In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth. The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the poly ....In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth. The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the polysaccharide chitin, these extremely hard teeth are mineralized with calcium and iron compounds and used to excavate the rocks on which they live, as they graze for food. Understanding the mechanism of biomineralization is vital for devising synthetic routes to composite materials for industrial purposes.Read moreRead less
Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. ....Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. It will promote capacity of Australia for manufacturing global biomaterial products for tissue engineering. We will also develop in-situ imaging analytical protocols for the rapid analysis of broad arrays of functional molecules, with significant bearing on BioMEMS design to develop methods for diagnosis of fatal diseases.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100010
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,000.00
Summary
A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the ....A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the nation's research priorities. It will enable: fundamental studies of cancer, neural diseases and immune disorders; the development of frontier technologies, such as smart nanomaterials, biosensors and targeted drug delivery; and applied research to help plants and soils adapt to climate variability, and to increase sustainable use of water.Read moreRead less