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Australia could be in line to benefit from innovative new products from a newly privatised company that is commercialising technology originally invented by scientists at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
Pills that release drugs when and where patients need them, new more efficient laundry detergents, and environmentally friendly anti-corrosion paint for aeroplanes are just some of the products that CeramiSphere has in various stages of development, with the potential to benefit Australian industry and create major export opportunities.
Established as a wholly owned subsidiary of ANSTO in 2007, CeramiSphere has recently been acquired by a private investment group. CeramiSphere will soon be moving from Lucas Heights to its own headquarters and modern laboratory facilities closer to Sydney.
This exciting new business is based on technology that delivers active ingredients in tiny glass (silica) spheres that can be measured in microns (millionths of a metre). These particles can be tailored to release the active ingredients that they carry in minutes or in months.
ANSTO General Manager, Business Development, Rosanne Robinson explains that establishing CeramiSphere as a spin-off company was always part of the plan. This has enabled ANSTO to incubate and develop the technology for a number of years prior to its final sale.
“The patent portfolio is still owned by ANSTO, and CeramiSphere has an exclusive license for its use. ANSTO will receive royalties when products go onto the market.”
One of the major potential applications for this technology, is for the delivery of new pharmaceuticals and, in particular, the use of therapeutic proteins for the treatment of diseases. These proteins are fragile molecules that can easily be destroyed, but when encapsulated in silica, using the CeramiSphere technology, their activity can be protected CeramiSphere Managing Director Phil Myers said that the company is also excited about its development of applications outside the healthcare field.
“For example, anti-corrosion paints incorporating our technology are already producing impressive results in European trials.”
The name “CeramiSphere” combines the notion of the ceramic material (such as silica) with the spherical shape of the particles in which the molecules are encapsulated.
Published: 14/05/2010