Novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials. There is a clear need for new materials that repel bacteria. Infections associated with biomaterials incur a high cost in terms of human health and well being, but such infections also increase the burden on the health care system by extending hospital stays and significantly elevating costs. The cost of a catheter-related blood stream infection is around $50,000 for patients in intensive care units. If all medical devices are considered, the cost of related inf ....Novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials. There is a clear need for new materials that repel bacteria. Infections associated with biomaterials incur a high cost in terms of human health and well being, but such infections also increase the burden on the health care system by extending hospital stays and significantly elevating costs. The cost of a catheter-related blood stream infection is around $50,000 for patients in intensive care units. If all medical devices are considered, the cost of related infections is then approximately $20 billion. The technology proposed here has the potential to reduce biomaterial related infection rates, improve health care and reduce health care costs. Read moreRead less
Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupl ....Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupling behaviour of viscoelastic and electric fields of the innovative smart biological soft tissue. These results will provide a guideline for future research in tissue engineering and help Australian biomedical science and industries improve the modern biotransducers and smart biomicro-devices.Read moreRead less
Hydrogel systems for effective encapsulation of functional pancreatic islet cells. This proposal addresses the problem of maintaining viability and function of cells encapsulated within an immuno-isolation barrier material. The research will develop biosynthetic materials that are able to meet design criteria for an effective biomaterial for this application. The major benefits to Australia will be in improved health outcomes by providing safer, more efficacious materials, economic growth develo ....Hydrogel systems for effective encapsulation of functional pancreatic islet cells. This proposal addresses the problem of maintaining viability and function of cells encapsulated within an immuno-isolation barrier material. The research will develop biosynthetic materials that are able to meet design criteria for an effective biomaterial for this application. The major benefits to Australia will be in improved health outcomes by providing safer, more efficacious materials, economic growth development of the Australian Medical Device industry and in high level training of researchers in this field.Read moreRead less
In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth. The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the poly ....In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth. The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the polysaccharide chitin, these extremely hard teeth are mineralized with calcium and iron compounds and used to excavate the rocks on which they live, as they graze for food. Understanding the mechanism of biomineralization is vital for devising synthetic routes to composite materials for industrial purposes.Read moreRead less
Biomaterial applications of synthetic elastin. The grant will develop a new collaboration between two established laboratories. The Weiss Lab (synthetic elastin; University of Sydney, Australia) will send elastin materials to the Langer Lab (interface of biotechnology and materials science; MIT, USA). Prof. Weiss will visit the Langer Lab and be trained in and participate collaboratively in the use of established MIT methodologies that will focus on applications in cardiac tissue engineering, co ....Biomaterial applications of synthetic elastin. The grant will develop a new collaboration between two established laboratories. The Weiss Lab (synthetic elastin; University of Sydney, Australia) will send elastin materials to the Langer Lab (interface of biotechnology and materials science; MIT, USA). Prof. Weiss will visit the Langer Lab and be trained in and participate collaboratively in the use of established MIT methodologies that will focus on applications in cardiac tissue engineering, controlled release of drugs and vocal fold repair. The MIT group will benefit from access to and the use of elastin materials that are developed in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the dev ....Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the development of reliable, well-controlled manufacturing techniques for tissue engineering scaffolds, revolutionising current scaffold manufacturing practices. It will enhance existing collaborations between the University of Melbourne and the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery.Read moreRead less
Mastering the Microenvironment - Integrated, functional, biosynthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering. Organ transplantation is available to only the lucky few, with, for example, less than 3000 of Australia's annual 30,000 patients suffering end-stage renal failure receiving transplants. Tissue engineering of soft, functional tissues using in vitro and/or in vivo methods offers the potential to replace missing or non-functioning tissues, such as liver, pancreas, lung, heart, fat and muscle, wi ....Mastering the Microenvironment - Integrated, functional, biosynthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering. Organ transplantation is available to only the lucky few, with, for example, less than 3000 of Australia's annual 30,000 patients suffering end-stage renal failure receiving transplants. Tissue engineering of soft, functional tissues using in vitro and/or in vivo methods offers the potential to replace missing or non-functioning tissues, such as liver, pancreas, lung, heart, fat and muscle, with newly created tissue. This project will deliver integrated, functional polymeric scaffolds for organ replacement. Over 12 higher degree candidates and one research associate will be trained in the field of tissue engineering, representing a significant benefit to the Australian scientific community.Read moreRead less
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential ....Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential for the development of new commercial opportunities in biotechnology and biomedical science in which Australia has an excellent track record. The project will also enhance Australia's capabilities in both nanotechnologiocal and biotechnological sciences.Read moreRead less
Optimising vascularisation of tissue engineering chambers for construction of robust tissues. We have produced a device that has commercial application in several fields of basic science, biotechnology and bioengineering. When its full potential is achieved, our innovative organ chamber will strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from understanding the growth of blood vessels will benefit several fields including chemical ....Optimising vascularisation of tissue engineering chambers for construction of robust tissues. We have produced a device that has commercial application in several fields of basic science, biotechnology and bioengineering. When its full potential is achieved, our innovative organ chamber will strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from understanding the growth of blood vessels will benefit several fields including chemical bioengineering, tissue engineering and repair, polymer chemistry, therapeutics in many areas (like cancer, heart disease, diabetes), hormone manufacture for agricultural, veterinary and medical purposes and cosmetics manufacture. The project will train several post-doctoral fellows and PhD students in this cutting edge field of researchRead moreRead less