Nicky Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow at UniSA's Clinical and Health Sciences and The Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research.
The global theme of Nicky's research is to transform new and existing drugs into the best medicines for patients.
Nicky's research is in particular concerned with the interaction of nanomedicines with bacterial biofilms and with the development of novel strategies to combat some of the most debilitating diseases - chronic infections. His second research interest is concerned with the question how nanomedicines can be used to improve the efficacy and safety of drugs with pharmaceutically challenging properties (e.g. poor water solubility, permeabilty, high toxicity... Read more
About me
Nicky Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow at UniSA's Clinical and Health Sciences and The Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research.
The global theme of Nicky's research is to transform new and existing drugs into the best medicines for patients.
Nicky's research is in particular concerned with the interaction of nanomedicines with bacterial biofilms and with the development of novel strategies to combat some of the most debilitating diseases - chronic infections. His second research interest is concerned with the question how nanomedicines can be used to improve the efficacy and safety of drugs with pharmaceutically challenging properties (e.g. poor water solubility, permeabilty, high toxicity such as cancer drugs).
A trained pharmacist Nicky received his BSc in Germany (Albert -Ludwigs University, Freiburg). With several years of experience in community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and pharmaceutical industry he has specialised in the topical and oral delivery of drugs.
In 2012 Nicky obtained his PhD with distinction in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Otago, New Zealand. His PhD research was concerned with the fate of lipid-based drug delivery systems and concomitantly administered drugs during digestion in the body.
Following one year as a Postdoc at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, he joined UniSA in 2013.
In 2014 Nicky was awarded a prestigious Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Researcher Fellowship, and a Mid Career Fellowship from The Hospital Research Foundation in 2018.
Nicky is the founder and head of Adelaide's first Biofilm Test Facility at UniSA. The facility offers academia, health care providers and industry a range of in vitro and in vivo efficacy tests for compounds, formulations and medical devices against biofilms that are associated with recurring and difficult to treat chronic infections.
As a passionate supervisor and mentor Nicky is actively engaged in UniSA's Mentoring Scheme.
About me
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 14/05/2021 |
Novel nanotech improves cystic fibrosis antibiotic by 100,000-fold, https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2021/novel-nanotech-improves-cystic-fibrosis-antibiotic-by-100000-fold/ |
| 26/09/2016 |
Channel 9 on our research, https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/1596470300656933/ |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Otago, New Zealand
Bachelor of Pharmacy Albert-Ludwigs University, Germany
Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacy University of Otago, New Zealand
More than 99% of the total bacterial biomass exists as surface-attached agglomerates that are enveloped in a complex self-produced matrix, collectively known as biofilm. The biofilm provides protection from environmental insults, including host immune defense and antibiotic therapy. Once established, biofilms are responsible for serious and persistent chronic bacterial infections (e.g. osteomyelitis, wound infections, cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis).
Bioactives such as enzymes and peptides have transformed medical science and improved patient outcomes dramatically, e.g. in cancer therapy. However,... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Maximising the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory performance of next generation therapeutics for Chronic Rhinosinusitis, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021
In vivo of testing of natural compounds in C. elegans whole animal model, Marinova Pty Ltd, 12/07/2019 - 31/12/2019
Structure and Function of Antimicrobial Therapies and their Interaction with Upper Respiratory Biofilms, NHMRC - Early Career Fellowship, 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018
Research Infrastructure Fund (RIF) Grant 2016 Round 2 - Biofilm Testing Facility, Adelaide Integrated Bioscience Laboratories, 28/11/2016 - 31/12/2017
The Adelaide Biofilm Test Facility has the mission to improve the treatment and prevention of biofilm-associated diseases by providing adequate testing methods to the biomedical research community.
The Adelaide Biofilm Test Facility is South Australia’s first test facility for antimicrobial agents, pharmaceutical preparations, dressings, materials and coatings. Located within UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences and headed by Dr Nicky Thomas the BTF tests materials for their efficacy to inhibit or remove microbial biofilms.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
Open access
88
82
4
|
| 2018 |
13
15
15
|
| 2018 |
7
4
1
|
| 2018 |
16
13
4
|
| 2012 |
187
169
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
7
6
3
|
| 2024 |
Open access
9
9
29
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
4
64
|
| 2023 |
Open access
10
9
|
| 2022 |
10
10
66
|
| 2022 |
Open access
10
10
121
|
| 2022 |
44
41
70
|
| 2022 |
7
6
1
|
| 2022 |
12
12
2
|
| 2021 |
11
10
50
|
| 2021 |
66
65
11
|
| 2021 |
53
52
94
|
| 2021 |
47
42
9
|
| 2021 |
27
25
63
|
| 2021 |
Open access
42
36
4
|
| 2020 |
29
26
32
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
9
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
16
17
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
32
30
|
| 2020 |
46
45
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
14
14
13
|
| 2020 |
Open access
46
44
8
|
| 2020 |
41
39
14
|
| 2019 |
Open access
35
32
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
88
82
4
|
| 2019 |
Open access
51
42
19
|
| 2018 |
13
15
15
|
| 2018 |
21
19
|
| 2018 |
7
4
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
105
99
|
| 2018 |
Open access
16
15
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
9
11
5
|
| 2018 |
43
41
4
|
| 2018 |
16
9
12
|
| 2018 |
16
13
4
|
| 2017 |
Open access
12
11
|
| 2017 |
27
25
|
| 2017 |
Open access
28
27
|
| 2017 |
14
13
1
|
| 2017 |
48
44
4
|
| 2017 |
Open access
68
64
507
|
| 2017 |
Open access
50
43
18
|
| 2016 |
Open access
37
36
|
| 2016 |
Open access
58
51
3
|
| 2016 |
46
36
4
|
| 2016 |
31
31
|
| 2016 |
2
|
| 2016 |
45
41
2
|
| 2016 |
Open access
45
44
2
|
| 2015 |
Open access
75
72
14
|
| 2015 |
Open access
31
29
1
|
| 2015 |
28
26
|
| 2014 |
Open access
21
27
|
| 2014 |
Open access
98
97
|
| 2013 |
Open access
121
108
|
| 2013 |
25
20
|
| 2012 |
19
12
|
| 2012 |
32
28
|
| 2012 |
187
169
|
| 2012 |
Open access
84
79
|
| 2012 |
84
76
|
Research
More than 99% of the total bacterial biomass exists as surface-attached agglomerates that are enveloped in a complex self-produced matrix, collectively known as biofilm. The biofilm provides protection from environmental insults, including host immune defense and antibiotic therapy. Once established, biofilms are responsible for serious and persistent chronic bacterial infections (e.g. osteomyelitis, wound infections, cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis).
Bioactives such as enzymes and peptides have transformed medical science and improved patient outcomes dramatically, e.g. in cancer therapy. However, these molecules are still underutilised in the treatment of infectious diseases. Antimicrobial enzymes and peptides offer unparalleled opportunities to treat recurring infectious diseases by disrupting biofilms that encase and protect resistant pathogenic bacteria. This clears the way for (previously ineffective) antibiotics that can now eradicate the infection when co-administered with the bioactives.
Our research group systematically designs, characterises, optimises and preclinically evaluates Trojan Horse strategies for the smart delivery of antimicrobial bioactives. Concealing and protecting bioactives from premature degradation, the developed Trojan Horse carriers “sense” the presence of an infection and respond by releasing their payload for most effective and direct antimicrobial effect at the site of infection, e.g. infected wounds.
Up to 70% of all drugs developed in drug discovery programs are associated with poor water solubility causing erratic drug absorption in the intestinal tract. Importantly, when taken together with a meal, poorly water-soluble compounds may show toxic side-effects due to the substantially improved drug absorption facilitated by some food components (particular lipids). Lipid-based formulations such as self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) can overcome the solubility limitations of poorly water-soluble drugs resulting in reliable drug absorption independent from food intake. Lipid-based delivery systems are usually liquid but can be solidified by adsorption to porous carriers (e.g. silica). Our group uses advanced characterisation methods including in vitro digestion, solid state analysis and in vivo models (dogs and pigs, rats) to develop and characterise lipid-based drug delivery systems that are capable to deliver modern and safe medicine to the community.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Pathology Partners | AUSTRALIA |
| AmpliPhi Australia Pty Ltd | AUSTRALIA |
| ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian Research Council (ARC) | AUSTRALIA |
| Chalmers University of Technology | SWEDEN |
| Clinpath Laboratories | AUSTRALIA |
| Complutense University of Madrid | SPAIN |
| Department of Surgery | UNITED STATES |
| First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University | CHINA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Ghent University | BELGIUM |
| Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Sciences | INDIA |
| H. Lundbeck A/S | DENMARK |
| Heidelberg University | GERMANY |
| Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland | GERMANY |
| Janssen Research and Development | BELGIUM |
| Johnson & Johnson | UNITED STATES |
| Lundbeck | UNITED STATES |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| New England Biolabs (United States) | UNITED STATES |
| Ohio State University | UNITED STATES |
| Oulu University | FINLAND |
| Pfizer (United States) | UNITED STATES |
| Saarland University | GERMANY |
| The Hospital for Sick Children | CANADA |
| The Queen Elizabeth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Tianjin Hospital | CHINA |
| Universiti Kabangsaan Malaysia | MALAYSIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Copenhagen | DENMARK |
| University of Heidelberg | GERMANY |
| University of Malaya | MALAYSIA |
| University of Otago | NEW ZEALAND |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Toronto | CANADA |
| University of Valencia | SPAIN |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Mid-Career FellowshipsThe Hospital Research Foundation |
2018 |
Invited speakerThe Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research (BHI) |
2017 |
Organiser and co-chairAustralasian Colloid and Interface Society (ACIS) Symposium |
2017 |
Plenary SpeakerControlled Release Society, Australian Chapter |
2016 |
Public awareness for antibiotic resistance (superbugs) and UniSA's research for their treatmentChannel 9 news |
2016 |
Early Career Researcher Fellowship, Peter Doherty Biomedical FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2015 |
Early Career Researcher RepresentativeAustralian Chapter Controlled Release Society |
2015 |
Early Career Researcher Fellowship, Peter Doherty Biomedical FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2014 |
Early Career Researcher RepresentativeAustralian Chapter Controlled Release Society |
2014 |
Exceptional PhD ThesisUniversity of Otago, Division of Health Sciences |
2012 |
Best Student Speaker AwardControlled Release Society, New Zealand Chapter |
2010 |
We are very proud of our research students, below is a list of some of their achievements:
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Conquering antimicrobial resistant Gram-negative bacteria to address unmet clinical needs | Current |
| Biomimetic lipid prodrugs: balancing gastrointestinal toxicities and efficacy in oral chemotherapy | Completed |
| Improving nitric oxide delivery to staphylococcus aureus biofilms | Completed |
| Lipid liquid crystal nanostructures to enhance the delivery and efficacy of antimicrobials against bacterial biofilms | Completed |
| Lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles: a delivery system for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy | Completed |
| Nanostructured clay materials for solidifying lipid-based drug delivery systems | Completed |
| Optimizing silica encapsulated lipid-based oral drug delivery systems | Completed |
| Overcoming biological barriers in treating intracellular infections using lipid-based nanoparticles | Completed |
| Polymeric micelles to improve the delivery of poorly soluble antimicrobial agents to bacterial and fungal biofilms | Completed |
| Polymer-lipid hybrid microparticles enhance the intracellular uptake and activity of rifampicin against bacterially infected macrophages | Completed |
| Solid nanostructured formulations for the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs: from bench to bedside | Completed |
| Supersaturated silica-lipid hybrids - overcoming the challenges of oral drug delivery | Completed |
