Jorge Aníbal Martinetti Montanari is an Argentine researcher with a degree in biotechnology, specialized in molecular genetics, and holds a Ph.D. in nanomedicine. Both degrees were earned at the National University of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Montanari completed a research residency at the National Nanotechnology Institute of Turkey and is a member of the Argentine Network of Researchers in Health (RAIIS).
He is a researcher at CONICET, working at the Institute of Biotechnology at the National University of Hurlingham, where he also serves as a professor. In addition, he teaches at the National University of Quilmes. He is the director of the Laboratory of Nanosystems for Biotechnological Applications (LANSAB) at the National University of Hurlingham.
His research focuses on nanotechnology in relation to health, particularly neglected diseases, and applications in cosmetics and food science.
Montanari and biotechnology
Montanari conducts his research in the field of biotechnology, especially regarding medical and therapeutic technologies, as well as therapeutic and cosmetic nanotechnology. Biotechnology is the discipline that involves using techniques based on living cells to obtain or modify a product.
Nanotechnology, in turn, is the manipulation of matter at the nanometric scale. Cosmetic nanotechnology involves using nanoparticles in cosmetic products to enhance their properties.
At LANSAB, Montanari leads research on various nano-structured systems, such as nanoparticles. These studies are particularly aimed at contributing to the treatment of skin conditions, including skin cancer.
Contribution to skin cancer research
Within the field of biotechnology for therapeutic, diagnostic, and cosmetic purposes, Montanari has made a significant advance in addressing skin cancer. Together with his colleague Natalia Calienni, he designed a nano-structure capable of delivering medication specifically targeted to treat skin cancer.
This nano-structure—an entity measured in nanometers—delivers the drug directly to the tumor. The breakthrough of this study lies in offering an alternative to the commercially available pill that causes damage to healthy tissues and organs.
The researchers used the drug vismodegib, which is normally administered orally and has significant side effects. Their innovation allows the drug to be delivered in the form of a cream or gel, avoiding harm to healthy regions of the body.
This development presents the possibility of reducing treatment costs and increasing accessibility for patients while enabling a targeted attack on the tumor with minimal collateral damage.
Biotechnology and medicine
The synergy between biotechnology and medicine plays a crucial role in science and health. These disciplines intersect in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, aiming to improve quality of life.
Medical biotechnology studies the human genetic structure and uses living cells to develop products that improve health and well-being. Key advances include gene therapy—the modification of genes to treat hereditary diseases—as well as tissue repair and regeneration.
Genetic modification of organisms has also enabled the production of medicines and vaccines. Moreover, biotechnology helps reduce infection rates and mitigates the side effects commonly associated with medications.
The integration of science and technology into medicine has led to major breakthroughs in drug administration and overall patient care. In the case of skin cancer, understanding a patient’s genetic profile enables personalized diagnosis and treatment, tailored to each individual’s molecular characteristics.
Montanari stands out as one of the Argentine biotechnologists conducting health-related research in the fields of biotechnology and medicine. His contributions to medical sciences through biotechnology and nanotechnology represent a significant step forward, especially in research on skin cancer.
His work opens the door to more effective treatments with fewer side effects, demonstrating how the intersection of biotechnology and medicine can improve public health outcomes.
