Platform technologies for multifunctional nanocarrier systems. Smart targeted nanocarriers offer new opportunities for drug delivery. This project aims to develop new platforms for reproducibly producing and screening targeted nanocarriers. The platform technologies developed in this project aim to revolutionise current strategies for designing and evaluating drug delivery systems, and will accelerate the clinical translation of targeted drug delivery. This will include a novel one-step microflu ....Platform technologies for multifunctional nanocarrier systems. Smart targeted nanocarriers offer new opportunities for drug delivery. This project aims to develop new platforms for reproducibly producing and screening targeted nanocarriers. The platform technologies developed in this project aim to revolutionise current strategies for designing and evaluating drug delivery systems, and will accelerate the clinical translation of targeted drug delivery. This will include a novel one-step microfluidic platform technology for reproducibly producing targeted polymer nanocarriers having systematically varied properties, a dual-templating method for making targeted silica nanocapsules and new design of in vivo-mimicking 'Tissue Chips' for screening and evaluating the nanocarriers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterization. An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterisation: Materials properties are crucial to the performance of devices and structures, and detailed characterisation at a molecular level is important for optimizing new materials. X-rays are a powerful means of achieving the required level of detail in structural characterisation. The aim of this project is to make available an extremely bright X- ....An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterization. An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterisation: Materials properties are crucial to the performance of devices and structures, and detailed characterisation at a molecular level is important for optimizing new materials. X-rays are a powerful means of achieving the required level of detail in structural characterisation. The aim of this project is to make available an extremely bright X-ray source with a suite of advanced analytical tools, including surface structural analysis by reflectometry and grazing incidence diffraction and materials structure determination using powder diffraction and microdiffraction at high and low temperatures. The functions of this facility are broad and its applications include materials science, organic electronics, biomaterials and engineering.Read moreRead less
An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefi ....An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefits, as the predictive surface-wettability model will enhance controllability and productivity of diverse manufacturing processes and lead to new applications, high-value products and economic benefits in mining, energy, electronics, biomedicine and other fields.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101550
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Functional polymer encapsulation to enhance biological performance of implantable materials. This project will develop biomaterial films from essential oils using a low-cost 'green' technology. Applied to commercial biomaterials, these films will minimise infections and inflammations commonly associated with implants. These films will also enable clinical use of metallic resorbable implants for tissue engineering and function restoration.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,624.00
Summary
Catalytically active surface for hydrogen evolution. This project aims to develop classes of active surface on catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Targeted catalysts with abundant transitional metal active sites are a new frontier in electrocatalysis. This project intends to develop vapour-phase hydrothermal approaches to effectively in-situ grow single crystal catalysts with rich metal centres and to further boost their activities by in-situ doping with heteroatoms. Ex ....Catalytically active surface for hydrogen evolution. This project aims to develop classes of active surface on catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Targeted catalysts with abundant transitional metal active sites are a new frontier in electrocatalysis. This project intends to develop vapour-phase hydrothermal approaches to effectively in-situ grow single crystal catalysts with rich metal centres and to further boost their activities by in-situ doping with heteroatoms. Expected outcomes include robust fabrication means for atomic construction of active surfaces and improved understanding of active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction.Read moreRead less
A Nano-platform for affordable and ultra-sensitive bio-marker detection. This project aims to develop a next-generation nano-platform and lateral flow assays (LFA) device for ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers. LFA’s are used for the rapid detection of biomarkers; however, their sensitivity is relatively low. The preparation of innovative porous silica nanoparticles with uniform particle size and controllable structures (pore size, pore structure, internal surface functionality and density ....A Nano-platform for affordable and ultra-sensitive bio-marker detection. This project aims to develop a next-generation nano-platform and lateral flow assays (LFA) device for ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers. LFA’s are used for the rapid detection of biomarkers; however, their sensitivity is relatively low. The preparation of innovative porous silica nanoparticles with uniform particle size and controllable structures (pore size, pore structure, internal surface functionality and density) will enable higher loading of quantum dots and enhanced detection sensitivity. Improving the detection sensitivity of the inexpensive and disposable LFA diagnostic technology will open up new applications for rapid and accurate biomarker detection. The resulting technology will advance Australian industrial capability and competiveness in the global lateral flow assays market, which is estimated to be valued at US$ 6.78 billion by 2020.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101190
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,446.00
Summary
Interfacial nano-engineering of electrodes for perovskite solar cells. This project aims to explore new strategies of functional electrode design and interfacial engineering for efficient and stable perovskite solar cell application. The key concept is to modify the electron transport and perovskite layers through structural design, interfacial engineering and contact passivation, for use in high-performance solar-to-electricity conversion systems with improved light harvesting and charge collec ....Interfacial nano-engineering of electrodes for perovskite solar cells. This project aims to explore new strategies of functional electrode design and interfacial engineering for efficient and stable perovskite solar cell application. The key concept is to modify the electron transport and perovskite layers through structural design, interfacial engineering and contact passivation, for use in high-performance solar-to-electricity conversion systems with improved light harvesting and charge collection. Expected project outcomes will place Australia at the forefront of practical low-cost and large-scale solar energy conversion technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100892
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Designing compressible hybrid supercapacitors from graphene aerogels. This project aims to develop high-performance compressible energy storage devices. Compressible hybrid supercapacitors are promising energy storage devices for elastic and wearable electronics under large strain and deformation. However, the controlled fabrication of such devices is challenging. This project aims to design and synthesise compressible hybrid supercapacitors using graphene aerogels as substrates through structur ....Designing compressible hybrid supercapacitors from graphene aerogels. This project aims to develop high-performance compressible energy storage devices. Compressible hybrid supercapacitors are promising energy storage devices for elastic and wearable electronics under large strain and deformation. However, the controlled fabrication of such devices is challenging. This project aims to design and synthesise compressible hybrid supercapacitors using graphene aerogels as substrates through structural design and surface modification. The success of the project will benefit Australia’s booming graphite industry and promote Australian competitiveness in wearable electronics markets.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101351
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,000.00
Summary
Designing new perovskite quantum dots for efficient solar energy conversion. This project aims to rationally design new perovskite quantum dots featuring prominent phase and thermal stability in humid air and remarkable optoelectronic properties. These will be crucial for the development of next-generation flexible, lightweight solar energy conversion devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the fundamental mechanism of functional materials for more efficient solar energy conve ....Designing new perovskite quantum dots for efficient solar energy conversion. This project aims to rationally design new perovskite quantum dots featuring prominent phase and thermal stability in humid air and remarkable optoelectronic properties. These will be crucial for the development of next-generation flexible, lightweight solar energy conversion devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the fundamental mechanism of functional materials for more efficient solar energy conversion. Expected outcomes include new advanced materials and commercially compelling technology for sustainable and decentralised energy utilisation. This project will position Australia at the frontier of clean energy, flexible optoelectronics and related research areas.Read moreRead less
Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogeni ....Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogenicity, stability and safety will be generated. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in nanomaterial science and a market ready technology platform, improving Australia’s capabilities in nanobiotechnology and vaccine development, as well as delivering a new value-added product for the Industry Partner. Read moreRead less