Bioactive And Biodegradable Scaffold And Novel Graft Source For The Repair Of Large Segmental Bone Defects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,103.00
Summary
The treatment of large bone defects arising from trauma and tumour remains a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. This project combines a well-established scaffold that can be custom-made to address patient specific requirements with a novel source of graft that can be harvested in significant volumes with minimal pain and morbidity. This novel tissue engineering approach will be evaluated in a previously established pre-clinical model that reflects the severity of challenging clinical scenarios.
Novel Biocompatible Nickel-free Shape Memory Alloy Scaffolds For Biomedical Applications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,789.00
Summary
The current project is aimed at the development of a new class of novel biocompatible nickel-free shape memory alloy (SMA) scaffolds for metallic implant applications. The new scaffolds possess the ability to exert a mechanical force on the surrounding bones, and stimulate new bone tissue ingrowth, due to their shape memory effect, superelasticity and bone-mimicking porous structure. The outcomes from this project will provide innovative implant materials.
New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriat ....New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriate rigidity and toughness, and stimulate better bone growth at the interface. In this way the implant should be much longer lasting and the need for undesirable revision surgery reduced. The processing technique proposed could also be a useful platform coating technology in a number of other industries.Read moreRead less
New Types of Biomimetic Nanostructured Adhesives. Adhesives are one of the main ways in which we join materials, and have many advantages over other methods of joining. In this work we will make a new class of adhesive using nanotechnology that attempts to copy the very fine-haired feet of animals such as geckos who can stick to almost any surface, under most conditions. We will make these adhesives over large surface areas, and thus they will have commercial possibilities in a range of high tec ....New Types of Biomimetic Nanostructured Adhesives. Adhesives are one of the main ways in which we join materials, and have many advantages over other methods of joining. In this work we will make a new class of adhesive using nanotechnology that attempts to copy the very fine-haired feet of animals such as geckos who can stick to almost any surface, under most conditions. We will make these adhesives over large surface areas, and thus they will have commercial possibilities in a range of high technology industries, as well as in harsh environments. Because we will be able to manipulate the structure and observe property changes, it should also give us a greater insight into the adhesion mechanisms used by many small animals and bugs.Read moreRead less
Pre-clinical Validation Of A Novel Implant For Bone Tissue Engineering
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,767.00
Summary
The aim of this grant to was examine a new method for manufacturing implants to improve repair of critical bone defects. It involves new technology for the manufacture of porous scaffolds and testing their delivery in a biological, bone repair setting.
Single molecule actuators. The study of actuation processes in single molecules will lead to the development of improved advanced materials for Australian industry and, ultimately, to the more futuristic and exciting nanotechnologies. The research will improve our understanding of how polymer artificial muscles function, so that these materials can be further developed to meet the demand from industry. Applications include biomedical devices, robotic applicators and various machine parts. In ....Single molecule actuators. The study of actuation processes in single molecules will lead to the development of improved advanced materials for Australian industry and, ultimately, to the more futuristic and exciting nanotechnologies. The research will improve our understanding of how polymer artificial muscles function, so that these materials can be further developed to meet the demand from industry. Applications include biomedical devices, robotic applicators and various machine parts. In addition, the research will also contribute to one of the greatest promises of nanotechnology: the development of molecular machines. We will demonstrate the mechanical forces and movements possible from single molecules so that the design of useful nano-machines can begin.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
Nanostructured materials by controlled photopolymerization. Photo-polymerization is an important and flexible means of converting a crosslinkable monomer into a solid and has application ranging from lens production to photo-lithography. This project aims at developing the technology of producing multi-phase structures of controllable morphology by selective and independent dual photo-polymerization of blends of crosslinkable monomers at controlled rates. These morphologies may have applicatio ....Nanostructured materials by controlled photopolymerization. Photo-polymerization is an important and flexible means of converting a crosslinkable monomer into a solid and has application ranging from lens production to photo-lithography. This project aims at developing the technology of producing multi-phase structures of controllable morphology by selective and independent dual photo-polymerization of blends of crosslinkable monomers at controlled rates. These morphologies may have applications in toughening polymers with minimum loss in strength and optical transparency, abrasion resistant coatings, tissue engineering (where the phases have differing biodegradability), in microfluidics, and microelectro-mechanical systems (where sub-micron channels/domains are required) or in membrane separation.Read moreRead less
Drug Delivery Devices : Hydrogels manufactured utilising Dense Gas Technologies. Many drugs are rapidly eliminated from the human body, and would benefit from being released over a long period of time. In this study, formulations to deliver drugs will be developed, using hydrogels: highly cross-linked, water saturated polymers. The polymers to be investigated are based on ingredients suitable for ingestion. Hydrogels are in common use as external therapeutic devices, such as contact lenses or wo ....Drug Delivery Devices : Hydrogels manufactured utilising Dense Gas Technologies. Many drugs are rapidly eliminated from the human body, and would benefit from being released over a long period of time. In this study, formulations to deliver drugs will be developed, using hydrogels: highly cross-linked, water saturated polymers. The polymers to be investigated are based on ingredients suitable for ingestion. Hydrogels are in common use as external therapeutic devices, such as contact lenses or wound dressings. However, hydrogels are not commonly in use as ingested drug delivery devices due to problems with the existing technologies, such as toxicity of ingredients. These problems will be addressed in this study.Read moreRead less
Carbon Dioxide: Solvent, Carrier and Reagent, for novel polymer networks with controlled nano-architectures. The proposed environmentally friendly technology has broad applications for improving properties of various polymeric matrices used for biomedical applications. The process developed would value-add for manufacturing biomedical polymeric devices in Australia with licensing of existing fabrication methods as a best option. Moreover, the leading-edge polymer technology developed would mini ....Carbon Dioxide: Solvent, Carrier and Reagent, for novel polymer networks with controlled nano-architectures. The proposed environmentally friendly technology has broad applications for improving properties of various polymeric matrices used for biomedical applications. The process developed would value-add for manufacturing biomedical polymeric devices in Australia with licensing of existing fabrication methods as a best option. Moreover, the leading-edge polymer technology developed would minimise the organic solvent consumption and will attract business from international polymer and biotechnology companies for production of implant and drug delivery devices. The development of world-class research provides Australia with recognition as a world leader in the field and broadens the knowledge based of Australian scientist and engineers.Read moreRead less