Targeting Cystic Fibrosis Using A Novel Inhalation Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,545.00
Summary
Currently treatments for cystic fibrosis infection are via oral, intravenous or lengthy inhalation processes. This can lead to significant side effects, consequent poor patient compliance, and limited therapeutic efficacy. We will develop and test a novel high-dose inhalation dry power device containing an antibiotics for the rapid treatment of infection in cystic fibrosis therapy.
Novel Inhalation Formulation Of Colistin And Combination Therapy Against Gram-negative 'superbugs'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,896.00
Summary
Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are major health problems for Australians. Colistin is the last-resort defense in most cases. However, parenteral administration of colistin will cause serious side effects. This proposal applies an interdisciplinary approach using aerosol particle engineering, functional lung imaging and antimicrobial pharmacology to develop and characterise novel inhaled powder formulations of colistin and its rational combinations.
Novel Inhalation Formulation Of Bacteriophages Against ‘superbugs’ Causing Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,621.00
Summary
Emergence of superbugs has led to life-threatening respiratory infections that are resistant to most antibiotics. There is an urgent need for alternative treatments not relying on antibiotics. Bacteriophages (or ‘bacteria eaters’) are natural predators of bacteria and are unaffected by antibiotic resistance. This multi-disciplinary project will develop novel therapeutics using inhaled bacteriophages against bacterial infections in the lungs.
Engineering Powder Aerosols Of Antibacterial Nanomedicines For Treatment Of Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,338.00
Summary
This project aims to apply cutting-edge nanotechnology to develop new inhalation therapy for respiratory infections by delivering antibiotics directly to the lungs. The expected outcomes of this work are more efficacious, safer and cost effective treatments for patients suffering from respiratory infectious diseases such as pneumonia.
Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to under ....Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to understand the properties that govern the formation and interactions in these systems, and develop in-vitro tools that the wider scientific community can use. The project expects to generate a single platform that can be used for the eradication of biofilms in numerous applications, from healthcare to agriculture.Read moreRead less
The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly ....The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly reduce health risks and costs. They may also be used to enable the development of new inhalation technologies based on electrostatic charge to improve aerosol drug delivery to the lungs of patients with respiratory diseases.Read moreRead less
Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of phys ....Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of physico-chemical and in vitro characterisation tools that will be used to study Smartdrop formation, aerosol properties and their interactions with cells. The outcome of this project is intended to be the development of a technology for treating chronic lung inflammation which could also be utilised for a number of other commercial applications.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.
The Fluid-Particle Mechanics of a Synthetic Jet-based Dry Powder Inhaler. This project aims to untangle the fundamental principles that govern the fluid mechanics and particulate interactions in a novel concept chip-based micro-zero-net-mass-flux (micro-ZNMF) jet-assisted dry powder inhaler (DPI). Respiratory diseases affect 6.2 million Australians. The treatment of these diseases is hampered by the poor efficiency of current delivery systems, with conventional DPI devices exhibiting sub-optimum ....The Fluid-Particle Mechanics of a Synthetic Jet-based Dry Powder Inhaler. This project aims to untangle the fundamental principles that govern the fluid mechanics and particulate interactions in a novel concept chip-based micro-zero-net-mass-flux (micro-ZNMF) jet-assisted dry powder inhaler (DPI). Respiratory diseases affect 6.2 million Australians. The treatment of these diseases is hampered by the poor efficiency of current delivery systems, with conventional DPI devices exhibiting sub-optimum performance, delivering typically less than 20% of the loaded dose to the target site, the lungs. The new fundamental knowledge resulting from this research will enable the engineering of a high-efficiency groundbreaking DPI, with the potential to be fully adaptive user-specific benefiting millions of Australians. Read moreRead less
Developing novel aerosol inhalers for pulmonary drug delivery from the fundamental understanding of powder dispersion mechanisms. The project seeks to understand how powder aerosol inhalers can be significantly improved. The outcome will provide therapeutic benefits to the Australian community for better treatment of respiratory diseases and facilitate environmentally friendly technology since these inhalers do not require any harmful organic solvents to operate.