The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs ....The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs are composed of a weak polymer matrix and a MEW reinforcing fibrous phase printed at the nanometre scale, containing patterns mimicking the natural tissue architectures. Advanced computational tools are applied for the rational design of the SNC while reducing costs and times associated to experimental work.Read moreRead less
Bioengineered bioscaffolds for Achilles tendinopathy treatment. The purpose of the project is to improve outcomes following the surgical treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The expected outcome is the development in animals of new ways to design tissue engineered bioscaffolds for the surgical repair of Achilles tendinopathy.
Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morph ....Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morphology, polymer chemistry & biomolecular engineering that will produce basic scientific data with a practical application. Post-graduate students and staff will train & gain significant knowledge in this area.
3. Benefit industry through new product development and IP. This project advances a platform technology with multiple applications.Read moreRead less
Design and Fabrication of an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) by combining a composite scaffold and growth factor delivery system. The lifetime risk for long bone fractures in Caucasians over the age of 50 is 17% for women and 6% for men. The prevalence of age-related fractures - and with it higher mortality rates due to complications following bone fractures - is therefore bound to increase over the coming decades. There is clearly a great need for therapies that take age-related changes in ....Design and Fabrication of an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) by combining a composite scaffold and growth factor delivery system. The lifetime risk for long bone fractures in Caucasians over the age of 50 is 17% for women and 6% for men. The prevalence of age-related fractures - and with it higher mortality rates due to complications following bone fractures - is therefore bound to increase over the coming decades. There is clearly a great need for therapies that take age-related changes into consideration, in particular the diminishing capacity of bone to heal with age. In an effort to address the therapeutic challenges of providing bone grafts, we aim to mesh two leading-edge technologies to design and fabricate an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) system. Read moreRead less
Development and characterization of a technology platform to study the mechanisms of scaffold/Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP) augmented large segmental bone healing. This project will increase understanding of bone engineering and in doing so will lead to superior treatments for bone defects. Such a treatment would be valuable in addressing the ever-increasing problems of diminished productivity and reduced quality of life associated with bone disorders as the population ages. The multidisciplin ....Development and characterization of a technology platform to study the mechanisms of scaffold/Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP) augmented large segmental bone healing. This project will increase understanding of bone engineering and in doing so will lead to superior treatments for bone defects. Such a treatment would be valuable in addressing the ever-increasing problems of diminished productivity and reduced quality of life associated with bone disorders as the population ages. The multidisciplinary and international team will be valuable in establishing Australia's prominence in this field and training the next generation of young scientists and engineers. The technologies developed will be of great interest to a large number of research groups and companies worldwide and will assist with fostering international collaboration and placing Australia at the forefront of this emerging field.Read moreRead less
Frontiers in bone and joint regeneration. Key outcomes of this project will deliver innovative strategies for scaffold-based bone and cartilage engineering whilst contributing to the education of a new generation of bioengineers, biomaterial scientists and tissue engineers with a strong international profile.
Bone regulation - cell interactions to disease. Many bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease and chancer related bone diseases are directly related to disruption of communication pathways between bone cells leading to imbalances in bone remodeling. Although these disorders are common and cause considerable suffering, in most cases little is known about the mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional remodeling. Understanding the communication network between bone cells and their inter ....Bone regulation - cell interactions to disease. Many bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease and chancer related bone diseases are directly related to disruption of communication pathways between bone cells leading to imbalances in bone remodeling. Although these disorders are common and cause considerable suffering, in most cases little is known about the mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional remodeling. Understanding the communication network between bone cells and their interaction with drugs is essential in order to develop new therapies and to effectively design novel biological compatible bone implants. This research proposal closely aligns with national research priority two, i.e., promoting and maintaining good health (ageing well, ageing productively).Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354583
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Biodevice fabrication through intelligent surface modification. Achieving the reliable control of the attachment of proteins and other macromolecules to surfaces needed for sophisticated biosensors and medical diagnostics requires expertise and infrastructure from a diverse range of disciplines from the physical, chemical and biological sciences and engineering. This network will bring together researchers from a multidisciplinary pool working on problems relevant to the creation of functional s ....Biodevice fabrication through intelligent surface modification. Achieving the reliable control of the attachment of proteins and other macromolecules to surfaces needed for sophisticated biosensors and medical diagnostics requires expertise and infrastructure from a diverse range of disciplines from the physical, chemical and biological sciences and engineering. This network will bring together researchers from a multidisciplinary pool working on problems relevant to the creation of functional surfaces for applications in biodevices. The program we envisage will break down the barriers imposed by disciplinary boundaries and technical terminology to bring together the skills and infrastructure required to make rapid advances in this field.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100302
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,300.00
Summary
A long-lasting interface for communicating with the brain. This project aims to address the most urgent challenges in developing the next generation of implantable devices for communicating with the brain. Using a new type of carbon-based electrode, along with light therapy, this project expects to build innovative technologies that can greatly enhance the functionality and longevity of these devices. Expected outcomes include a novel tool that can be implemented to obtain detailed insights into ....A long-lasting interface for communicating with the brain. This project aims to address the most urgent challenges in developing the next generation of implantable devices for communicating with the brain. Using a new type of carbon-based electrode, along with light therapy, this project expects to build innovative technologies that can greatly enhance the functionality and longevity of these devices. Expected outcomes include a novel tool that can be implemented to obtain detailed insights into neural circuits, advancing our understanding of neural function and pioneering feedback and closed-loop neuroscience. This project should provide significant benefits in neuroscience research and the neural interface industry, both of which have the ultimate goal to unlock the mysteries of the brain.Read moreRead less
The Tissue Engineering of Tissue Regeneration: Innovative Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration. The aim of this work is to advance the science of tissue regeneration closer towards potential clinical applications. To do this we hope to solve some problems currently preventing this type of therapy from developing further.
The significance of this work is that it will help us further understand why this phenomenon is limited in humans and most animals, but present in lower order vertebrates ....The Tissue Engineering of Tissue Regeneration: Innovative Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration. The aim of this work is to advance the science of tissue regeneration closer towards potential clinical applications. To do this we hope to solve some problems currently preventing this type of therapy from developing further.
The significance of this work is that it will help us further understand why this phenomenon is limited in humans and most animals, but present in lower order vertebrates such as salamanders.
The expected outcome is the design of innovative biomaterials suited for effective tissue reconstruction and regeneration with widespread clinical applications.
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