Microfluidics to explore the uptake of nanoparticles by endothelial cells. This project aims to develop microfluidic technologies for generating lipid nanoparticles with customised properties and investigating their delivery to endothelial cells under various flow dynamics. The project expects to advance our fundamental knowledge of biophysical and biological mechanisms underlying the uptake of lipid nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced delivery ....Microfluidics to explore the uptake of nanoparticles by endothelial cells. This project aims to develop microfluidic technologies for generating lipid nanoparticles with customised properties and investigating their delivery to endothelial cells under various flow dynamics. The project expects to advance our fundamental knowledge of biophysical and biological mechanisms underlying the uptake of lipid nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced delivery of nanoparticles to vessel walls. This should provide significant benefits, such as establishing a framework for designing future nano delivery systems, which would benefit Australian biotechnology industries.
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On the Hunt: Boosting Productivity of Cell Factories by Advanced Searches . This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying protein secretion in yeast, an industrial workhorse and a model organism. It will develop a unique multifaceted research platform to identify and analyse superior yeast strains with the desired traits at the single-cell level. Expected outcomes include a new analytical tool for high-throughput strain analysis and advanced knowle ....On the Hunt: Boosting Productivity of Cell Factories by Advanced Searches . This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying protein secretion in yeast, an industrial workhorse and a model organism. It will develop a unique multifaceted research platform to identify and analyse superior yeast strains with the desired traits at the single-cell level. Expected outcomes include a new analytical tool for high-throughput strain analysis and advanced knowledge of yeast molecular biology that can be applied to improve cell factories for the next generation of fuels, food and pharmaceuticals. This will provide significant economic and social benefits by boosting biotech industry growth, facilitating the transition to a sustainable society and improving Australia’s biosecurity.Read moreRead less
A Biologically Responsive and Anatomically Authentic Human Nasal Model. As respiratory conditions caused by pollutants and viruses become more prevalent, human nasal models to study infection/protection mechanisms and nasal drug/vaccine delivery are increasingly important. This project aims to develop a world-first human nasal model to mimic both anatomical and biological aspects of the nasal cavity and predict the distribution and deposition of fine particles and the resultant biological respon ....A Biologically Responsive and Anatomically Authentic Human Nasal Model. As respiratory conditions caused by pollutants and viruses become more prevalent, human nasal models to study infection/protection mechanisms and nasal drug/vaccine delivery are increasingly important. This project aims to develop a world-first human nasal model to mimic both anatomical and biological aspects of the nasal cavity and predict the distribution and deposition of fine particles and the resultant biological response from the nasal mucosa. The aim is to overcome a key fabrication challenge - to 3D print an anatomically accurate nasal construct with a porous wall on which to grow and mature functional nasal tissue that lines a nasal cavity wall. The benefit would be enabling faster development of more targeted drugs and vaccines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100400
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,963.00
Summary
Fallopian tube on-a-chip for understanding mammalian reproduction. This project aims to reveal the fundamental physics and biology of mammalian reproduction by engineering the first comprehensive 3D culture model of the fallopian tube. The project expects to generate significant new knowledge about the exact role of the fallopian tube anatomy and physiology on the formation and function of epithelial tissue, using innovative approaches to simultaneously measure the full dynamics of epithelial ce ....Fallopian tube on-a-chip for understanding mammalian reproduction. This project aims to reveal the fundamental physics and biology of mammalian reproduction by engineering the first comprehensive 3D culture model of the fallopian tube. The project expects to generate significant new knowledge about the exact role of the fallopian tube anatomy and physiology on the formation and function of epithelial tissue, using innovative approaches to simultaneously measure the full dynamics of epithelial cell activity and sperm motion. The expected outcome of the project is to reveal the cooperative role of sperm, egg and epithelial tissue on fertilisation. This should provide significant benefits, such as important biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction and new research tools to replace animal models.Read moreRead less
Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and val ....Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and valves, and noise. The anticipated outcomes will significantly advance existing fundamental knowledge at the forefront of fluid physics and provide Australia with a significant advantage in the marine, pump and valve industries, and significantly benefit the Australian industry and economy. Read moreRead less
Mathematics to underpin and drive novel inertial microfluidic technologies. Particles suspended in flow through microfluidic ducts migrate under inertial and drag forcing to different regions in the cross-section depending on particle size, duct geometry and control parameters, enabling isolation of, for example, cancer cells/microplastics from a blood/water sample. Device design needs mathematical models yielding understanding of the particle dynamics, and tools for determining geometry and con ....Mathematics to underpin and drive novel inertial microfluidic technologies. Particles suspended in flow through microfluidic ducts migrate under inertial and drag forcing to different regions in the cross-section depending on particle size, duct geometry and control parameters, enabling isolation of, for example, cancer cells/microplastics from a blood/water sample. Device design needs mathematical models yielding understanding of the particle dynamics, and tools for determining geometry and control parameters. Particle boundary conditions strongly influence the inertial lift and drag forces that drive particle motion. This project will develop these mathematical tools for boundary conditions applicable to both passive and active particles, so driving development of novel devices for existing and new applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100236
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,583.00
Summary
Designing and fabricating artificial blood cells for global shortages. This project aims to create the first biophysically accurate artificial blood cells through fabrication of novel synthetic particles that mimic the complex layers of red blood cells. Using innovative methods from engineering and biology, this project expects to advance biofabrication techniques for biosynthetic microparticles. Expected outcomes from this project include the development of a portable, cost-effective platform t ....Designing and fabricating artificial blood cells for global shortages. This project aims to create the first biophysically accurate artificial blood cells through fabrication of novel synthetic particles that mimic the complex layers of red blood cells. Using innovative methods from engineering and biology, this project expects to advance biofabrication techniques for biosynthetic microparticles. Expected outcomes from this project include the development of a portable, cost-effective platform technology to immediately advance foundational understanding of cell membrane dynamics, interactions, and integrity. We anticipate that the new bioengineered blood product will provide significant future benefits for blood storage and transfusion, including potentially alleviating global blood shortages.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100408
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,411.00
Summary
Advancing bioelectronics with silicon carbide on microfluidics. Flexible bioelectronics is an emerging technology for real-time monitoring of vital signals on skin and in the body. Microfluidics is a technology for fluid handling in microscale. This project aims to develop the first platform technology with both flexible bioelectronics and microfluidics for enhanced sensing, thermal management and actuation. The project is expected to establish new fundamental knowledge in sensitivity boosting m ....Advancing bioelectronics with silicon carbide on microfluidics. Flexible bioelectronics is an emerging technology for real-time monitoring of vital signals on skin and in the body. Microfluidics is a technology for fluid handling in microscale. This project aims to develop the first platform technology with both flexible bioelectronics and microfluidics for enhanced sensing, thermal management and actuation. The project is expected to establish new fundamental knowledge in sensitivity boosting mechanisms with nano-thin semiconducting films, practical prototypes for long-lasting bioelectronics with integrated microfluidics and their large-scale manufacturing processes. Outcomes include step changes in designing innovative wearable and implantable devices and their massive commercialisation opportunities.Read moreRead less
Improved electrophoretic analyser for water quality monitoring. This proposal will advance the Australian made Eco Detection portable electrophoretic analyser for autonomous monitoring of water chemistry - the Eco Sensor. We will re-design and miniaturise the fluidic manifold to reduce capital- and per-sample cost, increase the sensitivity of nutrients - nitrate and phospate - by 100-times in both fresh- and sea-waters, and develop new ultra-sensitive reagents for heavy metal detection at enviro ....Improved electrophoretic analyser for water quality monitoring. This proposal will advance the Australian made Eco Detection portable electrophoretic analyser for autonomous monitoring of water chemistry - the Eco Sensor. We will re-design and miniaturise the fluidic manifold to reduce capital- and per-sample cost, increase the sensitivity of nutrients - nitrate and phospate - by 100-times in both fresh- and sea-waters, and develop new ultra-sensitive reagents for heavy metal detection at environmentally regulated levels. This will provide a single platform for at-site near-real-time monitoring of water chemistry for agricultural, mining, water corporations and other industries that use and/or discharge water to the environment. Read moreRead less