A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of ....A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of interest to capture the miRNA. Application of a magnetic field allows the levels of miRNA to be detected electrochemically. The expected outcome is a commercialisable biosensor for miRNA both as a diagnostic early detection device and a prognostic device for a range of miRNA biomarkers.Read moreRead less
Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combini ....Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combining a frequency comb source, with an innovative detector and a highly sensitive sampling system, a real-time spectral signature of each sample will be generated. Computational techniques developed by the radio astronomy community will then be used to extract concentrations of individual molecular components at the parts-per-billion level.Read moreRead less
Compact and versatile chip lasers for three-dimensional mine surveying. This project will bring together a world leading mine survey company, The University of Adelaide and Macquarie University researchers, to develop an 'eye-safe' micro laser for high resolution three-dimensional laser-mapping. The recently developed and patented 'chip' laser will allow the realisation of a compact, enhanced range laser-radar with unmatched resolution.
Hierarchically porous polymer monoliths for separation science. Understanding the molecular composition of biomarkers involved in cell-cell communication and the fate of nanoparticles in the environment is critical to improve our understanding of diseases and environmental processes. This project will develop a new approach for the design of separation media that will greatly improve the efficiency of techniques used to analyse these complex samples. The separation media will consist of a polyme ....Hierarchically porous polymer monoliths for separation science. Understanding the molecular composition of biomarkers involved in cell-cell communication and the fate of nanoparticles in the environment is critical to improve our understanding of diseases and environmental processes. This project will develop a new approach for the design of separation media that will greatly improve the efficiency of techniques used to analyse these complex samples. The separation media will consist of a polymer containing large flow-through pores as well as well-defined mesopores. This dual porous skeleton will allow for the size-based separation of biomarkers and nanoparticles. The new separation media will enable the development of new technologies with applications in areas such medicine and environmental science.Read moreRead less
Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. This project aims to develop safety devices for loosely constrained environments with public access, building on visual-based collision avoidance technology in controlled industrial settings. Increasing productivity in industrial workplaces creates a need for faster industrial vehicles. At fruit and vegetable markets and construction sites, forklift ....Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. This project aims to develop safety devices for loosely constrained environments with public access, building on visual-based collision avoidance technology in controlled industrial settings. Increasing productivity in industrial workplaces creates a need for faster industrial vehicles. At fruit and vegetable markets and construction sites, forklift drivers, crane operators and crews are under pressure to move faster. The need for higher speed and the enormous human and financial cost of unsafe operations create opportunities for the deployment of intelligent safety devices. The expected outcomes of this project are safer public industrial environments, reductions in work related injuries, injury compensation costs and associated societal burdens.Read moreRead less
Intelligent collision avoidance system for mobile industrial platforms. This project will develop a collision prevention system for mobile industrial platforms that enhances existing artificial vision perception systems to mimic human eye capabilities. The outcomes of this project will result in significant reductions in work related injuries, injury compensation costs and associated societal burdens.
Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe cohere ....Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe coherent lidar (light detection and ranging) systems that can measure wind velocities at ranges of up to 10 km with an accuracy of about 1 m/s, and can be deployed to field sites as required. The technology will be of major interest to the commercial sector.Read moreRead less
Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can de ....Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can develop from rolling oil films and adversely affect subsequent steel surface wetting by the molten zinc alloy. This collaborative research project will investigate the fundamental nature of nanolayer residue formation, using advanced thermal and surface analysis techniques, with the aim of determining the factors influencing residue formation and reducing their impact.Read moreRead less
Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals p ....Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals processing facility operated by Nyrstar in Port Pirie. This project is designed to enable smelter operators to improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimise equipment failure.Read moreRead less
Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) by an order of magnitude by simultaneously overcoming the two interdependent limitations in ion generation and transmission efficiency. This project will design glass capillaries and tubes with complex structures to enable both multiplexing ion generation fr ....Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) by an order of magnitude by simultaneously overcoming the two interdependent limitations in ion generation and transmission efficiency. This project will design glass capillaries and tubes with complex structures to enable both multiplexing ion generation from a single capillary and geometrically matching the bore of the tube collecting the emitted ion plume. NanoESI-MS has become an indispensable analytical tool for proteomics and synthetic chemistry. The significant enhancement of nanoESI-MS sensitivity in this project is expected to accelerate progress in disease research, biomarker discovery and drug development.Read moreRead less