THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRO-ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ITS APPLICATION TO CRUCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN INORGANIC SYSTEMS. Electrolysis is a very widespread and efficient method of chemical synthesis both in industry and research. However, the link between the control voltage and the resultant current is often complicated and easily misinterpreted. To overcome this fundamental problem, we propose an optical spectro-electrochemistry instrument based on a two-dimensional CCD detectio ....THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRO-ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ITS APPLICATION TO CRUCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN INORGANIC SYSTEMS. Electrolysis is a very widespread and efficient method of chemical synthesis both in industry and research. However, the link between the control voltage and the resultant current is often complicated and easily misinterpreted. To overcome this fundamental problem, we propose an optical spectro-electrochemistry instrument based on a two-dimensional CCD detection array. This radically new approach enables simultaneous spectroscopic and spatial data mapping in the realm adjacent to an electrode surface. Important applications range from unequivocal identification of elusive molecules to monitoring metal corrosion. Our first objective is to elucidate certain crucial transformations of mono- and binuclear heavy metal complexes.Read moreRead less
Towards Microfluidic-Based Advanced Remote Analysis. The research under this project will establish and systematically develop Advanced Remote Analysis as a new inter-disciplinary area and establish a leadership role for Australia. By addressing pressing needs such as monitoring the environment, remote medical diagnostics, advancing Australian science and technology, or monitoring for traces of explosives, this project falls directly into all four of the National Research Priorities with applica ....Towards Microfluidic-Based Advanced Remote Analysis. The research under this project will establish and systematically develop Advanced Remote Analysis as a new inter-disciplinary area and establish a leadership role for Australia. By addressing pressing needs such as monitoring the environment, remote medical diagnostics, advancing Australian science and technology, or monitoring for traces of explosives, this project falls directly into all four of the National Research Priorities with applications addressing corresponding Priority Goals. Other areas benefiting from the outcomes of this project will be remote monitoring of agricultural production including living species, and a number of other industries such as biotechnology, mineral processing, power generation etc.Read moreRead less
Multi-Colour Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. This project plans to explore a new approach to chemical detection, in which molecules that emit different coloured light can be selectively switched on or switched off via the applied electrode potential. This would enable unprecedented numbers of simultaneous (multiplexed) detection events for time-critical analytical applications such as clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and biodefense assays. These assays could be performed on low ....Multi-Colour Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. This project plans to explore a new approach to chemical detection, in which molecules that emit different coloured light can be selectively switched on or switched off via the applied electrode potential. This would enable unprecedented numbers of simultaneous (multiplexed) detection events for time-critical analytical applications such as clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and biodefense assays. These assays could be performed on low-cost microfluidic platforms operated by portable consumer devices such as mobile phones. Expected outcomes may provide new capabilities in rapid screening for disease biomarkers, environmental pollutants and bioterrorism agents, using simple, low-cost, portable instrumentation.Read moreRead less
Immobilised Lipid Chromatography for Membrane Protein Isolation and Analysis. Current techniques for membrane protein are inadequate for the emerging proteomic challenge, in which approximately 40% of proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. The aim of this proposal is to develop a new approach to purify membrane proteins using our recently-developed immobilised membrane chromatography materials. The present proposal will provide a new high-resolution separation technique that allows is ....Immobilised Lipid Chromatography for Membrane Protein Isolation and Analysis. Current techniques for membrane protein are inadequate for the emerging proteomic challenge, in which approximately 40% of proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. The aim of this proposal is to develop a new approach to purify membrane proteins using our recently-developed immobilised membrane chromatography materials. The present proposal will provide a new high-resolution separation technique that allows isolation and on-line mass analysis of complex mixtures of membrane proteins for subsequent proteomic analysis, high-throughput screening or structural studies and could form the basis for further development of new commercial tools for membrane protein analysis.Read moreRead less
Self-assembled nanolayers of functionalised latexes as selective and adaptable nano-stationary phases in separation science. A new approach is proposed for the design and synthesis of functionalised ion-exchange stationary phases for analytical nano-separation methods. Desired charged functional groups are first affixed chemically onto nanometre sized latex particles and these particles are then self-assembled mechanically as monoloayer coatings onto a suitable supporting template such as fused ....Self-assembled nanolayers of functionalised latexes as selective and adaptable nano-stationary phases in separation science. A new approach is proposed for the design and synthesis of functionalised ion-exchange stationary phases for analytical nano-separation methods. Desired charged functional groups are first affixed chemically onto nanometre sized latex particles and these particles are then self-assembled mechanically as monoloayer coatings onto a suitable supporting template such as fused silica, monolithic silica or polymer beds, microfibres or microtubes, and channels in microchips. The resultant coated surface then acts as a highly efficient ion-exchange stationary phase which will be used in a wide range of separation technologies including ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography and solid-phase microextraction.Read moreRead less
Integrated microfluidic device for the direct analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids. Due to the way in which multiple processes are integrated in a micro Total Analysis System (µTAS), they offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability and operator simplicity and safety. This has considerable potential benefit for Australia, specifically for the remote and rural analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids such a ....Integrated microfluidic device for the direct analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids. Due to the way in which multiple processes are integrated in a micro Total Analysis System (µTAS), they offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability and operator simplicity and safety. This has considerable potential benefit for Australia, specifically for the remote and rural analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids such as blood, serum, urine and saliva. These devices will have application for point-of-care testing in therapeutic drug monitoring, which will improve medical treatment and the patient's quality of life, as well as for on-site analysis in forensics for the rapid determination of illicit drugs and performance enhancing substances in our elite athletes.
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Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of novel ion-exchange polymer monolithic stationary phases for separation science. This project will provide highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by accelerating the design and development of new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples. The project will lead to very significant new intellectual property having extremely high commercial potential worldwide, and therefore t ....Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of novel ion-exchange polymer monolithic stationary phases for separation science. This project will provide highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by accelerating the design and development of new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples. The project will lead to very significant new intellectual property having extremely high commercial potential worldwide, and therefore the project has potential for considerable direct financial returns to Australia. The new technologies will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including pre-and post-blast identification of explosives in counter-terrorism applications; environmental, clinical, and forensic analysis; energy generation and foods. Read moreRead less
Enhanced peak capacity in ion chromatography through gradient elution and multidimensional separations. Current methodology in ion chromatography (IC) is limited in that very complex samples cannot be analysed because the peak capacity of conventional IC systems is insufficient. The proposed research will provide a huge increase in peak capacity so that samples of extreme complexity can be analysed. Samples of this type occur in many fields, including environmental, clinical, forensic, energy ge ....Enhanced peak capacity in ion chromatography through gradient elution and multidimensional separations. Current methodology in ion chromatography (IC) is limited in that very complex samples cannot be analysed because the peak capacity of conventional IC systems is insufficient. The proposed research will provide a huge increase in peak capacity so that samples of extreme complexity can be analysed. Samples of this type occur in many fields, including environmental, clinical, forensic, energy generation and foods. The ability to directly address such samples will therefore provide benefit to a wide range of sciences of great importance to Australia. Moreover, the proposed research will lead to significant new intellectual property which can be commercialised, thereby providing further direct national benefit.Read moreRead less
ON-LINE PRECONCENTRATION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROSEPARATIONS USING SEGMENTED CAPILLARIES. This project aims to develop new on-line methods for trace enrichment of analytes in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography. The capillaries to be used will comprise a preconcentration zone and a separation zone with the research focusing predominantly on the chemistry of the preconcentration zone. Preconcentrators formed from wall-coatings and solid stationary phases will be used. The ....ON-LINE PRECONCENTRATION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROSEPARATIONS USING SEGMENTED CAPILLARIES. This project aims to develop new on-line methods for trace enrichment of analytes in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography. The capillaries to be used will comprise a preconcentration zone and a separation zone with the research focusing predominantly on the chemistry of the preconcentration zone. Preconcentrators formed from wall-coatings and solid stationary phases will be used. The project will result in new, highly sensitive analytical methods for inorganic ions, low molecular weight acids and bases, and proteins and peptides. These methods will have application in a wide range of important areas including environmental analysis and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
New separation technologies for profiling metabolites in biological samples. Metabolomics is an important new field of science that is contributing to the understanding of life processes at the molecular level. But a widely acknowledged major limitation of current metabolomics technologies is the inability to accurately identify high numbers of detected metabolites in the biological extracts being studied. This project will develop cutting-edge separation science approaches to address this exist ....New separation technologies for profiling metabolites in biological samples. Metabolomics is an important new field of science that is contributing to the understanding of life processes at the molecular level. But a widely acknowledged major limitation of current metabolomics technologies is the inability to accurately identify high numbers of detected metabolites in the biological extracts being studied. This project will develop cutting-edge separation science approaches to address this existing problem in metabolomics analysis. In doing so it will provide enormous benefit to Australian biotechnology and biomedical research and play a major role in transferring capabilities to laboratories and research institutes that are involved in research aimed at elucidating biological pathways and networks.Read moreRead less