Ian Wark Research Institute
ARC Special Research Centre
ARC Special Research Centre
Research Area: Nanotechnology
Supervisors: A/Prof
Dusan Losic, Dr Krasimir Vasilev (Mawson Institute) and
Dr Spomenka Simovic
Description: To avoid problems associated with conventional drug
therapies related to limited drug solubility, poor biodistribution, lack
of selectivity, and unfavourable pharmacokinetics, in recent years
considerable research has been directed towards development of new and
more efficient drug delivery systems. The application of nanotechnology
to medicine termed as “nanomedicine” is recognized as an emerging field
with huge potential for developing new therapeutic concepts. Nanoporous
and nanotube carriers, due to their unique features, such as low cost
fabrication, controllable pore/nanotube structure, tailored surface
chemistry, high surface area, high loading capability, chemical
resistivity and mechanical rigidity have engaged a special niche in drug
delivery technology. Most popular examples of these materials include
mesoporous silica prepared by organic synthesis and porous silicon,
anodic alumina oxide (AAO) and nanotube titania fabricated by
electrochemical process.
This project will explore novel methods for controlled drug delivery
from porous materials for a range of drugs with different physico-chemical
properties, such as solubility in physiological environment and
molecular weight. Drug delivery characteristics will be explored using
light scattering methods (UV-VIS spectrophotometry), thermogravimetry (TGA)
and visualisation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with
particular emphasis on optimising drug release profiles.
