Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100315
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Combinatorial design of multivalent polymers for cell receptor clustering. This project aims to design biologically active multivalent peptide-polymer conjugates. This project will use an enzyme to conduct the reactions in tiny volumes in the open air, and prepare and screen large libraries of different architectures for their ability to kill cancer cell lines through the clustering of death receptor proteins on the cell surface. Such combinatorial techniques have been crucial to the development ....Combinatorial design of multivalent polymers for cell receptor clustering. This project aims to design biologically active multivalent peptide-polymer conjugates. This project will use an enzyme to conduct the reactions in tiny volumes in the open air, and prepare and screen large libraries of different architectures for their ability to kill cancer cell lines through the clustering of death receptor proteins on the cell surface. Such combinatorial techniques have been crucial to the development of small molecule drugs. This project aims to apply this technique to well-defined macromolecules, studying their structure-activity relationships, and could lead ultimately to the generation of lead compounds for therapeutics with high commercial relevance.Read moreRead less
Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan- ....Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan-mediated interactions that support long-term expansion and potency maintenance, and synthetic biomaterials that can mimic them. Significant benefits for stem cell researchers, manufacturers and end users are expected from the project and the application of this scalable biomaterial platform.Read moreRead less
Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel ma ....Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel materials that are mechanochemically active, tough, and fatigue resistant, along with design criteria for force-activated molecule immobilisation and release expected to provide significant benefit forbiomedical applications, additive manufacturing, soft robotics and flexible electronics.Read moreRead less
Switching the light on cartilage repair. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability in adults and affects 15 per cent of the Australian population. This project will develop a revolutionary new approach to treat joint disorders using smart materials and stem cells. The novel materials and techniques developed will help Australia maintain its leading edge in biotechnology.
Sequence-defined polymers and green chemistry. This project aims to synthesise polymers that have precise chemical structure and mimic the biological activities of natural biopolymers like peptides and proteins. Monomer sequence regulation in these natural biopolymers is important in biology and necessary for crucial features of life, such as molecular recognition, self-replication and catalysis. Current artificial techniques for biopolymer synthesis are time consuming and present low yields at ....Sequence-defined polymers and green chemistry. This project aims to synthesise polymers that have precise chemical structure and mimic the biological activities of natural biopolymers like peptides and proteins. Monomer sequence regulation in these natural biopolymers is important in biology and necessary for crucial features of life, such as molecular recognition, self-replication and catalysis. Current artificial techniques for biopolymer synthesis are time consuming and present low yields at high costs. This project expects its new materials will increase manufacturing sustainability, chemical diversity and industrial viability; produce health benefits for Australia by improving chemotherapy and diagnosis for diseases; and benefit the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Polyion complex micelles as smart nano-sized drug carriers for proteins. Novel treatments against diseases are often based on proteins, which are unstable against hydrolysis and sometimes difficult to deliver across the cell membrane. The aim of the project is to create a smart drug carrier that can encapsulate proteins efficiently. A range of block copolymers will be synthesised that are able to condense a positively charged protein resulting in the formation of polyion complex micelles. The po ....Polyion complex micelles as smart nano-sized drug carriers for proteins. Novel treatments against diseases are often based on proteins, which are unstable against hydrolysis and sometimes difficult to deliver across the cell membrane. The aim of the project is to create a smart drug carrier that can encapsulate proteins efficiently. A range of block copolymers will be synthesised that are able to condense a positively charged protein resulting in the formation of polyion complex micelles. The polymer structure will be fine-tuned to create a drug carrier that releases the protein efficiently once inside mammalian cells. The outcome will be the enhanced understanding of the relationship between polymer structure and the activity of the protein and ultimately the design of an advanced and smart drug carrier.Read moreRead less
Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release ....Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release is triggered by an electric potential and drug transport is controlled by means of sonophoresis. The main advantage of drug delivery via sonophoresis is elimination of risks associated with injections such as infection and damage to local tissue, and elimination of patient discomfort, pain and fear.Read moreRead less
Learning from nature: creating synthetic viruses using self-assembled structures with branched or dendritic glycopolymers on their surfaces. Viruses are nature's clever nanoparticles. Viruses use glycoproteins to find and invade their host cells. This project will aim to mimic nature by generating nanoparticles that carry synthetic glycopolymers on the surface to create better drug delivery carriers.
Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisat ....Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisation. To address this, the project plans to develop a 3D moulding process for generating soft materials containing precise channels decorated with defined molecules. Intended outcomes include a fundamental understanding of the 3D moulding process, and new polymers and advanced tools for bioengineers for future applications such as tissue transplants, cell guides for treating spinal cord injuries, soft robotics and microfluidic devices to study cancer metastasis. Read moreRead less
Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are d ....Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are disruptive advances in a number of key technological sectors, including biomedicine, pharmacy, energy and bioprocessing. Platform technology for cartilage tissue engineering has been chosen as an exemplar of the power of precision microparticles.Read moreRead less