Bilayered and growth factor-loaded composite scaffolds for the guided bi-differentiation of bone marrow stem cells. The project will regenerate bone-cartilage (osteochondral) tissues using scaffolds, growth factors, and stem cells in order to repair osteochondral defects. The project will improve the quality of life for ~1.4 million Australians suffering from joint pain and disability due to damage or disease of cartilage and subchondral bone. The project will promote Australia research strength ....Bilayered and growth factor-loaded composite scaffolds for the guided bi-differentiation of bone marrow stem cells. The project will regenerate bone-cartilage (osteochondral) tissues using scaffolds, growth factors, and stem cells in order to repair osteochondral defects. The project will improve the quality of life for ~1.4 million Australians suffering from joint pain and disability due to damage or disease of cartilage and subchondral bone. The project will promote Australia research strength in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. The project will also create research opportunities for PhD students, who will be equipped with interdisciplinary skills.Read moreRead less
Meso- and Macro-porous Bioactive Glasses for Bone-repairing. This project aims to use self-assembly and pore engineering at different length scales to fabricate novel bioactive glasses of highly ordered mesoporous structure. By precisely controlling the composition, size and volume of both mesopores and macropores, bioactive glasses with improved bone forming activities will be obtained. The successful synthesis of such bioactive glasses is expected to lead to the fundamental understanding of st ....Meso- and Macro-porous Bioactive Glasses for Bone-repairing. This project aims to use self-assembly and pore engineering at different length scales to fabricate novel bioactive glasses of highly ordered mesoporous structure. By precisely controlling the composition, size and volume of both mesopores and macropores, bioactive glasses with improved bone forming activities will be obtained. The successful synthesis of such bioactive glasses is expected to lead to the fundamental understanding of structure-bioactivity relationship, and new materials effective for tissue engineering. This will also open up new opportunities for other applications such as drug delivery, implanting.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
Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from ....Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from the blood. This response will lead to the formation new viable tissue and eventually bone. Such a material will cause faster bone healing, less pain from graft sites, shorter hospital stays and shorter waiting lists. Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Interplay between mechanical and biological microenvironments in chondrocyte function: towards an understanding of cartilage pathology. This project will develop state-of-the-art laboratory models of healthy and diseased joints. These models will assist in answering questions about the causes of osteoarthritis, and provide information on how best to treat diseased joints.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100057
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
A high-resolution X-ray microtomography system. This project aims to establish a Scanco microCT 50 high resolution X-Ray microtomography system, to non-destructively visualise and quantitatively characterise complex samples, including advanced composites, tissue engineering constructs, biological tissues, minerals and fossils. The non-destructive characterisation of these samples is critical to advance research. The versatile system offers high spatial resolution (down to 500 nm voxel size) and ....A high-resolution X-ray microtomography system. This project aims to establish a Scanco microCT 50 high resolution X-Ray microtomography system, to non-destructively visualise and quantitatively characterise complex samples, including advanced composites, tissue engineering constructs, biological tissues, minerals and fossils. The non-destructive characterisation of these samples is critical to advance research. The versatile system offers high spatial resolution (down to 500 nm voxel size) and large sample size (up to 100 mm diameter). The project will enable progress in advanced composites, additive bio-manufacturing, physiology of biological tissues and palaeontology which will benefit Australian science. Additionally, through commercialisation and the formation of new companies, the project could potentially result in economic and health benefits to the wider Australian population and economy.Read moreRead less
Design and Fabrication of an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) by combining a composite scaffold and growth factor delivery system. The lifetime risk for long bone fractures in Caucasians over the age of 50 is 17% for women and 6% for men. The prevalence of age-related fractures - and with it higher mortality rates due to complications following bone fractures - is therefore bound to increase over the coming decades. There is clearly a great need for therapies that take age-related changes in ....Design and Fabrication of an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) by combining a composite scaffold and growth factor delivery system. The lifetime risk for long bone fractures in Caucasians over the age of 50 is 17% for women and 6% for men. The prevalence of age-related fractures - and with it higher mortality rates due to complications following bone fractures - is therefore bound to increase over the coming decades. There is clearly a great need for therapies that take age-related changes into consideration, in particular the diminishing capacity of bone to heal with age. In an effort to address the therapeutic challenges of providing bone grafts, we aim to mesh two leading-edge technologies to design and fabricate an Engineered Bone Graft System (EBGS) system. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668506
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even sm ....A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even small improvements in implant life represent significant cost savings. By accurately simulating conditions within the body, this biomechanical testing facility will lead to new developments in implant designs and materials, in turn improving quality of life, productivity and treatment costs.Read moreRead less
Development and characterization of a technology platform to study the mechanisms of scaffold/Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP) augmented large segmental bone healing. This project will increase understanding of bone engineering and in doing so will lead to superior treatments for bone defects. Such a treatment would be valuable in addressing the ever-increasing problems of diminished productivity and reduced quality of life associated with bone disorders as the population ages. The multidisciplin ....Development and characterization of a technology platform to study the mechanisms of scaffold/Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP) augmented large segmental bone healing. This project will increase understanding of bone engineering and in doing so will lead to superior treatments for bone defects. Such a treatment would be valuable in addressing the ever-increasing problems of diminished productivity and reduced quality of life associated with bone disorders as the population ages. The multidisciplinary and international team will be valuable in establishing Australia's prominence in this field and training the next generation of young scientists and engineers. The technologies developed will be of great interest to a large number of research groups and companies worldwide and will assist with fostering international collaboration and placing Australia at the forefront of this emerging field.Read moreRead less