Developing novel aerosol inhalers for pulmonary drug delivery from the fundamental understanding of powder dispersion mechanisms. The project seeks to understand how powder aerosol inhalers can be significantly improved. The outcome will provide therapeutic benefits to the Australian community for better treatment of respiratory diseases and facilitate environmentally friendly technology since these inhalers do not require any harmful organic solvents to operate.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100088
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Self-calibrating quantum devices. This project aims to improve control over quantum systems. It will develop self-calibrating quantum devices, the equivalent of Noise Cancelling Headphones for quantum systems. The project will create filtering protocols, suppressing characterised noise via appropriate controls. This is expected to lead to greater control over systems, demanded by quantum computers and nano devices, like next generation computer chips.
The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly ....The role of electrostatic charge in airway deposition of aerosols. This project aims to unravel the importance of electrostatic charge in controlling deposition of aerosols in the respiratory tract. The expected outcome is a validated mathematical model for accurately predicting deposition behaviour of charged aerosol particles in human airways. Findings may ultimately be used to underpin novel prevention measures to reduce lung deposition of inhaled hazardous airborne particles to significantly reduce health risks and costs. They may also be used to enable the development of new inhalation technologies based on electrostatic charge to improve aerosol drug delivery to the lungs of patients with respiratory diseases.Read moreRead less
Outmaneuvering correlated noise in quantum computers. The project aims to characterise and control quantum machines available today. These machines overwhelmingly suffer from noise with complex structures. Thus, a key target of the project is to develop a theory to describe and manipulate complex quantum processes. The project then intends to apply this theory to commercial-grade quantum computers. This approach is anticipated to lead to a new understanding of time-correlated complex quantum pro ....Outmaneuvering correlated noise in quantum computers. The project aims to characterise and control quantum machines available today. These machines overwhelmingly suffer from noise with complex structures. Thus, a key target of the project is to develop a theory to describe and manipulate complex quantum processes. The project then intends to apply this theory to commercial-grade quantum computers. This approach is anticipated to lead to a new understanding of time-correlated complex quantum processes and develop methods to enhance the performance of today's quantum computers. Noise characterisation and mitigation should have commercial value and benefit research groups working to develop quantum technologies, both in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Complex quantum dynamics for technological applications. This project aims to characterise dynamics of a quantum system immersed in a complex surrounding, such as a quantum computer interacting with an environment that remembers the computer’s past. Since there are no known methods for battling the effects of the environment on the computer when they are intertwined, this project will develop tools to combat these adverse effects. The project will discover physics of complex dynamics and investi ....Complex quantum dynamics for technological applications. This project aims to characterise dynamics of a quantum system immersed in a complex surrounding, such as a quantum computer interacting with an environment that remembers the computer’s past. Since there are no known methods for battling the effects of the environment on the computer when they are intertwined, this project will develop tools to combat these adverse effects. The project will discover physics of complex dynamics and investigate unexplored physical phenomena in the laboratory, like an antenna of photosynthetic systems that use complex surroundings for efficient and fast energy transport. The project is expected to help build new and improved quantum machines.Read moreRead less
Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of phys ....Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of physico-chemical and in vitro characterisation tools that will be used to study Smartdrop formation, aerosol properties and their interactions with cells. The outcome of this project is intended to be the development of a technology for treating chronic lung inflammation which could also be utilised for a number of other commercial applications.Read moreRead less
A multiplex microscope platform to define molecular events in fluid systems. This project aims to develop a novel microscopy platform that will enable the visualisation and quantification of molecular events occurring under fluid shear stress. The project will generate new knowledge in platelet biology that will allow characterisation and prediction of key molecular and morphological changes occurring across a blood thrombus under flowing conditions as found in the blood vessels. These new tools ....A multiplex microscope platform to define molecular events in fluid systems. This project aims to develop a novel microscopy platform that will enable the visualisation and quantification of molecular events occurring under fluid shear stress. The project will generate new knowledge in platelet biology that will allow characterisation and prediction of key molecular and morphological changes occurring across a blood thrombus under flowing conditions as found in the blood vessels. These new tools and the imaging platform will have applications for researchers wishing to visualise small and rapid molecular events in four dimensions (length, width, height and across time) under fluid shear stress, which is applicable across a range of industries. The project expects to deliver the next generation of intravital microscopes that can visualise and quantify events in a challenging flow environment.Read moreRead less
Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and ....Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and non-contact detection suitable for hard-to-inspect surface conditions, will also be investigated. The new developments will help transform existing schedule-based maintenance practice to a condition-based maintenance paradigm, to achieve significant cost savings in maintenance.Read moreRead less
Integrin Activation by Fluid Flow Disturbance: Mechanobiology Approaches. Understanding how cells can sense and respond to mechanical environment such as dynamic blood flow represents a fundamental question in the emerging field of mechanobiology. This project develops new biomechanical engineering approaches to determine the critical interrelationships among fluid flow disturbance, platelet clotting and the mechano-sensitive signal transduction mechanisms of integrin receptor – the most importa ....Integrin Activation by Fluid Flow Disturbance: Mechanobiology Approaches. Understanding how cells can sense and respond to mechanical environment such as dynamic blood flow represents a fundamental question in the emerging field of mechanobiology. This project develops new biomechanical engineering approaches to determine the critical interrelationships among fluid flow disturbance, platelet clotting and the mechano-sensitive signal transduction mechanisms of integrin receptor – the most important mechano-sensor implicated in cell adhesion, migration, growth and survival. Specifically, it integrates nationally unique cutting-edge techniques including single-molecule force probe, microparticle image velocimetry, microfluidics and molecular dynamics simulation, super resolution and 3D volumetric imaging modalities.Read moreRead less
Optimal electromaterial structures for energy applications. This project aims to develop new mathematical and modelling approaches to determine optimal configurations and parameters for material structures created from three-dimensional printing of combined metals and electromaterials. Electromaterials are needed for sustainable energy, but solving coupled-systems of highly nonlinear governing equations is needed for optimal control of spatial arrangement and composition in nano and micro-struct ....Optimal electromaterial structures for energy applications. This project aims to develop new mathematical and modelling approaches to determine optimal configurations and parameters for material structures created from three-dimensional printing of combined metals and electromaterials. Electromaterials are needed for sustainable energy, but solving coupled-systems of highly nonlinear governing equations is needed for optimal control of spatial arrangement and composition in nano and micro-structural domains. Dealing with this mathematical complexity is critical to developing high efficiency energy generation and gas storage systems. This is expected to enhance transport mechanisms within electrochemical devices and create opportunities for industry to use electrofunctional materials.Read moreRead less