News

The Nanostructured Interfaces and Materials Science (NIMS) Group was renamed as the Caruso Nanoengineering Group in November 2020.

CNG’s visiting research fellow awarded a Young Scientist Fellowship by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

March 2024

Congratulations to CNG’s visiting research fellow Dr Hiroaki Akasaka on the award of a 2024 Research Fellowship for Young Scientists by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This research fellowship scheme aims to support talented young researchers in Japan to conducting innovative projects in Japan as well as at overseas institutions.

Dr Akasaka joined CNG as a visiting research fellow in 2022 and, in collaboration with CNG, is working on the development of polyphenol-based TiOx nanoparticles as a tumour-targeting radiosensitiser. The current research visit is supported by a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research – KAKENHI – (Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research B)).

CNG feature article in Chemical Communications highlighted on front cover

March 2024

Cover of Chemical Reviews
Cover of Chemical Communications

A collaborative feature article entitled "Engineering Poly(ethylene glycol) Particles for Targeted Drug Delivery” has been highlighted on the front cover of Chemical Communications. This article summarizes our recent research on engineering poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based nanoparticles (NPs) via different methods (i.e., mesoporous silica-assisted templating, metal–phenolic network-assisted assembly, metal–organic framework-assisted templating, and sono-polymerization) for bio–nano interaction studies and targeted drug delivery applications. The use of different engineering strategies enables the tuning of the physicochemical properties of PEG-based NPs (e.g., size, structure, elasticity, and composition) for controlled bio–nano interactions (e.g., stealth and targeting) and drug-loading capabilities. A perspective is also provided on the major challenges of PEG-based NPs and their potential immunogenicity as well as future research directions. This feature article is expected to serve as a reference to guide the engineering of PEG-based NPs and facilitate their rational design for diverse emerging applications.

CNG team awarded inaugural Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics Foundation Grant

January 2024

Congratulations to CNG team (Prof. Frank Caruso, Dr. Christina Cortez-Jugo, Dr. Rob De Rose, and Dr. Jingqu Chen) on being awarded an inaugural Foundation Grant by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics (CGCPT) for their project entitled “Engineered Nanoparticle Platforms for Pandemic Therapeutics.”

The CGCPT will develop new molecular platform technologies that will enable the rapid development of therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential. In alignment with the CGCPT Mission, CGCPT Foundation Grants support projects that will ultimately develop novel therapeutics at far greater speed than current technologies allow.

Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll said that "these grants are an investment in our leading medical researchers – helping us prepare to fight future pandemics and advance new technologies for life-saving treatments."

To read more, visit https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/boosting-pandemic-preparedness-research-grants

Past news

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