Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989648
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Optical test-bed facility for mid infrared components for sensing, imaging and astrophotonics. This test facility will enable Australian researchers to validate optical components and technologies at wavelengths from 2.5 to 20 microns, that are crucial for a wide range of applications including biophotonics, sensing, imaging, defense, and astro-photonics. Technologies related to the Mid IR are
expected to have a significant impact on quality of life and global economy. It will enable Australi ....Optical test-bed facility for mid infrared components for sensing, imaging and astrophotonics. This test facility will enable Australian researchers to validate optical components and technologies at wavelengths from 2.5 to 20 microns, that are crucial for a wide range of applications including biophotonics, sensing, imaging, defense, and astro-photonics. Technologies related to the Mid IR are
expected to have a significant impact on quality of life and global economy. It will enable Australian researchers to achieve a major impact in many areas of Mid IR fundamental and applied science as well as industry sectors such as sensing, biophotonics, defence, health, bio-security and imaging. Read moreRead less
Advanced optical tweezers technologies for biophysical measurements. While much is understood about the fundamental unit of life, the living cell, such as their behaviour and their biochemistry and genetics, the interface between these two is only poorly known. We will use optical tweezers, which can trap and move microscopic objects without physical contact, to measure forces on the molecular and cellular scale to study the mechanical properties of cells and biomolecules, including molecular mo ....Advanced optical tweezers technologies for biophysical measurements. While much is understood about the fundamental unit of life, the living cell, such as their behaviour and their biochemistry and genetics, the interface between these two is only poorly known. We will use optical tweezers, which can trap and move microscopic objects without physical contact, to measure forces on the molecular and cellular scale to study the mechanical properties of cells and biomolecules, including molecular motors, which are Nature's own nanomachines, advanced our knowledge of the fundamental machinery of life.Read moreRead less
Quantitative polarisation phase microscopy: A new tool for advances in structural analysis and biophotonics. Innovation in biomedical research is driven by technology in optical imaging. Optical imaging methods including polarisation microscopy are widely accepted and are at the forefront of biomedical scientific discoveries. This project undertakes fundamental and applied research innovatively combining polarisation imaging and quantitative phase imaging microscopy to uniquely quantify the phys ....Quantitative polarisation phase microscopy: A new tool for advances in structural analysis and biophotonics. Innovation in biomedical research is driven by technology in optical imaging. Optical imaging methods including polarisation microscopy are widely accepted and are at the forefront of biomedical scientific discoveries. This project undertakes fundamental and applied research innovatively combining polarisation imaging and quantitative phase imaging microscopy to uniquely quantify the physical thickness and morphology of birefringent specimens such as the cardiac muscle cell. This project, while of substantial intellectual merit in its own right, could also have the potential to lead to the detection of the mechanisms related to heart failure. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force meas ....Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force measurement Australian researchers are leaders. The proposed instrument expands the capabilities of this effort, and develops exciting new directions including the direct manipulation of molecules through a novel feedback and control (haptic) interface.Read moreRead less
Protein chips for the high-throughput study of immune complexes by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is a core enabling technology for proteomics with proteins identified by molecular weight, mass maps and sequencing within the confines of a mass spectrometer. We have found conditions under which it is possible to preserve and detect protein complexes by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry that has promising implications for the high-throughput screening of p ....Protein chips for the high-throughput study of immune complexes by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is a core enabling technology for proteomics with proteins identified by molecular weight, mass maps and sequencing within the confines of a mass spectrometer. We have found conditions under which it is possible to preserve and detect protein complexes by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry that has promising implications for the high-throughput screening of protein-protein interactions. Technologies pioneered by the applicant will be advanced to achieve the high-throughput analysis of antibody complexes with native gel recovered protein antigens across emerging strains of the influenza virus by means of miniature protein chips.Read moreRead less
In-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy of biological redox processes: nanoscale structure and morphology. The science behind this project underpins the development of nanobiotechnology. Immediate applications foreseen, are the development of biosensors and diagnostic devices based on our intimate knowledge of the nature of the protein attachment to a surface. Use of synthetic membranes to create biomimetic surfaces will impact significantly on our understanding of the role and contribution membranes ....In-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy of biological redox processes: nanoscale structure and morphology. The science behind this project underpins the development of nanobiotechnology. Immediate applications foreseen, are the development of biosensors and diagnostic devices based on our intimate knowledge of the nature of the protein attachment to a surface. Use of synthetic membranes to create biomimetic surfaces will impact significantly on our understanding of the role and contribution membranes have on protein structure, function hence disease.Read moreRead less
Advanced high resolution atomic force microscopy of biomolecules in physiological environments. The proposed research is intended to explain high resolution bioimaging problems addressed only phenomenologically before. A correct physical model would help the scientific community to optimise imaging of dynamic biological systems, extending our knowledge about the way living organisms function. With dynamic bioimaging, the mechanism of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's - where biomolecule fiber ....Advanced high resolution atomic force microscopy of biomolecules in physiological environments. The proposed research is intended to explain high resolution bioimaging problems addressed only phenomenologically before. A correct physical model would help the scientific community to optimise imaging of dynamic biological systems, extending our knowledge about the way living organisms function. With dynamic bioimaging, the mechanism of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's - where biomolecule fiber formation plays a key role - can also be addressed, thus the project has even therapeutical relevance. Furthermore, adequate description of liquid phase imaging can help engineers in the design of better hardware and software solutions, for the benefit of the bio-nanotechnological industry.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Particle Control by Rigid Biomineralised Surfaces. The proposed research will increase understanding of the strategies diatoms use to sort particles. Our hypothesis is that in the process of understanding how these diatom surfaces control particles, blueprints for microfluidic devices will be identified. The appeal of diatoms goes beyond consideration of the geometrical patterning on their surfaces, because their frustules (the diatomic shells) are made primarily out of silica, a mater ....Nanoscale Particle Control by Rigid Biomineralised Surfaces. The proposed research will increase understanding of the strategies diatoms use to sort particles. Our hypothesis is that in the process of understanding how these diatom surfaces control particles, blueprints for microfluidic devices will be identified. The appeal of diatoms goes beyond consideration of the geometrical patterning on their surfaces, because their frustules (the diatomic shells) are made primarily out of silica, a material also used in nanofabrication. We expect that some of the strategies and patterns used by cells will be able to be directly transferred to microfluidics, and bypass years of empirical development in nanofabrication and lab-on-a-chip devices.Read moreRead less
Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a nove ....Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a novel method for detecting/imaging cancer cells that are located at 1 mm below tissue surfaces, while they are still in the early stage to be cured. Consequently, a diagnostic method for early cancer detection particularly through skin tissue becomes possible.Read moreRead less
Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Austral ....Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Australian scientists with their first access to x-ray microscopy at its optimum wavelength; and secondly it will provide a superb testbed for x-ray microscopy to be enhanced using unique methods being developed in Australia.Read moreRead less