different concentrations of TEOS and magnetite, as well as different addition rates in order to observe which combination would give us the smallest possible nanoparticles.

Our results were then characterized by DLS (dynamic light scattering), for which we observed a peak at 39 nm, once coated with TEOS, the peak was moved toward 60 and 80 nm. We also ran our two samples in the IR, comparing the spectra of the pure magnetite and silanized magnetite, we were able to distinguish a peak at 990.2 cm^-1 corresponding to a Si-O bond, confirming the correct silanization of the magnetite.

Having done this, we then prepped our protein by resuspending it in a mix of Tris/acetate and EDTA in order to be able to combine it with our DNA. Then we dispersed our magnetite in anhydric toluene and we added the resuspended protein and we added as well some glutaraldehyde as a coupling agent. We also made some batches without any glutaraldehyde, to compare the comparable strength of their bonds.

We then needed to grow and then extract from E. Coli the DNA we were to use for the rest of our project. We tested two different methods: one of which was the well-known mini prep and the other was very similar but without using an enzyme. Using the DNA we have extracted, we then needed to transform these cells to make competent cells.

These cells we had transformed, we then had to purify, by precipitating in presence of ethanol and centrifugation to eliminate supernatant. We did different dilutions of DNA and combined them with our protein, HU. These as well were divided again in gluteraldehyde and no gluteraldehyde and subsecuently in DNA and not DNA. We did some UV characterization for all samples. We discovered that the solutions with glutaraldehyde had stronger bonds between DNA and HU. We prepared some samples: one with glutaraldehyde and DNA-Hu, another just with glutaraldehyde and DNA, the third one just with DNA-HU and the last one just with DNA and prepared them with nanoparticles and ran them through UV.