New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse select ....New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse selective oxidation reactions in complex organic molecules, such as steroids. The new biocatalysts developed in this project will have significant benefit in the development of new routes to access bespoke molecules of value in fine chemical synthesis and drug development.
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Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,846.00
Summary
Developing a multimodal imaging pipeline for antisense technology. Antisense molecules represent a revolutionary drug discovery platform for life science, but to understand their distributions in cells and tissues is challenging. By integrating nanobiotechnology approaches, this project expects to develop and apply innovative imaging workflow to track antisense molecules in cells and tissues with nanoscale precision. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of the trafficking of these molecules a ....Developing a multimodal imaging pipeline for antisense technology. Antisense molecules represent a revolutionary drug discovery platform for life science, but to understand their distributions in cells and tissues is challenging. By integrating nanobiotechnology approaches, this project expects to develop and apply innovative imaging workflow to track antisense molecules in cells and tissues with nanoscale precision. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of the trafficking of these molecules across cells and tissues and refined imaging methods. This project should provide more strategic delivery of antisense molecules to specific cells and tissue, which will have significant downstream economic and social benefits to the Australian community. Read moreRead less
Structure-guided optimisation of light-driven microalgae cell factories. Every two hours Earth receives more solar energy than is required to power our entire global economy for a year. This project aims to engineer advanced single cell green algae for high-efficiency solar light capture, to power next-generation light-driven bio-manufacture. The significance is to advance industry-scale production of sustainable products using microalgae. This is economically, socially and environmentally benef ....Structure-guided optimisation of light-driven microalgae cell factories. Every two hours Earth receives more solar energy than is required to power our entire global economy for a year. This project aims to engineer advanced single cell green algae for high-efficiency solar light capture, to power next-generation light-driven bio-manufacture. The significance is to advance industry-scale production of sustainable products using microalgae. This is economically, socially and environmentally beneficial. Project outcomes are designed to advance the technology from high-value bio-manufacture in microalgae, such as pharmaceuticals (e.g. biologicals), to mid-value products (e.g. fine chemicals) through to low-cost products, such as renewable fuels to help deliver key UN Sustainable Development Goals.Read moreRead less
Rational design of array-based nanozyme sensors. The project aims to obtain a deep understanding of molecular interactions at the nano-bio interface, and use this knowledge to develop a robust sensor technology for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in complex samples. The project proposes to employ an innovative approach that mimics the senses of smell and taste, where an array of aptamers are expected to work in synergy to precisely identify a target, providing an edge over current sen ....Rational design of array-based nanozyme sensors. The project aims to obtain a deep understanding of molecular interactions at the nano-bio interface, and use this knowledge to develop a robust sensor technology for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in complex samples. The project proposes to employ an innovative approach that mimics the senses of smell and taste, where an array of aptamers are expected to work in synergy to precisely identify a target, providing an edge over current sensing technologies. Expected outcomes include a ready-to-go analytical tool for the detection of food contaminants. This should provide significant economic, health, and social benefits through supporting Australian food and health sectors, and the potential commercialisation of sensor technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100321
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Optical Metasurface for Single Small Extracellular Vesicle Analysis. This project aims to develop an innovative nanobiotechnology to study small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) – small biological particles that are important in intercellular communication. The technology will enable unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. It will generate new knowledge in both engineering and biological sciences by improving sEV image resolution and collecting information regarding the dist ....Optical Metasurface for Single Small Extracellular Vesicle Analysis. This project aims to develop an innovative nanobiotechnology to study small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) – small biological particles that are important in intercellular communication. The technology will enable unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. It will generate new knowledge in both engineering and biological sciences by improving sEV image resolution and collecting information regarding the distribution of different sEV subpopulations based on their protein phenotypes. Expected outcomes include a universal and ultrasensitive platform with many applications in analytical biochemistry such as disease diagnostics, environmental sciences, food safety and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Engineering nanoscale tools for cellular interrogation. The aim is to address fundamental hurdles to engineering seamless nanobiointerfaces between electroactive nanoscale tools and living cells. This is expected to allow efficient delivery of many bioactive cargo types into cells, intracellular sampling of cytosol contents, and probing of action potential, all at the cell—material interface. New, powerful, electroactive nanoscale tools that deliver precise spatio-temporal resolution and minimal ....Engineering nanoscale tools for cellular interrogation. The aim is to address fundamental hurdles to engineering seamless nanobiointerfaces between electroactive nanoscale tools and living cells. This is expected to allow efficient delivery of many bioactive cargo types into cells, intracellular sampling of cytosol contents, and probing of action potential, all at the cell—material interface. New, powerful, electroactive nanoscale tools that deliver precise spatio-temporal resolution and minimal invasiveness and perturbation are likely to transform ex-vivo cellular processes. The intended outcomes are crucial for maximising precision in engineering and implementing of ex-vivo cellular processes. Fundamental advances in knowledge may eventually be a platform for developing cell-based therapies.
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Nanopore sensors for multiplexed, ultra-fast gene detection. The aim of this research is to develop the application of protein nanopores for multiplex identification of DNA samples for ultrafast gene detection. This is a type of barcoding of organism DNA that allows for rapid gene identification. This technology aims to address a significant need for rapid, on-the-spot identification of organisms. Applications include rapid identification of pathogenic bacteria in infections and identification o ....Nanopore sensors for multiplexed, ultra-fast gene detection. The aim of this research is to develop the application of protein nanopores for multiplex identification of DNA samples for ultrafast gene detection. This is a type of barcoding of organism DNA that allows for rapid gene identification. This technology aims to address a significant need for rapid, on-the-spot identification of organisms. Applications include rapid identification of pathogenic bacteria in infections and identification of organisms in environmental sampling. Current methods are relative slow, require DNA amplification and specialised laboratories.
This proposal aims to fine tune the properties of the large nanopore, polyC9, with respect to size and charge, as well as to identify and characterise novel large nanopores. Read moreRead less
Precise, Cytosolic Dendrimer Delivery Systems. This project aims to use precisely targeted dendrimer technology to improve the delivery of poorly permeable molecules to their subcellular sites of action. Our cutting edge approach combines innovative phage screening techniques and advanced dendrimer synthesis. The outcomes of this proposal will be: 1) a targeting system that is manufacturable at scale and reasonable cost, 2) a dendrimer delivery system that is rapidly internalised into specifc ta ....Precise, Cytosolic Dendrimer Delivery Systems. This project aims to use precisely targeted dendrimer technology to improve the delivery of poorly permeable molecules to their subcellular sites of action. Our cutting edge approach combines innovative phage screening techniques and advanced dendrimer synthesis. The outcomes of this proposal will be: 1) a targeting system that is manufacturable at scale and reasonable cost, 2) a dendrimer delivery system that is rapidly internalised into specifc target cells and 3) bio-responsive dendrimers that promote delivery of their cargo into the cytosol. This work will strengthen a highly successful collaboration between the Australian biotech company Starpharma and Monash University, to design the next generation of nanomaterials delivery systems.Read moreRead less