Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the r ....Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the receptor-ligand interactions using inexpensive miniature spectrometers - radically transforming these assays. This would generate fundamental and applied knowledge of materials sciences, photonic, and biointerfaces for label-free, ultra-sensitive, and selective assays to enable future drug and diagnostics target discovery. Read moreRead less
Background-free imaging of single membrane-receptors with nanophosphors. This project aims to develop nanophosphor beacons and real-time, ultrahigh-sensitivity functional imaging to provide a picture of the brain. Time-gated detection microscopy will give these nanophosphors a superior optical contrast. The nanophosphors’ antibody-targeting will image single AMPA membrane receptors in their full biological context, crucial to understanding neuronal signalling. Simultaneous imaging of receptor tr ....Background-free imaging of single membrane-receptors with nanophosphors. This project aims to develop nanophosphor beacons and real-time, ultrahigh-sensitivity functional imaging to provide a picture of the brain. Time-gated detection microscopy will give these nanophosphors a superior optical contrast. The nanophosphors’ antibody-targeting will image single AMPA membrane receptors in their full biological context, crucial to understanding neuronal signalling. Simultaneous imaging of receptor trafficking and activity in neurons will help to uncover details of the dynamic activity in the brain. This technology is expected to help understand the inner workings of the brain and provide insights into its functioning.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100074
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,210.00
Summary
Nanoscale laser cooling in physiological environment. By developing fluorescence pattern-based 3D motion-detection technology in optical tweezers, this project aims to reveal how to achieve nanoscale laser cooling in physiological media. It plans to discover new mechanisms of cooling associated with surface phonons and energy looping in optically trapped lanthanide-doped nanoparticles. Key expected outcomes are technology and a toolset to create interaction between cooled nanoscale objects and b ....Nanoscale laser cooling in physiological environment. By developing fluorescence pattern-based 3D motion-detection technology in optical tweezers, this project aims to reveal how to achieve nanoscale laser cooling in physiological media. It plans to discover new mechanisms of cooling associated with surface phonons and energy looping in optically trapped lanthanide-doped nanoparticles. Key expected outcomes are technology and a toolset to create interaction between cooled nanoscale objects and biological samples. These are expected to create a research area of biological laser refrigeration, enabling intracellular organelles cooling, nanoscale membrane disruption and high sensitivity force-sensing for integrin study for use in single-molecule biophysics and multimodality subcellular sensing.Read moreRead less
Laser-free on-chip super-resolution microscopy. The project aims to develop a compact, cost-effective on-chip super-resolution microscope through an innovative combination of imaging algorithms, optics and integrated photonics. This project addresses limitations in imaging algorithms that increase laser system complexity and constrain imaging speed and applications, as well as nanostructure fabrication issues. Expected outcomes include the discovery of emitter self-interference microscopy, new k ....Laser-free on-chip super-resolution microscopy. The project aims to develop a compact, cost-effective on-chip super-resolution microscope through an innovative combination of imaging algorithms, optics and integrated photonics. This project addresses limitations in imaging algorithms that increase laser system complexity and constrain imaging speed and applications, as well as nanostructure fabrication issues. Expected outcomes include the discovery of emitter self-interference microscopy, new knowledge in imaging, photonics and biophysics, the world’s fastest super-resolution technology, compact on-chip nanoscopy that can be added to existing technology and proof of concept in three areas. Benefits are anticipated in commercialisation, improved photonics devices and usage in biophysics.Read moreRead less
Super-resolution imaging techniques based on van der Waals materials. This project aims to address the most pressing challenges in the field of super-resolution fluorescence nanoscopies, which underpin a vast range of biomedical imaging and sensing applications. The project will develop fluorescent probes and new imaging schemes that are simultaneously ultra-bright, photostable, biocompatible and do not require the use of high-power lasers that damage samples during image acquisition. This will ....Super-resolution imaging techniques based on van der Waals materials. This project aims to address the most pressing challenges in the field of super-resolution fluorescence nanoscopies, which underpin a vast range of biomedical imaging and sensing applications. The project will develop fluorescent probes and new imaging schemes that are simultaneously ultra-bright, photostable, biocompatible and do not require the use of high-power lasers that damage samples during image acquisition. This will be achieved by exploiting unique properties of recently-discovered quantum emitters in van der Waals nanomaterials. The project outcomes will yield a new approach to super-resolution imaging, advance understanding of quantum emitters, and develop new techniques for the processing of van der Waals materials. This is expected to have applications in a diverse range of sectors, and enable new markets in nanotechnology and manufacturing of high-performance Australian-made products.Read moreRead less
Dual nanoparticles to distinguish between right and left biomolecules. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of optical activity to ultralow molecular concentration samples. Optical activity is a commercially available technique used to distinguish chemically identical and morphologically different biomolecules (enantiomers). Unlike other scattering techniques, near-field enhancing of optical activity has not been achieved, thus limiting these measurements to high molecular concentrations ....Dual nanoparticles to distinguish between right and left biomolecules. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of optical activity to ultralow molecular concentration samples. Optical activity is a commercially available technique used to distinguish chemically identical and morphologically different biomolecules (enantiomers). Unlike other scattering techniques, near-field enhancing of optical activity has not been achieved, thus limiting these measurements to high molecular concentrations. There is evidence indicating that optical activity can be enhanced using dual nanoparticles (ie small particles with the same response to electric and magnetic fields). This project aims to advance our understanding of these dual nanoparticles and experimentally implement their use to enhance optical activity.Read moreRead less
Hybrid plasmonic waveguide for integrated photonic signal processing. Fast processing of information is central to modern society. This task is traditionally carried out by electronics, which however is becoming too slow and energy-consuming for some tasks. Among alternative technologies optics is the most promising, because it is fast and potentially energy efficient, but possible optical solutions are either quite bulky or suffer from high ohmic losses because the light needs to travel through ....Hybrid plasmonic waveguide for integrated photonic signal processing. Fast processing of information is central to modern society. This task is traditionally carried out by electronics, which however is becoming too slow and energy-consuming for some tasks. Among alternative technologies optics is the most promising, because it is fast and potentially energy efficient, but possible optical solutions are either quite bulky or suffer from high ohmic losses because the light needs to travel through metal. This project aims to design and fabricate a device which emits a train of short pulses, a key requirement for any signal processing, and in which the light resides mostly in low-loss material. By using metals merely to confine the light, such a 'hybrid' device would avoid the drawbacks of traditional photonic solutions.Read moreRead less
Room temperature single photon emitters in atomically thin materials. This project aims to address deterministic engineering of individual fluorescent defects in a single monolayer. This is a pressing challenge in the production of two dimensional materials as candidates for new generation devices in nanophotonics and in nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. This project will employ atomically thin, two dimensional materials to develop a platform for room temperature
devices that generate single ph ....Room temperature single photon emitters in atomically thin materials. This project aims to address deterministic engineering of individual fluorescent defects in a single monolayer. This is a pressing challenge in the production of two dimensional materials as candidates for new generation devices in nanophotonics and in nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. This project will employ atomically thin, two dimensional materials to develop a platform for room temperature
devices that generate single photons on demand. The project will provide significant benefits, such as enabling new commercial markets in nanotechnology, quantum technologies, cryptography and cybersecurity.
nanoelectronics. This project will employ atomically thin, two dimensional materials to develop a platform for room temperature devices that generate single photons on demand. The project will provide significant benefits, such as enabling new commercial markets in nanotechnology, quantum technologies, cryptography and cybersecurity.Read moreRead less
Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to de ....Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to develop six different optical elements with new functionalities and performance well beyond what is possible with conventional components. This development will enable the construction of high-performance driver monitoring systems, thus facilitating a safer driving experience for all.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100180
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,781,000.00
Summary
Upconversion nanophotonic systems . The photon upconversion process can produce visible light from lower-energy near-infrared incident light. This Laureate Program aims to address major bottlenecks in upconversion nanotechnology – the efficiency, stability and absorption bandwidth. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in the interface design of hybrid materials, a world-leading single-particle spectroscopy system, a new family of molecular probes, and novel super-resolution microscopy for fun ....Upconversion nanophotonic systems . The photon upconversion process can produce visible light from lower-energy near-infrared incident light. This Laureate Program aims to address major bottlenecks in upconversion nanotechnology – the efficiency, stability and absorption bandwidth. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in the interface design of hybrid materials, a world-leading single-particle spectroscopy system, a new family of molecular probes, and novel super-resolution microscopy for functional imaging of subcellular organelles. This research offers exciting opportunities for single-molecule tracking, quantitative diagnostics, non-invasive imaging, bio-mechanical force measurement and thermometry; tools to observe the nanoscale world inside live cells.Read moreRead less