Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882576
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,000.00
Summary
Polymer Characterization Facility (PCF). Future development of macromolecular and biotechnologies have the potential to revolutionize everyday life. Current applications include plastics for engineering, diagnostic devices for biochemical analysis, polymer therapeutics for drug delivery and prosthesis with specific functions. The proposed facility will provide the analytical tools required to probe and develop advanced materials with application in medicine, agriculture, composites, cosmetics, ....Polymer Characterization Facility (PCF). Future development of macromolecular and biotechnologies have the potential to revolutionize everyday life. Current applications include plastics for engineering, diagnostic devices for biochemical analysis, polymer therapeutics for drug delivery and prosthesis with specific functions. The proposed facility will provide the analytical tools required to probe and develop advanced materials with application in medicine, agriculture, composites, cosmetics, communications and electronics.Read moreRead less
Towards Nano-Assembled Light Emitting Polymer Films. Advanced materials constructed with molecular level architecture through controlled nano-assembly will benefit medical science, biotechnology and nanotechnology, communications and the electronics fields. The national research priorities of nanotechnology and advanced materials through nano-assembly will be promoted by this work. This research will assist Australian industries to further advance these processes and devices leading to better qu ....Towards Nano-Assembled Light Emitting Polymer Films. Advanced materials constructed with molecular level architecture through controlled nano-assembly will benefit medical science, biotechnology and nanotechnology, communications and the electronics fields. The national research priorities of nanotechnology and advanced materials through nano-assembly will be promoted by this work. This research will assist Australian industries to further advance these processes and devices leading to better quality, cheaper, more efficient products. The Australian community will benefit through economic and technological advances. These advanced materials will promote health and environmental wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560818
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$154,000.00
Summary
A Pico-Newton Scale Force Measurement Apparatus for Polymer Physics and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. We propose to build a state-of-the-art Optical Tweezers apparatus that measures small forces and torques on micron-sized objects located in 'optical traps'. Using a single laser beam and computer-generated holograms, we will create arrays of optical traps that move or 'dance', and alter the force/torque-imposing properties of each trap. This proposed research equipment will be used (1 ....A Pico-Newton Scale Force Measurement Apparatus for Polymer Physics and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. We propose to build a state-of-the-art Optical Tweezers apparatus that measures small forces and torques on micron-sized objects located in 'optical traps'. Using a single laser beam and computer-generated holograms, we will create arrays of optical traps that move or 'dance', and alter the force/torque-imposing properties of each trap. This proposed research equipment will be used (1) to study the physics of single synthetic polymer and naturally occuring biopolymer chains, (2) to quantify experimentally, and for the first time, newly predicted molecular-scale forces, and (3) to demonstrate new theories in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics that quantitatively describe the operation of nanomachines. Read moreRead less
Maximizing solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) with maximum entropy. Nuclear magnetic resonance is an essential technology for the characterisation of important industrial and biomedical molecules, molecular chains and complexes. This project aims to considerably expand the fundamental capability of experimental techniques for the study of materials in the solid state, in particular for a new class of biological nanoparticle. These advances will have important global implications for re ....Maximizing solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) with maximum entropy. Nuclear magnetic resonance is an essential technology for the characterisation of important industrial and biomedical molecules, molecular chains and complexes. This project aims to considerably expand the fundamental capability of experimental techniques for the study of materials in the solid state, in particular for a new class of biological nanoparticle. These advances will have important global implications for research into life-saving therapeutic strategies aimed at many pharmaceutical targets embedded in cell membranes, protein misfolding disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, as well as development of the next generation of "green" plastics and other advanced polymers.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Functionalisation of Advanced Polymer Films and Particles. Scientific and technological advances at the frontiers of nano- and biotechnology are poised to revolutionise the scope of treatment and healthcare options. This project will involve the synthesis of engineered polymer building blocks with the capability for multifunctional and intelligent response. These smart polymers will then be assembled into responsive nanostructured materials for drug delivery and biosensing applica ....Synthesis and Functionalisation of Advanced Polymer Films and Particles. Scientific and technological advances at the frontiers of nano- and biotechnology are poised to revolutionise the scope of treatment and healthcare options. This project will involve the synthesis of engineered polymer building blocks with the capability for multifunctional and intelligent response. These smart polymers will then be assembled into responsive nanostructured materials for drug delivery and biosensing applications. These materials are expected to have health benefits for Australian citizens and will contribute to a world-leading nanobiotechnology industry. The project will also provide development opportunities for young scientists and will also foster multidisciplinary collaborations within both Australia and abroad.Read moreRead less
Self-assembled polyphiles: molecular nanopatterns. 21st century technology is certain to rely on advanced materials, utterly new in character, function and manufacturing process. Control of material structure, from the atomic and molecular scales and upward will be a central focus, to engineer specific features from electronic or photonic functionality, to chemical selectivity. The manufacturing principle of biological materials, made routinely in vivo with exquisite economy and control at all l ....Self-assembled polyphiles: molecular nanopatterns. 21st century technology is certain to rely on advanced materials, utterly new in character, function and manufacturing process. Control of material structure, from the atomic and molecular scales and upward will be a central focus, to engineer specific features from electronic or photonic functionality, to chemical selectivity. The manufacturing principle of biological materials, made routinely in vivo with exquisite economy and control at all length scales, will be adopted for materials design. The route to these materials is self-assembly. We will explore in detail theory and practical manufacture of self-assembled nanostructured materials, building molecular honeycombs combining composite material features at the nanoscale.Read moreRead less
Single Molecule Studies of Replisomal Function. It has recently become possible to watch the copying of DNA molecules with a specialized microscope in real time. This process requires assembly of a complex molecular machine on the DNA, followed by triggering of its function, and yields exquisitely detailed information about how the machine works. In this new collaboration between scientists in Australia and the U.S.A., we will assemble these machines on single DNA molecules, watch how they work ....Single Molecule Studies of Replisomal Function. It has recently become possible to watch the copying of DNA molecules with a specialized microscope in real time. This process requires assembly of a complex molecular machine on the DNA, followed by triggering of its function, and yields exquisitely detailed information about how the machine works. In this new collaboration between scientists in Australia and the U.S.A., we will assemble these machines on single DNA molecules, watch how they work and simultaneously measure the very small forces that the machines generate. This will give Australian scientists access to a new technology for studying molecular machines.Read moreRead less
Advances in Theoretical Methodologies in Surface and Materials Science. This collaborative project is concerned with the review, development, and advancement of modern theoretical methodologies and approaches for the study and description of phenomena in materials and surface science. The particular focus is on first-principles-based schemes which combine accurate electronic structure calculations with more phenomenological, analytical, or statistical mechanical schemes in order to describe long ....Advances in Theoretical Methodologies in Surface and Materials Science. This collaborative project is concerned with the review, development, and advancement of modern theoretical methodologies and approaches for the study and description of phenomena in materials and surface science. The particular focus is on first-principles-based schemes which combine accurate electronic structure calculations with more phenomenological, analytical, or statistical mechanical schemes in order to describe long time and length scales, and/or to include thermodynamic effects. The theories will be applied to a range of surface and interface phenomenon, e.g., chemical reactions, quantum dots, crystal growth, as well as defects in solids, to demonstrate the power of such methods.Read moreRead less
Salt, Sugar and Sequence: The Effect of Molecular Forces on Polymer Conformation. We propose a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of single polymer chains, exploring how their shape or conformation, and stretching characteristics are affected by specific molecular interactions. Our tools in this study are both experimental and theoretical: optical tweezers, atomic force microscopy, as well as new theories in colloid science, and computer simulation. In particular, we will exa ....Salt, Sugar and Sequence: The Effect of Molecular Forces on Polymer Conformation. We propose a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of single polymer chains, exploring how their shape or conformation, and stretching characteristics are affected by specific molecular interactions. Our tools in this study are both experimental and theoretical: optical tweezers, atomic force microscopy, as well as new theories in colloid science, and computer simulation. In particular, we will examine the effect of different salts and sugars upon the properties of polymers such as DNA, and how monomer sequence can lead to dramatically different structures in solution which in turn will lead to novel materials.Read moreRead less
Spectroscopy of Complex Fluids in Flow. Complex fluids are composed of polymers and nano-particles in solution. Under flow these fluids may undergo dramatic molecular and nano-particle orientational and spatial ordering that give rise to a fascinating range of rheological behaviour. This project will use state of the art fluorescence spectroscopy which is able to resolve the orientation of single molecules combined with novel rheo-optic methods to characterise flow induced ordering in these flui ....Spectroscopy of Complex Fluids in Flow. Complex fluids are composed of polymers and nano-particles in solution. Under flow these fluids may undergo dramatic molecular and nano-particle orientational and spatial ordering that give rise to a fascinating range of rheological behaviour. This project will use state of the art fluorescence spectroscopy which is able to resolve the orientation of single molecules combined with novel rheo-optic methods to characterise flow induced ordering in these fluids. The flow induced orientation, spatial distribution and nano-particle/macromolecule interactions will be quantified. Theoretical deficiencies in describing complex fluid flow will be reconciled. The experimental insight gained will be exploited to produce novel molecularly ordered materials.
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