New materials for manipulating intracellular communication. This project aims to identify new techniques for incorporating cell-signalling triggers into macromolecules, therefore enabling the development of next-generation stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that can emit signalling molecules on demand. Harnessing nanomaterials to stimulate specific sub-cellular processes is a neglected area in nanotechnology research. These nanoparticles could potentially be used to deliver signalling molecules fo ....New materials for manipulating intracellular communication. This project aims to identify new techniques for incorporating cell-signalling triggers into macromolecules, therefore enabling the development of next-generation stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that can emit signalling molecules on demand. Harnessing nanomaterials to stimulate specific sub-cellular processes is a neglected area in nanotechnology research. These nanoparticles could potentially be used to deliver signalling molecules for agricultural, pharmaceutical and veterinary applications. The project is expected to develop a new suite of materials that could ultimately be used to improve the yield of important commercial crops, or revitalise the use of medicines limited by their poor side effect profile.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
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.
Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficac ....Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficacious and stable formulations of bacteriophages for easy delivery by inhalation as aerosols with a long shelf-life, making them a commercially viable product. The expected research outcome can lead to an economic and efficient technology to produce phage powders for novel treatment strategies of infections by inhalation.Read moreRead less
The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly ....The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly reduce health risks and costs. They may also be used to enable the development of new inhalation technologies based on electrostatic charge to improve aerosol drug delivery to the lungs of patients with respiratory diseases.Read moreRead less
An attack from all angles! Multiphase particle systems that target respiratory infection. This project will result in advanced inhaled medicines for lung infection. Micron-particles will be engineered to have sustained drug release when deposited at sites of infection, yet avoid natural clearance and defence mechanisms. To study these systems, a series of characterisation, in vitro cell and in silico tools will be developed.
A VAST potential for ion channel drug discovery. The purpose of this project is to bring innovation into the methods used for identifying and characterising novel carbohydrate-based compounds acting at ion channels. These molecules will have high potential to be developed as highly effective treatments for pain without the unpleasant side-effects associated with current treatments.
Engineering of composite particles to enhance performance in respiratory drug delivery. Respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic pulmonary disease affect in excess of 5.8 million Australians and the common method of treatment is via drug inhalation. Although a wide range of drugs are commercially available as dry powder inhalers the efficiency of these systems is poor, with most devices delivering less than 20% to the lung. This project will develop a new method of high-efficiency respi ....Engineering of composite particles to enhance performance in respiratory drug delivery. Respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic pulmonary disease affect in excess of 5.8 million Australians and the common method of treatment is via drug inhalation. Although a wide range of drugs are commercially available as dry powder inhalers the efficiency of these systems is poor, with most devices delivering less than 20% to the lung. This project will develop a new method of high-efficiency respiratory drug delivery based on composite particles. The technology developed from this project will advance Australia’s Research & Innovation and Pharmaceutical industry sector, and improve healthcare outcomes in the government’s key priority area of Promoting and maintaining good health: ‘A healthy start to life’ and ‘Ageing well’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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,000.00
Summary
Distributed facility for fragment based drug discovery. Distributed facility for fragment based drug discovery:
The facility aims to provide researchers with the ability to generate small molecules that modulate therapeutically and biologically important protein targets. Fragment-based drug design (FBDD) provides a rational approach to generate such biologically active compounds. The facility is designed to allow researchers throughout Australia to access the necessary infrastructure to underta ....Distributed facility for fragment based drug discovery. Distributed facility for fragment based drug discovery:
The facility aims to provide researchers with the ability to generate small molecules that modulate therapeutically and biologically important protein targets. Fragment-based drug design (FBDD) provides a rational approach to generate such biologically active compounds. The facility is designed to allow researchers throughout Australia to access the necessary infrastructure to undertake FBDD projects against a range of biologically important targets. The facility aims to enable access to high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance, and to generate the capacity for automation in chemical synthesis and sample preparation to expedite the development of novel bioactive molecules. The development of better approaches to hit development may benefit many researchers in Australia employing FBDD.Read moreRead less