Study level

  • PhD
  • Master of Philosophy

Faculty/School

Faculty of Engineering

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Biomedical Technologies

Supervisors

Professor Yi-Chin Toh
Position
Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Engineering

External supervisors

  • Prof Leslie Yeo, RMIT

Overview

As airway infections become pandemic worldwide, airway models to investigate pathogen infection mechanism and nasal drug delivery is now increasingly important. However, current airway models cannot mimic the triad coupling of human nasal anatomical geometries, aerosol flow and biological responses (e.g. infection and inflammation) from the nasal epithelium.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are used for simulating pathological airflow patterns resulting from anatomical structural changes of the nasal cavities, but they cannot measure phenotypic or functional alterations in the nasal epithelium as a result of airflow changes.

On the other hand, organotypic nasal epithelium culture models (e.g. 2D transwell or lung-on-a-chip) are unable to fully evaluate many intranasal conditions since they lack the complex internal anatomical geometry of the nasal cavity and resultant dynamic airflow environment, which is paramount for modelling aerosol delivery (e.g., small particles transport, gaseous toxicity and influenza virus infection).

The goal of this multidisciplinary project involves the engineering of a functional 3D-printed respiratory airway model that is anatomically accurate and incorporates physiologically-relevant features including cells and mucosa.

Research activities

This is a joint collaborative project between Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and RMIT University.

Research activities include:

  • 3D printing (Digital Light Process, DLP) using biocompatible materials (PEG, GelMA) to create anatomically-authentic nasal models
  • surface modification and optimisation of 3D printed construct to support adhesion and differentiation of primary nasal epithelial cells
  • setting up a bioreactor system to support air-liquid interface culture of epithelial cells in the 3D printed nasal construct.

Outcomes

  • Generate a prototype of an intact and functional (ciliated, mucous-producing) nasal epithelium on the 3D printed upper airway construct.
  • Use case demonstration will be conducted to link aerosol distribution (e.g. viral particle analogues) with cellular responses (e.g. inflammation).

Skills and experience

You are expected to have obtained a First Class Honours (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in:

  • chemical/biomedical engineering
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • biology
  • or a related discipline.

Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in:

  • 3D-printing
  • cell culture
  • microscopy
  • biochemical assays.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

Contact

Contact Associate Professor Yi-Chin Toh for more information.