Perturbation of the extracellular architecture to promote the absorption and lymphatic transport of biological macromolecules. Macromolecules therapeutics such as proteins, antibodies or polymer conjugates pose a number of pharmaceutical challenges. Where the dose is high, drainage of that dose from a subcutaneous injection site into the circulation, poses a particular problem. Here the project aims to explore how recombinant hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down a structural component (hya ....Perturbation of the extracellular architecture to promote the absorption and lymphatic transport of biological macromolecules. Macromolecules therapeutics such as proteins, antibodies or polymer conjugates pose a number of pharmaceutical challenges. Where the dose is high, drainage of that dose from a subcutaneous injection site into the circulation, poses a particular problem. Here the project aims to explore how recombinant hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down a structural component (hyaluronan) of the interstitum, can be used promote absorption into the draining blood and lymph capillaries. The project aims to also explore the downstream effects of hyaluronidase on lymph nodes and evaluate whether the enzyme is able to temporarily disrupt the lymph node structure and promote drug penetration into the lymph node mass. This has significant potential for improved drug targeting.Read moreRead less
Synergising nanoemulsion and lipid biomimetic design for advanced delivery. This project aims to identify the critical design characteristics of lipid formulations of lipid-modified probes or drugs (lipid biomimetics) that together promote integration into lipid absorption pathways and target the lymphatic system that drains the small intestine. This has significant potential since the intestinal lymphatic system is a key immune tissue, the site of immune response to autoantigens and antigens de ....Synergising nanoemulsion and lipid biomimetic design for advanced delivery. This project aims to identify the critical design characteristics of lipid formulations of lipid-modified probes or drugs (lipid biomimetics) that together promote integration into lipid absorption pathways and target the lymphatic system that drains the small intestine. This has significant potential since the intestinal lymphatic system is a key immune tissue, the site of immune response to autoantigens and antigens derived from food and the microbiome. The project will deliver a design roadmap of the required characteristics for lymphatic targeting, and in particular, will identify novel lipid nanoemulsions that work synergistically with lipid biomimetics to enhance lymphatic imaging and delivery applications.Read moreRead less
Controlling the spatial distribution of targeting ligands on dendrimer surfaces as a means of dictating cellular recognition and fate. This project seeks to develop next generation targeted drug delivery systems that 'home' to specific target cells, including cancers. Targeted delivery systems have the potential to revolutionise therapy by providing bespoke drug distribution patterns that are tailored to specific diseases and result in enhanced activity and reduced toxicity.
A VAST potential for ion channel drug discovery. The purpose of this project is to bring innovation into the methods used for identifying and characterising novel carbohydrate-based compounds acting at ion channels. These molecules will have high potential to be developed as highly effective treatments for pain without the unpleasant side-effects associated with current treatments.
Efficacy profiling innovation in novel pain therapeutics discovery. The purpose of this project is to bring innovation into the methods used for selecting novel compounds with high potential for progression into development as highly effective pain-killers for improving the relief of chronic pain. This will result in new pain-killers that are highly effective without producing unpleasant side-effects.
Targeting particulate carriers to epithelial M cells. This project aims to develop and validate an advanced in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium. The intestine-on-chip model should enable mechanistic studies of the uptake of nano- and micron-size particles by intestinal cells and deliver new insights into the way particulate carriers can be specifically targeted and transported across the intestinal epithelium. Project knowledge and technology are anticipated to generate new commerc ....Targeting particulate carriers to epithelial M cells. This project aims to develop and validate an advanced in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium. The intestine-on-chip model should enable mechanistic studies of the uptake of nano- and micron-size particles by intestinal cells and deliver new insights into the way particulate carriers can be specifically targeted and transported across the intestinal epithelium. Project knowledge and technology are anticipated to generate new commercialisation opportunities in the oral delivery industry and ultimately, should drive the development of efficient oral formulations for biologics. The model should also reduce the need for animal studies.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
Drug Targeting to Immune Cells Using Modified Inulin Particles. Vaxine Pty Ltd is an Australian biotechnology company that has discovered specific particulate forms of inulin that are efficiently internalised by human immune cells. This project aims to exploit cell migration to injury and infection sites by attaching drugs to inulin particles creating a targeted drug delivery system. This system will transport drugs specifically to afflicted areas, reducing systemic concentrations of drugs and h ....Drug Targeting to Immune Cells Using Modified Inulin Particles. Vaxine Pty Ltd is an Australian biotechnology company that has discovered specific particulate forms of inulin that are efficiently internalised by human immune cells. This project aims to exploit cell migration to injury and infection sites by attaching drugs to inulin particles creating a targeted drug delivery system. This system will transport drugs specifically to afflicted areas, reducing systemic concentrations of drugs and hence the risks of dose related side effects. This project has potential both to improve healthcare and to encourage the growth of expertise in the biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Powder blending for dry powder inhalers: a new approach for direct control of powder structure. Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical products involve the processing of powders. This project will generate new knowledge of how to assemble fine and cohesive particles into the structure required for dry powder inhaler products, leading to the development of new low-cost medicines in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Next Generation Polymeric Scaffolds For Dual Agent Delivery. This project aims to provide a novel suite of degradable polymeric scaffolds for releasing multiple active agents with tailored release profiles by utilising both polymer and small molecule synthesis techniques. The project expects to generate new copolymers and polymer networks that exploit molecular architecture to regulate the release profile of the active agents incorporated. The expected outcome is the establishment of design crit ....Next Generation Polymeric Scaffolds For Dual Agent Delivery. This project aims to provide a novel suite of degradable polymeric scaffolds for releasing multiple active agents with tailored release profiles by utilising both polymer and small molecule synthesis techniques. The project expects to generate new copolymers and polymer networks that exploit molecular architecture to regulate the release profile of the active agents incorporated. The expected outcome is the establishment of design criteria for tailoring the release of active agent from the polymer scaffold. This should provide significant benefits by developing a new technology platform that could be readily adapted to applications in agriculture, pharmaceutical science and veterinary medicine where controlled release is required.
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