![]() “Bulugudu means ‘strong’ in our language. “Our traditional uses include building shelters and using resin from the grass as an adhesive to attach spearheads, and seal water vessels.” ![]() The company is owned by the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people, the Traditional Owners of the upper Georgina River region. “Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people have long known of the uses and the strength of spinifex grass,” says Colin Saltmere AM, Director of Bulugudu Ltd. It grows widely across Outback Australia. Spinifex is an extremely durable grass that can survive drought, controlled burning and bush fires. They have an average length of about 1,600 nanometres, giving them an aspect ratio of about 500:1,” says AIBN Director, Professor Alan Rowan. “The spinifex fibres we produce are typically around three to four nanometres thick, about 20,000 times thinner than a human hair. They developed a gentle, environmentally low-impact nanotechnology processing method. The University of Queensland, through the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), discovered that spinifex has a unique chemistry that yields stronger, longer, thinner, and more flexible nanofibres. They can be used, for example, in medical gels, surgical gloves, nappies, transparent paper, and even flexible electronic components.Ĭompanies around the world are currently using complex, energy intensive processes to make nanofibres from wood pulp, sugar beet, carrots, wheat straw and other materials. There’s a global multi-billion-dollar demand for cellulose nanofibres – very thin biodegradable fibres that have a vast number of applications. The concept was developed with the help of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF).Įarly data shows that gels using the spinifex nanofibres will last longer, be easier to inject and may be safer than current medical gel products. Trioda Wilingi has the exclusive global rights to develop novel injectable spinifex medical gels, which have many potential applications including osteoarthritis, drug delivery and cosmetic treatments. “Uniseed is pleased to be involved in bringing this indigenous technology to the market and to help build a strong business opportunity and a new Australian industry, majority owned by Indigenous Australians” said Paul Butler, Uniseed Investment Manager and incoming Director of Trioda Wilingi. Brisbane, 21 February 2023 – Uniseed managed funds and Bulugudu have agreed to invest $1.3 million each ($2.6m in total) into Trioda Wilingi, a University of Queensland/UniQuest spin out company, to develop innovative medical gels from cellulose nanofibres extracted from spinifex harvested at Camooweal in north-west Queensland.
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