Our Technology
Oncomesh: cancer mesh
Oncomesh is a unique, patented technique delivering appropriate nanoparticles of existing and novel pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of specific, mucosal cancers. The two initial cancers that we are focusing on are both caused by viruses, specifically nasopharyngeal cancer caused by the herpes virus and oropharyngeal cancer caused by human papillomavirus. The advantage of this delivery technique is that much higher doses of newer, more appropriate cancer-killing drugs can be delivered with controlled time release and without any systemic absorption, without damage to organs such as the heart, kidney, and lungs, and without the unpleasant side effects usually associated with treating cancer such as hearing loss, vomiting, and malaise.
Our four-point strategy for Oncomesh is as follows:
1. Utilise several novel compounds, with demonstrated preclinical efficacy, that release tumour mediated breaks on the immune system allowing it to target cancer cells and inhibit cancer cell-mediated angiogenesis
2. Engineer a drug chelated, a biodegradable, sustained-release scaffold that can be inserted directly into target tissues and deliver much higher concentrations of the drug than IV infusion for sustained periods without systemic delivery side effects. It will have the capacity to carry multiple different drugs to attack cancer on multiple fronts.
3. Radiosensitiser chelation to biodegradable, sustained-release scaffolds with a focus on radiotherapy enhancing drugs at the site of cancer (at higher concentrations), without the off-target side effects and toxicity of systemic delivery.
4. Personalise cancer therapy; patient cells will be acquired from biopsy specimens and grown within an in-vitro 3D tumour construct, cells will be profiled and treated with novel compounds to identify sensitivities and based on sensitivities- specific drug/compound scaffolds can be used intra-operatively to optimise tumour cytotoxicity.
Myringomesh: ear mesh
Myringomesh builds on the group’s expertise in creating multi-layered, dissolving meshes impregnated with appropriate nanoparticle pharmacology. Perforated eardrums (holes in eardrum) are common after infection and trauma and are a particularly insidious public health concern for Indigenous populations. The traditional way to treat this condition is an operation under general anaesthetic which takes on average 2.5 hours. Our unique mesh and adhesive technology will facilitate this procedure being undertaken without anaesthetic and in an office setting in the vast majority of cases. Instead of using an inert, free graft of facia, our mesh is impregnated with growth-stimulating agents, infection-fighting agents, and skin migration stimulating agents. Hence this lesser procedure will yield far superior results. Read about Myringomesh’s progress on the UNSW website here.
Mesh Therapeutics: our factory
Mesh Therapeutics is a state-of-the-art mesh manufacturing facility designed by the Benignancy group to manufacture our individually- tailored meshes in Australia and by Australians. The ground-breaking manufacturing techniques that we develop will in time be licensed to overseas companies. In accordance with our core principle of social responsibility, we are committed to not only developing nanoparticle pharmacology but also supporting local manufacturing.
Rhinomesh: nose mesh
Rhinomesh builds upon the group’s expertise in building an adhering, individual mesh impregnated with appropriate pharmaceutical nanoparticles. We now know that most common nasal conditions including infections, blocked and runny nose can be treated in a much more specific and sophisticated way than simply using steroids or antihistamines. Rhinomesh is a quantum change as it allows for the delivery of specific immunosuppressants, immune-stimulating agents and/or appropriate nanoparticle pharmacology.
Septomesh: septal perforation mesh
Septomesh revolutionises the treatment of septal perforations. Septal perforations are through and through holes in the nasal septum that occur from a variety of causes including complications from septal surgery, trauma, and recreational drug use. The status quo for the repair of nasal septal perforations poses significant nasal challenges. Even with complicated reconstructive nasal surgeries, the best repair success rate is only in the order of only 50%. Persisting perforations cause problems by way of nasal whistling, bleeding, crusting, and as the septum rots there is increasing external nasal deformity. With Septomesh, there is no need for significant surgery, the success rate is over 90% and procedures are often performed under local anaesthetic in an office environment.