Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100662
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,000.00
Summary
Engineering interfaces to enable a new generation of hybrid materials. Hybrid combinations of hydrogel and solid materials allow a high level of functionality for devices such as tissue-engineering scaffolds and soft machines. However, the weak bonding between hydrogels and solids severely hampers their function. This project aims to develop versatile plasma processes that facilitate strong interfaces between hydrogels of choice and solid materials of all kinds. The expected outcome is a green p ....Engineering interfaces to enable a new generation of hybrid materials. Hybrid combinations of hydrogel and solid materials allow a high level of functionality for devices such as tissue-engineering scaffolds and soft machines. However, the weak bonding between hydrogels and solids severely hampers their function. This project aims to develop versatile plasma processes that facilitate strong interfaces between hydrogels of choice and solid materials of all kinds. The expected outcome is a green platform technology for the modular construction of advanced solid-hydrogel hybrids with tailor-made functions; enabling critical advances in the design and synthesis of structured soft matter devices. The project offers significant benefits for Australian high-tech manufacturing industries from health to electronics.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL190100216
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,279,753.00
Summary
Plasma surface engineering for break-through technologies in biomedicine. This program aims to develop new plasma surface modification processes for complex porous structures using a strongly multidisciplinary approach combining plasma physics, materials engineering and expertise from biosciences. It will establish fundamental new understanding of plasma interactions within complex materials by combining innovations in simulation and experiment. Expected outcomes will be new research capacity i ....Plasma surface engineering for break-through technologies in biomedicine. This program aims to develop new plasma surface modification processes for complex porous structures using a strongly multidisciplinary approach combining plasma physics, materials engineering and expertise from biosciences. It will establish fundamental new understanding of plasma interactions within complex materials by combining innovations in simulation and experiment. Expected outcomes will be new research capacity in the increasingly important field of bioengineering, and environmentally friendly plasma processes that enable the creation of robust biologically functional surfaces, providing significant benefits for diagnostic and therapeutic biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
In-situ biofunctionalisation for additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing that incorporates printing of live cells can create hierarchical, multi-component structures that mimic biology. However, an ability to include spatially segregated biological cues is currently lacking. This project will develop plasma pen modules to selectively functionalise surfaces and interfaces, as they are being printed, with robustly immobilised hydrogels and biological signalling molecules to direct cell beha ....In-situ biofunctionalisation for additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing that incorporates printing of live cells can create hierarchical, multi-component structures that mimic biology. However, an ability to include spatially segregated biological cues is currently lacking. This project will develop plasma pen modules to selectively functionalise surfaces and interfaces, as they are being printed, with robustly immobilised hydrogels and biological signalling molecules to direct cell behaviour. The expected outcome is a green technology enabling the fabrication of structures that replicate the native environments of cells in the body to provide optimal efficacy in drug discovery and regenerative medicine, and significant benefits for the Australian biomedical sector.Read moreRead less
A new dimension of functionality for high surface-area-to volume materials. This project aims to develop processes that can successfully functionalise the inner surfaces of high surface area to volume structures with interconnected porosity. These structures underpin many processes in modern manufacturing. Examples include columns and fluidised beds for purification, materials for energy storage and conversion, biomedical scaffolds and structures for high sensitivity sensing. The efficacy of the ....A new dimension of functionality for high surface-area-to volume materials. This project aims to develop processes that can successfully functionalise the inner surfaces of high surface area to volume structures with interconnected porosity. These structures underpin many processes in modern manufacturing. Examples include columns and fluidised beds for purification, materials for energy storage and conversion, biomedical scaffolds and structures for high sensitivity sensing. The efficacy of these materials is strongly affected by the condition of the surfaces, but modifying the surfaces of internal pores deep within such structures presents major challenges. This project will provide environmental friendly, dry plasma processes to tailor surface functionality, improving the efficacy of existing processes and opening up new far reaching applications for such materials.Read moreRead less
Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. ....Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. It will also develop new 3D models to simulate conditions in the human body for more rapid testing of electrodes. The new knowledge generated will improve the accuracy of predictions of platinum dissolution, develop new approaches for minimising dissolution, and contribute to reducing need for animal experimentation.Read moreRead less
Tuning Molecular Translocaton by Close-Field Electroporation. This project aims to determine the underlying mechanisms by which DNA and other molecules are able to migrate across the cell membrane in response to highly localised electric fields. It has recently been shown that focusing of electric fields at the cellular level, using an array of small electrodes, results in unexpectedly high cell transfection efficiencies. It has been termed 'close-field electroporation'. Here it is proposed t ....Tuning Molecular Translocaton by Close-Field Electroporation. This project aims to determine the underlying mechanisms by which DNA and other molecules are able to migrate across the cell membrane in response to highly localised electric fields. It has recently been shown that focusing of electric fields at the cellular level, using an array of small electrodes, results in unexpectedly high cell transfection efficiencies. It has been termed 'close-field electroporation'. Here it is proposed to establish the properties of the electric fields around cells and cell membrane interactions with these fields that enable molecular translocation. This fundamental science could have broad implications in the domains of drug delivery, gene therapy and neural stimulation.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale control of energy and matter for future energy-efficient technologies. Unprecedented control of energy and matter in nanoscale fabrication will be achieved using non-equilibrium self-organised plasma-solid systems. The outcomes will lead to energy-efficient, environment- and human-health-friendly production of nanomaterials for future energy, health, information, food, water, environmental and security technologies.
A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To un ....A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To understand how the method can be optimized, the thermodynamic pathway of membrane disruption will be investigated at a single cell level. The methods and insights arising from this project could eventually lead to novel, patentable and lower-cost health technologies.Read moreRead less
Electric field effects on cochlear tissues. The project aims to solve the underlying biology of how electricity flows through the cochlear tissues, where and how electrical stimulation excites the auditory neurons, and what the effects of sustained electrical stimulation are on the nerve fibre growth and function. The research aims to show how electric fields can be controlled in the cochlea, and how auditory nerve fibres are affected at the cellular and molecular level. The long-term aim is to ....Electric field effects on cochlear tissues. The project aims to solve the underlying biology of how electricity flows through the cochlear tissues, where and how electrical stimulation excites the auditory neurons, and what the effects of sustained electrical stimulation are on the nerve fibre growth and function. The research aims to show how electric fields can be controlled in the cochlea, and how auditory nerve fibres are affected at the cellular and molecular level. The long-term aim is to utilise these findings to improve the control of neuronal excitability, for development of interfaces with the nervous system.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100609
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,000.00
Summary
Mechanobiology: a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. This project aims to address a fundamental question in mechanobiology on how integrin receptor coordinates with force to mediate cell spreading, migration, growth and survival. With an observation that membrane deformation enhances integrin binding, the project expects to establish a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. It will develop an integrated approach combining single-molecule force probes, super reso ....Mechanobiology: a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. This project aims to address a fundamental question in mechanobiology on how integrin receptor coordinates with force to mediate cell spreading, migration, growth and survival. With an observation that membrane deformation enhances integrin binding, the project expects to establish a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. It will develop an integrated approach combining single-molecule force probes, super resolution microscopy, microfluidics and molecular dynamics simulations. It is expected that the role of membrane tension in promoting cell adhesion will be defined at molecular scale, and the link between integrin activation and Piezo calcium channel mediated membrane tension sensing will be delineated.Read moreRead less