Properties of nanomaterials determine their disposal by liver cells. This project aims to understand how the liver handles and is affected by nanomaterials in the body. Nanomaterials are widely used in industrial, environmental, consumer and drug products, but how they affect human health is poorly understood. This project will characterise the spatiotemporal distribution of a set of nanomaterials with defined attributes in naïve and modified livers using chemistry, imaging and biological method ....Properties of nanomaterials determine their disposal by liver cells. This project aims to understand how the liver handles and is affected by nanomaterials in the body. Nanomaterials are widely used in industrial, environmental, consumer and drug products, but how they affect human health is poorly understood. This project will characterise the spatiotemporal distribution of a set of nanomaterials with defined attributes in naïve and modified livers using chemistry, imaging and biological methods. This work is expected to determine how nanomaterials’ attributes direct pathways for liver cell disposal and describe nanomaterial–liver interactions at the cellular level, information crucial in enabling safer nanomaterials for use in products such as drug formulations, sunscreens and cosmetics.Read moreRead less
Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogeni ....Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogenicity, stability and safety will be generated. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in nanomaterial science and a market ready technology platform, improving Australia’s capabilities in nanobiotechnology and vaccine development, as well as delivering a new value-added product for the Industry Partner. Read moreRead less
Development of Unprecedented Aluminosilicate Adjuvants. High-performance adjuvants are essential components of vaccine technology. Aluminium-based adjuvants are widely used, but provide weak cellular immunity and possible risk of neurotoxicity. Combining state-of-the-art nanotechnology and classic coordination chemistry, this project aims to apply a new design principle to create novel mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles with alkalinity, for use as nanoadjuvants. This project expects to adv ....Development of Unprecedented Aluminosilicate Adjuvants. High-performance adjuvants are essential components of vaccine technology. Aluminium-based adjuvants are widely used, but provide weak cellular immunity and possible risk of neurotoxicity. Combining state-of-the-art nanotechnology and classic coordination chemistry, this project aims to apply a new design principle to create novel mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles with alkalinity, for use as nanoadjuvants. This project expects to advance knowledge of how immune systems respond to changes in chemistry and nanostructure of aluminosilicate materials and enable the design of nanoadjuvants with enhanced cellular immunity and reduced toxicity. Outcomes include a new family of functional materials with unprecedented adjuvant performance.Read moreRead less
Next-Generation Multifunctional Nanoparticles for mRNA Transfection. This project aims to engineer a multifunctional nanoparticle platform tailored for mRNA delivery. An innovative assembly approach will be used to design nanoparticles with adjustable composition, asymmetry and surface topography. Uniquely, three functions will be integrated in one nanoparticle, with the goal to enhance transfection efficiency in target cells. This project expects to advance knowledge of mRNA transfection mechan ....Next-Generation Multifunctional Nanoparticles for mRNA Transfection. This project aims to engineer a multifunctional nanoparticle platform tailored for mRNA delivery. An innovative assembly approach will be used to design nanoparticles with adjustable composition, asymmetry and surface topography. Uniquely, three functions will be integrated in one nanoparticle, with the goal to enhance transfection efficiency in target cells. This project expects to advance knowledge of mRNA transfection mechanisms, and determine how cell-type dependent particle-mRNA interactions correlate with the nanoparticle structure and delivery performance. Outcomes include a new family of functional materials with improved mRNA delivery performance over benchmark systems to facilitate and broaden the application of mRNA technology.Read moreRead less
Engineering layered double hydroxide nanoparticles toward an efficient targeted clinical delivery system. This project will develop a more effective drug delivery system using clay nanoparticles and biofriendly serum proteins. Outcomes from this project will provide a tremendous opportunity for potent therapies of cancers, vasculature and neuronal diseases, and place Australia at the forefront of nanotechnology drug delivery research.
A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and ....A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and to use this knowledge in the designed synthesis of a new family of bio-inspired non-viral nanoparticles with both safety and high cellular delivery efficiency. The new and high performance nano-carriers will become a platform technology with broad bio-applications in gene therapy, cancer therapy and bio-imaging.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL190100139
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,185,850.00
Summary
New Artificial Leaf for Efficient Solar Fuel Production . The Fellowship aims to develop next-generation materials that harness solar energy to produce valuable fuels and chemicals from water and carbon dioxide, replacing fossil fuels. The program will design new semiconductor materials to revolutionise solar-to-fuel technologies that currently have very low efficiency. The expected outcomes include innovative systems such as wireless artificial leaves that mimic natural photosynthesis for effic ....New Artificial Leaf for Efficient Solar Fuel Production . The Fellowship aims to develop next-generation materials that harness solar energy to produce valuable fuels and chemicals from water and carbon dioxide, replacing fossil fuels. The program will design new semiconductor materials to revolutionise solar-to-fuel technologies that currently have very low efficiency. The expected outcomes include innovative systems such as wireless artificial leaves that mimic natural photosynthesis for efficient hydrocarbon production, carbon dioxide reduction, and water purification. The expected benefits include next-generation solar fuel and chemical generation technologies, and research capabilities to position Australia as a global leader in the transition to a decarbonised economy.Read moreRead less
Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipi ....Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipitation platform technology for making drug-core polymer-shell nanoparticles, and a new bio-inspired approach for making hybrid drug-core silica-shell nanocomposites, and new materials for applications in programmed release and delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fu ....Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fundamentally understand the relationship between physical-chemical properties and efficacy. Completion of this project aims to produce potent nanoparticle-based adjuvants underpinned by novel manufacturing technology, to ultimately facilitate the development of more effective and protective vaccines for animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100839
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,162.00
Summary
Nanoarchitectured platform technology for molecular profiling of exosomes. The aim of this project is to develop a set of cutting-edge nanotechnologies and a nanofabrication strategy to create a highly sensitive platform technology for exosome and exosomal miRNA analysis. This project aims to generate new knowledge in mesoporus nanomaterials and transudcer as well as exosome chemistry by developing nanostructure-based platform technology (device) for automated and rapid analysis. This project's ....Nanoarchitectured platform technology for molecular profiling of exosomes. The aim of this project is to develop a set of cutting-edge nanotechnologies and a nanofabrication strategy to create a highly sensitive platform technology for exosome and exosomal miRNA analysis. This project aims to generate new knowledge in mesoporus nanomaterials and transudcer as well as exosome chemistry by developing nanostructure-based platform technology (device) for automated and rapid analysis. This project's findings are expected to provide Australia with cutting-edge expertise for developing a next-generation platform technology for analysing exosomes and other relevant biomolecules, with the potential to deliver valuable intellectual property of commercial interest and economic benefit through technological advancements.Read moreRead less