Research capabilities

Nanostructure and Drug Delivery

The Nanostructure and Drug Delivery Group conducts research on drug delivery systems and provides innovative solutions to therapeutic challenges by advancing molecules to medicines. Led by Professor Clive Prestidge and co-led by Dr Paul Joyce the group provides outstanding research training and mentorship for undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Our researchers use pharmaceutical science, drug delivery and nanomedicine approaches to advance new medicines in health and medical fields, including; cancer therapy, infectious diseases, gut & metabolic health, mental health & antipsychotics, antivirals and cardiovascular drugs. We have a strong focus on developing drug delivery solutions to address unmet clinical needs. We translate our research findings into the clinic, through successful cross-disciplinary collaborations with biomedical researchers, clinicians, and with a highly developed network of industry collaborations. 

Our research focus includes: 

The gut as a biological barrier.  Development of hybrid lipid-based oral drug delivery systems that mimic the pharmaceutical food effect; regulate pharmacomicrobiomics and the gut microbiome; overcome biological barriers including gastric degradation, mucus and intestinal permeation of oral biologics; and targeted lymphatic delivery. 

Combating recalcitrant infections. Nano-carriers for the eradication of bacterial and fungal biofilms and intracellular infections. Through our establishment of the Adelaide Biofilm Test Facility, we offer customised solutions to improve the treatment and prevention of biofilm-associated infections.

Next generation nanomedicines. Enabling safe and more efficacious cancer therapies; improving T-cell immunotherapy; establishing prodrug-nanomedicine combinations for improved oral chemotherapy; and engineering lipid nanoparticle enables gene delivery for cancer vaccine and overcoming chemo-resistance. 

Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials

The Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials group (ACTB) conducts innovative research into controlled delivery, detection and bioconjugation strategies.

We are a globally and culturally diverse team of researchers. Our expertise spans the fields of chemistry, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. We work closely with other laboratories, industry, and key stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to current and emerging end-user inspired challenges.

Specialising in the discovery of innovative and transformative concepts, materials, and technologies we are working to address challenges across multiple sectors. These includes the pharmaceutical industry, as well as defence, environmental and ecological sectors.

Our research focus includes:

• Bio-responsive polymers and nanomedicine delivery systems.
• Injectable implants for the controlled delivery of drugs and adoptive cell therapies.
• Ligation strategies for the synthesis of (bio)conjugates.
• Antimicrobial conjugates and interfaces.
• Targeted delivery systems for the protection of native animals.
• Detection systems for ecoefficient mining, resource recovery and threat agent protection.

Bioinorganic Synthesis and Imaging

The Bioinorganic Synthesis and Imaging group is focused on developing theranostic agents for cancer and metabolic diseases. We are working to advance knowledge in biology and improve health by synthesising fluorescent and luminescent molecules and developing improved filtration devices.

Our interdisciplinary research involves using synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry to develop new fluorescent and luminescent molecules. The molecules’ interactions (lipid binding) or function (anticancer or antimicrobial activity) within the cell are characterised using advanced imaging techniques. We also leverage our expertise in chemistry and the understanding of small molecular interactions to deliver innovative solutions to water remediation, eliminating the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in water.

Working directly with industry partners, we develop new compounds and generate solutions for industry. Our research focus can be classified into four main areas.

• Developing long-lived stable luminescent molecules capable of targeting, tracking and / or reporting on events in live cells and in high throughput screening applications.
• Designing molecules capable of theranostic activity through the introduction of luminescent metals.
• Exploring new classes of antimicrobials to help in the fight against resistance.
• Improving water quality through advanced materials.

Pharmacotherapeutics

The pharmacotherapeutics research group aims to identify better ways to use existing medicines.

Our group specialises in the development of novel liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based assays to quantify small molecule and protein-based medicines. These assays can be validated to FDA regulatory standards. We have also developed assays to quantify endogenous molecules, which can be used as markers of disease activity or drug effect.

We’re working to determine relationships between drug concentrations and drug efficacy and toxicity. This allows us to develop algorithms that personalise drug dosage and identify novel dosing regimens. We also consider the effect that other modifiable patient factors, including inherited genetics (pharmacogenomics) and patient behaviours (medication adherence), have on the effects of medicines. This can be used  to inform drug selection and develop novel patient education strategies. Our collaborations with influential clinicians such as Professor Susanna Proudman at the Royal Adelaide Hospital / Adelaide University are integral to this work.

Our group also has extensive experience utilising in vitro models of drug metabolism (utilising animal and human microsomes). We have identified how different disease states modify the level of exposure that we have to various medicines.

Gut-Brain Axis for Ageing and Therapeutics

The gut microbiome has a silent role in controlling health and disease conditions in humans. The bacteria within the gut microbiome can trigger an earlier onset of disease, accelerate existing disease and expedite the ageing process. CPI’s Gut-Brain Axis for Ageing and Therapeutics group, led by Dr Ibrahim Javed, investigates the role of gut bacteria in neurodegenerative conditions and diseases like dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

The gut is home to a complex community of bacteria that reside in the digestive system, which is one of the most protected parts of the body. These bacteria can send signals to other parts of the body, like the brain, and can play a role in keeping us healthy or—conversely—actually contribute to disease.  

Our research

We are investigating the molecular pathways that enable the bi-directional communication between gut bacteria and the brain, with a particular focus on neurodegeneration and ageing-associated diseases.

We have discovered that opportunistic gut bacteria produce specific proteins that can cross both the gut and brain’s protective barriers and reach brain tissue. Once in the brain, these proteins can trigger a cascade of protein aggregation events — which is the abnormal accumulation or ‘clumping’ of misfolded proteins. This phenomenon can cause brain pathologies, namely diseases like Dementia.

Current research projects:

1. Identifying biomolecules: The exact molecular triggers from gut bacteria, which can either drive the pathology of diseases or accelerate ageing, are unknown. In this project, we are specifically identifying gut bacteria biomolecules responsible for these paradigms. These insights will then allow our researchers to design future medicine that will prevent biomolecules from accessing other organs, like the brain.
2. Investigating protein interactions: Clumps of amyloid-β protein are commonly found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, these people are often found to have neurofibrillary tangles of protein within brain cell neurons — known as ‘tau’. Interestingly, bacteria in the gut produce very similar protein clumps when forming biofilms. Some bacterial proteins can create gaps in the gut lining, allowing bacterial products to enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and eventually reach the brain. By using in vitro and in vivo disease models, our researchers are investigating how gut bacteria interact and ‘collaborate’ to produce biofilm amyloids; and how these proteins move from the gut to the brain.
3. Development of novel biomedicines: Amyloid-β protein deposits on the outside of brain cells are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).  Despite AD becoming more prevalent among the ageing population, the mechanisms that lead to synapse destabilisation and neuron death remain elusive. This project aims to develop novel, biocompatible, smart biomedicines to inhibit pathogenic amyloid plaque formation using in vitro and in vivo disease models.  

Opportunities for research students: 

We are investigating the bigger picture of the gut-brain axis and what future therapeutics are needed to combat its complications. Our various research projects are open to Honours, Master of Research and PhD students. Successful student applications will be mentored by experts and work within academic research, industry and clinical portfolios. Our current and future students are helping CPI deliver solutions to neurodegeneration through the development of microbiome therapeutics, nanomedicine, nutraceuticals and next generation of pharmaceuticals.

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