SENSORS FOR AROMATIC MOLECULES BASED ON METAL ION ACTIVATED MOLECULAR RECEPTORS. This project aims to develop highly sensitive chemical sensors for aromatic compounds which will quantify their concentration, in situ, without elaborate sample preparation or instrumentation. The sensors will employ advanced supramolecular chemistry in which the aromatic molecule becomes trapped within a binding cavity in the three dimensional structure of a larger receptor molecule. Coincident with the entrapmen ....SENSORS FOR AROMATIC MOLECULES BASED ON METAL ION ACTIVATED MOLECULAR RECEPTORS. This project aims to develop highly sensitive chemical sensors for aromatic compounds which will quantify their concentration, in situ, without elaborate sample preparation or instrumentation. The sensors will employ advanced supramolecular chemistry in which the aromatic molecule becomes trapped within a binding cavity in the three dimensional structure of a larger receptor molecule. Coincident with the entrapment a change in the fluorescence level of the receptor occurs which signals the presence of the aromatic compound and its concentration. This research will stimulate economic and social benefits through the development of new environmental and medical sensing techniques and analytical diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Multimodal biomedical imaging probes: development of advanced polymer nanocomposite devices for oncology. Despite significant research being directed toward cancer treatment, 7.6 million people died world wide in 2007. Early detection and treatment is widely recognised as being effective in significantly reducing mortality rates. Biomedical imaging techniques are routinely used for detection and staging of many cancers. However, greater sensitivity is required so that these techniques can be app ....Multimodal biomedical imaging probes: development of advanced polymer nanocomposite devices for oncology. Despite significant research being directed toward cancer treatment, 7.6 million people died world wide in 2007. Early detection and treatment is widely recognised as being effective in significantly reducing mortality rates. Biomedical imaging techniques are routinely used for detection and staging of many cancers. However, greater sensitivity is required so that these techniques can be applied to very early detection of tumours. To overcome this short-coming the next generation of imaging probes will be developed, which will require fundamental investigations in polymer and nanomaterials science to maximise imaging sensitivity and extend probe functionality. Successful outcomes will lead to significant benefits to healthcare in Australia.Read moreRead less
Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimen ....Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimensions similar to the scale of the probed biomolecules. The project turns 'up-side down' the challenge of invasive nano-probing of biomolecules using it in an engineered manner. The fundamental understanding of linear molecular motors will impact on biomedical science and on the assessment of hybrid natural-artificial dynamic nano-devices.Read moreRead less
A multi-metal ion sensor for analysis of environmental water. The aim of this research project is to develop an electrochemical sensor array on a single chip for the detection of several heavy metals in wastewater samples. Each electrode in the array will be modified with a different metal-binding peptide ligand; resulting in a characteristic response pattern for a given metal ion. Deconvolution of the sensor response into the response patterns of the individual metals will be achieved using p ....A multi-metal ion sensor for analysis of environmental water. The aim of this research project is to develop an electrochemical sensor array on a single chip for the detection of several heavy metals in wastewater samples. Each electrode in the array will be modified with a different metal-binding peptide ligand; resulting in a characteristic response pattern for a given metal ion. Deconvolution of the sensor response into the response patterns of the individual metals will be achieved using pattern recognition software employing artificial neural networks and other multivariate techniques. Successful development of the multi-analyte sensor will allow the rapid monitoring of environmentally important metal ions in the field.Read moreRead less
Development of stable, patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers on carbon for sensors and other nanotechnology applications. Nanotechnology - science at the scale of a billionth of a metre - rests on our ability to manipulate molecules and to build structures that will be part of useful devices. We shall develop new methods to put that chemistry on carbon surfaces - leading to very stable and cheap devices that will have 'real world' applications in environmental monitoring. A 'bottom up' method of f ....Development of stable, patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers on carbon for sensors and other nanotechnology applications. Nanotechnology - science at the scale of a billionth of a metre - rests on our ability to manipulate molecules and to build structures that will be part of useful devices. We shall develop new methods to put that chemistry on carbon surfaces - leading to very stable and cheap devices that will have 'real world' applications in environmental monitoring. A 'bottom up' method of fabrication exploits the ability of similar molecules to line up on a suitable surface, so-called 'self Assembly'. The project is based on sound fundamental science for an applied research outcome and therefore will enhance Australian's standing as a strong scientific country that applies its knowledge at the forefront of technological advancement.Read moreRead less
Making Silicon Even More Useful: Functionalising Silicon to Produce Stable Electronic Devices in Aqueous Environments. Silicon is the wonder material of our time, being the foundation upon which our electronics and device industries are based. Silicon however would be even more useful if it could be stabilised so the surface did not oxidise in air and water. If this oxidation could be prevented silicon could be used in a whole range of new devices related to biotechnology, molecular electronics ....Making Silicon Even More Useful: Functionalising Silicon to Produce Stable Electronic Devices in Aqueous Environments. Silicon is the wonder material of our time, being the foundation upon which our electronics and device industries are based. Silicon however would be even more useful if it could be stabilised so the surface did not oxidise in air and water. If this oxidation could be prevented silicon could be used in a whole range of new devices related to biotechnology, molecular electronics and sensing. The project will develop a viable surface chemistry strategy for achieving this stabilisation and hence will greatly expand the scope of devices which can be fabricated from silicon. This will have significant scientific and economic benefits for Australia. We will exploit this new capability for cancer detection, cell engineering and biosensing.Read moreRead less
Cryptographic Protocols: Proofs and Designs. Cryptographic protocols are the foundation for protection of the critical electronic communications infrastructure on which much of commerce and industry rely. They will increasingly be required in emerging technologies such as ad-hoc wireless networks and sensor networks. This project will provide the ability to design new and efficient protocols with a mathematical guarantee of security. The resulting practical protocols will benefit all users of el ....Cryptographic Protocols: Proofs and Designs. Cryptographic protocols are the foundation for protection of the critical electronic communications infrastructure on which much of commerce and industry rely. They will increasingly be required in emerging technologies such as ad-hoc wireless networks and sensor networks. This project will provide the ability to design new and efficient protocols with a mathematical guarantee of security. The resulting practical protocols will benefit all users of electronic communications who require security for their information. This includes the financial industries, government, commerce and domestic users.Read moreRead less
Cryptographic Protocols from Pairings: Proofs and Designs. Modern society has become critically dependent on information and communications infrastructures. At the same time, the development of e-commerce is being slowed by lack of confidence in its security. By providing increased assurance and enhanced cryptographic security protocols this research will improve the dependability of the nation's information and communications infrastructure, as well as encourage the growth of e-commerce. Throu ....Cryptographic Protocols from Pairings: Proofs and Designs. Modern society has become critically dependent on information and communications infrastructures. At the same time, the development of e-commerce is being slowed by lack of confidence in its security. By providing increased assurance and enhanced cryptographic security protocols this research will improve the dependability of the nation's information and communications infrastructure, as well as encourage the growth of e-commerce. Through the expertise and experience gained with this project, Australia's excellence in information security research will be reinforced. The training of PhD and Honours students will provide a much needed source of highly trained information security professionals.Read moreRead less
Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the deve ....Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the development of these industries within Australia. Such developments may also lead to breakthroughs in areas such as optoelectronics and cleaner energy production. Read moreRead less
New Strategies for Monitoring DNA-Anticancer Drug Interactions. The highly successful cisplatin works by binding to DNA and partially unwinding or bending the DNA. As a consequence of the success if cisplatin, alternative anticancer drugs are being developed with reduced side effects for patients. One of the bottom necks in the development of alternative drugs is rapid screening of the efficacy on new leads. The proposed research will develop new technologies for monitoring DNA-drug binding, ....New Strategies for Monitoring DNA-Anticancer Drug Interactions. The highly successful cisplatin works by binding to DNA and partially unwinding or bending the DNA. As a consequence of the success if cisplatin, alternative anticancer drugs are being developed with reduced side effects for patients. One of the bottom necks in the development of alternative drugs is rapid screening of the efficacy on new leads. The proposed research will develop new technologies for monitoring DNA-drug binding, DNA damage and DNA repair using novel DNA biosensors. the novelty of the biosensor technology will be to use the modulation of charge transfer through DNA as a method for determining the structural changes that occur in DNA due to these events occurring.Read moreRead less