Drugs are applied to the skin for the treatment of a wide range of conditions including both local (inflammation, pain, eczema, psoriasis) and systemic (angina, nicotine withdrawl, hormone replacement therapy) therapies. Unwanted skin absorption also occurs following exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals, including those applied deliberately to the skin such as insectisides, sunscreens and cosmetics. This study seeks to examine the relationship between the chemical structure of ag ....Drugs are applied to the skin for the treatment of a wide range of conditions including both local (inflammation, pain, eczema, psoriasis) and systemic (angina, nicotine withdrawl, hormone replacement therapy) therapies. Unwanted skin absorption also occurs following exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals, including those applied deliberately to the skin such as insectisides, sunscreens and cosmetics. This study seeks to examine the relationship between the chemical structure of agents, the types of formulations in which they are applied and their penetration into the various layers of the skin and underlying tissues. We intend to further our research into important areas relating to the ability to predict the likely behaviour of a solute which comes into contact with the skin from the aspect of optimising both topical drug delivery systems and risk assessment procedures. We will also be examining techniques of facilitating drug transport through the skin using (i) the knowledge gained of the mechanisms by which vehicles act on the skin, (ii) the synthesis of ester and amide lipophilic prodrugs and (iii) physical techniques such as iontophoresis, whereby small electrical currents are applied to charged drug species on the outside of the skin.Read moreRead less
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
Modulating The Skin Immune System With Physical Stimulus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,353.00
Summary
The Fellowship will be based between Uni QLD and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. It will consist of pre-clinical development and validation of an in vivo optical micro-manipulation system for laser-guided extraction of cells. A comparable system will then be developed for characterization of leukocytes in healthy and diseased human skin. The long term outcomes will be better characterisation of inflammatory skin disease resulting in new targets and therapeutic strategies.
My research objectives centre on new technology development for improving diagnostics and therapeutics applied to skin. I have developed and patented novel devices for minimally invasive topical drug delivery and skin sampling. My leadership and tangible research outcomes are now enabling previously impossible skin research to be done and now are also impacting the commercial sector in addition to creating new knowledge in the field.
Influence Of Skin Cancer On Topical Elongate Microparticle Drug Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,589.00
Summary
This project builds on a novel cutaneous delivery method using ‘rod-shaped’ microparticles we developed in the Dermatology Research Centre. Microparticle administration results in multiple punctures of the skin’s tough outer layers, increasing permeability. Furthermore, microparticle administration results in a uniform and continuous drug delivery profile within the treatment area, which is an important attribute for the treatment of skin diseases.
Structural Characterization Of A Novel AB5 Cytoxin - SubAB
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,760.00
Summary
The proposed research program, using a combinantion of structural biology and biophysical techniques will provide insight into the role of novel AB5 toxin from E. coli. This study will not only improve our fundamental understanding the mode of action of this toxin from this devastating pathogen, but could lead to the design of rational antimicrobials. The knowledge gained will increase Australian international research profile.
Distribution Kinetics Of Opioids Used In Substitution Programs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,527.00
Summary
Heroin addiction is a major national and international problem costing hundreds of millons of dollars to Australia alone. The major form of treatment is methadone taken as maintenance treatment once a day. While methadone is effective in most addicts, about one third of them complain that it does not last long enough and they either tolerate this inadequate form of treatment or are prescribed a newer drug as part of a clinical trial or drop out and revert to heroin. We have previously shown that ....Heroin addiction is a major national and international problem costing hundreds of millons of dollars to Australia alone. The major form of treatment is methadone taken as maintenance treatment once a day. While methadone is effective in most addicts, about one third of them complain that it does not last long enough and they either tolerate this inadequate form of treatment or are prescribed a newer drug as part of a clinical trial or drop out and revert to heroin. We have previously shown that the blood levels of methadone are important in determining its best use and specifically, that those addicts for whom methadone does not hold have a greater drop in their blood levels after methadone has been absorbed into the body. This drop in blood levels is mainly due to methadone's redistribution throughout the body. Very little is known about how methadone distributes and redistributes throughout the body but it appears that the lung is the most important organ. A number of questions need to be answered to improve methadone's use: 1. How quickly is methadone taken up into the lung compared to the brain; 2. Why is the lung able to take up and release a large amount of methadone; 3. How does decreased respiration influence the lung and brain uptake of methadone; 4. What happens when another drug is prescribed (such as an antidepressant) which reduces the lung uptake of methadone; 5. Do some of the newer drugs for heroin addiction have better lung distribution and binding properties. We will perform studies of the concentrations of methadone and newer drugs in sheep that will provide the scientific basis for answering these questions and permit better use of drug treatment for heroin addiction.Read moreRead less