Jorge Marqués, new doctor at the ICMM: "I feel I can contribute with novel ideas in my field"

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A new doctor at the Material Science Institute of Madrid: Jorge Marqués just defended his thesis this week. He has been working supervised by Agustina Asenjo on Magnetic biomaterials for biomedicine, which is also the title of his work. “The aim of the thesis is the investigation of magnetic nanomaterials that have applications in biomedicine and their characterization at the nanoscale", he explains in the abstract. 

Marqués has been studying cylindrical magnetic nanowires with different geometries and materials composition; additionally, he tested the feasibility of nanostructured magnetostrictive surfaces for bactericidal applications and observed the magnetic configurations for individual elements throughout the characterization of magnetotactic bacteria and magnetic nanoparticles with magnetic force microscopy. "I also evaluated, in the case of nanoparticles, the power that they absorb and release in the form of heat", he adds. 

Why did you choose ICMM for your PhD?

I joined the Group of Nanomagnetism and Magnetization Processes at ICMM during my Master’s with a JAE Intro Scholarship given by the CSIC. Due to the fantastic scientific and personal environment, I chose to pursue my PhD studies in this institute.

How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience?

Briefly, my research consists of the study of really small magnetic materials that can be applied in different areas of medicine. For their study, among other techniques, I use a Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), which allows me to “see” the magnetic field at the nanoscale. The MFM is a scanning probe technique, what means that we do not observe directly an image as with optical microscopes. In MFM, we have a really small and sharp tip (like a needle, but the end is of just a few nanometers!). This tip is a small magnet that interacts with the (magnetic) sample, just as when you try to approach two magnets and you see how poles repeal or attract each other. By detecting this magnetic interaction between the tip and the material, we can “observe” its magnetic configuration.

What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?

Among the applications of my research, I will mention two. One is the exploitation of MFM to characterize very challenging biomaterials. This is the case of magnetotactic bacteria, promising candidates for biomedicine, which are microorganisms that have tiny magnets inside their membranes and can be directed inside the body via the application of magnetic fields.

Another application is the use of surfaces covered with very small sharp nanoelements for bactericidal purposes. These sharp elements change their size under the application of an external magnetic field. This change of size helps the penetration of the elements in bacteria membranes, destroying them. This allows their use in, for example, medical implants to prevent health risks derived from surgical site infections. 

What are the lessons you had learnt here? Which one do you value the most?

During these years, I have not only acquired and improved my scientific skills, but also soft skills. What I find more important to have learned is discussing with others about the work being carried out, even when (apparently) no help is needed. Having different perspectives/backgrounds, they may suggest you investigate or perform the work in new ways that only by myself would not have thought.

How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future?

I have gained personal and scientific maturity during my PhD studies. Therefore, I feel I can contribute with novel ideas in my field, as well as explore new research areas to apply different disciplines to face new challenges.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

As I want to continue my scientific career, I will go do a postdoc (in Germany) to explore the emerging field of 3D nanomagnetism and gain international experience.

Why did you become a scientist? Who have been your role models?

I did not really think about becoming a scientist. I did the Bachelor in Physics because I found it very interesting to know more about the natural laws. In the same way, I did a Master’s in nanotechnology and continued with the PhD. 

My role models have been people that have been around me during my different stages. At high school, my sciences teachers, as well as professors at university. During my PhD, apart from my supervisor and other senior researchers, my mates, both PhD and PhD students have also been people I have looked up to.