directory of the spanish nanotechnology community - Fundación ...

Capacities
GAIKER TECHNOLOGY CENTER
University Technology Centre Public Centre SME Large Company
characterization nanocomposites nanosensors synthesis/funct nanophotonics
nanobiotechnology nanoadditives nanometrology nanosimulation nanoencapsulates
Address
Technological Center, Edif. 202
48170-Zamudio-Spain
Tel.: + 34 94 600 23 23
Fax: + 34 94 600 23 24
Webpage: www.gaiker.es
Contact information
Mikel Anton
International Relations General Coordinator
e-mail: anton@gaiker.es
Organization profile
GAIKER-IK4 Technological Centre, located in the Technological Park of Bizkaia, is devoted to the up-take of
own knowledge and to the development of new technologies that are later transferred to customers coming
from sectors such as the Pharmaceutical Industry, Chemical Industry, Human and Animal Health,
Engineering and Consultancy Firms, Public Administrations, Automotive Industries, Construction, Packing
and Packaging, and Home Appliances, amongst others.
From 1985, the Centre has carried out close to 1.500 R+D Projects related to its Knowledge Areas:
Biotechnology, Environment and Recycling and Plastics and Composites. Besides its activity in R+D,
GAIKER-IK4 offers to its customers Advanced Technological Services, Analysis and Tests and
Technological Dissemination Services.
GAIKER-IK4, which at present counts on more than 130 employees, was awarded in 2008 by the European
Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) with the ―Prize Winner‖ for the best European organisation in
―Management for Process and Facts‖. The quality of its management based on the EFQM model has also
meant other recognitions for the Centre which place it as a reference point on this matter. GAIKER-IK4 also
has other certifications such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, which show its strong commitment with quality and
continuous improvement.
Main capacities in nanotechnology / nanoscience
Nanotoxicology expertise
Gaiker has relevant experience in a wide number of in vitro technologies currently recommended to assess
nanotoxicity and which have been deeply reviewed by us for their suitability in the area of Nanotoxicology in
different FP7 projects, these include assessment of genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, generation of oxidative oxygen
species, inflammation and intracellular fate. Our experience covers both human safety and ecotoxicity
assessment.
Regarding innovation, Gaiker is currently working on the development of complex in vitro systems which are
more relevant to in vivo experimentation and therefore could provide significant nanotoxicity data towards in
vitro in vivo toxicity correlations. Likewise we are currently assessing the suitability of in vitro physiological
barrier models of the skin, Blood brain barrier, intestinal and airway epithelium for their use in
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