Bioengineered Materials and Technologies

Developing nanosensors that can help to detect diseases and monitor the safety and quality of food, and the environment, better and faster. The presence of target analytes can be monitored through colorimetric changes easily visualised by the naked eye.

A suite of advanced sensors that can detect ultralow amounts of biomarkers and even count single molecules, has been developed. These sensors solve the challenge of being able to detect very rare species in biological samples such as blood and, through improving early detection, will improve survival rates.

Developing biomaterials for regenerative medicine, including: organ specific scaffolds for three dimensional cell culture in vitro; organ specific microcarrier for high throughput cell culture and secretome production; implantable biomaterials and drug and cell delivery systems; and materials for immunobiomodulation in situ.

Expertise in cell engineering and the design of multifunctional soft materials – including hydrogels, coatings, dynamic stimuli-responsive materials, and 3D patterning approaches – as well as precise control of microenvironment parameters, is used to create and maintain reproducible culture conditions to facilitate new avenues for cell manufacture.

Custom designed magnetic or photonic nanoparticles can generate heat or light in a highly controllable, precise and efficient manner, across a wide range of length scales. When these nanoparticles are combined with drug carrying macromolecules or catalytic materials, heat or light triggered drug release can be achieved. The nanoparticles can also be used as a contrast agent or tracer for imaging (MRI, MPI) and sensing of biological systems. This technology is used in situations where spatial, temporal and dosage control is required in drug delivery, or where simultaneous drug delivery and medical imaging or sensing is required for effective treatment of disease or injuries.

Development of quorum-sensing inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides and mimics, and incorporating them into polymers and biomaterials with the aim of reducing device-related infections.

Enabling the design and advanced manufacture of smart materials and devices using patented disruptive technologies that emulate the intrinsic mechanical gradients of natural tissues, like bones and trees.

Functional biomaterials and bioengineered tissues will play a key role in replacing and regenerating injured and diseased tissue in our ageing population, have the potential to revolutionise drug, medical device and cosmetics testing, and enable the study of disease development and progression in human tissues rather than in animal models.

A novel fibre optic dental instrumentation system to provide true understanding of the curing behaviour of dental materials. This system could be also used as a dental restoration training platform for dental practitioners. This research program is aimed to contribute to the development of technology, education and training to achieve dental restorations of the highest quality.

Lab-on-a-chip is a microdevice that controls chemical and biological processing using microfluidic integrated circuits. A laboratory process can be miniaturised, automated, and distributed to point-of-care. Alternatively, lab-on-a-chip can be automated and scaled-out using culture processes for delivery of cell and gene therapy.

A leading capability in the development of biomaterials functionalised with biological signalling molecules for blood vessel repair and regeneration, for therapeutic application.

The number of new cancer cases each year is increasing and there is a shortage of new clinical approaches to fight it. A targeted liposome drug delivery system, enabling X-ray induced chemotherapy has been developed for the treatment of tumours, particularly those located in deep tissue.

Strategies for improved medical device compliance and patient involvement in research, and expertise in genomics, immunology, microbiology, image analysis and mathematical modelling to improve the diagnosis and management strategies for corneal infections.

Examining the bio-legal implications and social-political impact of biotechnology: with advances in bioscience come entire new methods, paradigmatic shifts in human self-understanding or modes of production, for which law often does not yet have sufficient knowledge to regulate, support or prohibit. Yet the law creates the landscape in which that research is conducted.

Development and testing of a number of antibacterial resin-based dental composites that resist biofilm formation – which leads to tooth decay – while simultaneously meeting the other material property requirements for use in specific dental treatments.