Scientists are using traditional Indigenous knowledge of native spinifex grass to potentially create "stronger, more reliable" medical treatments and foster STEM-related careers for Indigenous people.
Covering nearly a third of Australia, spinifex grass has previously been harvested for its thin, strong nanofibres that are used to reinforce latex and rubber products.
Now, scientists have created a medical gel they believe will better treat conditions such as arthritis and aid the injection of other drugs in the medical and cosmetic industries.
Brisbane-based bioscience company Trioda Wilingi, which is associated with the University of Queensland, has received an investment of $2.6 million from its shareholders to develop the medical gels using spinifex.
The grass is harvested and processed in a lab at Camooweal, in north-west Queensland, where a machine, of which there are only two in Australia, extracts resins from the grass before it is shipped to Brisbane for manufacturing.
Trioda Wilingi chief executive Tim Case said the gel was a world-first.
"The data we've seen so far shows that these gels are lasting longer and could potentially be a lot safer compared to what is in the market at the moment," Mr Case said.
"We are really excited to get to this point because not only are we inventing new, innovative technology, but we've attracted significant investment and can now take this project forward."
Mr Case said the spinifex gel was unique due to its low water content
"Medical gels today are based on a high water content.
"What we've found with spinifex fibres is we can use much lower concentrations to create a much more effective gel that can be used in a wide range of applications," he said.
Science and Aboriginal entrepreneurship
The Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people of Camooweal have long used spinifex for its healing properties and practical benefits.
The Indigenous-owned Bulugudu organisation is the majority shareholder of Trioda Wilingi and runs the harvesting side of the operation.
It is creating jobs for local Aboriginal people right across the production line, according to Indjalandji-Dhidhanu elder Colin Saltmere.
"The whole idea was looking at how we could create an industry for the bush because the problem that we've got with remote communities is there's no labour market whatsoever other than just a few jobs with council," Mr Saltmere said.
"Young Indigenous people sit on our boards and have direct involvement down at the lab in Camooweal, and we employ other young Indigenous people as trainees to assist in the harvesting and collecting of spinifex."
Mr Case said the plan was to use the spinifex gel operation to create an industry and foster Aboriginal entrepreneurship.
"As our project evolves, we are also looking to develop some high-tech manufacturing steps that would require further training of Aboriginal people in STEM-related applications," he said.
Due to the nature of the medical industry, Mr Case said it would be several years before the spinifex gel would be used in clinical trials, but he had hope for the future.
"It's really exciting," he said.
"We think this could be one of many things from using spinifex for a whole wide range of applications to developing an Indigenous workforce that props that up and then sparking research into how we can use other flora and fauna in science."
