From Targeting Moieties to Drug Loading: High Resolution Chemical Profiling of Nanoparticles with SPARTA Resolution Chemical Profiling of Nanoparticles
Jelle Penders, Sparta Biodiscovery, UK
Monday 13 April 2026, 12.00 PM
ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles
ONLINE (Register here)
Abstract
SPARTA® enables single nanoparticle chemical fingerprinting, offering capabilities far beyond conventional ensemble measurements. This makes it a powerful tool for researchers working with nanoparticles like lipid or polymer nanoparticles (LNPs/PNPs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and other heterogeneous nano‑formulations.
SPARTA® has been adopted in academia and industry, accelerating development pipelines, improving product/formulation characterisation, and supporting robust decision‑making.
We will look at case-study examples assessing relative quantity and heterogeneity of targeting moieties presented on nanoparticle surfaces, drug loading studies demonstrating loaded/unloaded ratios, and detailed chemical profiling proving all key components have been incorporated successfully into nanoparticle products.
Short bio
Dr. Jelle Penders is the CEO of the Imperial College spin-out company SPARTA Biodiscovery. He received his BSc degree from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands and his MSc degree from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. He finished his PhD research in the group of Prof. Molly Stevens FRS FREng at Imperial College London in 2019, specializing in novel methods for nanoparticle and nanomaterial characterization using Raman spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy. He has worked for several years as a postdoctoral research associate further developing his co-invention of SPARTA®-Single Particle Automated Raman Trapping Analysis- in the Stevens group and co-founded the spin-out company SPARTA Biodiscovery in 2022 to commercialize it. The research on SPARTA® has been published in leading journals such as Nature Communications, ACS Nano and Advanced Materials as a transformative novel analytical modality for nanoformulations such as lipid nanoparticles, polymersomes and exosomes.
Hosted by Elisabet González, from the NANOMOL-BIO group (Materials for Health Research Line)
>>If you want to meet the speaker, please contact the host at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
