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
Understanding and controlling neuropeptide GPCR-transducer coupling. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are physiologically essential, yet the spatiotemporal complexity of receptor function has limited our understanding of their function and success in drug development. Using a multi-disciplinary approach integrating GPCR signalling, trafficking and drug delivery, this research program aims to understand, and control, the molecular mechanisms that enable a single receptor to respond to differen ....Understanding and controlling neuropeptide GPCR-transducer coupling. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are physiologically essential, yet the spatiotemporal complexity of receptor function has limited our understanding of their function and success in drug development. Using a multi-disciplinary approach integrating GPCR signalling, trafficking and drug delivery, this research program aims to understand, and control, the molecular mechanisms that enable a single receptor to respond to different ligands to promote unique cellular processes. The anticipated outcomes include an enhanced capacity for understanding fundamental biology, and stronger national and international collaborations. It will provide significant benefits including expanded basic knowledge and advancement of drug delivery technology.Read moreRead less
Environmentally Sustainable Solvents for Natural Pharmaceutical Extraction Processes. Australia supplies 25 per cent of the world's pain relieving medicinal opiates which contributes to a $200 million export industry for Australia. The active pharmaceutical ingredients are extracted and purified at GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Port Fairy processing plant using a solvent extraction based process. Together with GSK the project team aim to examine the use of environmentally sustainable bio-derived natur ....Environmentally Sustainable Solvents for Natural Pharmaceutical Extraction Processes. Australia supplies 25 per cent of the world's pain relieving medicinal opiates which contributes to a $200 million export industry for Australia. The active pharmaceutical ingredients are extracted and purified at GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Port Fairy processing plant using a solvent extraction based process. Together with GSK the project team aim to examine the use of environmentally sustainable bio-derived natural solvents to replace the volatile organic compound (VOC) fossil fuels based solvents used in the current process. Due to environmental and health concerns associated with VOCs the development of alternative solvents will be of great benefit to not only GSK but a range of other processing industries that also use VOC based solvent extraction processes.Read moreRead less
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
Epitaxial Stacking of Nanoporous Nanosheets for Next-generation Membranes. The project aims to develop high-precision selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for solute-solute separation by constructing vertically-aligned and chemically-tailorable nanochannels using two-dimensional porous nanosheets as building blocks. The project expects to generate advanced knowledge in the areas of nanosheet synthesis and functionalisation, membrane design and fabrication, s ....Epitaxial Stacking of Nanoporous Nanosheets for Next-generation Membranes. The project aims to develop high-precision selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for solute-solute separation by constructing vertically-aligned and chemically-tailorable nanochannels using two-dimensional porous nanosheets as building blocks. The project expects to generate advanced knowledge in the areas of nanosheet synthesis and functionalisation, membrane design and fabrication, selective transport of solutes and applications. The membranes developed in the project should make existing separation processes more effective and sustainable and advance emerging applications in pharmaceutical, dairy and mining industries, providing significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120103084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Targeting bacterial superbugs: novel approaches for optimisation of antibiotic combinations and resistance prevention. This project will elucidate the mechanistic basis to optimally combine available beta-lactam antibiotics to prevent resistance of gram-negative 'superbugs'. The interdisciplinary project will substantially contribute to solving the global crisis due to multidrug-resistant bacteria and inform the design of effective new antibiotics.
Targeting an impending global disaster: the mismatch between increasingly drug-resistant superbugs and development of new antibiotics. This project will develop much-needed novel antibiotics for treating infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to all current antibiotics. It will make a significant contribution to the global medical challenge of a shortage of new antibiotics.
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.
Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. This project aims to develop a new semi-synthetic route for the manufacture of Codeine from Thebaine. Codeine is manufactured by the chemical conversion of poppy-derived Morphine, which is low yielding and environmentally unfriendly. This project will investigate and optimise two key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway to Codeine and develop an innov ....Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. This project aims to develop a new semi-synthetic route for the manufacture of Codeine from Thebaine. Codeine is manufactured by the chemical conversion of poppy-derived Morphine, which is low yielding and environmentally unfriendly. This project will investigate and optimise two key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway to Codeine and develop an innovative bioreactor to achieve high yield. It will research industrial biotransformations, providing a greener and cheaper process for increased global access to Codeine. Australian opiate manufacturing is expected to benefit from value adding and increased flexibility introduced by a biotechnology approach.Read moreRead less