Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polym ....Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polymer structures both in-vitro and in-vivo.Read moreRead less
Functionalised nanostructured polythiophenes: novel platforms for bionics. The nanostructured organic polymer materials targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of muscle regeneration. A multi-modal stimulation platform is expected to bring significant improvements in muscle cell growth. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from neuromuscular disorders or other traumas that require muscle regeneration. This project ....Functionalised nanostructured polythiophenes: novel platforms for bionics. The nanostructured organic polymer materials targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of muscle regeneration. A multi-modal stimulation platform is expected to bring significant improvements in muscle cell growth. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from neuromuscular disorders or other traumas that require muscle regeneration. This project will demonstrate the capabilities of these nanostructures in-vitro.Read moreRead less
Wet-Spinning Novel Multi-Functional Bio-Synthetic Platforms. The project will deliver new advanced materials for novel biomedical devices such as nanostructured electrodes and tunable drug delivery systems. It will develop a very versatile and low-cost technology that is well-suited for overcoming some of the current limitations in exploiting nanomaterials in nanoscience and biomedical industries. The research will benefit existing biomedical industries in Australia and provide opportunities for ....Wet-Spinning Novel Multi-Functional Bio-Synthetic Platforms. The project will deliver new advanced materials for novel biomedical devices such as nanostructured electrodes and tunable drug delivery systems. It will develop a very versatile and low-cost technology that is well-suited for overcoming some of the current limitations in exploiting nanomaterials in nanoscience and biomedical industries. The research will benefit existing biomedical industries in Australia and provide opportunities for new start-up companies, as well as potentially attracting biomedical industries from overseas to establish a presence in Australia.Read moreRead less
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
Growth of Bioartificial Tissue Containing an Inbuilt Blood Supply. The large and growing demand for replacement tissues and organs has spurred rapid growth in the emerging field of tissue engineering, which aims to form new tissues in the laboratory by combining living cells and synthetic scaffolds. A major challenge lies in the production of thick tissues, which require a blood supply in order to survive. Uniquely, this project aims to grow in the laboratory a vascular system based on natural ....Growth of Bioartificial Tissue Containing an Inbuilt Blood Supply. The large and growing demand for replacement tissues and organs has spurred rapid growth in the emerging field of tissue engineering, which aims to form new tissues in the laboratory by combining living cells and synthetic scaffolds. A major challenge lies in the production of thick tissues, which require a blood supply in order to survive. Uniquely, this project aims to grow in the laboratory a vascular system based on natural structures, which can then be used to support new tissue growth. Australia is well placed to reap the rewards of this work, having a track record in commercialisation of medical technologies, resulting in an improved quality of life for many Australians and substantial direct and indirect economic benefits.Read moreRead less
A biophotonics-based approach to the study of cell-mechanics. This study will help to promote and maintain good health. There is a connection between diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis and cell mechanics. Our study will provide insight into cell mechanics, thereby helping to understand the pathophysiology of these diseases. The study is relevant to tissue engineering. There is ongoing research on mechanical conditioning of tissue substitutes. Understanding cell mechanics will help to op ....A biophotonics-based approach to the study of cell-mechanics. This study will help to promote and maintain good health. There is a connection between diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis and cell mechanics. Our study will provide insight into cell mechanics, thereby helping to understand the pathophysiology of these diseases. The study is relevant to tissue engineering. There is ongoing research on mechanical conditioning of tissue substitutes. Understanding cell mechanics will help to optimise conditioning protocols, thereby improving the properties of engineered tissue.
During this study we will develop optical tools that have applications in the life sciences, in the development of advanced materials and in nanotechnology. Our project will promote Australian research in these fields.
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Scalable, high throughput microfluidic platforms for tissue specific biomaterials development and tissue genesis. The co-development of novel biomaterial platforms and new generation production methods for tissue analogues will provide the necessary stimulus for improved and more relevant methods of enhanced repair or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues. These outcomes will result in faster time-to-market new generation therapeutic products for Australia and the world. These advances wil ....Scalable, high throughput microfluidic platforms for tissue specific biomaterials development and tissue genesis. The co-development of novel biomaterial platforms and new generation production methods for tissue analogues will provide the necessary stimulus for improved and more relevant methods of enhanced repair or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues. These outcomes will result in faster time-to-market new generation therapeutic products for Australia and the world. These advances will have a significant impact on our healthcare costs and the quality of life for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Identifying how cortical bone microstructure deteriorates with age. This project aims to define the disruptions responsible for the gradual weakening of the skeleton in ageing by integrating a range of high-resolution imaging, biomechanical, and computational methods. The expected significance of this project includes a full definition and comparison of the cellular and subcellular organisation of bone from young and elderly individuals. Expected outcomes of this international project include th ....Identifying how cortical bone microstructure deteriorates with age. This project aims to define the disruptions responsible for the gradual weakening of the skeleton in ageing by integrating a range of high-resolution imaging, biomechanical, and computational methods. The expected significance of this project includes a full definition and comparison of the cellular and subcellular organisation of bone from young and elderly individuals. Expected outcomes of this international project include the establishment of a new multidisciplinary research team, and the development of a new data-driven theoretical framework for understanding the nature and the causes of age-related bone fragility. Potential long-term benefits include new ways to treat age-related osteoporosis.Read moreRead less
Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost a ....Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost and time. This project should overcome a major barrier to studying gene function with unprecedented detail, thereby opening new avenues for future research into biological processes. Thus, the outcomes from this project should impact on the entire field of biomedical research, and advance Australia's biotech industry.Read moreRead less