Polymerization of amyloid fibrils and electroactive hybrid nanowires using ionic liquids. The electronics world is constantly shrinking with devices being miniaturised and increasing levels of complexity built in. To maintain this trend, new technologies and new device fabrication approaches are required. APD Byrne, will develop new materials based on amyloid fibrils by their facile conversion to a range of novel high strength electroactive nanoscopic wires with application in many electronic d ....Polymerization of amyloid fibrils and electroactive hybrid nanowires using ionic liquids. The electronics world is constantly shrinking with devices being miniaturised and increasing levels of complexity built in. To maintain this trend, new technologies and new device fabrication approaches are required. APD Byrne, will develop new materials based on amyloid fibrils by their facile conversion to a range of novel high strength electroactive nanoscopic wires with application in many electronic devices. One such device that will benefit from these nanowires is organic solar cells. Solar is a clean renewable energy source that can reduce Australia's dependence on fossil fuels. The development of new approaches and materials aimed at increasing solar cell efficiencies is an important outcome for Australia.Read moreRead less
Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applic ....Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from the characterization of this product could also be of benefit to several areas including chemical engineering, tissue engineering, tissue repair, polymer chemistry and food manufacture. The expertise generated and the possibility of collaboration, both academic and with industry would also benefit the community. Read moreRead less
Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims ....Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims to exploit the adhesive nature of metal–phenolic materials to rapidly coat diverse surfaces, including stainless steel and textiles. The expected outcome is the generation of antimicrobial polypeptide surfaces, which will have benefits in food safety, medical implant technology and advanced textiles.Read moreRead less
Bridging the interface between nanoengineered materials and biological systems. Advances in nanotechnology have the potential to revolutionise how we treat many diseases. Nanoengineered drug carriers can deliver drugs to the areas in the body where they are required, limiting harmful side effects. This project will investigate how nanomaterials interact with biological systems and understand any potential side effects.
Atomic scale precision engineering of cell-material interfaces. This project aims to determine the molecular structure of the interface between novel peptide self-assemblies and cell membranes through x-ray diffraction and molecular simulation. The project will generate knowledge to enable atomic scale engineering of peptide nanomaterials, and exploitation of these materials to modulate cell responses. Expected outcomes include designed peptide nanostructures with specific chemical and physical ....Atomic scale precision engineering of cell-material interfaces. This project aims to determine the molecular structure of the interface between novel peptide self-assemblies and cell membranes through x-ray diffraction and molecular simulation. The project will generate knowledge to enable atomic scale engineering of peptide nanomaterials, and exploitation of these materials to modulate cell responses. Expected outcomes include designed peptide nanostructures with specific chemical and physical cues to promote sustainable growth of desired cells, whilst inhibiting undesirable responses. These outcomes should provide benefits in terms of a practical toolkit for tailoring structure and function of peptide nanostructures and open up a new era in molecular design of smart biomaterials. This easily scalable, new materials platform will contribute to emerging high-value manufacturing industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Biomaterials characterisation facility. The convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology offers new opportunities to prepare nanoengineered materials for applications in biomedicine. The Biomaterials Characterisation Facility will provide equipment to characterise such nanoengineered materials to underpin advances in therapeutic drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells. This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, ....Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells. This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, which is not currently possible. This project represents a major technical and knowledge advance that will improve our understanding of autophagy in fundamental biology and ultimately contribute to the development of new intervention strategies for diseases like neurodegeneration and cancers.Read moreRead less
Establishing nanoscale design principles for non-viral genome engineering. This project aims to develop a bio-nanotechnology platform for non-viral genome engineering using dendronised polymers. The project will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology and cell biology, whilst providing training to the research community. Outcomes from the project will also provide significant benefits, such as positioning Australia at the forefront of genome engineerin ....Establishing nanoscale design principles for non-viral genome engineering. This project aims to develop a bio-nanotechnology platform for non-viral genome engineering using dendronised polymers. The project will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology and cell biology, whilst providing training to the research community. Outcomes from the project will also provide significant benefits, such as positioning Australia at the forefront of genome engineering.Read moreRead less
Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release ....Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release is triggered by an electric potential and drug transport is controlled by means of sonophoresis. The main advantage of drug delivery via sonophoresis is elimination of risks associated with injections such as infection and damage to local tissue, and elimination of patient discomfort, pain and fear.Read moreRead less
Engineering Bioresponsive Hybrid Nanodevices using RNA, Peptides and Synthetic Polymers. This project aims to develop new microRNA polymer nanoassemblies with enhanced bioresponsive properties. Nanoengineered functional RNA-polymer materials can exploit both the recognition properties of RNA and the responsiveness of the polymer to tailor the structural and physicochemical properties of such systems. Further, targeting ligands (antibody, aptamers) tethered to the RNA-polymer nanoassembly could a ....Engineering Bioresponsive Hybrid Nanodevices using RNA, Peptides and Synthetic Polymers. This project aims to develop new microRNA polymer nanoassemblies with enhanced bioresponsive properties. Nanoengineered functional RNA-polymer materials can exploit both the recognition properties of RNA and the responsiveness of the polymer to tailor the structural and physicochemical properties of such systems. Further, targeting ligands (antibody, aptamers) tethered to the RNA-polymer nanoassembly could augment cellular uptake and delivery. The development of imaging and tracking methodology to accurately measure intracellular miRNA payload and localisation in a 3D tissue mimicking matrix is also planned.Read moreRead less