A scalable, synthetic retina: signal processing in droplet systems with DNA. This project aims to design DNA-based nanotechnology for processing optical signals in synthetic biological systems. The intended outcome of this project is to develop a system for signal transduction in artificial bilayers using new DNA nanostructures. The anticipated goal of the project is to deliver: 1) light-based control of membrane protein insertion into artificial bilayers; 2) novel DNA-based pores that can trans ....A scalable, synthetic retina: signal processing in droplet systems with DNA. This project aims to design DNA-based nanotechnology for processing optical signals in synthetic biological systems. The intended outcome of this project is to develop a system for signal transduction in artificial bilayers using new DNA nanostructures. The anticipated goal of the project is to deliver: 1) light-based control of membrane protein insertion into artificial bilayers; 2) novel DNA-based pores that can transduce signals across membranes; 3) signal processing using multi-compartment biological components composed. Together, this technology allows us to use light and external signals to control biochemical pathways in synthetic systems.Read moreRead less
Probing nanoscale disorder in 3D with x-ray free-electron lasers. This project aims to reveal the 3D nanostructure of disordered matter with x-rays for the first time. Existing x-ray scattering techniques for disordered structures currently provide limited, one-dimensional information only. The expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced new capability for the Australian Synchrotron and international x-ray laser facilities, and new insights into the microscopic origins of the properties ....Probing nanoscale disorder in 3D with x-ray free-electron lasers. This project aims to reveal the 3D nanostructure of disordered matter with x-rays for the first time. Existing x-ray scattering techniques for disordered structures currently provide limited, one-dimensional information only. The expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced new capability for the Australian Synchrotron and international x-ray laser facilities, and new insights into the microscopic origins of the properties of liquids and biological membranes. This should benefit research areas that use x-ray scattering to probe the nanostructure of materials for diverse applications such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and drug design.Read moreRead less
Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected ....Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected outcomes will be novel cryoprotectants that are easy to synthesise, non-toxic and effective, opening up new possibilities for the cryopreservation of cells, organs and possibly even whole organisms. This will have broad impact in critical applications such as long-term blood storage, reproductive technology and stem cell therapy, as well as preservation of endangered species.Read moreRead less
Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time ....Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time-frozen snapshots of the development, and (b) by a combination of micron-resolved in-vivo microscopy of a developing butterfly wing with a growth model to infer nanometer-scale information. This insight will lead to blueprints for self-assembly strategies and shed light on function and form of inner-cellular membranes. Read moreRead less
Linking topology and rheology for designing supramolecular polymer networks. This project aims to develop a foundation for understanding how microscopic topology and intermolecular interactions control the flow behaviour of supramolecular polymer networks. Brownian dynamics algorithms will be developed to unravel the complex dynamics of the network and calibrated by comparison with carefully designed experiments. The expected outcome of the project is a quantitative framework for connecting the ....Linking topology and rheology for designing supramolecular polymer networks. This project aims to develop a foundation for understanding how microscopic topology and intermolecular interactions control the flow behaviour of supramolecular polymer networks. Brownian dynamics algorithms will be developed to unravel the complex dynamics of the network and calibrated by comparison with carefully designed experiments. The expected outcome of the project is a quantitative framework for connecting the molecular structure and energy landscape with resulting macroscopic properties. This project should yield significant benefit in the rational design of supramolecular systems in which the thermorheological properties can be tuned over a wide range of force/time scales with applications spanning from enhanced oil recovery to injectable hydrogels.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and Platforms for Acoustomicrofluidic Intracellular Delivery . This project aims to advance a novel platform to facilitate faster and more effective molecular transport into cells as a means for enhancing cell engineering. Besides elucidating the fundamental physicochemical and biological mechanisms underpinning this new method of intracellular transport through a combination of theoretical modelling and advanced imaging and neutron diffraction, the project aims to show the scalabilit ....Mechanisms and Platforms for Acoustomicrofluidic Intracellular Delivery . This project aims to advance a novel platform to facilitate faster and more effective molecular transport into cells as a means for enhancing cell engineering. Besides elucidating the fundamental physicochemical and biological mechanisms underpinning this new method of intracellular transport through a combination of theoretical modelling and advanced imaging and neutron diffraction, the project aims to show the scalability of the technology for high throughput processing to handle the large cell numbers typically required for doses to be effective in practice. Given recent breakthroughs in cell therapies, it is expected that translation of the technology in the longer term will improve treatments for cancer and other infectious diseases.Read moreRead less