Drugs are applied to the skin for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including both local (eg. inflammation, muscle pain, eczema, psoriasis and other dermatological conditions) and systemic (eg. angina, hormone replacement, nicotine withdrawal) therapies. Advances in molecular biology technology has also led to the development of a range of large molecular weight peptide and protein based therapeutic agents for which transdermal delivery offers the most cost-effective and practical sol ....Drugs are applied to the skin for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including both local (eg. inflammation, muscle pain, eczema, psoriasis and other dermatological conditions) and systemic (eg. angina, hormone replacement, nicotine withdrawal) therapies. Advances in molecular biology technology has also led to the development of a range of large molecular weight peptide and protein based therapeutic agents for which transdermal delivery offers the most cost-effective and practical solution if appropriate delivery systems can be identified. In addition, unwanted skin absorption also occurs following exposure to environmental occupational chemicals, and those applied deliberately to the skin such as insecticides, sunscreens and cosmetics. This study continues our work in seeking to define the relationship between the chemical structure of agents, the types of formulations and solvents in which they are applied or come into contact with the skin and their penetration, distribution and retention in the various layers of the skin and underlying tissues. Of great significance to both the pharmaceutical industry and risk assessment regulatory bodies will be the further development of our work into important areas relating to the ability to predict the likely behaviour of a solute following contact with the skin from the aspect of both optimising drug delivery systems and the accuracy of risk assessment procedures. We will also be continuing our work examining techniques to facilitate drug transport through the skin using physical techniques such as iontophoresis and the design of formulations to specifically target larger pores in the skin such as hair follicles as a means of improving delivery rates and increasing the range of solutes, particularly those of large molecular weight, likely to be considered as potential drug candidates.Read moreRead less
Glycine Transporters regulate the concentration of glycine in the spinal cord and brain. It has been suggested that elevating glycine levels in these regions may be useful in treating pain and schizophrenia. This project will provide the basis for the development of new glycine transport inhibitors that may be used to treat these conditions.
Developing Drugs To Prevent Prostate Cancer Spread.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,248.00
Summary
Current therapies for prostate cancer lose their efficacy as the cancer advances. Moreover, despite the spread of cancer being the major cause of prostate cancer mortality, there is no therapy available which selectively targets this process, thus new agents are needed. By using computer modelling to predict molecules that bind to the cell surface protein CD151 and testing these in biological assays, we aim to discover molecules that reduce cell migration of prostate cancer and that can be devel ....Current therapies for prostate cancer lose their efficacy as the cancer advances. Moreover, despite the spread of cancer being the major cause of prostate cancer mortality, there is no therapy available which selectively targets this process, thus new agents are needed. By using computer modelling to predict molecules that bind to the cell surface protein CD151 and testing these in biological assays, we aim to discover molecules that reduce cell migration of prostate cancer and that can be developed into anti-migration drugs.Read moreRead less
Actin filaments are part of a dynamic network of protein fibres inside each cell and play a role in cell shape, movement and division. Cancer cells hijack specific types of actin filaments to spread throughout the body. Our aim is to find out how protein machines assemble these filaments from actin and different binding proteins that give each filament its specific function. This insight will allow us to improve drugs that inhibit filaments associated with cancer.
Enhanced And Highly Specific Delivery Of Small Interfering RNA And Oligonucleotides As Therapeutics For Gene Silencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,860.00
Summary
This proposal aims to develop glyco-nanocarriers for the efficient and specific delivery of siRNA/oligonucleotides to treat liver diseases. Complex glycopolymer architectures developed here will protect desired genes from enzymatic degradation and will deliver the gene to the liver specifically for therapy, hence providing a solution towards nucleic acid therapy.
Design And Delivery Of Peptide-based Anti-cancer Grb7 Inhibitors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,126.00
Summary
The Grb7 protein is overproduced in many types of cancer cells and plays a role in cancer cell growth and spread. The current proposal builds upon the discovery of a peptide-based Grb7 inhibitor that has anti-cancer activity. This proposal is to prepare more potent inhibitor molecules that can efficiently reach the target cancer cells. Such molecules will be used for the study of Grb7 and for the development of a new Grb7-based anti-cancer drug therapy.