Structures and properties of tissue engineering matrices for cartilage and bone: Imaging, visualising and modelling tissue/scaffold constructs in 3D. Tissue engineering of bone and cartilage has the potential to lower costs and improve outcomes. The first stage requires the design of porous 3D scaffolds. To date they have been found less than ideal for clinical applications. Our ability to design and optimise scaffolds has been ad hoc, as local structure and properties have not been measurable ....Structures and properties of tissue engineering matrices for cartilage and bone: Imaging, visualising and modelling tissue/scaffold constructs in 3D. Tissue engineering of bone and cartilage has the potential to lower costs and improve outcomes. The first stage requires the design of porous 3D scaffolds. To date they have been found less than ideal for clinical applications. Our ability to design and optimise scaffolds has been ad hoc, as local structure and properties have not been measurable during tissue growth and repair. In this proposal, an interdisciplinary group from three universities will utilise microCT imaging, visualisation and numerical modelling to determine these structures and properties. This will provide an invaluable understanding for the further development of tissue engineering scaffolds.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Hydrogel-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Artificial Muscles. This collaboration links the expertise of the two groups in advanced functional materials for the development of improved mechanical actuators for artificial muscles. The Korean group provides key know-how in synthetic and natural hydrogels. The Wollongong team has developed expertise in carbon nanotube actuators. The hydrogel-nanotube hybrids resulting from this collaboration are likely to show improved performance co ....Nanostructured Hydrogel-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Artificial Muscles. This collaboration links the expertise of the two groups in advanced functional materials for the development of improved mechanical actuators for artificial muscles. The Korean group provides key know-how in synthetic and natural hydrogels. The Wollongong team has developed expertise in carbon nanotube actuators. The hydrogel-nanotube hybrids resulting from this collaboration are likely to show improved performance compared with existing materials. The improved actuators will be utilised in on-going projects in both countries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775598
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
High-Resolution Transmission Electron Tomographic Facility for Nanoanalytical Characterisation in the Life and Material Sciences. The requested instrument will allow researchers in New South Wales to (i) visualize biological and physical samples in three-dimensions by electron tomography and modeling and (ii) image samples in a near-natural state and at high-resolution by cryogenic techniques. This essential research platform will provide novel information that faithfully presents both the surfa ....High-Resolution Transmission Electron Tomographic Facility for Nanoanalytical Characterisation in the Life and Material Sciences. The requested instrument will allow researchers in New South Wales to (i) visualize biological and physical samples in three-dimensions by electron tomography and modeling and (ii) image samples in a near-natural state and at high-resolution by cryogenic techniques. This essential research platform will provide novel information that faithfully presents both the surface and internal structure of samples down to the nanometre scale, enabling structural research to the highest scientific standards. The resulting knowledge is essential to diverse areas that range from development of cures to diabetes and cancer to creation of environmentally-friendly industrial catalysts to design of new nanoparticles and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989859
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistr ....A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistry, research supported by this instrumentation will provide Australians with improvements to their dental health. Furthermore applications to industrial materials are providing Australian industries with better characterisation of their products that is leading to improved export performance and consequent improvement in Australia's balance of trade.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346882
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$296,000.00
Summary
A Micro-CT facility for non-destructive 3D X-ray microscopy of opaque materials. This project will establish a Micro-CT facility for non-destructive 3D X-ray microscopy of the internal structure of materials. The facility will support research from a broad spectrum of disciplines and extend regional microscopy and microanalysis capabilities. With a resolution of 1.8µm this instrument will provide 3D images with virtually no sample preparation. The range of materials that this applies to includes ....A Micro-CT facility for non-destructive 3D X-ray microscopy of opaque materials. This project will establish a Micro-CT facility for non-destructive 3D X-ray microscopy of the internal structure of materials. The facility will support research from a broad spectrum of disciplines and extend regional microscopy and microanalysis capabilities. With a resolution of 1.8µm this instrument will provide 3D images with virtually no sample preparation. The range of materials that this applies to includes minerals, wood, biomaterials, polymers, composites, archaeological ceramics and mummified tissue, and biological materials such as bone, teeth and coral. This facilitates research which had been considered too difficult because of the sample preparation needed to examine internal structure.
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Advanced nanoparticles as biocompatible antioxidant agents with targeting functionality. This proposal addresses the core issue of designing nanoparticles capable of delivering antioxidant properties in a biological environment. The major benefits to Australia are two-fold: first will be in the improved health outcomes by providing materials that are better suited to targeted therapeutic delivery, thereby improving the quality of life and reducing the need for further surgical intervention; the ....Advanced nanoparticles as biocompatible antioxidant agents with targeting functionality. This proposal addresses the core issue of designing nanoparticles capable of delivering antioxidant properties in a biological environment. The major benefits to Australia are two-fold: first will be in the improved health outcomes by providing materials that are better suited to targeted therapeutic delivery, thereby improving the quality of life and reducing the need for further surgical intervention; the second is in providing greater knowledge about nanoparticle interactions with the biological environment. This project will assist in the training of researchers in this field which will in turn provide economic growth through the development of Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Evolution of Contact Damage in Layer Structures. Brittle layer structures (eg brittle coating on ceramic substrate) can be much more damage tolerant than their constituent material components - cracks tend to remain contained within the coating. Very little is known about the factors that control this behaviour. This project will exploit unique local expertise in modelling damage evolution to fill a niche in a large study being carried out at the National Institute of Standards (NIST) in the U ....Evolution of Contact Damage in Layer Structures. Brittle layer structures (eg brittle coating on ceramic substrate) can be much more damage tolerant than their constituent material components - cracks tend to remain contained within the coating. Very little is known about the factors that control this behaviour. This project will exploit unique local expertise in modelling damage evolution to fill a niche in a large study being carried out at the National Institute of Standards (NIST) in the U.S.A. An understanding of the factors that maximise the containment of cracks is essential to the design and development of the next generation of advanced layer composites for many biomechanical and other engineering applications.Read moreRead less
Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a te ....Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a technology edge over their competitors and provide easy-to-use guidelines for the design of smart biological systems.Read moreRead less
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential ....Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential for the development of new commercial opportunities in biotechnology and biomedical science in which Australia has an excellent track record. The project will also enhance Australia's capabilities in both nanotechnologiocal and biotechnological sciences.Read moreRead less
Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to bio ....Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to biological hard tissues like bones and teeth. Efficient numerical methods will be developed to overcome difficulties encountered in material properties and loading conditions. The project will provide useful guidelines to design new, intelligent, multi-phase material systems, including biomaterial systems for biomedical applications.Read moreRead less