Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficac ....Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficacious and stable formulations of bacteriophages for easy delivery by inhalation as aerosols with a long shelf-life, making them a commercially viable product. The expected research outcome can lead to an economic and efficient technology to produce phage powders for novel treatment strategies of infections by inhalation.Read moreRead less
Engineering of co-crystal drug molecules for pharmaceutical aerosols. This project will enable Australia to become a world leader in treatment of respiratory diseases. The Australian financial burden of respiratory diseases is currently estimated as $900m with significant impact on infrastructure (through regular clinical visits, hospitalisation and workforce loss). The global market for the treatment of COPD is currently $32 billion and is expected to increase significantly by 2010. The positio ....Engineering of co-crystal drug molecules for pharmaceutical aerosols. This project will enable Australia to become a world leader in treatment of respiratory diseases. The Australian financial burden of respiratory diseases is currently estimated as $900m with significant impact on infrastructure (through regular clinical visits, hospitalisation and workforce loss). The global market for the treatment of COPD is currently $32 billion and is expected to increase significantly by 2010. The positioning of an Australian research as a world leader in the development of new treatments will have significant national benefit, whilst the sector will benefit for scientific advancements that arise during this project.Read moreRead less
Treating tuberculosis: targeted delivery of multidrug nano-suspensions. Tuberculosis (TB) is a lung disease of worldwide prevalence. Treatment times are long and mortality is high in children and the elderly. Current treatments are ineffective and drug resistant TB is a real pandemic threat. The project will develop a cost-effective nano-particle system that can be incorporated into conventional nebulisers for use worldwide.
Production of nano-composite particles for inhalational delivery of combination drugs. The project seeks to create a new particle engineering process for pharmaceuticals. The successful outcome will i) enhance substantially the competitiveness of Australia’s research in functional nanomaterials and advanced biomaterials, and ii) benefit the Australian pharmaceutical industry in developing proprietary pharmaceutical formulations.
Dispersion of Pharmaceutical Powders as Aerosols for Inhalation. The detrimental environmental effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) have led to an urgent need of a replacement for the existing CFC propellant driven medical inhalers. Generation of aerosols from dry powders has enormous potential as an alternative for delivery of drugs to the lung. The aims of the proposed research are to investigate specifically the powder surface properties and the orperating conditions on the dispersion of po ....Dispersion of Pharmaceutical Powders as Aerosols for Inhalation. The detrimental environmental effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) have led to an urgent need of a replacement for the existing CFC propellant driven medical inhalers. Generation of aerosols from dry powders has enormous potential as an alternative for delivery of drugs to the lung. The aims of the proposed research are to investigate specifically the powder surface properties and the orperating conditions on the dispersion of powders as aerosols for inhalation. The knowledge gained will acclerate the design of better powder aerosols, thus benefiting patients suffering from respiratory and systemic diseases.Read moreRead less
Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected ....Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected outcomes include significant contributions to Australia's scholarly outputs, enhanced national capacity in disruptive nanotechnology, new opportunities for national value-add material manufacturing, and long-term benefits to biomedical and veterinary industries through new materials and nanotechnologies.
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Particle transport in the human upper airway. This project aims to determine the fundamental mechanisms that drive particle transport in physiologically realistic human airways. Through use of novel magnetic resonance imaging and laser diagnostic techniques, the project expects to transform our ability to develop effective and validated predictive capabilities for particle transport in physiologically accurate geometries. The project outcomes are expected to enable unprecedented definition of ho ....Particle transport in the human upper airway. This project aims to determine the fundamental mechanisms that drive particle transport in physiologically realistic human airways. Through use of novel magnetic resonance imaging and laser diagnostic techniques, the project expects to transform our ability to develop effective and validated predictive capabilities for particle transport in physiologically accurate geometries. The project outcomes are expected to enable unprecedented definition of how particles are transported in human airways as a function of breathing profiles, particle properties and morphology.Read moreRead less
Fundamentals and applications of continuous-flow microprocessing systems based on supercritical fluids and gas expanded liquids. Microchemical systems have considerable potential in the area of chemical discovery and development. Practical application of these systems requires fundamental understanding and strategies for conversion to appropriate scale. The aim of this project is to overcome such challenges in the development of microstructured continuous-flow technology.
Synthetic derivatives of capsaicin and gingerols as analgesics acting at the vanilloid receptor. This project aims to prepare alpha-hydroxyketones and gingerol derivatives acting at vanilloid (VR1) receptor with potential analgesic activity. These compounds will be tested for their ability to activate the VR1 receptor, desensitize the receptor and release neuropeptides associated with pain pathways. The development of these novel compounds will contribute towards understanding the mechanisms of ....Synthetic derivatives of capsaicin and gingerols as analgesics acting at the vanilloid receptor. This project aims to prepare alpha-hydroxyketones and gingerol derivatives acting at vanilloid (VR1) receptor with potential analgesic activity. These compounds will be tested for their ability to activate the VR1 receptor, desensitize the receptor and release neuropeptides associated with pain pathways. The development of these novel compounds will contribute towards understanding the mechanisms of VR1 receptor activation and provide information on how the VR1 receptor is regulated. We will determine and compare neurotoxicity of these compounds to capsaicin which is known to possess neurotoxic activity. The outcome of this project may result in effective agents for better pain management.
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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