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
Nanoporous siloxane membranes for ultrasound mediated ophthalmic drug delivery. This project will develop tailored polymers for use in a novel non-invasive ocular drug delivery device which treats vision threatening conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The outcomes of this project will enable an entirely new ocular drug delivery technology, thereby delivering significant benefit to ophthalmic healthcare.
Polymerization of amyloid fibrils and electroactive hybrid nanowires using ionic liquids. The electronics world is constantly shrinking with devices being miniaturised and increasing levels of complexity built in. To maintain this trend, new technologies and new device fabrication approaches are required. APD Byrne, will develop new materials based on amyloid fibrils by their facile conversion to a range of novel high strength electroactive nanoscopic wires with application in many electronic d ....Polymerization of amyloid fibrils and electroactive hybrid nanowires using ionic liquids. The electronics world is constantly shrinking with devices being miniaturised and increasing levels of complexity built in. To maintain this trend, new technologies and new device fabrication approaches are required. APD Byrne, will develop new materials based on amyloid fibrils by their facile conversion to a range of novel high strength electroactive nanoscopic wires with application in many electronic devices. One such device that will benefit from these nanowires is organic solar cells. Solar is a clean renewable energy source that can reduce Australia's dependence on fossil fuels. The development of new approaches and materials aimed at increasing solar cell efficiencies is an important outcome for Australia.Read moreRead less
Creation of functional surfaces for biodevices and aerospace applications. Polymers are poised to become the materials of choice for a host of applications because of their lightness, strength, ease of forming and biocompatibility. The major challenge lies in optimising their surfaces for each application. For biodevices in particular, the surfaces must support a range of complex and specific interactions. This project will create new polymer surface modifications through innovations in plasma s ....Creation of functional surfaces for biodevices and aerospace applications. Polymers are poised to become the materials of choice for a host of applications because of their lightness, strength, ease of forming and biocompatibility. The major challenge lies in optimising their surfaces for each application. For biodevices in particular, the surfaces must support a range of complex and specific interactions. This project will create new polymer surface modifications through innovations in plasma science and technology. The outcomes will be new surfaces for diagnostic arrays in medicine, biosensors and durable polymer surfaces for low earth orbit.Read moreRead less
New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the grou ....New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the ground work for the design of improved, more biocompatible structured stents to minimise the abnormal growth of cells on and around the stent, thereby reducing the occurrence of vascular complications. Thus this research could improve the success rate of stents implanted into patients with cardiovascular disease and reduce health costs.Read moreRead less
Soft solids rheology and filled elastomeric networks. Elastomeric networks that have imbedded particles are considerably more difficult to model than unfilled networks because the imbedded particles deform the trajectory of the chains. Any treatment must incorporate this dual nature of the network. Our work will address this important issue with particular reference to two important materials - liquid crystalline elastomers and bread dough. We aim to produce an accurate mathematical description ....Soft solids rheology and filled elastomeric networks. Elastomeric networks that have imbedded particles are considerably more difficult to model than unfilled networks because the imbedded particles deform the trajectory of the chains. Any treatment must incorporate this dual nature of the network. Our work will address this important issue with particular reference to two important materials - liquid crystalline elastomers and bread dough. We aim to produce an accurate mathematical description of filled soft viscoelastic solids, which include compressibility and yielding - two important new features.Read moreRead less
Novel Biomimetic Nanosprings:Protein-based Elastomer for Engineering Applications. The ability to produce biomimetic elastomeric components with approximately infinite fatigue life offers significant impact on energy consumption and materials usage. In this project, we seek this goal by bio-macromolecular modification and understanding of the unique proteins from a number of different insects that provide the structural basis of novel bioelastomers with outstanding in-vitro fatigue properties. T ....Novel Biomimetic Nanosprings:Protein-based Elastomer for Engineering Applications. The ability to produce biomimetic elastomeric components with approximately infinite fatigue life offers significant impact on energy consumption and materials usage. In this project, we seek this goal by bio-macromolecular modification and understanding of the unique proteins from a number of different insects that provide the structural basis of novel bioelastomers with outstanding in-vitro fatigue properties. The project will translate the superior in-vivo properties of these proteins to real-world novel bioelastomers for engineering applications. Such functional materials will find potential use in areas such as microelectromechanical devices (MEMS), actuators, artificial muscles, drug delivery vehicles, etc.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101553
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix- ....A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix-and-match' assembly of VLPs from modified components. As a proof of concept for next-generation vaccines that stimulate much needed, broadly protective responses against infectious diseases, model antigens will be delivered to specific immune cells using this nano-container.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrog ....Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrogel matrix, and secondly an in-situ polymerisable matrix for treatment of deep wounds. The growth factor complex will be protected from aggressive proteases through encapsulation within microspheres, and the use of MMP-inhibiting comonomers.Read moreRead less
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