On September 26th, MOBILIsE proudly took part once again in the European Researchers’ Night (ERN) 2025, the largest science outreach event in Europe, held at the i3S.
The MOBILIsE booth presented four activities that illustrate how (Bio)Materials and Nanotechnology can be used to tackle medical issues with a significant impact on human health. Visitors explored various hands-on activities designed by different research groups within the MOBILIsE project:
Molecular Biomaterials’ Group (led by Helena Azevedo)
Visitors experienced the “traffic light reaction”, where a simple change in pH creates three colour shifts (red, yellow, green), and discovered how to separate magnetic from non-magnetic hydrogels.
NanoBiomaterials for Targeted Therapies (nBTT) Group (led by Ana Paula Pêgo)
“Neuroexplorers: Travelling through the Brain” invited participants to observe nervous system models (e.g. zebrafish, mouse) under the microscope and discover how researchers use them together with nanoparticles and 3D in vitro platforms to push the frontiers of neuroscience.
Nanomedicines & Translational Drug Delivery (NTDD) Group (led by Bruno Sarmento)
Participants explored how microfluidics can be used to produce nanoparticles for controlled drug release.
BioEngineered Surfaces (BeSurf) Group (led by Cristina Martins)
“Mission: Heal the Wound” was an interactive quiz on the challenge of chronic wound healing in diabetes, raising awareness of wound care while showing how stem cells, nanotechnology, and bioactive dressings can shape future therapies.
The ERN takes place every year, on the last Friday of September, where Universities and research institutes across Europe open their doors and share their work through presentations, experiments, games, discussions and other interactive formats. The event targets the general public, addressing and attracting people regardless of the level of their scientific background, with a special focus on young people and their families, pupils and students.
Groups from MOBILIsE at the European Researchers’ Night 2025 (from left to right): NTDD, nBTT, BeSurf, Molecular Biomaterials