Understanding and improving rare earth corrosion inhibitors. This project aims to investigate rare earth corrosion inhibitors by an interdisciplinary program of chemistry and materials science.
The project will generate new knowledge as to how rare earth corrosion inhibitors function and can be improved.
Expected outcomes include a better understanding of inhibitor induced protective films and improved inhibitors.
Significant benefits are eventually better protection of infrastructure from .... Understanding and improving rare earth corrosion inhibitors. This project aims to investigate rare earth corrosion inhibitors by an interdisciplinary program of chemistry and materials science.
The project will generate new knowledge as to how rare earth corrosion inhibitors function and can be improved.
Expected outcomes include a better understanding of inhibitor induced protective films and improved inhibitors.
Significant benefits are eventually better protection of infrastructure from corrosion with greener inhibitors and a new bulk use for rare earths to aid Australia’s emerging rare earth industry.
Read moreRead less
An Integrated Approach Towards Development of Highly Specific Chemotherapeutics. Many diseases are caused or can be treated by modifying the activities of particular enzymes. Molecules that affect enzymatic activities have potential as therapeutic agents. A successful approach to the discovery of new drug molecules is to design them based on very detailed knowledge of how the target enzyme works. In this project, a highly motivated team of scientists will use state of the art instruments and the ....An Integrated Approach Towards Development of Highly Specific Chemotherapeutics. Many diseases are caused or can be treated by modifying the activities of particular enzymes. Molecules that affect enzymatic activities have potential as therapeutic agents. A successful approach to the discovery of new drug molecules is to design them based on very detailed knowledge of how the target enzyme works. In this project, a highly motivated team of scientists will use state of the art instruments and their combined creativity to understand the intimate details of how one large group of enzymes work. The enzymes selected are the bimetallic hydrolases, many of which are associated with disorders including osteoporosis, mental illnesses, cystic fibrosis and various types of cancer.Read moreRead less
Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting e ....Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting edge ligands will reveal interesting coordination modes. The discovery of new reaction pathways will be of interest to the wider chemical community. The chemical reactivity and potential catalytic or luminescent properties of these compounds will be studied and will result in publications in international journals.Read moreRead less
New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tack ....New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tackles this problem through a combination of organic and inorganic synthesis to develop new electrochromic dyes that may be attached to mesoporous titania.Read moreRead less
Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. ....Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. Using the combined expertise of the applicants, it is proposed to stereospecifically synthesise dinuclear complexes and study their DNA binding. This will greatly assist in the development of drugs that can selectively target genes and altered DNA.Read moreRead less
Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis. Enzymes that catalyse oxidation and reduction reactions need to exchange electrons with their substrate and this supply of electrons needs to be sustained. Artificially reconstituted systems can be developed where the enzyme is coupled with an electrode and the current (electrons) exchanged during the reaction are measured directly. In this project we will reveal whether some unusual and unexplained electrochemical phenomena seen before are relat ....Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis. Enzymes that catalyse oxidation and reduction reactions need to exchange electrons with their substrate and this supply of electrons needs to be sustained. Artificially reconstituted systems can be developed where the enzyme is coupled with an electrode and the current (electrons) exchanged during the reaction are measured directly. In this project we will reveal whether some unusual and unexplained electrochemical phenomena seen before are related to the properties of the enzymes themselves or the ways in which their experiments have been conducted.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy ....Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators. The need for orally effective drugs as alternatives to invasive treatment regimens such as subcutaneous infusion is an ongoing concern in health care. This is particularly true in people suffering iron overload. In many cases this condition is present at birth and thus the administration of vital iron chelation therapy via the oral route is a much preferred option. We have unearthed a novel series of candidates for iron chelation therapy (the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone [PCIH] analogues) which show oral activity. These chelators undergo some interesting iron catalysed oxidation chemistry and it is vital that the mechanism of this reaction be elucidated to determine whether it will be of biological significance upon administration of these compounds as iron chelators.Read moreRead less
Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by ....Spotlighting biologically active Iron (Fe) chelators within cells. Anti-cancer drugs that act in ways different from traditional chemotherapeutics offer hope in evading acquired drug resistance. Previously we have studied compounds that can enter cancer cells, bind iron and halt cellular proliferation. However, there are many sources of iron in cells and we do not know from where these iron chelators acquire their iron or how these iron complexes kill cancer cells. We will tackle this problem by attaching light emitting probes to known iron chelators and mapping their location within cells with high resolution fluorescence microscopy. These experiments will spotlight the cellular location of these potential drugs bound to iron for the first time, providing crucial information on their mode of action.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial Molybdoenzyme. The aim of this proposal is to use electrochemical, spectroscopic and molecular biological techniques to understand the mechanism of action of the enzyme dimethylsulfide dehydrogenase. This enzyme is representative of an major group of molybdenum-containing enzymes that have importance in microbial biotransformations. The project will provide fundamental information about a multi-redox centre protein that has ....Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial Molybdoenzyme. The aim of this proposal is to use electrochemical, spectroscopic and molecular biological techniques to understand the mechanism of action of the enzyme dimethylsulfide dehydrogenase. This enzyme is representative of an major group of molybdenum-containing enzymes that have importance in microbial biotransformations. The project will provide fundamental information about a multi-redox centre protein that has potential application in biosensors and biocatalysis.Read moreRead less
Probing polynuclear platinum biomolecule interactions. Cancer affects one in four Australians and 50% of cancer patients are treated with cisplatin. BBR3464 is a new type of platinum anticancer drug that has shown promise in clinical trials, including results in cancers that do not respond to cisplatin treatment. Second-generation analogues, now under development, may offer significant advantages. This international collaboration with the inventor of these new drugs puts Australian research at t ....Probing polynuclear platinum biomolecule interactions. Cancer affects one in four Australians and 50% of cancer patients are treated with cisplatin. BBR3464 is a new type of platinum anticancer drug that has shown promise in clinical trials, including results in cancers that do not respond to cisplatin treatment. Second-generation analogues, now under development, may offer significant advantages. This international collaboration with the inventor of these new drugs puts Australian research at the forefront of the clinical development. There is the potential for the generation of new IP from new strategies in the design of improved anticancer drugs. The project builds strong international links and provides international training for Australian PhD students. Read moreRead less