Perturbation of the extracellular architecture to promote the absorption and lymphatic transport of biological macromolecules. Macromolecules therapeutics such as proteins, antibodies or polymer conjugates pose a number of pharmaceutical challenges. Where the dose is high, drainage of that dose from a subcutaneous injection site into the circulation, poses a particular problem. Here the project aims to explore how recombinant hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down a structural component (hya ....Perturbation of the extracellular architecture to promote the absorption and lymphatic transport of biological macromolecules. Macromolecules therapeutics such as proteins, antibodies or polymer conjugates pose a number of pharmaceutical challenges. Where the dose is high, drainage of that dose from a subcutaneous injection site into the circulation, poses a particular problem. Here the project aims to explore how recombinant hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down a structural component (hyaluronan) of the interstitum, can be used promote absorption into the draining blood and lymph capillaries. The project aims to also explore the downstream effects of hyaluronidase on lymph nodes and evaluate whether the enzyme is able to temporarily disrupt the lymph node structure and promote drug penetration into the lymph node mass. This has significant potential for improved drug targeting.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Cellular Pathways of Nuclear Receptor Activation. The success of drug treatment depends critically on specificity, i.e., stimulation of a therapeutic response at a target site, and avoidance of activity at other (potentially toxic) locations. This project aims to explore how drug interactions with binding proteins in the cytosol can induce nuclear transport and tissue specific activation of nuclear receptors - a major drug target. The project intends to employ molecular, struct ....Understanding the Cellular Pathways of Nuclear Receptor Activation. The success of drug treatment depends critically on specificity, i.e., stimulation of a therapeutic response at a target site, and avoidance of activity at other (potentially toxic) locations. This project aims to explore how drug interactions with binding proteins in the cytosol can induce nuclear transport and tissue specific activation of nuclear receptors - a major drug target. The project intends to employ molecular, structural and cell biology approaches to map drug-binding protein-receptor interactions and to determine how the structure of these complexes dictates receptor activation. The data could provide a roadmap to design drugs that interact with the right protein in the right tissue and in doing so dramatically enhance drug specificity.Read moreRead less
Controlling the spatial distribution of targeting ligands on dendrimer surfaces as a means of dictating cellular recognition and fate. This project seeks to develop next generation targeted drug delivery systems that 'home' to specific target cells, including cancers. Targeted delivery systems have the potential to revolutionise therapy by providing bespoke drug distribution patterns that are tailored to specific diseases and result in enhanced activity and reduced toxicity.
Nanoengineering materials to combat antimicrobial resistance. This project aims to understand how nanoengineered materials can be designed to kill bacteria and fungi without causing antimicrobial resistance. Resistance to antimicrobial drugs already leads to many thousands of deaths annually and costs society billions of dollars. Nanomaterials have unique abilities to attack microbes in multiple ways that could limit resistance. This project will engineer new antimicrobial nanomaterials tailored ....Nanoengineering materials to combat antimicrobial resistance. This project aims to understand how nanoengineered materials can be designed to kill bacteria and fungi without causing antimicrobial resistance. Resistance to antimicrobial drugs already leads to many thousands of deaths annually and costs society billions of dollars. Nanomaterials have unique abilities to attack microbes in multiple ways that could limit resistance. This project will engineer new antimicrobial nanomaterials tailored to selectively kill microbes with reduced likelihood of developing resistance by using synergies between inorganic nanoparticles and antimicrobial peptides. This technology could be used to prevent infections and biofilms on surfaces in a wide range of future applications, such as medical / veterinary devicesRead moreRead less
AI Assisted Continuous Flow Electrochemistry for Pharmaceutical Manufacture. This project aims to develop new chemical manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical products. In collaboration with Sun Pharma, it will tackle the challenge of replacing expensive and toxic chemicals in industrial reactions, to lower cost of manufacturing and improve its sustainability profile. Central to the realisation of this ambition is the use of electrocatalysis, machine learning and implementation of advanced co ....AI Assisted Continuous Flow Electrochemistry for Pharmaceutical Manufacture. This project aims to develop new chemical manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical products. In collaboration with Sun Pharma, it will tackle the challenge of replacing expensive and toxic chemicals in industrial reactions, to lower cost of manufacturing and improve its sustainability profile. Central to the realisation of this ambition is the use of electrocatalysis, machine learning and implementation of advanced continuous flow methods. These electricity- and technology-driven reactions will develop new strategies for the generation of important classes of molecules relevant to the Australia’s pharmaceutical sector, as well as their manufacture at industrially relevant scales.Read moreRead less
Synergising nanoemulsion and lipid biomimetic design for advanced delivery. This project aims to identify the critical design characteristics of lipid formulations of lipid-modified probes or drugs (lipid biomimetics) that together promote integration into lipid absorption pathways and target the lymphatic system that drains the small intestine. This has significant potential since the intestinal lymphatic system is a key immune tissue, the site of immune response to autoantigens and antigens de ....Synergising nanoemulsion and lipid biomimetic design for advanced delivery. This project aims to identify the critical design characteristics of lipid formulations of lipid-modified probes or drugs (lipid biomimetics) that together promote integration into lipid absorption pathways and target the lymphatic system that drains the small intestine. This has significant potential since the intestinal lymphatic system is a key immune tissue, the site of immune response to autoantigens and antigens derived from food and the microbiome. The project will deliver a design roadmap of the required characteristics for lymphatic targeting, and in particular, will identify novel lipid nanoemulsions that work synergistically with lipid biomimetics to enhance lymphatic imaging and delivery applications.Read moreRead less
Light-responsive nanomaterials as nanomedicines: new approaches to treating macular degeneration, cancer and other critical unmet therapeutic needs. Nanotechnology is enabling new medicines for the treatment of important diseases such as cancer and macular degeneration. This project will investigate novel nanomaterials for the development of new highly effective medicines that can be controlled after administration, leading to reduced side effects and increased convenience for patients.
Drug Targeting to Immune Cells Using Modified Inulin Particles. Vaxine Pty Ltd is an Australian biotechnology company that has discovered specific particulate forms of inulin that are efficiently internalised by human immune cells. This project aims to exploit cell migration to injury and infection sites by attaching drugs to inulin particles creating a targeted drug delivery system. This system will transport drugs specifically to afflicted areas, reducing systemic concentrations of drugs and h ....Drug Targeting to Immune Cells Using Modified Inulin Particles. Vaxine Pty Ltd is an Australian biotechnology company that has discovered specific particulate forms of inulin that are efficiently internalised by human immune cells. This project aims to exploit cell migration to injury and infection sites by attaching drugs to inulin particles creating a targeted drug delivery system. This system will transport drugs specifically to afflicted areas, reducing systemic concentrations of drugs and hence the risks of dose related side effects. This project has potential both to improve healthcare and to encourage the growth of expertise in the biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery an ....Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery and therefore health outcomes for Australia. The interdisciplinary nature of this project will also result in a unique training program for the researchers involved. Such experience is in great demand in Australia where the developing biotechnology and nanotechnology industry is critically short of scientists with skills in drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected ....Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected outcomes include significant contributions to Australia's scholarly outputs, enhanced national capacity in disruptive nanotechnology, new opportunities for national value-add material manufacturing, and long-term benefits to biomedical and veterinary industries through new materials and nanotechnologies.
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