Building bio-inspired smart nanochannels for virus detection. This project aims to harness high-precision silicon nanofabrication methods to create the next generation of bio-inspired viral biosensors. The new technology would enable prompt, cost-efficient, and accurate detection of virus contamination of our water and food supplies. The project plans to fabricate arrays of parallel double-layered nanochannels in silicon via templated etching, with surface functionalisation to display receptors. ....Building bio-inspired smart nanochannels for virus detection. This project aims to harness high-precision silicon nanofabrication methods to create the next generation of bio-inspired viral biosensors. The new technology would enable prompt, cost-efficient, and accurate detection of virus contamination of our water and food supplies. The project plans to fabricate arrays of parallel double-layered nanochannels in silicon via templated etching, with surface functionalisation to display receptors. These nanochannels are designed to act as size-selective filters for electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence sensing. The project plans to explore innovative signal amplification and multiplexing capabilities for ultrasensitive detection of norovirus and bacteriophages.Read moreRead less
Engineered nanoassmblies for energy conversion. This research will lead to development of clean energy technology that can compete with the traditional energy sources without subsidies, and facilitate long-term solution to the energy crisis and global warming. It will also bring significant benefit to Australian industries and economy and assist achievement of renewable energy target.
Nanotechnology-Enhanced Vaccines: New inulin bioconjugates to defeat global pandemic threats. Inulin-based adjuvants have the potential to revolutionise the vaccine arena; man's critical first line of defence against infectious disease. Any breakthrough in developing completely safe new adjuvants, will therefore be of major global significance, and will play a vital role in the maintenance of global health for decades. New and completely safe vaccine adjuvants are a vital step in the developmen ....Nanotechnology-Enhanced Vaccines: New inulin bioconjugates to defeat global pandemic threats. Inulin-based adjuvants have the potential to revolutionise the vaccine arena; man's critical first line of defence against infectious disease. Any breakthrough in developing completely safe new adjuvants, will therefore be of major global significance, and will play a vital role in the maintenance of global health for decades. New and completely safe vaccine adjuvants are a vital step in the development of improved vaccine technology in the 21st century. This project addresses two National Research Priorities, Namely Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Safeguarding Australia. On commercialization, this will then be an important Australian contribution towards protecting the nation against any future pandemic outbreaks.Read moreRead less
Controlled Supramolecular Assembly in Aqueous Molecular and Macroscopic Systems. This project uses benign and mainly bio-degradable materials to produce hydrogels which are remarkable new materials containing at least ninety-eight percent water which may be made into films. Similar films are proving to be valuable in covering wounds, particularly serious burns, and in greatly improving wound healing and tissue growth. They may also be useful in new coating and aircraft de-icing technologies. The ....Controlled Supramolecular Assembly in Aqueous Molecular and Macroscopic Systems. This project uses benign and mainly bio-degradable materials to produce hydrogels which are remarkable new materials containing at least ninety-eight percent water which may be made into films. Similar films are proving to be valuable in covering wounds, particularly serious burns, and in greatly improving wound healing and tissue growth. They may also be useful in new coating and aircraft de-icing technologies. These environmentally friendly materials are likely to find a multitude of uses as their development progresses. Young Australians involved in the project will gain experience in cutting edge science, its practical applications, and in international collaboration - a training essential to Australia's future prosperity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,000.00
Summary
Advanced Macromolecular Materials Characterisation Facility (AMMCF). Advanced macromolecular materials characterisation facility: The facility will allow precise characterisation of (bio)macromolecular materials, from chemical structures and composition as a function of size or biodistribution, to film thickness in multi-layer materials, to material hydrophobicity and permeability. Novel information derived from these state-of-the-art instruments is highly valuable in understanding structure-pro ....Advanced Macromolecular Materials Characterisation Facility (AMMCF). Advanced macromolecular materials characterisation facility: The facility will allow precise characterisation of (bio)macromolecular materials, from chemical structures and composition as a function of size or biodistribution, to film thickness in multi-layer materials, to material hydrophobicity and permeability. Novel information derived from these state-of-the-art instruments is highly valuable in understanding structure-property relationships, which are crucial for the development of the next generation of advanced materials with applications in electronics, optics, sensors, membranes, nanocoatings, biomaterials and polymer therapeutics. This facility underpins the efforts of the participating institutes in increasing the quality and quantity of research outcomes.Read moreRead less
Polymer nanoparticles and their assembled supracolloidal monolithic structures for applications in separation science. This project will generate new polymeric materials that will improve the analysis of complex samples. This will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including: pharmaceutical analysis and drug discovery; environmental, clinical and forensic analysis; and energy generation and foods.
Order from chaos: Rational design of biointerfacing plasma polymer coatings. The project goal is to facilitate a new generation of bio-interface platforms to be designed using plasma processing. Functionalised plasma polymer surfaces used for bio-interfaces result from random processes in the plasma phase and at the surface. While rules-of-thumb exist for tailoring simple functionalised plasma polymers, detailed knowledge linking plasma processes to surface chemistry is lacking. Using a homologo ....Order from chaos: Rational design of biointerfacing plasma polymer coatings. The project goal is to facilitate a new generation of bio-interface platforms to be designed using plasma processing. Functionalised plasma polymer surfaces used for bio-interfaces result from random processes in the plasma phase and at the surface. While rules-of-thumb exist for tailoring simple functionalised plasma polymers, detailed knowledge linking plasma processes to surface chemistry is lacking. Using a homologous series of precursors, the project aims to unravel physical and chemical plasma processes to enable retention of complex surface functional groups which are critical for subsequent surface processing. This is designed to be achieved by linking plasma physics and chemistry via plasma phase mass spectrometry and surface analysis.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$157,004.00
Summary
Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Fl ....Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Flinders University and the University of South Australia. This equipment will allow the universities to carry out this research in a unique manner. Other researchers cannot offer the synergy of synthesis, processing and characterisation of nanomaterials and biomaterials as described in this project.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100306
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Functional Superstructures of Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks. This project aims to develop metal-organic framework (MOF) superstructures as a new materials platform. MOFs are an emerging class of porous adsorbents that are expected to fulfil a crucial role as functional materials in industrially important applications, including molecular separations and heterogeneous catalysis. However, there is an urgent need for convenient methods to integrate the attractive properties of MOFs with the ....Functional Superstructures of Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks. This project aims to develop metal-organic framework (MOF) superstructures as a new materials platform. MOFs are an emerging class of porous adsorbents that are expected to fulfil a crucial role as functional materials in industrially important applications, including molecular separations and heterogeneous catalysis. However, there is an urgent need for convenient methods to integrate the attractive properties of MOFs with the unique features of meso- and macrostructured materials, and for a fundamental understanding of the influence of structuring on their material properties. The project intends to synthesise structuralised MOFs as a platform for studies related to their adsorptive and dynamic properties, and to study these systems as next-generation materials for hydrocarbon separations.Read moreRead less
Responsive nanoporous organic cages. This project will generate advanced materials that are constructed from functional nanoscale building blocks. The general design principles developed in this work will be utilised to synthesise a nanoporous adsorbent system that is able to self regulate its physical properties through dynamic structural responses to its environment.