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PORTELA OTAÑO, Alejandro Ernesto

PORTELA OTAÑO, Alejandro Ernesto

Professor Col.laborador
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCIES
Department of Basic Areas

Contact

Tel. +34 932 541 800
Ext. 5872
aeportela@uic.es
ORCID
  • Academic training
  • Professional experience
  • Projects
    • Competitive
  • Publications
    • Articles
  • Subjects taught
Doctor in Bioengineering, UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
Master's Degree in Digital Systems (biomedicine), INSTITUTO SUPERIOR POLITECNICO DE LA HABANA
Graduated in Telecommunications Engineering, INSTITUTO SUPERIOR POLITECNICO DE LA HABANA
Postdoctoral Researcher: Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ICN2, Spain Jul 2017 – Jan 2020. NanoBiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group.
Design and development of compact and miniaturized optical setups for SPR and LSPR biosensing using angular and spectral interrogation, enabling multiplexed measurements of bioanalytes (micro-RNA, proteins, etc)
• Simulation and fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures for DNA hybridization and Antibody based biosensing schemes.
• Large area and low-cost nanofabrication of plasmonic nanostructures (optical nanogap antennas, nanoholes, nanogratings) using colloidal lithography, nanoimprinting (NIL) and Soft-lithography methodologies to.
• Design and fabrication of microfluidic chips using standard PDMS microfluidic technique. Low cost microfluidic fabrication using mask-less photolithography and inkjet printing processes. Design of active microfluidics valves and peristaltic pumps enabling miniaturization of optofluidic systems.
• Microespectroscopy setup for characterization of plasmonic nanostructures. Electronic instrumentation for signal acquisition.
• Design and evaluation of a sensing system combining capillary gel electrophoresis with SPR (CGE-SPR) and LSPR techniques for direct and real time detection of molecular compounds.
• Design of capillary microfluidics in microchannels for multiplex detection of bioanalytes.
Postdoctoral Researcher: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. Dept. Chemical Sciences and Engineering. Jun 2015 – Apr 2017
• Development of biophotonic applications based on plasmonic and non-plasmonic nanostructures for analysis of biomolecular spectroscopy and cell biological analytes.
• Surface Enhances Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for monitoring the dynamic of the cell’s ligand-receptor. Imaging of cell’s focal adhesion using plasmonic nanoantennas.
• Micro and Nanofabrication process of plasmonic structures and microfluidic chips for integrated solutions.
• Design for of biosensor platform for Point-of-Care testing (POCT) systems for detection of biomarkers and exosomes based on electrophoretic and photonics principles. PhD Bioengineering. The University of Tokyo, Japan 2011-2014 Bioengineering Department.
• Conducted research into the development of biosensing methods for single cell studies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) for biological applications.
• Numerical simulation of optical response of plasmonic nanostructures.
• Modern Nano-Microfabrication techniques for the design of biological sensors. Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), Etching, Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), Chemical and Physical Vapor Deposition, etc.
• Various metallic oxides nanowires and film fabrication SnO2, ZnO2.
• Characterization techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Optical Spectroscopy, Terahertz, UV- Visible spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).
• Surface biofunctionalization. Cell manipulation. Immunostaining confocal microscopy.
• Design of Optical System for spectroscopy using LSPR and Raman Spectroscopy.
• Design and Fabrication of Microfluidic chips using PDMS. 3D printer prototype design and fabrication. Laser cutting and ablation for prototyping.
Master Science (Digital Systems, Biomedical Engineering) 2003-2005 Higher Polytechnic Institute (ISPJAE), Havana, Cuba.
• Design of digital architectures for embedded systems based on microcontrollers.
• Principles of Biosensors. Digital Signal Processing and Object-Oriented Programming.
• Bioinstrumentation. Specialized tools for design of biomedical equipment.
Bachelor of Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering 1994-1999
Higher Polytechnic Institute (ISPJAE), Havana, Cuba. Applied Physics and Chemistry subjects related to electronic discipline. Analog and digital electronic principles and circuitry design. Fundamentals of telecommunications and digital network systems. Basics of biomedical devices and systems.
  • Efecte d’un programa d’exercicis dirigits a minimitzar els moviments compensatoris, a nivell del tronc i de la part proximal de de la extremitat superior afecta dels nens amb Paràlisi Cerebral Unilateral Espàstica durant activitats bimanuals, valorat amb Intel·ligència Artificial. Assaig Clínic Aleatoritzat.
    PI: Bagur-Calafat, C Start date: 01/10/2024 End date: 31/10/2026
    Financing entity: Col.legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya Financing entity code: R1/2023
  • Materials for Bioengineering
    PI: Perez, R. Start date: 01/01/2022 End date: 31/12/2024
    Financing entity: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR), Generalitat de Catalunya Financing entity code: 2021 SGR 000565
  • Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, A Novel non-invasive optical framework for simultaneous analysis of contractility and calcium in single-cell cardiomyocytes
    Name: Marimon, X.; Esquinas, F.; Ferrer, M.; Cerrolaza, M.; Portela, A.; Benítez, R. Role: Autor Publishing date: 2025
    Vol.: 161
    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106812 ISSN or title: 1878-0180
  • Bioengineering, Kinematic Analysis of Human Gait in Healthy Young Adults Using IMU Sensors: Exploring Relevant Machine Learning Features for Clinical Applications
    Name: Marimon, X.; Mengual, I.; López-de-Celis, C.; Portela, A.; Rodríguez-Sanz, J.; Herráez, I.; Pérez-Bellmunt, A. Role: Autor Publishing date: 2024
    Vol.: 11 No.: 2
    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11020105 ISSN or title: 2306-5354
Course 2024-2025 - Period: 01/09/2024 - 31/08/2025
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2023-2024 - Period: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 1
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2022-2023 - Period: 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2023
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2021-2022 - Period: 01/09/2021 - 31/08/2022
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - In-Company Training
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2020-2021 - Period: 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2021
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2

Academic training

Doctor in Bioengineering, UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
Master's Degree in Digital Systems (biomedicine), INSTITUTO SUPERIOR POLITECNICO DE LA HABANA
Graduated in Telecommunications Engineering, INSTITUTO SUPERIOR POLITECNICO DE LA HABANA

Professional experience

Postdoctoral Researcher: Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ICN2, Spain Jul 2017 – Jan 2020. NanoBiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group.
Design and development of compact and miniaturized optical setups for SPR and LSPR biosensing using angular and spectral interrogation, enabling multiplexed measurements of bioanalytes (micro-RNA, proteins, etc)
• Simulation and fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures for DNA hybridization and Antibody based biosensing schemes.
• Large area and low-cost nanofabrication of plasmonic nanostructures (optical nanogap antennas, nanoholes, nanogratings) using colloidal lithography, nanoimprinting (NIL) and Soft-lithography methodologies to.
• Design and fabrication of microfluidic chips using standard PDMS microfluidic technique. Low cost microfluidic fabrication using mask-less photolithography and inkjet printing processes. Design of active microfluidics valves and peristaltic pumps enabling miniaturization of optofluidic systems.
• Microespectroscopy setup for characterization of plasmonic nanostructures. Electronic instrumentation for signal acquisition.
• Design and evaluation of a sensing system combining capillary gel electrophoresis with SPR (CGE-SPR) and LSPR techniques for direct and real time detection of molecular compounds.
• Design of capillary microfluidics in microchannels for multiplex detection of bioanalytes.
Postdoctoral Researcher: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. Dept. Chemical Sciences and Engineering. Jun 2015 – Apr 2017
• Development of biophotonic applications based on plasmonic and non-plasmonic nanostructures for analysis of biomolecular spectroscopy and cell biological analytes.
• Surface Enhances Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for monitoring the dynamic of the cell’s ligand-receptor. Imaging of cell’s focal adhesion using plasmonic nanoantennas.
• Micro and Nanofabrication process of plasmonic structures and microfluidic chips for integrated solutions.
• Design for of biosensor platform for Point-of-Care testing (POCT) systems for detection of biomarkers and exosomes based on electrophoretic and photonics principles. PhD Bioengineering. The University of Tokyo, Japan 2011-2014 Bioengineering Department.
• Conducted research into the development of biosensing methods for single cell studies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) for biological applications.
• Numerical simulation of optical response of plasmonic nanostructures.
• Modern Nano-Microfabrication techniques for the design of biological sensors. Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), Etching, Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), Chemical and Physical Vapor Deposition, etc.
• Various metallic oxides nanowires and film fabrication SnO2, ZnO2.
• Characterization techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Optical Spectroscopy, Terahertz, UV- Visible spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).
• Surface biofunctionalization. Cell manipulation. Immunostaining confocal microscopy.
• Design of Optical System for spectroscopy using LSPR and Raman Spectroscopy.
• Design and Fabrication of Microfluidic chips using PDMS. 3D printer prototype design and fabrication. Laser cutting and ablation for prototyping.
Master Science (Digital Systems, Biomedical Engineering) 2003-2005 Higher Polytechnic Institute (ISPJAE), Havana, Cuba.
• Design of digital architectures for embedded systems based on microcontrollers.
• Principles of Biosensors. Digital Signal Processing and Object-Oriented Programming.
• Bioinstrumentation. Specialized tools for design of biomedical equipment.
Bachelor of Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering 1994-1999
Higher Polytechnic Institute (ISPJAE), Havana, Cuba. Applied Physics and Chemistry subjects related to electronic discipline. Analog and digital electronic principles and circuitry design. Fundamentals of telecommunications and digital network systems. Basics of biomedical devices and systems.

Projects

Competitive

  • Efecte d’un programa d’exercicis dirigits a minimitzar els moviments compensatoris, a nivell del tronc i de la part proximal de de la extremitat superior afecta dels nens amb Paràlisi Cerebral Unilateral Espàstica durant activitats bimanuals, valorat amb Intel·ligència Artificial. Assaig Clínic Aleatoritzat.
    PI: Bagur-Calafat, C Start date: 01/10/2024 End date: 31/10/2026
    Financing entity: Col.legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya Financing entity code: R1/2023
  • Materials for Bioengineering
    PI: Perez, R. Start date: 01/01/2022 End date: 31/12/2024
    Financing entity: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR), Generalitat de Catalunya Financing entity code: 2021 SGR 000565

Publications

Articles

  • Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, A Novel non-invasive optical framework for simultaneous analysis of contractility and calcium in single-cell cardiomyocytes
    Name: Marimon, X.; Esquinas, F.; Ferrer, M.; Cerrolaza, M.; Portela, A.; Benítez, R. Role: Autor Publishing date: 2025
    Vol.: 161
    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106812 ISSN or title: 1878-0180
  • Bioengineering, Kinematic Analysis of Human Gait in Healthy Young Adults Using IMU Sensors: Exploring Relevant Machine Learning Features for Clinical Applications
    Name: Marimon, X.; Mengual, I.; López-de-Celis, C.; Portela, A.; Rodríguez-Sanz, J.; Herráez, I.; Pérez-Bellmunt, A. Role: Autor Publishing date: 2024
    Vol.: 11 No.: 2
    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11020105 ISSN or title: 2306-5354
Course 2024-2025 - Period: 01/09/2024 - 31/08/2025
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2023-2024 - Period: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 1
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2022-2023 - Period: 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2023
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - In-Company Training
    • - Final Degree Project
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2021-2022 - Period: 01/09/2021 - 31/08/2022
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Treatment Methods in Orthoprosthetics
    • - Final Degree Project
    • - In-Company Training
    Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences
    • - Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Course 2020-2021 - Period: 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2021
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering
    • - Biomedical Instrumentation
    • - Signals and Systems Theory
    • - The Basics and Electronic Systems
    • - Computing, Robotics and Bionics 2