Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the dev ....Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the development of reliable, well-controlled manufacturing techniques for tissue engineering scaffolds, revolutionising current scaffold manufacturing practices. It will enhance existing collaborations between the University of Melbourne and the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery.Read moreRead less
Engineering Bioresponsive Hybrid Nanodevices using RNA, Peptides and Synthetic Polymers. This project aims to develop new microRNA polymer nanoassemblies with enhanced bioresponsive properties. Nanoengineered functional RNA-polymer materials can exploit both the recognition properties of RNA and the responsiveness of the polymer to tailor the structural and physicochemical properties of such systems. Further, targeting ligands (antibody, aptamers) tethered to the RNA-polymer nanoassembly could a ....Engineering Bioresponsive Hybrid Nanodevices using RNA, Peptides and Synthetic Polymers. This project aims to develop new microRNA polymer nanoassemblies with enhanced bioresponsive properties. Nanoengineered functional RNA-polymer materials can exploit both the recognition properties of RNA and the responsiveness of the polymer to tailor the structural and physicochemical properties of such systems. Further, targeting ligands (antibody, aptamers) tethered to the RNA-polymer nanoassembly could augment cellular uptake and delivery. The development of imaging and tracking methodology to accurately measure intracellular miRNA payload and localisation in a 3D tissue mimicking matrix is also planned.Read moreRead less