SmallTech Alliance

Advanced drug delivery

Case Study
Professor Frank Caruso at the University of Melbourne is developing a new class of nanosphere capsules for targeted and controlled delivery of drugs to disease sites. The particle can be stimulated to release its drug payload by exposure to light. This technology could deliver improved efficacy of current and future treatments for diseases such as cancer.

Advanced Drug Delivery is about managed molecular interaction to better target specific genes and proteins. Nanotechnology is currently applied in around 1% of drug delivery technologies under development. By 2015, it has been estimated 14% of drug delivery technologies may use nanotechnology.

Advanced Drug Delivery depends on:

Reduction of particle size and increasing surface area to enhance solubility.
Increasing oral bioavailability.
Targeting tissues and cells.
Intelligent decision making capabilities based on advanced sensors.
Gene and vaccine delivery.

Advanced drug delivery
Professor Frank Caruso at the University of Melbourne

Advanced Diagnostics
MiniFAB and OzMicroFluidics

New Materials
The Australian Stem Cell Centre and the CRC