Treating tuberculosis: targeted delivery of multidrug nano-suspensions. Tuberculosis (TB) is a lung disease of worldwide prevalence. Treatment times are long and mortality is high in children and the elderly. Current treatments are ineffective and drug resistant TB is a real pandemic threat. The project will develop a cost-effective nano-particle system that can be incorporated into conventional nebulisers for use worldwide.
The Fluid-Particle Mechanics of a Synthetic Jet-based Dry Powder Inhaler. This project aims to untangle the fundamental principles that govern the fluid mechanics and particulate interactions in a novel concept chip-based micro-zero-net-mass-flux (micro-ZNMF) jet-assisted dry powder inhaler (DPI). Respiratory diseases affect 6.2 million Australians. The treatment of these diseases is hampered by the poor efficiency of current delivery systems, with conventional DPI devices exhibiting sub-optimum ....The Fluid-Particle Mechanics of a Synthetic Jet-based Dry Powder Inhaler. This project aims to untangle the fundamental principles that govern the fluid mechanics and particulate interactions in a novel concept chip-based micro-zero-net-mass-flux (micro-ZNMF) jet-assisted dry powder inhaler (DPI). Respiratory diseases affect 6.2 million Australians. The treatment of these diseases is hampered by the poor efficiency of current delivery systems, with conventional DPI devices exhibiting sub-optimum performance, delivering typically less than 20% of the loaded dose to the target site, the lungs. The new fundamental knowledge resulting from this research will enable the engineering of a high-efficiency groundbreaking DPI, with the potential to be fully adaptive user-specific benefiting millions of Australians. 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.
Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to under ....Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to understand the properties that govern the formation and interactions in these systems, and develop in-vitro tools that the wider scientific community can use. The project expects to generate a single platform that can be used for the eradication of biofilms in numerous applications, from healthcare to agriculture.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
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.
A tight squeeze: engineering anti-fibrotic depot aerosols that circumvent the epithelia. A new molecule for the treatment of pulmonary lung fibrosis has been developed but there is no inhalation medicine capable of targeting the responsible cells. This project will develop an advanced inhalation technology capable of bypassing the lung surface so that we can target the fibrotic cells beneath.
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
Pandora's toolbox: The use of Fluorosomes to formulate nanoparticle gene therapy for respiratory diseases. This project will result in a technology for treating lung diseases. A new approach to gene therapy will be developed via packaging these bio-molecule inside a self-assembled Fluorosome structure for delivery using conventional pressurised inhalers. These systems will be investigated using state-of-the-art technologies developed during the project.
Smart hybrid system for the formulation and design of dry powder inhalers. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of the link between inhaler device components and the dry powder formulation within. From this understanding, the project aims to develop a hybrid model for the design and manufacture of dry powder inhalers with improved aerosol deposition performances as well as an enhanced capacity to predict formulation performance. The long term benefits will be improved delivery ef ....Smart hybrid system for the formulation and design of dry powder inhalers. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of the link between inhaler device components and the dry powder formulation within. From this understanding, the project aims to develop a hybrid model for the design and manufacture of dry powder inhalers with improved aerosol deposition performances as well as an enhanced capacity to predict formulation performance. The long term benefits will be improved delivery efficiency and shorter development times, leading to reduced manufacturing costs.Read moreRead less