"We design and study programmable molecular systems to understand and control dynamic biological processes at the nanoscale"

Dr. Tania Patiño Padial’s research focuses on the design of DNA-based nanosystems as programmable tools to investigate and modulate biological processes. Her group develops enzyme-powered nanomotors and DNA origami assemblies to study motility and dynamic interactions at the nanoscale. By integrating molecular engineering with cell biology approaches, including gene expression analysis, cellular signaling studies, and advanced microscopy, the group explores how synthetic nanosystems interface with and influence living matter. This interdisciplinary research combines quantitative and functional methods to uncover the fundamental principles governing motion, communication, and regulation in hybrid molecular–cellular systems.

Tania Patiño Padial obtained her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Autonomous University of Barcelona. Following her doctoral studies, she conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, where she developed enzyme-powered nanomotors for biomedical applications. After that, she obtained an individual Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship, where she investigated the design of DNA-based nanodevices for programmable functionalities at the nanoscale, including motion and sensing. She joined Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.