New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriat ....New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriate rigidity and toughness, and stimulate better bone growth at the interface. In this way the implant should be much longer lasting and the need for undesirable revision surgery reduced. The processing technique proposed could also be a useful platform coating technology in a number of other industries.Read moreRead less
Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and b ....Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia.Read moreRead less
Fundamental studies in extensional rheology of polymers and biomacromolecules. Long molecules such as polymers, DNA and other biopolymers are of significant practical and fundamental interest. The behaviour of such polymers in extensional or stretching flows and the consequent stresses generated can be measured as a result of advances in instrumentation pioneered at Monash University. This research program builds on this foundation to understand the effects of molecular architecture on the prope ....Fundamental studies in extensional rheology of polymers and biomacromolecules. Long molecules such as polymers, DNA and other biopolymers are of significant practical and fundamental interest. The behaviour of such polymers in extensional or stretching flows and the consequent stresses generated can be measured as a result of advances in instrumentation pioneered at Monash University. This research program builds on this foundation to understand the effects of molecular architecture on the properties of macromolecules and to rigorously test several innovative theoretical concepts that have been advanced over the last 20 years. Such knowledge allows the tailoring of polymer shape to their end use and permits the design of novel polymers.Read moreRead less
Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Re ....Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Research Priority-Advanced Materials Priority Goals; (3) The development of new niche markets with these new materials and the new technologies, which is an excellent vehicle for Australia to move to a high-value added industrial portfolio that maximises return and promotes job growth.Read moreRead less
Building advanced polymeric nanotubes for targeted drug delivery. Advanced drug delivery devices have major commercial applications in fighting diseases like cancer and infectious viruses. The success of this project will provide fundamental knowledge for the design of new drug delivery devices based on polymeric nanotubes. The project will also further advance Australia's nano- and bio-technological research and industries. This project will also provide additional benefit for developing contro ....Building advanced polymeric nanotubes for targeted drug delivery. Advanced drug delivery devices have major commercial applications in fighting diseases like cancer and infectious viruses. The success of this project will provide fundamental knowledge for the design of new drug delivery devices based on polymeric nanotubes. The project will also further advance Australia's nano- and bio-technological research and industries. This project will also provide additional benefit for developing controlled release systems in drug delivery and artificial vessels, and improve sensitivity in molecular sensors. The pioneering work proposed will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of innovative scientific research within the rapidly advancing disciplines of nanotechnology and novel macromolecular design.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured materials by controlled photopolymerization. Photo-polymerization is an important and flexible means of converting a crosslinkable monomer into a solid and has application ranging from lens production to photo-lithography. This project aims at developing the technology of producing multi-phase structures of controllable morphology by selective and independent dual photo-polymerization of blends of crosslinkable monomers at controlled rates. These morphologies may have applicatio ....Nanostructured materials by controlled photopolymerization. Photo-polymerization is an important and flexible means of converting a crosslinkable monomer into a solid and has application ranging from lens production to photo-lithography. This project aims at developing the technology of producing multi-phase structures of controllable morphology by selective and independent dual photo-polymerization of blends of crosslinkable monomers at controlled rates. These morphologies may have applications in toughening polymers with minimum loss in strength and optical transparency, abrasion resistant coatings, tissue engineering (where the phases have differing biodegradability), in microfluidics, and microelectro-mechanical systems (where sub-micron channels/domains are required) or in membrane separation.Read moreRead less
Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fir ....Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fire threats to the society. Flame retardants are key to producing fire-resistant plastic products with a low fire hazard rating. The novel bio-based flame retardant material developed by this project seeks to combine enhanced flame retardant properties and mechanical reinforcement functions. The outcomes of the project will demonstrate eco-friendly flame retardants and high performance flame retardant thermoplastic products.Read moreRead less
Toughening thermosets by highly ordered nanostructures. This research will develop a new technology to manufacture a class of novel ordered nanostructured thermosets. The outcome of this project will enable many existing and new engineering applications in the transportation, construction and microelectronics industries in Australia.
Bio-inspired electro catalysts for gas reduction reactions: towards electrochemical ammonia production under ambient conditions. This project will develop solutions to replace the current energy inefficient method for ammonia production, which are a significant contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions. A more energy efficient system will be developed from a new class of composite gas-reduction catalysts integrated into functional electrochemical cells.
Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the dev ....Novel manufacturing methods for tissue engineering scaffolds. Novel methods of manufacturing biodegradable polymer scaffolds around which new tissue can be grown within the human body will be developed. Surfactant - polymer assemblies will be used to produce highly porous scaffolds of tunable pore size and connectivity, shape and strength. The results will create a new avenue for systematic investigations into the effects of scaffold structure on tissue growth. This research will lead to the development of reliable, well-controlled manufacturing techniques for tissue engineering scaffolds, revolutionising current scaffold manufacturing practices. It will enhance existing collaborations between the University of Melbourne and the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery.Read moreRead less