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Dr Alex Cavallaro

  • ToF-SIMS Technologist Future Industries Institute
  • Mawson Lakes Campus (X2-03)
  • tel +61 8 830 23472
  • email Alex-Anthony.Cavallaro@unisa.edu.au
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About me

About me

  • Antimicrobial Surface Coatings
  • Biomaterials
  • Controlled\Targeted Drug Release Systems
  • Nanotoxicology
  • Porous Structures and Surface Coatings

Dr Alex Cavallaro completed his Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) at Flinders University in 2010 focusing on the relative genotoxic and cytotoxic potential associated with exposure to synthetic nanoparticles. He later completed his PhD with the aim to apply plasma deposited polymeric thin films for antibacterial applications within the School of Engineering, University of South Australia. He previously held a research assistant role at the Mawson Institute focusing on controlled and targeted drug release systems. Recently, he has been developing template-free mesoporous polymer structures for biomedical imaging and cancer treatment. Alex’s main research focus is in the development of biomedical devices and materials, and... Read more

Future Industries Institute

The Institute partners with today’s industries, to create the industries of tomorrow.

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About me

Dr Alex Cavallaro completed his Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) at Flinders University in 2010 focusing on the relative genotoxic and cytotoxic potential associated with exposure to synthetic nanoparticles. He later completed his PhD with the aim to apply plasma deposited polymeric thin films for antibacterial applications within the School of Engineering, University of South Australia. He previously held a research assistant role at the Mawson Institute focusing on controlled and targeted drug release systems. Recently, he has been developing template-free mesoporous polymer structures for biomedical imaging and cancer treatment. Alex’s main research focus is in the development of biomedical devices and materials, and understanding their interactions with biological systems. He is currently working as a ToF-SIMS Technologist within the Future Industries Institute.                  

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Professional Associations

  • The Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
  • The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM)
  • The Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN)
  • The Controlled Release Society (CRS)
  • Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)

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Experience

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

  • Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) Flinders University

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Research

Research themes

  • An age friendly world
  • Transforming industries
  • Cancer
  • Healthy futures

Research focus

  • Chemical Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Biological Sciences
  • Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
  • Materials Engineering

Highlights

  • Biomaterial Surface Modification and Analysis
  • Cell and Novel Material Interactions: Immunolgoical Responses and Nanotoxicology
  • Controlled and Targeted Drug Release Systems
  • Microbiological\Surface Interactions: Antimicrobial Surface Coatings and Biointerfaces
  • Porous Coatings for Biomedical Imaging
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Research

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Projects

Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.

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Outputs

Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Journal Articles

Year Output
2019

González García, LE, MacGregor, MN, Visalakshan, RM, Ninan, N, Cavallaro, AA, Trinidad, AD, Zhao, Y, Hayball, AJD & Vasilev, K 2019, 'Self-sterilizing antibacterial silver-loaded microneedles', Chemical communications, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 171-174.

2019

Visalakshan, RM, Cavallaro, AA, MacGregor, MN, Lawrence, EP, Koynov, K, Hayball, JD & Vasilev, K 2019, 'Nanotopography-induced unfolding of fibrinogen modulates leukocyte binding and activation', Advanced functional materials, online, article no. 1807453, pp. 1-12.

2018

Bhujbal, S V, Zemlyanov, DY, Cavallaro, A, Mangal, S, Taylor, LS & Zhou, QT 2018, 'Qualitative and quantitative characterization of composition heterogeneity on the surface of spray dried amorphous solid dispersion particles by an advanced surface analysis platform with high surface sensitivity and superior spatial resolution', Molecular pharmaceutics, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 2045-2053.

1
2018

Eedara, BB, Rangnekar, B, Doyle, C, Cavallaro, A & Das, SC 2018, 'The influence of surface active L-leucine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in the improvement of aerosolization of pyrazinamide and moxifloxacin co-spray dried powders', International journal of pharmaceutics, vol. 542, no. 1-2, pp. 72-81.

3 2
2018

Eedara, BB, Rangnekar, B, Sinha, S, Doyle, C & Cavallaro, A 2018, 'Development and characterization of high payload combination dry powders of anti-tubercular drugs for treating pulmonary tuberculosis', European journal of pharmaceutical sciences, vol. 118, pp. 216-226.

4 2
2018

MacGregor, M, Sinha, U, Visalakshan, RM, Cavallaro, A & Vasilev, K 2018, 'Preserving the reactivity of coatings plasma deposited from oxazoline precursors − an in depth study', Plasma processes and polymers, online, pp. 1-12.

1
2018

Mangal, S, Nie, H, Xu, R, Guo, R, Cavallaro, A, Zemlyanov, D & Zhou, Q 2018, 'Physico-chemical properties, aerosolization and dissolution of co-spray dried azithromycin particles with L-leucine for inhalation', Pharmaceutical research, vol. 35, no. 2, article no. 28, pp. 1-15.

10 8
2018

Shetty, N, Ahn, P, Park, H, Bhujbal, S, Zemlyanov, D, Cavallaro, A, Mangal, S, Li, J & Zhou, QT 2018, 'Improved physical stability and aerosolization of inhalable amorphous ciprofloxacin powder formulations by incorporating synergistic colistin', Molecular pharmaceutics, vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 4004-4020.

2018

Tücking, K-S, Vasani, RB, Cavallaro, AA, Voelcker, NH, Schönherr, H & Prieto-Simon, B 2018, 'Hyaluronic acid-modified porous silicon films for the electrochemical sensing of bacterial hyaluronidase', Macromolecular rapid communications, vol. 39, no. 19, article no. 1800178, pp. 1-7.

1 1
2018

Wahono, SK, Cavallaro, A, Vasilev, K & Mierczynska, A 2018, 'Plasma polymer facilitated magnetic technology for removal of oils from contaminated waters', Environmental pollution, vol. 240, pp. 725-732.

1 1
2018

Yu, J, Romeo, MC, Cavallaro, AA & Chan, HK 2018, 'Protective effect of sodium stearate on the moisture-induced deterioration of hygroscopic spray-dried powders', International journal of pharmaceutics, vol. 541, no. 1-2, pp. 11-18.

5 4
2016

Alhmoud, H, Delalat, B, Ceto, X, Elnathan, R, Cavallaro, A, Vasilev, K & Voelcker, NH 2016, 'Antibacterial properties of silver dendrite decorated silicon nanowires', RSC advances, vol. 6, no. 70, pp. 65976-65987.

Open access 8 7
2016

Cavallaro, A, Mierczynska, A, Barton, M, Majewski, P & Vasilev, K 2016, 'Influence of immobilized quaternary ammonium group surface density on antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity', Biofouling, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 13-24.

14 14
2016

Cavallaro, AA, Macgregor-Ramiasa, MN & Vasilev, K 2016, 'Antibiofouling properties of plasma-deposited oxazoline-based thin films', ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 6354-6362.

Open access 23 17 2
2016

He, W, Elkhooly, TA, Liu, X, Cavallaro, A, Taheri, S, Vasilev, K & Feng, Q 2016, 'Silver nanoparticle based coatings enhance adipogenesis compared to osteogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells through oxidative stress', Journal of Materials Chemistry B, vol. 4, pp. 1466-1479.

14 13
2016

Kafshgari, MH, Delalat, B, Harding, F, Cavallaro, A, Mäkilä, E, Salonen, J, Vasilev, K & Voelcker, N 2016, 'Antibacterial properties of nitric oxide-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles', Journal of materials chemistry B, vol. 4, pp. 2051-2058.

8 6
2016

Krismastuti, FSH, Cavallaro, A, Prieto-Simon, B & Voelcker, NH 2016, 'Toward multiplexing detection of wound healing biomarkers on porous silicon resonant microcavities', Advanced science, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 1-8.

Open access 7 7 10
2016

Müller, S, Cavallaro, A, Vasilev, K, Voelcker, NH & Schönherr, H 2016, 'Temperature-controlled antimicrobial release from poly(diethylene glycol methylether methacrylate)-functionalized bottleneck-structured porous silicon for the inhibition of bacterial growth', Macromolecular chemistry and physics, vol. 217, no. 20, pp. 2243-2251.

8 6 7
2016

Ostrikov, K, Macgregor-Ramiasa, MN, Cavallaro, AA, Jacob, M & Vasilev, K 2016, 'A comparative assessment of nanoparticulate and metallic silver coated dressings', Recent Patents on Materials Science, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 50-57.

Open access
2015

Bachhuka, A, Christo, S, Cavallaro, A, Diener, K, Mierczynska, A, Smith, L, Marian, R, Manavis, J, Hayball, J & Vasilev, KA 2015, 'Hybrid core/shell microparticles and their use for understanding biological processes', Journal of colloid and interface science, vol. 457, pp. 9-17.

Open access 7 6 1
2015

Cavallaro, A & Vasilev, K 2015, 'Controlled and sustained release of pharmaceuticals via single step solvent-free encapsulation', Chemical communications, vol. 51, no. 10, pp. 1838-1841.

9 8
2015

Delalat, B, Mierczynska, A, Rasi Ghaemi, S, Cavallaro, A, Harding, FJ, Vasilev, K & Voelcker, NH 2015, 'Materials displaying neural growth factor gradients and applications in neural differentiation of embryoid body cells', Advanced functional materials, vol. 25, no. 18, pp. 2737-2744.

12 9
2015

Macgregor-Ramiasa, MN, Cavallaro, AA & Vasilev, K 2015, 'Properties and reactivity of polyoxazoline plasma polymer films', Journal of materials chemistry B, vol. 3, no. 30, pp. 6327-6337.

20 15 3
2015

Ramiasa, M, Cavallaro, A, Mierczynska, A, Christo, S, Gleadle, J, Hayball, J & Vasilev, K 2015, 'Plasma polymerised polyoxazoline thin films for biomedical applications', Chemical communications, vol. 51, pp. 4279-4282.

30 23 4
2015

Taheri, S, Cavallaro, A, Christo, SN, Majewski, P, Barton, M, Hayball, J & Vasilev, K 2015, 'Antibacterial plasma polymer films conjugated with phospholipid encapsulated silver nanoparticles', ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, vol. 1, no. 12, pp. 1278-1286.

15 14
2015

Vasani, R, Losic, D, Cavallaro, A & Voelcker, N 2015, 'Fabrication of stimulus-responsive diatom biosilica microcapsules for antibiotic drug delivery', Journal of materials chemistry B, vol. 3, pp. 4325-4329.

27 28
2014

Baier, G, Cavallaro, A, Friedemann, K, Muller, B, Glasser, G, Vasilev, K & Landfester, K 2014, 'Enzymatic degradation of poly(L-lactide) nanoparticles followed by the release of octenidine and their bactericidal effects', Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology and medicine, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 131-139.

15 15
2014

Cavallaro, A, Majewski, P, Barton, M & Vasilev, K 2014, 'Substrate independent approach for immobilisation of quaternary ammonium compounds to surfaces to reduce bio-burden', Materials science forum, vol. 783-786, pp. 1389-1395.

1
2014

Cavallaro, AA, Taheri, S & Vasilev, KA 2014, 'Responsive and 'smart' antibacterial surfaces : common approaches and new developments', Biointerphases, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-10.

Open access 22 16 1
2014

Hasanzadeh Kafshgari, M, Cavallaro, AA, Delalat, B, Harding, FJ, McInnes, SJP, Makila, E, Salonen, J, Vasilev, KA & Voelcker, N 2014, 'Nitric oxide-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles', Nanoscale research letters, vol. 9, article no. 333, pp. 1-9.

Open access 14 21
2014

Taheri, S, Cavallaro, A, Barton, M, Whittle, J, Majewski, P, Smith, L & Vasilev, K 2014, 'Antibacterial efficacy and cytotoxicity of silver-nanoparticle<U+00bf>based coatings facilitated by a plasma deposited polymer interlayer', Plasma Medicine, vol. 4 no. , pp. 101-115.

2
2014

Taheri, S, Cavallaro, AA, Christo, S, Smith, L, Majewski, P, Barton, M, Hayball, J & Vasilev, K 2014, 'Substrate independent silver nanoparticle based antibacterial coatings', Biomaterials, vol. 35, no. 16, pp. 4601-4609.

66 56 2
2013

Baier, G, Cavallaro, A, Vasilev, K, Mailander, V, Musyanovych, A & Landfester, K 2013, 'Enzyme responsive hyaluronic acid nanocapsules containing polyhexanide and their exposure to bacteria to prevent infection', Biomacromolecules, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1103-1112.

51 45
2012

Goreham, R V, Mierczynska, A, Pierce, M, Short, RD, Taheri, S, Bachhuka, A, Cavallaro, A, Smith, LE & Vasilev, K 2012, 'A substrate independent approach for generation of surface gradients', Thin solid films, vol. 528, pp. 106-110.

31 25

Conferences

Year Output
2016

Macgregor-Ramiasa, M, Cavallaro, A, Visalakshan, R, Gonzalez, L & Vasilev, K 2016, 'Plasma deposited polyoxazoline coatings, a versatile new class of biomaterials', CHEMECA 2016: Chemical Engineering: Regeneration, Recovery and Reinvention, Engineers Australia, article no. 3405677, pp. 302-312.

2016

Visalakshan, RM, Cavallaro, A, Smith, LE, MacGregor-Ramiasa, M, Hayball, J & Vasilev, K 2016, 'Downstream influences of oxazoline plasma polymerisation conditions on chemical and biological interactions', CHEMECA 2016: Chemical Engineering - Regeneration, Recovery and Reinvention, Engineers Australia, pp. 840-848.

Open access

Other outputs

  • 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) 2015 Controlled and sustained release of pharmaceuticals via a single step solvent-free encapsulation
  • The Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s SA Polymer and Bionanotechnology Symposium 2014 Substrate independent concentration gradients of immobilized quaternary ammonium compounds
  • 12th Asia Pacific Conference on Plasma Science and Technology (APCPST) 2014 Substrate independent concentration gradients of immobilised quaternary ammonium compounds for reduction of bio-burden
  • International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN) 2014 Substrate independent approach for immobilisation of quaternary ammonium compounds
  • RACI SA Student Polymer & Bionanotechnology Symposium 2013 Nanoengineered antimicrobial gradients for understanding of biofilm formation
  • Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) 2013 Gradient substrata of tailored concentration of antimicrobial agents as a novel approach towards the understanding of bacteria surface interactions

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Research

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Current research & highlights

  • Biomaterial Surface Modification and Analysis
  • Cell and Novel Material Interactions: Immunolgoical Responses and Nanotoxicology
  • Controlled and Targeted Drug Release Systems
  • Microbiological\Surface Interactions: Antimicrobial Surface Coatings and Biointerfaces
  • Porous Coatings for Biomedical Imaging
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Research

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Patents

Details Registry Status

Plasma polymerised oxazoline coatings and uses thereof

Vasilev, Krasi; Ramiasa, Melanie; Cavallaro, Alex

AU Filed
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External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

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Collaborations

Organisation Country
Flinders University AUSTRALIA
James Cook University AUSTRALIA
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz GERMANY
Max Planck Institut fur Polymerforschung GERMANY
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research GERMANY
Monash University AUSTRALIA
Purdue University UNITED STATES
SA Pathology AUSTRALIA
Shandong University CHINA
Teva Pharmaceuticals UNITED STATES
The Australian Wine Research Institute AUSTRALIA
Tsinghua University CHINA
Universitat Siegen GERMANY
University of Adelaide AUSTRALIA
University of Auckland NEW ZEALAND
University of Otago NEW ZEALAND
University of Siegen GERMANY
University of South Australia AUSTRALIA
University of Sydney AUSTRALIA
University of Turku FINLAND
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Teaching & student supervision

Teaching strengths

  • Applied Microbiology and Biointerfaces
  • Surface Engineering and Analysis
  • Applied Cell Biology

Highlights

Previous Tutor and Practical Demonstrator in Engineering Materials within the School of Engineering, University of South Australia

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Courses and programs

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Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title Student status
Nano engineered surfaces to control biological response Current
Surface engineered microneedles for delivery of bioactive compounds Current
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