Bilayered and growth factor-loaded composite scaffolds for the guided bi-differentiation of bone marrow stem cells. The project will regenerate bone-cartilage (osteochondral) tissues using scaffolds, growth factors, and stem cells in order to repair osteochondral defects. The project will improve the quality of life for ~1.4 million Australians suffering from joint pain and disability due to damage or disease of cartilage and subchondral bone. The project will promote Australia research strength ....Bilayered and growth factor-loaded composite scaffolds for the guided bi-differentiation of bone marrow stem cells. The project will regenerate bone-cartilage (osteochondral) tissues using scaffolds, growth factors, and stem cells in order to repair osteochondral defects. The project will improve the quality of life for ~1.4 million Australians suffering from joint pain and disability due to damage or disease of cartilage and subchondral bone. The project will promote Australia research strength in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. The project will also create research opportunities for PhD students, who will be equipped with interdisciplinary skills.Read moreRead less
Meso- and Macro-porous Bioactive Glasses for Bone-repairing. This project aims to use self-assembly and pore engineering at different length scales to fabricate novel bioactive glasses of highly ordered mesoporous structure. By precisely controlling the composition, size and volume of both mesopores and macropores, bioactive glasses with improved bone forming activities will be obtained. The successful synthesis of such bioactive glasses is expected to lead to the fundamental understanding of st ....Meso- and Macro-porous Bioactive Glasses for Bone-repairing. This project aims to use self-assembly and pore engineering at different length scales to fabricate novel bioactive glasses of highly ordered mesoporous structure. By precisely controlling the composition, size and volume of both mesopores and macropores, bioactive glasses with improved bone forming activities will be obtained. The successful synthesis of such bioactive glasses is expected to lead to the fundamental understanding of structure-bioactivity relationship, and new materials effective for tissue engineering. This will also open up new opportunities for other applications such as drug delivery, implanting.Read moreRead less
Convergence of biomaterials and immunology: a technology platform for delayed burst release of vaccines. A large challenge in vaccination, particularly in wildlife such as for the growing problem of Chlamydia in koalas, is to provide the necessary booster shots. This project will develop implants that will be inserted under the skin at the time of the first shot, and will spontaneously burst later to release the booster shot to provide protection.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101553
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix- ....A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix-and-match' assembly of VLPs from modified components. As a proof of concept for next-generation vaccines that stimulate much needed, broadly protective responses against infectious diseases, model antigens will be delivered to specific immune cells using this nano-container.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100800
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Polymer micropatches applied to the skin for integrated capture and detection of circulating biomarkers. The purpose of this project is to develop a rapid and integrated technology for user-friendly biomarker detection at the point-of-care. We expect the device to rapidly detect proteins and/or antibodies, without the need for highly trained health workers or access to scientific laboratories.
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC160100026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,722,989.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing. ARC Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing. The training centre aims to bring together leading researchers and industry to develop and translate key technology platforms for personalised treatments of challenging medical conditions. The centre expects its research will lead to synergistic and innovative technologies needed for personalised therapies including: modular additive biomanufacturing platforms; advanced bio-inks for regenerative m ....ARC Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing. ARC Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing. The training centre aims to bring together leading researchers and industry to develop and translate key technology platforms for personalised treatments of challenging medical conditions. The centre expects its research will lead to synergistic and innovative technologies needed for personalised therapies including: modular additive biomanufacturing platforms; advanced bio-inks for regenerative medicine; and additive manufactured tools for surgical planning and education. Highly experienced researchers and industry partners with teams of exceptional post-doctoral fellows and doctoral students would drive each technology. Anticipated impacts are that Australia will be a world-leader in additive biomanufacturing, and that the research will change the fields of science, health and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan- ....Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan-mediated interactions that support long-term expansion and potency maintenance, and synthetic biomaterials that can mimic them. Significant benefits for stem cell researchers, manufacturers and end users are expected from the project and the application of this scalable biomaterial platform.Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insi ....Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insights in colloid science, cell-laden biomaterials design, and BioInk processing. Structure-property-function guides for colloid-based BioInks and quality-assured bioprinting as outcomes represent significant benefits for researchers and industries alike engaged in biofabrication, cell therapy and biotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Interplay between mechanical and biological microenvironments in chondrocyte function: towards an understanding of cartilage pathology. This project will develop state-of-the-art laboratory models of healthy and diseased joints. These models will assist in answering questions about the causes of osteoarthritis, and provide information on how best to treat diseased joints.