Nanoengineering Smart and Precise Antimicrobial Polymers. Designing the next generation of antimicrobial polymers. This proposal aims to combat the critical global issue of antibiotic resistance via fundamental and innovative chemistry design solutions. The proposed new design will enable the polymers to activate intelligently and precisely in the presence of specific stimuli such as bacterial enzymes for the first time, thereby endowing the polymers with both antimicrobial and biocompatible pro ....Nanoengineering Smart and Precise Antimicrobial Polymers. Designing the next generation of antimicrobial polymers. This proposal aims to combat the critical global issue of antibiotic resistance via fundamental and innovative chemistry design solutions. The proposed new design will enable the polymers to activate intelligently and precisely in the presence of specific stimuli such as bacterial enzymes for the first time, thereby endowing the polymers with both antimicrobial and biocompatible properties. Both properties are crucially needed for successful translation into practical applications. This proposal will lead to new and effective avenues in fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria and will significantly benefit Australia's healthcare and agriculture sectors.Read moreRead less
Advanced Fibre Interfaces in Active Water Management Systems. Flooding is a critical issue in Australia, generating considerable economic losses, including by stormwater contamination. The current project will pioneer an integrated solution for stormwater retention, while removing chemical pollutants. In collaboration with the company ROCKWOOL-Lapinus - based on a stonewool fibre platform - we will (i) design fibre coatings based on a versatile and chemically simple deposition process, (ii) inco ....Advanced Fibre Interfaces in Active Water Management Systems. Flooding is a critical issue in Australia, generating considerable economic losses, including by stormwater contamination. The current project will pioneer an integrated solution for stormwater retention, while removing chemical pollutants. In collaboration with the company ROCKWOOL-Lapinus - based on a stonewool fibre platform - we will (i) design fibre coatings based on a versatile and chemically simple deposition process, (ii) incorporate functionalities onto the fibres allowing active stormwater treatment to e.g. retain pollutants or target heavy metals and (iii) investigate these interfaces in-depth by advanced surface and interface characterisation methods to understand the fibre interface properties from nano- to macroscale.Read moreRead less
Polymer nanodiscs. This project aims to produce disc-shaped polymer nanomaterials by utilising a new self-assembly concept based on oppositely charged polymers. This project expects to generate a modular technology that allows synthesis and control over the geometry and functionality of polymer nanoparticles. This level of control will permit a precise investigation of polymer nanodisc properties for nanomedicine applications. Expected outcomes of this project will be the fundamental understandi ....Polymer nanodiscs. This project aims to produce disc-shaped polymer nanomaterials by utilising a new self-assembly concept based on oppositely charged polymers. This project expects to generate a modular technology that allows synthesis and control over the geometry and functionality of polymer nanoparticles. This level of control will permit a precise investigation of polymer nanodisc properties for nanomedicine applications. Expected outcomes of this project will be the fundamental understanding of how nanoparticle geometry affects particle-cell interaction and how nanoscale polymer discs can be used to mimic biological nanoparticles in shape and function.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100020
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,279,502.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for the Chemical Industries . The ARC Training Centre for the Chemical Industries will foster a world-class environment of transformative innovative research in Australia’s chemical and advanced manufacturing industry through sustained partnerships with universities. The Centre establish a new industry-led HDR graduate program. The research activities of the Centre aim to improve chemical analytical and manufacturing capabilities, new biopharmaceuticals, enhanced global compe ....ARC Training Centre for the Chemical Industries . The ARC Training Centre for the Chemical Industries will foster a world-class environment of transformative innovative research in Australia’s chemical and advanced manufacturing industry through sustained partnerships with universities. The Centre establish a new industry-led HDR graduate program. The research activities of the Centre aim to improve chemical analytical and manufacturing capabilities, new biopharmaceuticals, enhanced global competitive advantages, and long-term growth and intellectual property development in the chemistry industry. Other national benefits include up-skilled, workplace-ready graduates with experience in conducting industry-focused research.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100558
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Biomimetic catalysis for sustainable polymer syntheses. New classes of sustainable polymers are required to produce biodegradable materials for nanotechnology applications. This project aims to address this demand by developing versatile polymerisation catalysis protocols inspired by enzymatic systems. This new method of polymer synthesis expects to generate a diverse set of nanomaterials using chemical networks that modulate reaction conditions on-demand, providing facile control over polymer f ....Biomimetic catalysis for sustainable polymer syntheses. New classes of sustainable polymers are required to produce biodegradable materials for nanotechnology applications. This project aims to address this demand by developing versatile polymerisation catalysis protocols inspired by enzymatic systems. This new method of polymer synthesis expects to generate a diverse set of nanomaterials using chemical networks that modulate reaction conditions on-demand, providing facile control over polymer form and resulting function. The expected outcomes of this project will advance our understanding of polymer structure-property relationships and stimuli-responsive systems, and should provide significant benefits for the deployment of biorenewable polymers as next-generation soft materials.Read moreRead less
Impact of Biological Coatings on Nanoparticle–Immune Cell Interactions. Nanomaterials exposed to biological environments such as blood or lymph fluids rapidly adsorb a layer of biomolecules on their surface, forming a biomolecular corona, and profoundly altering their properties. This project aims to resolve the influence of biomolecular coronas on nanoparticle–immune cell interactions by combining particle engineering, immunology, proteomics and bioinformatic analysis. The project expected outc ....Impact of Biological Coatings on Nanoparticle–Immune Cell Interactions. Nanomaterials exposed to biological environments such as blood or lymph fluids rapidly adsorb a layer of biomolecules on their surface, forming a biomolecular corona, and profoundly altering their properties. This project aims to resolve the influence of biomolecular coronas on nanoparticle–immune cell interactions by combining particle engineering, immunology, proteomics and bioinformatic analysis. The project expected outcomes are to generate new knowledge in nanomaterial–immune cell behaviour and design principles for nanoparticles with prospective applications in the agricultural, veterinary and biomedical sectors.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic hydrogels. Hydrogels are promising materials to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, but their weak mechanical properties limit their applications. This project aims to develop hydrogels with better mechanical properties by mimicking the way natural tissues, such as cartilage, work. Specifically, we aim to develop a new class of hydrogels by adding molecular polymer brushes to traditional materials. We will design the hydrogels with long-term stability and render them suitable as vi ....Biomimetic hydrogels. Hydrogels are promising materials to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, but their weak mechanical properties limit their applications. This project aims to develop hydrogels with better mechanical properties by mimicking the way natural tissues, such as cartilage, work. Specifically, we aim to develop a new class of hydrogels by adding molecular polymer brushes to traditional materials. We will design the hydrogels with long-term stability and render them suitable as viable hosts for chondrocytes. Through this project, we will grow fundamental knowledge in polymer chemistry and tissue engineering, and pave the way for new technologies to repair damaged joints and tissues.Read moreRead less
Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel ma ....Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel materials that are mechanochemically active, tough, and fatigue resistant, along with design criteria for force-activated molecule immobilisation and release expected to provide significant benefit forbiomedical applications, additive manufacturing, soft robotics and flexible electronics.Read moreRead less
Bioelectronics: addressing the biointerface challenge. This project aims to develop bioelectronic materials with long operational stability in physiological conditions and enhanced electronic performance that will effectively interface with electroresponsive tissue. These new materials will be integrated into bioadhesives from which simple bioelectronics devices will be fabricated and assessed for their capability to modulate biosignals and to interact with tissue. Disruption in biosignals cause ....Bioelectronics: addressing the biointerface challenge. This project aims to develop bioelectronic materials with long operational stability in physiological conditions and enhanced electronic performance that will effectively interface with electroresponsive tissue. These new materials will be integrated into bioadhesives from which simple bioelectronics devices will be fabricated and assessed for their capability to modulate biosignals and to interact with tissue. Disruption in biosignals causes numerous medical conditions such as epilepsy and heart failure and the development of flexible and biocompatible medical electronics devices that interface with tissue is essential for regaining and modulating these signals.Read moreRead less
Manufacturing Nanostructured Polymer Thin Films using Visible Light. This research aims the development of selective photochemical tools driven by different colours of light for the fabrication of nanostructured polymer brush thin films. By using different wavelengths to selectively activate specific chemical reactions, this will enable multiple reactions to be performed simultaneously, significantly streamlining fabrication. Additionally, the increased selectivity offers pathways to more sophis ....Manufacturing Nanostructured Polymer Thin Films using Visible Light. This research aims the development of selective photochemical tools driven by different colours of light for the fabrication of nanostructured polymer brush thin films. By using different wavelengths to selectively activate specific chemical reactions, this will enable multiple reactions to be performed simultaneously, significantly streamlining fabrication. Additionally, the increased selectivity offers pathways to more sophisticated nanoarchitectures in comparison to existing methods. This research will lead to the fabrication of 3D polymer brush architectures with unparalleled precision, which will be of high scientific and industrial value for a diverse range of applications, such as optoelectronics, nanoactuation, and sensing.Read moreRead less