Biomimetic Insights from Enamel: A Nano-mechanical and Nano-structural Investigation of a Natural Ceramic-like Biocomposite. Enamel is a naturally developed example of an optimised material structure that constitutes the hardest tissue in the human body. In addition it is exposed to severe mechanical and environmental challenges and must last the lifetime of the individual and unlike other tissue is unable to heal or repair itself. Understanding the factors controlling the amazing mechanical pr ....Biomimetic Insights from Enamel: A Nano-mechanical and Nano-structural Investigation of a Natural Ceramic-like Biocomposite. Enamel is a naturally developed example of an optimised material structure that constitutes the hardest tissue in the human body. In addition it is exposed to severe mechanical and environmental challenges and must last the lifetime of the individual and unlike other tissue is unable to heal or repair itself. Understanding the factors controlling the amazing mechanical properties of this tissue will be of great benefit for the design of bio-inspired materials and be important for the development of advanced materials for which Australia already has an enviable reputation.Read moreRead less
Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into ma ....Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into mature cells with different functions will enhance our ability to understand how cells develop. As well, it enhance the potential usefulness of cord blood for research purposes. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775598
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
High-Resolution Transmission Electron Tomographic Facility for Nanoanalytical Characterisation in the Life and Material Sciences. The requested instrument will allow researchers in New South Wales to (i) visualize biological and physical samples in three-dimensions by electron tomography and modeling and (ii) image samples in a near-natural state and at high-resolution by cryogenic techniques. This essential research platform will provide novel information that faithfully presents both the surfa ....High-Resolution Transmission Electron Tomographic Facility for Nanoanalytical Characterisation in the Life and Material Sciences. The requested instrument will allow researchers in New South Wales to (i) visualize biological and physical samples in three-dimensions by electron tomography and modeling and (ii) image samples in a near-natural state and at high-resolution by cryogenic techniques. This essential research platform will provide novel information that faithfully presents both the surface and internal structure of samples down to the nanometre scale, enabling structural research to the highest scientific standards. The resulting knowledge is essential to diverse areas that range from development of cures to diabetes and cancer to creation of environmentally-friendly industrial catalysts to design of new nanoparticles and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989859
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistr ....A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistry, research supported by this instrumentation will provide Australians with improvements to their dental health. Furthermore applications to industrial materials are providing Australian industries with better characterisation of their products that is leading to improved export performance and consequent improvement in Australia's balance of trade.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354797
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance co ....The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance communication, bring together innovative skill sets, create linkages, generate focussed research programs and foster novel commercial opportunities. Ultimately the Initiative and Network will deliver an improved quality of life, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity to Australia.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will pr ....Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will provide longer lasting implants and reduce the need for repeated operations. This will improve the quality of life for implant recipients and reduce health care costs.Read moreRead less
Heparan sulfate complexes with VEGF for control of angiogenesis in tissue engineered constructs. The national/community benefits that will arise from this work include, the generation of knowledge related to the growth of blood vessels in the presence of a synthetic polymer that has been made to look like the natural polymers present in the body. This will lead to an understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved that may have down stream effects relevant to the replacement of many types o ....Heparan sulfate complexes with VEGF for control of angiogenesis in tissue engineered constructs. The national/community benefits that will arise from this work include, the generation of knowledge related to the growth of blood vessels in the presence of a synthetic polymer that has been made to look like the natural polymers present in the body. This will lead to an understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved that may have down stream effects relevant to the replacement of many types of tissues being generated for clinical applications, including possible applications in the treatment of heart disease, the largest killer of people in the Western world. Read moreRead less
Drug-delivery coating for a new generation of orthopaedic implants. In Australia, the number of people using artificial implants in orthopaedic and dental surgeries is rapidly increasing due to the higher average age of the population and higher expectations for an active and healthy life. The project will enhance the success rate of titanium implants by increasing the strength and stability of tissue at the interface between implant and host, particularly in case of hip joint implants, reducing ....Drug-delivery coating for a new generation of orthopaedic implants. In Australia, the number of people using artificial implants in orthopaedic and dental surgeries is rapidly increasing due to the higher average age of the population and higher expectations for an active and healthy life. The project will enhance the success rate of titanium implants by increasing the strength and stability of tissue at the interface between implant and host, particularly in case of hip joint implants, reducing the need for revision surgery. Read moreRead less
Development of Acid Degradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Intracellular and Tumour Site Selective Delivery of Drugs. There is an enormous need to develop effective anticancer drug delivery systems to reduce the social and economic impact of cancer. One of the most critical problems in tumour treatment is the lack of selective toxicity of anticancer drugs against tumour tissues. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop a novel polymer based system for tumour site-selective delivery of anti ....Development of Acid Degradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Intracellular and Tumour Site Selective Delivery of Drugs. There is an enormous need to develop effective anticancer drug delivery systems to reduce the social and economic impact of cancer. One of the most critical problems in tumour treatment is the lack of selective toxicity of anticancer drugs against tumour tissues. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop a novel polymer based system for tumour site-selective delivery of anticancer drugs. Development of such advanced drug delivery systems will significantly enhance Australia`s power in biotechnology. Development and/or formation of strategies to improve the health quality of Australians, is an important anticipated outcome of this innovative project.Read moreRead less
Development and Evaluation of Well-Defined Polymer-RNA Conjugates as Improved Therapeutics. Gene-based drugs offer an enormous potential to treat a wide range of diseases including, but not limited to, AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. However, effective delivery of these drugs in body is needed to convert their therapeutic potential to clinically applicable treatments. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop novel, polymer-gene hybrid materials for efficient delivery of gene based therapeuti ....Development and Evaluation of Well-Defined Polymer-RNA Conjugates as Improved Therapeutics. Gene-based drugs offer an enormous potential to treat a wide range of diseases including, but not limited to, AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. However, effective delivery of these drugs in body is needed to convert their therapeutic potential to clinically applicable treatments. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop novel, polymer-gene hybrid materials for efficient delivery of gene based therapeutics. Development of such advanced drug delivery systems will significantly enhance Australia`s power in biotechnology. Development and/or formation of new materials and strategies to improve the health quality of Australians, is an important anticipated outcome of this innovative project. Read moreRead less