Multiscale modelling and nondeterministic optimisation for reliable stents. This project aims to study modelling and optimisation for a more reliable design of intravascular stents. Intravascular stents are a class of lifelong micro-devices to support blood vessel for restoring circulation. Despite its remarkable initial outcome, the high rate of long-term mechanical failure remains a major concern. This project will tackle plasticity, fatigue damage and fracture across different length scales. ....Multiscale modelling and nondeterministic optimisation for reliable stents. This project aims to study modelling and optimisation for a more reliable design of intravascular stents. Intravascular stents are a class of lifelong micro-devices to support blood vessel for restoring circulation. Despite its remarkable initial outcome, the high rate of long-term mechanical failure remains a major concern. This project will tackle plasticity, fatigue damage and fracture across different length scales. The proposed optimisation is expected to minimise failure, thereby enhancing the longevity and reliability of stent therapy. This will have significant benefits, such as accommodating variations in stents and service conditions for achieving a long-lasting and reliable therapeutical outcome.Read moreRead less
Multiscale Study on Biomechanical Roles of Soft Tissue on Bone Remodelling. The project aims to increase our knowledge of the processes of bone remodelling and the role of soft tissue in this process. Mechanical force is a key stimulus for regulating bone remodelling. A significant question in biomechanics is why orthodontics only use very small forces (1 Newton) to generate significant oral bone remodelling, whereas prosthodontics that apply three orders of magnitude higher forces (~1000 Newton ....Multiscale Study on Biomechanical Roles of Soft Tissue on Bone Remodelling. The project aims to increase our knowledge of the processes of bone remodelling and the role of soft tissue in this process. Mechanical force is a key stimulus for regulating bone remodelling. A significant question in biomechanics is why orthodontics only use very small forces (1 Newton) to generate significant oral bone remodelling, whereas prosthodontics that apply three orders of magnitude higher forces (~1000 Newton) do not move dental implants. This project aims to develop new multiscale modelling and remodelling techniques in computational mechanics to explore the roles played by connective soft tissue in bone adaptation. Expected project outcomes would increase our understanding in biomechanics and affect health care disciplines such as orthodontics, prosthodontics and orthopaedics.Read moreRead less
Calcification of acrylic hydrogels in abiotic media: mechanism and control. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) and other acrylic hydrogels are extensively used as biomaterials, yet conclusive evidence exists that they have a propensity to calcify following implantation. This process has undesirable consequences on the functionality of various prostheses. Based on preliminary observations that PHEMA can promote the deposition of calcium minerals from media devoid of biological factors, whic ....Calcification of acrylic hydrogels in abiotic media: mechanism and control. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) and other acrylic hydrogels are extensively used as biomaterials, yet conclusive evidence exists that they have a propensity to calcify following implantation. This process has undesirable consequences on the functionality of various prostheses. Based on preliminary observations that PHEMA can promote the deposition of calcium minerals from media devoid of biological factors, which appears thus to be an inherent property of the polymer, the project aims at formulating new hypotheses to explain this phenomenon, and to confirm them experimentally. The "chelation" hypothesis will be validated by modifying the structure of polymers, and the "spontaneous precipitation" hypothesis by assessing the effect of solutes on the equilibrium water content of polymers. NMR and FTIR spectrometric techniques will be used to gain further insight into the mechanism of calcification. Methods to prevent the calcification will potentially result from these experiments, however, anticalcification agents will also be incorporated into hydrogels and their effect evaluated in calcification assays.Read moreRead less
Structural design of third generation biomaterials. This project will design third generation biomaterials for heart valves, cartilage and bones that guide the formation of new tissue whilst being dissolved inside the human body. As a result, it is anticipated that painful and costly revision surgery will become obsolete. Major benefits will be achieved in paediatric health as implants will have the ability to grow with the child.
Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic ....Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic response and adhesion. Theory, simulation and neural networks will be used to guide experiments to elucidate which partial structure measures control which property. Outcomes will include means of helping biotechnology create improved biomaterials, and plant breeders to improve food quality.Read moreRead less
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
Synthesis of stimuli-responsive star polymers for controlled drug delivery. The project aims to prepare novel star polymers suitable for drug delivery via controlled radical polymerization techniques. Such star polymers can be employed to release drugs within the human body in a controlled manner over time and are thus able to target specific sites, i.e. a tumor. The release characterisitics are be influenced by the structure and the size of the star polymer, which can easily be altered via cont ....Synthesis of stimuli-responsive star polymers for controlled drug delivery. The project aims to prepare novel star polymers suitable for drug delivery via controlled radical polymerization techniques. Such star polymers can be employed to release drugs within the human body in a controlled manner over time and are thus able to target specific sites, i.e. a tumor. The release characterisitics are be influenced by the structure and the size of the star polymer, which can easily be altered via controlled radical polymerization techniques. These novel stars are expected to improve the release kinetics of the drug comparing to similar structured micelles due to their higher stability upon injection.Read moreRead less
Design of Tough, Durable and Corrosion-resistant Coatings. Coatings are frequently applied to components operating in harsh environments to enhance durability. Often such coatings exhibit low toughness and poor corrosion resistance that leads to premature failure. The aim of this project is to design, characterise and test innovative coatings that exhibit unique architectures based on natural materials such as teeth and nacre. It is envisaged that these coatings will be hard, tough and durable i ....Design of Tough, Durable and Corrosion-resistant Coatings. Coatings are frequently applied to components operating in harsh environments to enhance durability. Often such coatings exhibit low toughness and poor corrosion resistance that leads to premature failure. The aim of this project is to design, characterise and test innovative coatings that exhibit unique architectures based on natural materials such as teeth and nacre. It is envisaged that these coatings will be hard, tough and durable in hostile, corrosive environments, and will thus, transform industries such as manufacturing, mining and offshore oil exploration as well as enhance the lifetime of prosthetic devices.Read moreRead less
Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the dev ....Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the development of reliable, well-controlled manufacturing techniques for tissue engineering scaffolds, revolutionising current scaffold manufacturing practices. It will enhance existing collaborations between the University of Melbourne and the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery.Read moreRead less