New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required ....New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required dimensional stability, impermeability and wear resistance. Following sophisticated experiments of modified materials, the best candidates will be used in prototype devices, for final selection of the optimal materials for the new device.Read moreRead less
Bioengineering Endovascular Prostheses With Proactive Biocompatibility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,950.00
Summary
Metallic cardiovascular implants, such as stents, used in the treatment of heart disease are not compatible with blood. They cause inflammation at the site of implantation and increase the risk of blood clots forming. We have developed a unique method of binding bioactive protein layers to the surface of metal alloys, and shown a significant improvement in their compatibility. Stents coated using our technology stand to dramatically improve the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Development Of Endovascular Stents With Proactive Biocompatibility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,470.00
Summary
Metallic cardiovascular implants, such as stents, used in the treatment of heart disease are not compatible with blood. They cause inflammation at the site of implantation and increase the risk of blood clots forming. We have developed a unique method of binding bioactive protein layers to the surface of metal alloys, and shown a significant improvement in their compatibility. Stents coated using our technology stand to dramatically improve the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Bioengineering Synthetic Elastin Conduits For Arterial Revascularisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,776.00
Summary
An arterial substitute with both physical and biological properties that mimic those of the human vasculature has long been the holy grail of vascular tissue engineering. We propose synthetic elastin can form the basis of a durable, clinically effective small diameter vascular graft and fill a significant unmet need for a biocompatible vascular substitute.
Biocompatible Synthetic Conduits To Treat Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,818.00
Summary
Clinically available synthetic conduits used in vascular repair and bypass are fundamentally incompatible with the vasculature. They cause inflammation at the site of implantation and increase the risk of blood clots forming. We have developed a unique method of binding bioactive protein layers to the surface of all polymeric materials and have shown a significant improvement in their compatibility. Grafts coated using our technology stand to dramatically improve the treatment of vascular diseas ....Clinically available synthetic conduits used in vascular repair and bypass are fundamentally incompatible with the vasculature. They cause inflammation at the site of implantation and increase the risk of blood clots forming. We have developed a unique method of binding bioactive protein layers to the surface of all polymeric materials and have shown a significant improvement in their compatibility. Grafts coated using our technology stand to dramatically improve the treatment of vascular disease.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Novel Biomaterials for Drug delivery. A new UV radiation polymerisation technique utilising charge-transfer complexes is adopted for synthesising novel hydrogels, a group of biomaterials for drug delivery. This work is significant as charge-transfer complexes, pertinent to the formation of hydrogels, form copolymers within the hydrogel matrices. This eliminates using costly, yet undesirable photo-initiators (PI), thus rendering the hydrogels as cleaner (PI-free) and more economical ....Synthesis of Novel Biomaterials for Drug delivery. A new UV radiation polymerisation technique utilising charge-transfer complexes is adopted for synthesising novel hydrogels, a group of biomaterials for drug delivery. This work is significant as charge-transfer complexes, pertinent to the formation of hydrogels, form copolymers within the hydrogel matrices. This eliminates using costly, yet undesirable photo-initiators (PI), thus rendering the hydrogels as cleaner (PI-free) and more economical in production; the products present themselves as ideal treatment methods in the controlled-release of drugs, specifically targeting localised pathological sites of interest. The research findings will be invaluable to medical practices, leading to the creation of new industries in Australia.
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Functional drug-releasing polymer nano-composites for preventing medical device infection and encrustation. By developing new methodologies for producing functional biomaterials, this research will benefit Australia by continuing our high profile in this research field and by producing economic benefits arising from development and export of materials technologies to the major user groups in USA and Europe. With our demonstrated linkages with Australian based biomaterials developers at CSIRO an ....Functional drug-releasing polymer nano-composites for preventing medical device infection and encrustation. By developing new methodologies for producing functional biomaterials, this research will benefit Australia by continuing our high profile in this research field and by producing economic benefits arising from development and export of materials technologies to the major user groups in USA and Europe. With our demonstrated linkages with Australian based biomaterials developers at CSIRO and University of Queensland, as well as with companies involved in the commercialisation of polyurethane based medical devices (Aortech P/L), this group is well placed to continue the research at a more applied level once the early basic stage is complete.Read moreRead less
Oral Insulin Delivery facilitated by Enteric Coating using Dense Gas Technologies. Insulin dependant diabetes is a rapidly growing disease. The current method for insulin delivery to the patient is by injection, which is inconvenient. Oral delivery of insulin is a more acceptable method. It is proposed to develop a dense gas technique to coat insulin with a pH sensitive polymer to protect it from the acidic environment of the stomach. Insulin can then be released at the high pH of the intestin ....Oral Insulin Delivery facilitated by Enteric Coating using Dense Gas Technologies. Insulin dependant diabetes is a rapidly growing disease. The current method for insulin delivery to the patient is by injection, which is inconvenient. Oral delivery of insulin is a more acceptable method. It is proposed to develop a dense gas technique to coat insulin with a pH sensitive polymer to protect it from the acidic environment of the stomach. Insulin can then be released at the high pH of the intestine when the polymer is dissolved. Particle size control is feasible by dense gas processes by manipulating operating parameters. Advantages include low residual solvent and manufacture at ambient temperatures.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101666
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Endogenous bone regenerative technique to repair hard tissue defects in congenital craniofacial clefts. This project aims to develop an endogenous bone regenerative technique to repair the bony defects in congenital craniofacial clefts, through stimulating patients' latent self-repair mechanisms and reviving their innate capacity for regeneration. The novel technique would replace the existing and controversial surgical bone grafting method.
Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledg ....Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledge and ideas as well as advanced research and industrial training for young scientists. Knowledge derived from this project is expected to enable future innovation in molecules with tailored interactions with the glycocalyx with significant benefits for researchers, manufacturers and end users. Read moreRead less