Biodegradable Porous HEMA-Based Polymers: Innovative Strategies for the Design and Tuneable Single-Step Production of a Novel Class of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. This project will lead to the development of new biocompatible, biodegradable, porous materials ideally suited to many applications in tissue engineering. These new biomaterials will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, via simple processes using non-toxic reagents. The key properties of the biomaterials will be controllable ....Biodegradable Porous HEMA-Based Polymers: Innovative Strategies for the Design and Tuneable Single-Step Production of a Novel Class of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. This project will lead to the development of new biocompatible, biodegradable, porous materials ideally suited to many applications in tissue engineering. These new biomaterials will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, via simple processes using non-toxic reagents. The key properties of the biomaterials will be controllable by appropriate choice of starting materials. The availability of these new biomaterials will facilitate future developments in tissue engineering, which will ultimately lead to improved medical outcomes in areas as diverse as joint and bone repair and organ regeneration. Local manufacture of these biomaterials would also contribute to the development of the Australian biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Composite biomaterials for modulation of dermal fibroblast function. The successful outcome of this research will revolutionize the way scars are treated for the large number of people who suffer burns and even minor trauma that leads to disfigurement. By using advanced chemical synthesis, biochemical analysis, cell biology and polymer materials science, an intelligent gel sheet will be devised that is able to control the formation of scar tissue and also reduce the effect of existing scars. Thi ....Composite biomaterials for modulation of dermal fibroblast function. The successful outcome of this research will revolutionize the way scars are treated for the large number of people who suffer burns and even minor trauma that leads to disfigurement. By using advanced chemical synthesis, biochemical analysis, cell biology and polymer materials science, an intelligent gel sheet will be devised that is able to control the formation of scar tissue and also reduce the effect of existing scars. This will produce improved quality of life for sufferers of severe scarring and have major economic benefits in reduced health costs. Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polym ....Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polymer structures both in-vitro and in-vivo.Read moreRead less