Designed Delivery - Novel Hydrogels for Drug Delivery from Precisely-Structured Networks. This project will lead to the development of new biodegradable biomaterials ideally suited to many applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. The understanding of their properties will be built on comprehensive models for diffusion of molecules through the material. The availability of these new biomaterials will facilitate future developments in drug delivery, and will ultimately lead to improve ....Designed Delivery - Novel Hydrogels for Drug Delivery from Precisely-Structured Networks. This project will lead to the development of new biodegradable biomaterials ideally suited to many applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. The understanding of their properties will be built on comprehensive models for diffusion of molecules through the material. The availability of these new biomaterials will facilitate future developments in drug delivery, and will ultimately lead to improved medical outcomes in many areas such as tissue and bone regeneration. The materials designed in this project will help position the Australian biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to take advantage of the more than $100B USD market (US alone; growth ~ 10% p.a.) in drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Engineered Polymer Scaffolds for Controlled Proliferation and Differentiation of Stem Cells. This project aims to develop a new methodology to sculpt 3D polymer scaffolds coated with cell adhesion and growth factors to control environmental cues, for the first time rapidly generating large quantities of undifferentiated stem cells. This project aims to exponentially increase cell generation in order to finally be able to unlock the potential of stem cells for application in regenerative medicine ....Engineered Polymer Scaffolds for Controlled Proliferation and Differentiation of Stem Cells. This project aims to develop a new methodology to sculpt 3D polymer scaffolds coated with cell adhesion and growth factors to control environmental cues, for the first time rapidly generating large quantities of undifferentiated stem cells. This project aims to exponentially increase cell generation in order to finally be able to unlock the potential of stem cells for application in regenerative medicine. The resulting cell repositories could make a significant contribution to human health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347937
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Imaging Raman Spectrometer. An Imaging Raman spectrometer generates image maps 10x faster than older instruments and is required to meet escalating demand. This results from innovative use of Raman to characterise organics, polymers, thin films and biomaterials, which underpins rapidly evolving research in nanotechnology and biotechnology. Many innovations have come from QUT's Centre for Instrumental and Developmental Chemistry, which will host the spectrometer and is a key resource for all Qu ....Imaging Raman Spectrometer. An Imaging Raman spectrometer generates image maps 10x faster than older instruments and is required to meet escalating demand. This results from innovative use of Raman to characterise organics, polymers, thin films and biomaterials, which underpins rapidly evolving research in nanotechnology and biotechnology. Many innovations have come from QUT's Centre for Instrumental and Developmental Chemistry, which will host the spectrometer and is a key resource for all Queensland universities. The availability of its high quality spectroscopic facility has enabled leading edge developments by local companies and the Imaging Raman spectrometer will significantly accelerate and enhance current and future project outcomes.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
Graded Biomaterial for Articular Cartilage Replacement. Osteoarthritis is a major health and economical burden on the Australian community which can be addressed in part by providing a viable option for effective clinical treatment. 34% of people over the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, predominantly the knee. The development of a biomaterial to enable repair of articular cartilage through minor surgical procedures will release resources at point of care. Current biomaterial options are st ....Graded Biomaterial for Articular Cartilage Replacement. Osteoarthritis is a major health and economical burden on the Australian community which can be addressed in part by providing a viable option for effective clinical treatment. 34% of people over the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, predominantly the knee. The development of a biomaterial to enable repair of articular cartilage through minor surgical procedures will release resources at point of care. Current biomaterial options are still in infancy and an Australian based product would benefit the Australian economy as well as Australia's international standing within the biomaterials community.Read moreRead less
NOVEL TRI-BLOCK CO-POLYMERS FOR CONTROLED RELEASE OF PROTEINS FOR OSTEOGENESIS. This research is being driven by the need for a scaffold for orthopaedic reconstruction that provides controlled release of growth factors to enable rapid healing. None of the current systems possess the required combination of properties to enable new tissue to regenerate rapidly. The aim of this project is to design a system for sustained drug release using block copolymer micelles to encapsulate growth factors and ....NOVEL TRI-BLOCK CO-POLYMERS FOR CONTROLED RELEASE OF PROTEINS FOR OSTEOGENESIS. This research is being driven by the need for a scaffold for orthopaedic reconstruction that provides controlled release of growth factors to enable rapid healing. None of the current systems possess the required combination of properties to enable new tissue to regenerate rapidly. The aim of this project is to design a system for sustained drug release using block copolymer micelles to encapsulate growth factors and then polymerising the micelles in a biodegradable polymer scaffold. This would enable local delivery of osteogenic growth factors to a bone defect.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775592
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,000.00
Summary
A High Resolution Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope for South-East Queensland. Scanning electron microscopy is the major visualization tool for a diverse range of research disciplines. This new generation of instrument will be able to image features close to atomic resolution and obtain quantitative analytical information from regions only a few atoms across. Because of the nature of the way the electron beam is produced, the new instrument will be able to examine particularly sensitive ma ....A High Resolution Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope for South-East Queensland. Scanning electron microscopy is the major visualization tool for a diverse range of research disciplines. This new generation of instrument will be able to image features close to atomic resolution and obtain quantitative analytical information from regions only a few atoms across. Because of the nature of the way the electron beam is produced, the new instrument will be able to examine particularly sensitive materials, such as soft bio-materials, without any loss in resolving power. This machine will be unique in Australia and be available to researchers from diverse fields of study working towards building and transforming Australian Industries and underpinning scientific discovery in nanotechnology, materials science and bioengineering.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561247
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$168,810.00
Summary
An advanced scanning probe microscopy facility. The development of advanced materials with high performance and functionality for applications such as medical implants, solar energy, drug delivery and gas separation is facilitated by the availability of sophisticated characterisation methods. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has become an essential tool in materials science, biomaterials development, nanotechnology and biology. The aim of this proposal is to provide a high performance SPM system ....An advanced scanning probe microscopy facility. The development of advanced materials with high performance and functionality for applications such as medical implants, solar energy, drug delivery and gas separation is facilitated by the availability of sophisticated characterisation methods. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has become an essential tool in materials science, biomaterials development, nanotechnology and biology. The aim of this proposal is to provide a high performance SPM system as an enabling technology to advance the excellent research being performed at the collaborating universities.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic hydrogels. Hydrogels are promising materials to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, but their weak mechanical properties limit their applications. This project aims to develop hydrogels with better mechanical properties by mimicking the way natural tissues, such as cartilage, work. Specifically, we aim to develop a new class of hydrogels by adding molecular polymer brushes to traditional materials. We will design the hydrogels with long-term stability and render them suitable as vi ....Biomimetic hydrogels. Hydrogels are promising materials to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, but their weak mechanical properties limit their applications. This project aims to develop hydrogels with better mechanical properties by mimicking the way natural tissues, such as cartilage, work. Specifically, we aim to develop a new class of hydrogels by adding molecular polymer brushes to traditional materials. We will design the hydrogels with long-term stability and render them suitable as viable hosts for chondrocytes. Through this project, we will grow fundamental knowledge in polymer chemistry and tissue engineering, and pave the way for new technologies to repair damaged joints and tissues.Read moreRead less
Stem cell-based interface tissue engineering. Osteoarthritis (OA) causes extreme pain, disability, and reduced quality of life and overall productivity. It is the musculoskeletal disorder with the greatest social and economic implications internationally, with 9.3% of the adult population projected to suffer from OA by 2030. A tissue engineered product capable of functional repair of ligament-cartilage-bone tissue interfaces will have significant benefits. It will improve patient activity and qu ....Stem cell-based interface tissue engineering. Osteoarthritis (OA) causes extreme pain, disability, and reduced quality of life and overall productivity. It is the musculoskeletal disorder with the greatest social and economic implications internationally, with 9.3% of the adult population projected to suffer from OA by 2030. A tissue engineered product capable of functional repair of ligament-cartilage-bone tissue interfaces will have significant benefits. It will improve patient activity and quality of life, and significantly reduce OA-associated health care costs. This proposal will train a total of 12 new generation researchers in the emergent fields of stem cell biology and tissue engineering, having important benefits for the Australian scientific and industrial communities.Read moreRead less