A skin-on-a-chip device for investigating wound healing. This project aims to research the mechanism of skin wound healing. It will design a skin-on-a-chip microfluidic device that mimics human skin in vitro. This device will reduce the need for animal studies and assess how active compounds heal wounds. This project will design smart polymers with superior properties for controlled delivery of multiple active compounds in this device and choose the most effective combination of compounds to boo ....A skin-on-a-chip device for investigating wound healing. This project aims to research the mechanism of skin wound healing. It will design a skin-on-a-chip microfluidic device that mimics human skin in vitro. This device will reduce the need for animal studies and assess how active compounds heal wounds. This project will design smart polymers with superior properties for controlled delivery of multiple active compounds in this device and choose the most effective combination of compounds to boost skin healing rate. This knowledge may ultimately be used to develop wound dressings that maximise healing rate for various skin defects such as chronic wounds and decrease health care costs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100175
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,070.00
Summary
Three-dimensional additive bio-fabrication facility: printing bioprinters. This project aims to develop bioprinting systems that will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes. The 3D Additive Bio-Fabrication Facility - Printing Bioprinters capability will use 3D polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to create the next generation of bioprinting methodologies and 3D fabrication tools. It is the aim that these customised additive manufacturing systems will be used ....Three-dimensional additive bio-fabrication facility: printing bioprinters. This project aims to develop bioprinting systems that will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes. The 3D Additive Bio-Fabrication Facility - Printing Bioprinters capability will use 3D polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to create the next generation of bioprinting methodologies and 3D fabrication tools. It is the aim that these customised additive manufacturing systems will be used to produce structures wherein living cells are spatially organised in combination with appropriate biomaterials and bioactive components, such as drugs or growth factors, in order to influence subsequent biological behaviour.Read moreRead less
Engineering of cartilage-based biomaterials under dynamic culture conditions. This work contributes to the development of advanced technologies in the area of biomaterials. The cartilage biomaterials generated in this work will lead to new medical applications in tissue reconstruction and replacement, which is of direct benefit to society by improving the methods used to treat joint disease and injury. As there is a significant commercial market for tissue-engineered cartilage products, this res ....Engineering of cartilage-based biomaterials under dynamic culture conditions. This work contributes to the development of advanced technologies in the area of biomaterials. The cartilage biomaterials generated in this work will lead to new medical applications in tissue reconstruction and replacement, which is of direct benefit to society by improving the methods used to treat joint disease and injury. As there is a significant commercial market for tissue-engineered cartilage products, this research also has implications for enhancing the scope and profitability of the Australian biotechnology industry. The project will be a vehicle for research training in a broad range of interdisciplinary areas. Students involved in the work will be equipped with a versatile and valuable combination of skills.Read moreRead less
Feasibility of biological hydrogen production from biomass wastes using activate sludge microorganisms. This study will focus on biological hydrogen production from biomass wastes, not only because hydrogen is a clean and high efficient energy, but also because it can be a process for waste treatment. The research is aimed at examining the feasibility of biological hydrogen production from an organic waste stream by hydrogen producing bacteria isolated and enriched from pretreated digested activ ....Feasibility of biological hydrogen production from biomass wastes using activate sludge microorganisms. This study will focus on biological hydrogen production from biomass wastes, not only because hydrogen is a clean and high efficient energy, but also because it can be a process for waste treatment. The research is aimed at examining the feasibility of biological hydrogen production from an organic waste stream by hydrogen producing bacteria isolated and enriched from pretreated digested activated sludge. The overall goal is to get better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms, metabolic pathways effecting on the intermediate and end-products, leading to high hydrogen productivity and yield.Read moreRead less
Novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials. There is a clear need for new materials that repel bacteria. Infections associated with biomaterials incur a high cost in terms of human health and well being, but such infections also increase the burden on the health care system by extending hospital stays and significantly elevating costs. The cost of a catheter-related blood stream infection is around $50,000 for patients in intensive care units. If all medical devices are considered, the cost of related inf ....Novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials. There is a clear need for new materials that repel bacteria. Infections associated with biomaterials incur a high cost in terms of human health and well being, but such infections also increase the burden on the health care system by extending hospital stays and significantly elevating costs. The cost of a catheter-related blood stream infection is around $50,000 for patients in intensive care units. If all medical devices are considered, the cost of related infections is then approximately $20 billion. The technology proposed here has the potential to reduce biomaterial related infection rates, improve health care and reduce health care costs. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668532
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,000.00
Summary
A Focussed Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope for Advanced Analytical and Nanotechnology Research in South East Queensland. The minerals industry underpins Australia's current economic prosperity. The aging of the population presents major economic challenges in the delivery of cost effective health services. New nanotechnology-enabled industries will contribute to future national economic and environmental well-being. The research enhanced by this facility impacts all these areas. It will i ....A Focussed Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope for Advanced Analytical and Nanotechnology Research in South East Queensland. The minerals industry underpins Australia's current economic prosperity. The aging of the population presents major economic challenges in the delivery of cost effective health services. New nanotechnology-enabled industries will contribute to future national economic and environmental well-being. The research enhanced by this facility impacts all these areas. It will improve mineral extraction and processing, enhance fundamental understanding of cellular interactions with textured surfaces, and lead to improved implantable material designs and improved implantable device lifetimes (eg hip and knee replacements). Development of advanced nanotechnology applications in energy, optoelectronics and sensors will be also be extended.Read moreRead less
Development of Cathodic Arc Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) for biomaterials applications. Medical prostheses have intricate geometries, consisting of shapes such as screws, holes, wedges, cones and textured surfaces. Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation using metal or carbon ions produced by a cathodic arc has been found to be an excellent process for producing surface modification with the properties required in medical applications, such as low stress and excellent adhesion of very thic ....Development of Cathodic Arc Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) for biomaterials applications. Medical prostheses have intricate geometries, consisting of shapes such as screws, holes, wedges, cones and textured surfaces. Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation using metal or carbon ions produced by a cathodic arc has been found to be an excellent process for producing surface modification with the properties required in medical applications, such as low stress and excellent adhesion of very thick coatings. To date this process has only been applied to simple, flat substrates. Extending it to shapes of interest for biomaterials applications will require comprehensive understanding and control of the sheath dynamics, which our combined theoretical and experimental approach will provide.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer and Rapid Photoluminescence Mapping System for Development of Advanced Materials and Biosystems. Australia's energy and renewable energy, defence, biosystem and pharmaceutical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries is expected to be largely driven by advances in materials and biosystems. The installation of the p ....Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer and Rapid Photoluminescence Mapping System for Development of Advanced Materials and Biosystems. Australia's energy and renewable energy, defence, biosystem and pharmaceutical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries is expected to be largely driven by advances in materials and biosystems. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new dimension to high-level research performance and significantly enhance the capability for characterization of various forms of materials and biosystems in Australia. The continual development of advanced material and biosystem technology will potentially provide a sustainable means for meeting the increasing global challenge for the industries.Read moreRead less
The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs ....The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs are composed of a weak polymer matrix and a MEW reinforcing fibrous phase printed at the nanometre scale, containing patterns mimicking the natural tissue architectures. Advanced computational tools are applied for the rational design of the SNC while reducing costs and times associated to experimental work.Read moreRead less
Guided droplet deposition: Microfabrication of advanced materials. The progress of micro and nanofabrication is opening an array of new opportunities with a new degree of freedom for manufacturing. This process will complement the existing micromanufacturing facilities in Melbourne. While metal printing and deposition of polymers is presently available, the guided droplet deposition will extend current capabilities to include ceramics and high melting temperature metals. Direct application to me ....Guided droplet deposition: Microfabrication of advanced materials. The progress of micro and nanofabrication is opening an array of new opportunities with a new degree of freedom for manufacturing. This process will complement the existing micromanufacturing facilities in Melbourne. While metal printing and deposition of polymers is presently available, the guided droplet deposition will extend current capabilities to include ceramics and high melting temperature metals. Direct application to medical devices will provide a more effective surface for improved performance and allow the incorporation of smart and sensor materials for multifunctional devices. Read moreRead less