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
Unravelling the mechanics of particle deposition at the micro-scale. This project aims to discover the mechanisms responsible for the interactions between aerosol particles and surfaces in a range of air flow conditions. The project expects to transform our understanding of particle deposition through a combination of novel laser-based diagnostic techniques, optical coherence tomography, and state of the art particle formulation methodologies. Expected outcomes of the project include delivery of ....Unravelling the mechanics of particle deposition at the micro-scale. This project aims to discover the mechanisms responsible for the interactions between aerosol particles and surfaces in a range of air flow conditions. The project expects to transform our understanding of particle deposition through a combination of novel laser-based diagnostic techniques, optical coherence tomography, and state of the art particle formulation methodologies. Expected outcomes of the project include delivery of new methods to optimise particle deposition, development of tunable powder formulations, as well as definition of particle-surface interaction mechanisms in flows. The project should provide significant benefits to particle systems for applications ranging from additive manufacturing to aerosol delivery.Read moreRead less
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
Developing novel aerosol inhalers for pulmonary drug delivery from the fundamental understanding of powder dispersion mechanisms. The project seeks to understand how powder aerosol inhalers can be significantly improved. The outcome will provide therapeutic benefits to the Australian community for better treatment of respiratory diseases and facilitate environmentally friendly technology since these inhalers do not require any harmful organic solvents to operate.
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.
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
High-load powder dispersion and aerosol delivery: an integrated approach. This project aims to develop a novel design toolbox that can accurately predict dispersion performance of a range of powder systems for high-dose inhaler devices. The project expects to provide the pharmaceutical industry with a cornerstone technology to facilitate the design and optimisation of new powder delivery devices. Outcomes are expected to include new knowledge on powder dispersion behaviour that can be applied to ....High-load powder dispersion and aerosol delivery: an integrated approach. This project aims to develop a novel design toolbox that can accurately predict dispersion performance of a range of powder systems for high-dose inhaler devices. The project expects to provide the pharmaceutical industry with a cornerstone technology to facilitate the design and optimisation of new powder delivery devices. Outcomes are expected to include new knowledge on powder dispersion behaviour that can be applied to various industry sectors, including the environmental, bulk chemical and food industries where the majority of products are in powder form. This knowledge will provide significant benefits to industry through provision of a toolkit that can be used to improve final powder-based product quality.Read moreRead less
One for all and all for one: Engineering a drug delivery platform for DNA vaccines to the lung. Vaccination using next generation DNA plasmids is hindered by the lack of a suitable delivery technology. This project aims to develop a low-cost vaccination platform that can deliver any DNA vaccine via inhalation. High efficiency dry powder particles that contain a novel synthetic cell penetration enhancer and incorporate the drug delivery vehicle in a disposable inhalation device will be engineered ....One for all and all for one: Engineering a drug delivery platform for DNA vaccines to the lung. Vaccination using next generation DNA plasmids is hindered by the lack of a suitable delivery technology. This project aims to develop a low-cost vaccination platform that can deliver any DNA vaccine via inhalation. High efficiency dry powder particles that contain a novel synthetic cell penetration enhancer and incorporate the drug delivery vehicle in a disposable inhalation device will be engineered. The project aims to help develop a fundamental understanding of the properties that govern interactions in these systems, and a number of in vitro tools that can be used by the wider scientific community. Ultimately, a single platform that can be used for the vaccination of any disease will be created.Read moreRead less
A novel approach for the real-time measurement of aerosol surface area. This project aims to develop an innovative optical tomography technology capable of direct and real-time measurement of the surface area of airborne particles. By coupling advanced laser diagnostic tools with physiological models and in vitro characterisation techniques, this project will determine the hitherto unknown fundamental and critical relationships between the surface area of an aerosol and its dissolution when deli ....A novel approach for the real-time measurement of aerosol surface area. This project aims to develop an innovative optical tomography technology capable of direct and real-time measurement of the surface area of airborne particles. By coupling advanced laser diagnostic tools with physiological models and in vitro characterisation techniques, this project will determine the hitherto unknown fundamental and critical relationships between the surface area of an aerosol and its dissolution when delivered to a target. The Project’s outcomes will enable aerosol device manufacturers to develop and market significantly more advanced and highly specific products, thus conferring a competitive advantage.Read moreRead less
Ultra-low dose dry powder inhaler technology for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Drug molecules are being developed for respiratory diseases, which are highly potent but beyond our capability in terms of delivery. Using a combination of high-end particle engineering and characterisation approaches, coupled with computational modelling, the project will develop a theoretical model that can be used to deliver ultra-low doses to the lungs.