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
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL170100014
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,275,680.00
Summary
Light-Induced chemical modularity: a new frontier in macromolecular design. This project aims to develop powerful light-driven chemistries for the modular construction of advanced macromolecular materials. The expected outcome is a versatile, light-based precision macromolecular synthetic technology platform, enabling critical advances in soft matter material design and synthesis, ranging from selectivity control of chemical reactions and information-coded and biomimetic light-responsive macromo ....Light-Induced chemical modularity: a new frontier in macromolecular design. This project aims to develop powerful light-driven chemistries for the modular construction of advanced macromolecular materials. The expected outcome is a versatile, light-based precision macromolecular synthetic technology platform, enabling critical advances in soft matter material design and synthesis, ranging from selectivity control of chemical reactions and information-coded and biomimetic light-responsive macromolecules to advanced functional photoresists for 3D laser lithography as well as materials that self-report structural transformations by light or are reprogrammable in their properties by photonic fields. Harnessing the power of light as a precision tool for the construction of advanced macromolecular materials will provide technology outcomes for Australian manufacturing industries from electronics to health. This includes laser-driven 3D printing technology at the nano-level, light-adaptive smart reprogrammable coatings and materials, synthetic proteins responsive to light as well as tailor-made single cell niches.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101788
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,498.00
Summary
Advanced Macromolecular Architecture via Selenium. The overarching aim of this project is to drastically expand the scale and scope of selenium-based macromolecular chemistry via safe, odor-free multicomponent reactions utilising elemental selenium. This project will develop new methods and techniques in drastically reducing the cost while increasing worker and environmental safety of industrial elastomers such as Spandex. Next the project will exploit selenium's sensitivity to ozonolysis to des ....Advanced Macromolecular Architecture via Selenium. The overarching aim of this project is to drastically expand the scale and scope of selenium-based macromolecular chemistry via safe, odor-free multicomponent reactions utilising elemental selenium. This project will develop new methods and techniques in drastically reducing the cost while increasing worker and environmental safety of industrial elastomers such as Spandex. Next the project will exploit selenium's sensitivity to ozonolysis to design a new instrument capable of extreme precision in monitoring oxidative damage in polymeric materials. Finally, selenium's unique reactivity will lend itself towards the next generation of smart materials which will be capable of completely reorganizing their structure down to the molecular level.Read moreRead less
Bio-inspired two-dimensional nanomaterials for sustainable applications. This project aims to design multifunctional nanomaterials in the form of two-dimensional (2D) structures or architectures with targeted extraordinary bio-mimicking functions for sustainable development and energy applications by learning the best from nature. Millions of years of evolution and natural selection have turned the biological world into an effective materials-development laboratory. The project expects to enhanc ....Bio-inspired two-dimensional nanomaterials for sustainable applications. This project aims to design multifunctional nanomaterials in the form of two-dimensional (2D) structures or architectures with targeted extraordinary bio-mimicking functions for sustainable development and energy applications by learning the best from nature. Millions of years of evolution and natural selection have turned the biological world into an effective materials-development laboratory. The project expects to enhance research and innovation in materials science, nanotechnology, and biological science, and lead to advances in the chemical industry and sustainable environmental and energy applications in Australia. Read moreRead less
2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport for energy devices. This project aims to design novel 2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport properties and to modulate the associated optical, electric, catalytic, surface and storage properties by using a combination of experimental and computational approaches for sustainable energy applications, such as fuel generation and energy conversion and storage devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in materials ....2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport for energy devices. This project aims to design novel 2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport properties and to modulate the associated optical, electric, catalytic, surface and storage properties by using a combination of experimental and computational approaches for sustainable energy applications, such as fuel generation and energy conversion and storage devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in materials science and nanotechnology and make fundamental breakthroughs in new sustainable energy technologies. The outcomes of this project will facilitate the development of novel materials and low-cost sustainable energy in Australia with access to an enormous global market. 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
Antibacterial Material Design via Mechanism-Based Mathematical Modelling. This Project aims to provide new rules for the design of novel polymer materials with antibacterial properties by employing mechanism-based mathematical modelling.
This Project expects to generate new understanding of those mechanisms which underpin the antibacterial activity of these materials, how bacteria respond to these through metabolic changes and emergence of resistance.These rules will govern material design to yi ....Antibacterial Material Design via Mechanism-Based Mathematical Modelling. This Project aims to provide new rules for the design of novel polymer materials with antibacterial properties by employing mechanism-based mathematical modelling.
This Project expects to generate new understanding of those mechanisms which underpin the antibacterial activity of these materials, how bacteria respond to these through metabolic changes and emergence of resistance.These rules will govern material design to yield new antibacterial materials with improved properties.
Expected outcomes of this project may be a novel mechanism-based mathematical model that will enable the next-generation of antibacterial materials.
This outcome will help address the increasing economic and social burden of antibiotic drug resistance in Australia.
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Macromolecular Engineering of Functional Metal–Ligand Materials. Materials self-assembled from metal ions and ligands have a range of important applications, including as advanced coatings, adhesives and catalysts. However, these materials have been largely limited to those assembled from naturally occurring ligands such as phenolics, restricting their properties and function. This project aims to greatly expand the range of accessible properties of metal–phenolic materials by combining self-ass ....Macromolecular Engineering of Functional Metal–Ligand Materials. Materials self-assembled from metal ions and ligands have a range of important applications, including as advanced coatings, adhesives and catalysts. However, these materials have been largely limited to those assembled from naturally occurring ligands such as phenolics, restricting their properties and function. This project aims to greatly expand the range of accessible properties of metal–phenolic materials by combining self-assembly with advanced polymer synthesis techniques. The expected outcome of the project is a new class of functional materials applicable as self-healing coatings, nanoadhesives and antimicrobial surfaces, thus underpinning next-generation technologies in materials science and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less