Developing a hybrid waterjet-laser micromachining technology and associated process models for damage-free fabrication of silicon substrates. This hybrid micromachining technology will make it possible for damage-free, fast micro-fabrication of high-integrity devices such as high performance silicon solar cells. It will open new directions for the Australian manufacturing industry in micro-technologies. The environmental and economic benefits to the nation will be highly significant.
A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on health ....A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on healthy spinal disc cells. We expect our technological framework to become an invaluable tool for biomedical engineers, biologists, and bio-engineers to work together and generate clinically relevant in-vitro data that supports optimisation for spinal implant design, fabrication, and safety. Read moreRead less
Micromanufacturing and the mechanics of novel composite micro drills. The aim of this project is to develop a novel micromanufacturing technology to produce composite micro drills with desirable properties and reduced production costs. The developed micro drills have significant applications for the printed circuit board industry, medical devices, personal computers, mobile phones and digital cameras. The expected outcomes include optimisation of the micromanufacturing process for improved prope ....Micromanufacturing and the mechanics of novel composite micro drills. The aim of this project is to develop a novel micromanufacturing technology to produce composite micro drills with desirable properties and reduced production costs. The developed micro drills have significant applications for the printed circuit board industry, medical devices, personal computers, mobile phones and digital cameras. The expected outcomes include optimisation of the micromanufacturing process for improved properties of composite micro drills and an enhanced awareness of the mechanics of micromanufacturing composite micro drills to increase reliability in subsequent micro drilling processes. The outcomes have the potential to contribute to the competitiveness of Australia's manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To un ....A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To understand how the method can be optimized, the thermodynamic pathway of membrane disruption will be investigated at a single cell level. The methods and insights arising from this project could eventually lead to novel, patentable and lower-cost health technologies.Read moreRead less
Magnetofluidic sample handling for enhanced point-of-care diagnosis. This project aims to decipher the mechanism behind recent discovery on the enhancement of mixing and separation with magnetism and to apply it to the rapid and early detection of malaria and cancer. This mechanism provides novel and unique fluid handling capabilities, which allow the development of revolutionary point-of-care diagnostic approaches that integrate magnetic mixing, separation and detection on a single device. The ....Magnetofluidic sample handling for enhanced point-of-care diagnosis. This project aims to decipher the mechanism behind recent discovery on the enhancement of mixing and separation with magnetism and to apply it to the rapid and early detection of malaria and cancer. This mechanism provides novel and unique fluid handling capabilities, which allow the development of revolutionary point-of-care diagnostic approaches that integrate magnetic mixing, separation and detection on a single device. The outcomes of this project are instrumental for the reduction of healthcare cost, promoting good health for Australian and potentially creating new jobs in the niche biomedical industry.Read moreRead less
Micro-electro-mechanical Technologies and Tuneable Millimetre-wave Systems. The project aims to develop background theory and microelectromechanical (MEM)-based techniques for monolithic fabrication that integrate highly miniaturised three-dimensional waveguides with MEM systems. These technologies shall be used to design, develop and fabricate reconfigurable millimetre-wave devices. The project aims to bring together micromachining and millimetre-wave circuits to enable the realisation of recon ....Micro-electro-mechanical Technologies and Tuneable Millimetre-wave Systems. The project aims to develop background theory and microelectromechanical (MEM)-based techniques for monolithic fabrication that integrate highly miniaturised three-dimensional waveguides with MEM systems. These technologies shall be used to design, develop and fabricate reconfigurable millimetre-wave devices. The project aims to bring together micromachining and millimetre-wave circuits to enable the realisation of reconfigurable systems on chip. These technologies offer reduced size, cost and power consumption and high functionality, unachievable with conventional millimetre wave technology alone. The planned outcomes of the project are necessary to satisfy the sharply risen requirements for current and future fourth and fifth generation (4G and 5G) wireless communications systems.Read moreRead less
Mechanical advantage: biomimetic artificial muscles for micro-machines. This project will develop better ways to operate miniature machines by copying the way that muscle operates in Nature. The outcome will be important for portable devices like digital cameras that need small, efficient motors. The artificial muscles developed in this project may also be used in medical prosthetics and more agile robots.