Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a persistent challenge for current therapeutic methods, which is why new approaches are needed to combat microbial infections. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising approach that uses light to generate reactive oxygen species which cause oxidative damage to bacteria, and promote inactivation by making the development of resistance more difficult.
Researchers from the AppLightChem group at IQS are developing an innovative antimicrobial photodynamic therapy prototype to treat bacterial skin infections. This project was not only selected for presentation at the Investor’s Day Llavor 2025 but also won the Falling Walls Lab Barcelona competition.
In the AppLightChem group at IQS, Dr. Roger Bresolí Obach has led the LUMICTE project, in collaboration with Dr. Santi Nonell Marrugat, with the aim of developing a prototype to carry out an alternative therapy to treat bacterial skin infections based on antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), with cluster trigger emissions (CTE) materials. In this case, they use CTE photosensitizers based on materials present in nature, such as cellulose, to create this prototype with a pharmaceutical formula for superficial application on the skin. These types of materials or polymers are approved by the FDA and the EMA as excipients, which will help their market introduction and clinical translation. In preliminary tests, IQS researchers have managed to inactivate Gram+ bacteria, which are very common in topical infections.
On June 17, within the framework of the celebration of the Investor’s Day & Innovation Fair of the Llavor 2025 program support plan, researchers from the LUMICTE project received a diploma for having successfully completed the entrepreneurship and innovation course taught by the company TopBrands® Consulting, in which they received tools to help with transfer and to create a startup.
Furthermore, LUMICTE was one of the 10 finalist projects, out of the 80 granted in 2025 within this call, to present its technology to a panel of specialized investors, a presentation carried out by PhD student Karina Dueñas Parro, a researcher on this project.
“This recognition at the Investor’s Day and the opportunity to present our idea to the industry gives us a lot of strength to continue with this project, and to ask for more funding sources to be able to bring our technology to society” are the words of Dr. Roger Bresolí. The patent application for the technology developed in this project has been filed and was published in the article Light Meets Nature: Cellulose Cluster as a Natural Photoantimicrobial Agent, Small Structures, Vol 7, issue 6, e70520, 2026.
The LUMICTE project was funded within the program Ajuts d’Indústria del Coneixement – Modalitat Llavor of the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) of the Generalitat of Catalonia. These grants are intended for innovative projects with the potential for incorporation into the productive sector.
Breaking the Wall of Bacterial Infections
On June 18, Karina Dueñas Parro won the first edition of the Falling Walls Lab competition held in Barcelona. Organized by StartUB!, it is a competition created by the Falling Walls Foundation in which 16 young researchers explain their research in just 3 minutes to offer solutions to overcome the great challenges of our society.
The Falling Walls Foundation is a global hub that connects science, business, and society, with the aim of ‘breaking walls’ and shaping the future of humanity with impact-oriented ideas and discoveries to achieve breakthrough advances beyond borders and disciplines. In her presentation titled Breaking the Wall of Bacterial Infections, Karina spoke about her line of research in light-activated therapies and CTEs to combat antibiotic-resistant skin infections. With this award, Karina Dueñas will be Barcelona’s representative in the final international competition – the Falling Walls Science Summit – to be held next November in Berlin.
“Being the representative at the final in Berlin gives me a unique opportunity to present our project, our group, and our University; I am very excited about it, but it also commands a lot of respect and entails a lot of responsibility. But I am very happy!” states Karina Dueñas Parro.
Falling Walls Lab Barcelona 2026 was organized by StartUB! – University of Barcelona in collaboration with the University Entrepreneurship Network (XEU) of Catalonia.
