Intelligent nanoparticles: Interactive tools to decode brain activity. This project aims to use nanoparticles and integrated nanoparticle devices to unravel causal relationships between molecular events and high-level brain activity. These devices, capable of real-time sensing and adaptive responses, could expose previously unmeasurable cellular events and establish their physiological effects. This is expected to reveal the complex dynamics in the living brain and advance neuroscience and analy ....Intelligent nanoparticles: Interactive tools to decode brain activity. This project aims to use nanoparticles and integrated nanoparticle devices to unravel causal relationships between molecular events and high-level brain activity. These devices, capable of real-time sensing and adaptive responses, could expose previously unmeasurable cellular events and establish their physiological effects. This is expected to reveal the complex dynamics in the living brain and advance neuroscience and analytical chemistry.Read moreRead less
Integration of DNA switches into wearables for smart chemical monitoring. This project addresses the scientific challenge of real-time monitoring of dynamic biological changes in the secretions found in sweat. By creating a wearable wireless device to monitor chemicals which interests Nutromics, using a novel electronic skin technology platform, the work aims to generate new knowledge of physiological changes in sweat secretions. Lying at the interface of analytical chemistry, functional materia ....Integration of DNA switches into wearables for smart chemical monitoring. This project addresses the scientific challenge of real-time monitoring of dynamic biological changes in the secretions found in sweat. By creating a wearable wireless device to monitor chemicals which interests Nutromics, using a novel electronic skin technology platform, the work aims to generate new knowledge of physiological changes in sweat secretions. Lying at the interface of analytical chemistry, functional materials and biomedical engineering, the project will contribute to the training of young researchers in these emerging technologies which interest Nutromics Pty Ltd. The project will improve Australia's standing in technology around wearable devices, improving our global competitive edge with economic and scientific impact.Read moreRead less
Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to ....Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to meet health regulations. Sulphate and other surrogates of biological entities enable a rapid, on-line approach to integrity and performance monitoring, but detection with available analytical chemical technology is not feasible. This research is expected to enable better management of water treatment processes and demonstrate compliance to health standards.Read moreRead less
Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performi ....Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performing research to fully understand, miniaturise and develop this method further, this project aims to enable the quantitative observation of nanoscaled biological machinery involved in cell-to-cell communication and DNA unfolding. Such a technology platform may have applications in areas such as biology, biotechnology and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
A new management tool for effective wastewater source control. The use of recycled wastewater can dramatically increase the water supply capacity. However, the potential health risk from possible containments in recycled wastewater must be mitigated. This project aims to develop an effective wastewater source management tool for safeguarding the recycled water production and usage.
Quantum noise limited molecular spectrometry. This project will develop a new technology for chemical analysis using lasers. The research will produce more accurate instruments for analysing samples containing carbon dioxide and water. This technology has a surprisingly wide array of applications. For example, sensitive analysis of carbon dioxide will help law enforcement agencies identify the location of illicit drug manufacturing, test for performance enhancing drug use by elite athletes, and ....Quantum noise limited molecular spectrometry. This project will develop a new technology for chemical analysis using lasers. The research will produce more accurate instruments for analysing samples containing carbon dioxide and water. This technology has a surprisingly wide array of applications. For example, sensitive analysis of carbon dioxide will help law enforcement agencies identify the location of illicit drug manufacturing, test for performance enhancing drug use by elite athletes, and monitor greenhouse gases. The instrument for analysing water will improve water resource management in Australia. This program will result in commercial instruments that are sensitive, portable and affordable.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This pr ....Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This project aims to harness cells’ exquisite biological properties to improve current detection techniques. It will integrate liposome-based sensors with microfluidics to perform analytical tasks ranging from food safety to diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic Separation Science: Innovative Technology for Characterising Complex Chemical Systems. At present there is a need for fast and detailed chemical analysis of complex samples, such as those important to biomedical diagnostics and forensic science. Innovative technology will be developed here in order to reduce analysis time whilst maintaining the integrity of the chemical information contained within the sample. This step change in separation science will directly aid biomedical diagn ....Microfluidic Separation Science: Innovative Technology for Characterising Complex Chemical Systems. At present there is a need for fast and detailed chemical analysis of complex samples, such as those important to biomedical diagnostics and forensic science. Innovative technology will be developed here in order to reduce analysis time whilst maintaining the integrity of the chemical information contained within the sample. This step change in separation science will directly aid biomedical diagnostics, forensic sample determination and industrial process monitoring through decreased analysis time with an increase in the chemical information gained. By performing chemical separations on a microfluidic scale a reduction in both the cost of analysis and impact of solvent waste on the environment will be achieved.Read moreRead less
A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of ....A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of interest to capture the miRNA. Application of a magnetic field allows the levels of miRNA to be detected electrochemically. The expected outcome is a commercialisable biosensor for miRNA both as a diagnostic early detection device and a prognostic device for a range of miRNA biomarkers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,156.00
Summary
Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-partic ....Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-particle level and the choice of optimal SERS-active three-dimensional superstructures for use will be guided by empirical structure-activity correlations in combination with computer simulations. Tumour biomarkers for breast cancer will be employed as the model target for establishing the detection platform in a portable configuration for point-of-care diagnostics.Read moreRead less