Fibre-Polymer Composites With Graded Microstructure. This project concerns the development of a novel fibre-polymer functionally graded composite material that mimics the structure of the spinal disk. The spinal disk comprises a soft core (nucleus) and a tough fibrous periphery (annulus). The graded composite approach of this proposal represents a significant advance over spinal fusion, and over the current generation of spinal disk protheses (metal plates with springs/polymers as shock absorber ....Fibre-Polymer Composites With Graded Microstructure. This project concerns the development of a novel fibre-polymer functionally graded composite material that mimics the structure of the spinal disk. The spinal disk comprises a soft core (nucleus) and a tough fibrous periphery (annulus). The graded composite approach of this proposal represents a significant advance over spinal fusion, and over the current generation of spinal disk protheses (metal plates with springs/polymers as shock absorbers). Chronic back pain affects a significant proportion of the population and is primarily caused by failure of the spinal disk. Therefore a strong social and economic imperative exists to develop engineering solutions to this problem.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrog ....Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrogel matrix, and secondly an in-situ polymerisable matrix for treatment of deep wounds. The growth factor complex will be protected from aggressive proteases through encapsulation within microspheres, and the use of MMP-inhibiting comonomers.Read moreRead less
Surface engineering of biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristics. The ideal bone-implant material is hydroxyapatite. Chemically similar to bone mineral, hydroxyapatite is capable of inducing bone ongrowth. An ideal surface coating for metal hip implants, plasma spraying has been the preferred commercial hydroxyapatite coating technique. Until recently, it was always presumed that the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite resulted from its surface chemistry. However, a recent study has shown ....Surface engineering of biomaterials for optimal bone bonding characteristics. The ideal bone-implant material is hydroxyapatite. Chemically similar to bone mineral, hydroxyapatite is capable of inducing bone ongrowth. An ideal surface coating for metal hip implants, plasma spraying has been the preferred commercial hydroxyapatite coating technique. Until recently, it was always presumed that the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite resulted from its surface chemistry. However, a recent study has shown that the bioactivity of HAp coatings strongly correlates with surface roughness on the scale of bone cells. This project will explore cell-attachment behaviour for hydroxyapatite coatings prepared by plasma spraying compared with engineered surface morphology/chemistry by microlithography and vapour coating.Read moreRead less
Functionally graded fibre-polymer composites: a novel material for spinal disk prostheses. Chronic back pain affects a significant proportion of the population and is primarily caused by failure of the spinal disk. A strong social/economic imperative exists to develop engineering solutions to this problem. This project concerns the development of a novel fibre-polymer functionally graded composite material that mimics the structure of the spinal disk. The spinal disk comprises a soft core (nucle ....Functionally graded fibre-polymer composites: a novel material for spinal disk prostheses. Chronic back pain affects a significant proportion of the population and is primarily caused by failure of the spinal disk. A strong social/economic imperative exists to develop engineering solutions to this problem. This project concerns the development of a novel fibre-polymer functionally graded composite material that mimics the structure of the spinal disk. The spinal disk comprises a soft core (nucleus) and a tough fibrous periphery (annulus). The graded composite approach of this proposal represents a significant advance over spinal fusion, and over the alternative spinal disk protheses in clinical use or in the patent literature.Read moreRead less
Engineering a silk fibroin based ear drum with optimum acoustic properties. This project will use new silk fibroin materials to develop ear drums with improved acoustic properties. This will lead to significant improvement in the quality of life of nearly 2.5 million people in Australia who are affected by hearing loss and further strengthen Australia's leading position in this area.
Miniature lithium ion battery for implantable medical device applications. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and promoting and maintaining good health. Substantial national benefit could be derived from this project: (i) Australia will innovate in an important and intensely active area in which the results will have long-lasting significance in implantable rechargeable battery development; (ii)The development of new sc ....Miniature lithium ion battery for implantable medical device applications. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and promoting and maintaining good health. Substantial national benefit could be derived from this project: (i) Australia will innovate in an important and intensely active area in which the results will have long-lasting significance in implantable rechargeable battery development; (ii)The development of new scientific knowledge related to this project will place Australia at the forefront of an emerging domain of research body batteries; (iii) In the long term, the successful outcome of this research will lead to more reliable batteries for implantable devices, thereby promoting health care.Read moreRead less
Short silk nanofibre based 3D scaffolds with enhanced biomimicry. This project aims to understand the behaviour of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in novel 3D scaffolds based on short silk nanofibres. This will lead to highly functional 3D scaffolding materials that support efficient HSC renewal in vitro. This project aims to overcome the key problem with existing in vitro systems, which lack the morphological and biochemical complexities of native HSC-niche. Since haematopoietic stem cells are ....Short silk nanofibre based 3D scaffolds with enhanced biomimicry. This project aims to understand the behaviour of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in novel 3D scaffolds based on short silk nanofibres. This will lead to highly functional 3D scaffolding materials that support efficient HSC renewal in vitro. This project aims to overcome the key problem with existing in vitro systems, which lack the morphological and biochemical complexities of native HSC-niche. Since haematopoietic stem cells are the precursors to all blood cells, this project has the potential of engineering a high yield artificial ‘blood factory’, which will help save the lives of many thousands of people who rely on bone marrow transplants to treat life-threatening illness such as leukaemia.Read moreRead less
Feedthrough technologies for polymeric encapsulated active implants. The project will address the scientific challenges of signal transfer between tissue and novel active implantable medical devices, with major implications for cochlear implant manufacture. This will lead to improvements in the quality of life of the hearing-impaired, and will make an important contribution to the development of other sensory implants.