Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100291
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,000.00
Summary
Conferring life-like functions to protocells. For life to have arisen, simple self-assembled chemicals must have performed key life-like functions. This project aims to generate new knowledge in the fields of soft condensed matter physics and astrobiology by understanding how primitive life could have obtained nutrients and completed “cell” division without proteins. This ambitious goal is expected to not only contribute towards understanding the origins of life, one of the grand challenges in s ....Conferring life-like functions to protocells. For life to have arisen, simple self-assembled chemicals must have performed key life-like functions. This project aims to generate new knowledge in the fields of soft condensed matter physics and astrobiology by understanding how primitive life could have obtained nutrients and completed “cell” division without proteins. This ambitious goal is expected to not only contribute towards understanding the origins of life, one of the grand challenges in science, but also to elucidate principles in membrane biophysics and self-assembly. The fundamental scientific findings will be applied to making responsive capsules that can confer advanced functionalities to soft materials. Several international collaborations are anticipated.Read moreRead less
Bioelectronic logic. This project aims to understand ion-electron interactions relevant to bioelectronics, and create transducing interfaces. Bioelectronics is a frontier field which aims to connect biological systems with modern electronics and so create biomedical devices. Transducing ion and electron signals using a biocompatible functional interface is difficult since ion and electron physics are different. By combining individual transducers, this project intends to demonstrate ground-break ....Bioelectronic logic. This project aims to understand ion-electron interactions relevant to bioelectronics, and create transducing interfaces. Bioelectronics is a frontier field which aims to connect biological systems with modern electronics and so create biomedical devices. Transducing ion and electron signals using a biocompatible functional interface is difficult since ion and electron physics are different. By combining individual transducers, this project intends to demonstrate ground-breaking bioelectronic logic capable of interface-level processing. The stretch goal is to test this new logic with a biological neuronal model. The project could deliver new science and interfacing elements to integrate tissue and circuitry, and demonstrate these in a real biological model.Read moreRead less
Co-oligomer amphiphiles for novel living and fixed nanomaterials. By using the Australian breakthrough Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique to make new molecular structures, we will assemble these into nanoparticles and nanostructured materials and surface coatings with novel properties for a broad range of new technologies and applications.
Highly multiplexed rapid-analysis microarrays for early disease diagnosis. Molecular diagnostics are revolutionising the treatment of disease in hospitals by providing rapid and accurate identification of pathogens; saving costs, time and lives. This project will accelerate this revolution by combining new array technology from the University of Sydney with a proven multiplex method from the Sydney based company, AusDiagnostics.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100158
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,000.00
Summary
Small angle X-ray scattering facility for Queensland. This project aims to provide an advanced small angle X-ray scattering facility for the examination of versatile porous and nano-size sample types. Understanding the structure-function relationship is crucial for developing high-performance nanostructured materials in bio-applications, renewable energy, energy storage, and water treatment. The proposed facility will support the development of new functional materials for industry reform, mappi ....Small angle X-ray scattering facility for Queensland. This project aims to provide an advanced small angle X-ray scattering facility for the examination of versatile porous and nano-size sample types. Understanding the structure-function relationship is crucial for developing high-performance nanostructured materials in bio-applications, renewable energy, energy storage, and water treatment. The proposed facility will support the development of new functional materials for industry reform, mapping oil and gas reserves, developing innovative technologies for new energy resources, and gas deliverability. The project is strongly aligned with the Advanced Manufacturing Science and Research Priority by providing high-performance materials, and generating new technologies to support major industries in Queensland and Australia.Read moreRead less
Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time ....Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time-frozen snapshots of the development, and (b) by a combination of micron-resolved in-vivo microscopy of a developing butterfly wing with a growth model to infer nanometer-scale information. This insight will lead to blueprints for self-assembly strategies and shed light on function and form of inner-cellular membranes. Read moreRead less
Theory and synthesis of self-assembled polyfunctional supramolecular fibres and associated soft materials. Liquid crystals (LCs) and molecular fibres are essential structural and functional components of living systems. A new class of hybrid materials, combining LC and fibrous aspects, will be developed, based on self-assembly of 'linactants', invented by the CI and colleagues.
Improved cryopreservation protocols for long term storage of platelets. The aim of this project is to characterise human blood platelet deterioration during cold storage and cryopreservation, and accelerate the development of improved long-term storage options. The project expects to generate important new knowledge about how platelets deteriorate during storage, and how such deterioration can be minimized. The expected outcomes are improved methods for long term platelet storage. This should be ....Improved cryopreservation protocols for long term storage of platelets. The aim of this project is to characterise human blood platelet deterioration during cold storage and cryopreservation, and accelerate the development of improved long-term storage options. The project expects to generate important new knowledge about how platelets deteriorate during storage, and how such deterioration can be minimized. The expected outcomes are improved methods for long term platelet storage. This should benefit blood donation services and hospitals by improving platelet delivery to remote locations, reducing wasted blood and the number of donations required, leading to significant financial savings.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100186
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Advanced biophysical characterisation centre (ABCC). The Advanced Biophysical Characterisation Centre shared between RMIT and the University of Melbourne will provide a comprehensive suite of techniques for the study of problems in membrane biophysics, protein and biomolecular assembly and the nanosciences, with applications to health, environmental science and advanced technologies.
Tuning adhesion through polymer chain entanglement. Adhesion in materials relies on the ability to tune molecular scale interactions. This project unlocks knowledge to transfer to industry for the intelligent use of polymer additives at a surface. Outcomes will connect fields including ceramic and minerals processing, waste water treatment and for printing and coatings.