Supercritical-microfluidics technology for targeted delivery to the colon. This research will develop nanosystems to target delivery of drugs to the colon. Our nanosystems will permit the combination of clinically used chemotherapy drugs within a single dosage form. This will improve the efficiency of delivery to the colon while reducing unwanted side-effects. A novel supercritical microfluidics system will be developed to produce therapeutic nano-carriers in a continuous mode with lower labour ....Supercritical-microfluidics technology for targeted delivery to the colon. This research will develop nanosystems to target delivery of drugs to the colon. Our nanosystems will permit the combination of clinically used chemotherapy drugs within a single dosage form. This will improve the efficiency of delivery to the colon while reducing unwanted side-effects. A novel supercritical microfluidics system will be developed to produce therapeutic nano-carriers in a continuous mode with lower labour requirement, higher production rate and better quality control than conventional production methods. The new process will combine benefits from both supercritical fluid technology (green process) and microfluidics (high mass & heat transfer).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.
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
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.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100018
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,441.00
Summary
Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution op ....Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution optical imaging techniques and synchrotron X-ray diagnostics. This project is expected to provide physical insight with applications for inhaled and topical pharmaceutical sprays, and industry spray drying of food products.Read moreRead less
Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fu ....Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fundamentally understand the relationship between physical-chemical properties and efficacy. Completion of this project aims to produce potent nanoparticle-based adjuvants underpinned by novel manufacturing technology, to ultimately facilitate the development of more effective and protective vaccines for animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Use of Gas Expanded Liquids to Facilitate Process Intensification. The aim of this research is the utilisation of gas expanded liquids (GXLs) in technology platforms based on the principles of process intensification (PI). In order to facilitate the attainment of project objectives a comprehensive investigation of the fundamental properties of GXLs, and their interactions is proposed. A significant component of the programme is expected to be to use the knowledge obtained to facilitate the devel ....Use of Gas Expanded Liquids to Facilitate Process Intensification. The aim of this research is the utilisation of gas expanded liquids (GXLs) in technology platforms based on the principles of process intensification (PI). In order to facilitate the attainment of project objectives a comprehensive investigation of the fundamental properties of GXLs, and their interactions is proposed. A significant component of the programme is expected to be to use the knowledge obtained to facilitate the development of scale-up protocol for PI based methodologies, with particular emphasis on the production of biomaterials. GXLs technology is frontier technology with regard to the biomaterials sector.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100082
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Nanostructures derived from metal-organic frameworks for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to overcome poor reaction kinetics and the lack of effective anode materials owing to the large size of sodium-ions in high performance sodium-ion batteries. The project will explore a series of functional nanomaterials with unique nanostructures and complex compositions, enabled by metal-organic framework assisted synthetic methods. High performance sodium ion batteries are demonstrating great poten ....Nanostructures derived from metal-organic frameworks for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to overcome poor reaction kinetics and the lack of effective anode materials owing to the large size of sodium-ions in high performance sodium-ion batteries. The project will explore a series of functional nanomaterials with unique nanostructures and complex compositions, enabled by metal-organic framework assisted synthetic methods. High performance sodium ion batteries are demonstrating great potential to meet the future demand for large-scale and low-cost stationary energy storage. However, their practical implementation is still hindered by their poor reaction kinetics and the lack of effective anode materials owing to the large size of sodium-ions. The project outcomes will promote the commercialisation of sodium ion batteries and power Australia’s sustainable economy in the long run.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.
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