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
Liquid light: aqueous bio-sensing in microstructured polymer optical fibres. This project builds on Australia's world-leading position in the development of microstructured polymer optical fibres, and applies the unique benefits they provide to for ultra- sensitive bio-sensing. By using the microstructure to simultaneously confine light and liquid, microstructured optical fibres provide a unique platform for ultra-sensitive spectroscopy and structural studies of biomolecules in solution. The wor ....Liquid light: aqueous bio-sensing in microstructured polymer optical fibres. This project builds on Australia's world-leading position in the development of microstructured polymer optical fibres, and applies the unique benefits they provide to for ultra- sensitive bio-sensing. By using the microstructure to simultaneously confine light and liquid, microstructured optical fibres provide a unique platform for ultra-sensitive spectroscopy and structural studies of biomolecules in solution. The work has profound implications both for fundamental science and applications, particularly in medical diagnostics.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
Recovery and characterization of monooxygenases for biocatalysis and bioremediation through development of novel DNA- and protein-based technology. Australia contains hundreds of sites contaminated with toxic waste and judged to pose significant risk of harm to the public. This project will identify enzymes and organisms capable of remediating such contaminated sites by natural processes. It will also result in training of persons and development of techniques that will contribute to making bi ....Recovery and characterization of monooxygenases for biocatalysis and bioremediation through development of novel DNA- and protein-based technology. Australia contains hundreds of sites contaminated with toxic waste and judged to pose significant risk of harm to the public. This project will identify enzymes and organisms capable of remediating such contaminated sites by natural processes. It will also result in training of persons and development of techniques that will contribute to making bioremediation an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective technology. The environmental proteomics strategy is a frontier technology, expected to have broad applications in health, food science and the environment. Our development of this technology will create a wide range of opportunities for Australian scientists and companies.Read moreRead less
The Application of Chemical Force Microscopy for Monitoring DNA Hybridization: A New Sensing Concept Capable of Detecting Single Molecules. This proposal outlines a method of monitoring DNA sequences with such high sensitivity that a single molecule may be detected. Such sensitivity is achieved using an atomic force microscope (AFM) to measure surface forces. Modifying an AFM tip with a single strand of DNA allows the complementary strand (the target) to be recognized via hybridization to form ....The Application of Chemical Force Microscopy for Monitoring DNA Hybridization: A New Sensing Concept Capable of Detecting Single Molecules. This proposal outlines a method of monitoring DNA sequences with such high sensitivity that a single molecule may be detected. Such sensitivity is achieved using an atomic force microscope (AFM) to measure surface forces. Modifying an AFM tip with a single strand of DNA allows the complementary strand (the target) to be recognized via hybridization to form the double helix. The occurrence of hybridization is determined by differences in surface force measurements compared with when only the single strand of DNA is present. In this way DNA samples can be analyzed without amplification; a major advance for DNA diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Hollow-core microstructured polymer fibres for optical sensing applications. A range of remarkable new optical fibres will be fabricated utilising the capabilities of a unique polymer fibre fabrication facility and focussing on the highly demanding class of microstructured fibres in which guidance in a hollow core is achieved through photonic band gap or Bragg guidance. Long lengths of low-loss fibres of this type will be developed, and applications in optical gas sensing, spectroscopy, voltage ....Hollow-core microstructured polymer fibres for optical sensing applications. A range of remarkable new optical fibres will be fabricated utilising the capabilities of a unique polymer fibre fabrication facility and focussing on the highly demanding class of microstructured fibres in which guidance in a hollow core is achieved through photonic band gap or Bragg guidance. Long lengths of low-loss fibres of this type will be developed, and applications in optical gas sensing, spectroscopy, voltage sensing and telecommunications will be explored.Read moreRead less
Can technology make communication in complex systems safer and more efficient? Evaluation of an electronic test management system in health care. In many industries poor communication has a major impact on safety; in health, missed test results have impacts ranging from inappropriate antibiotic therapy to missed cancer diagnoses. This research will evaluate new information technology which can improve health outcomes and communication between clinicians, laboratories and patients.
Synthesis of nanowires and application as nanosensors for chemical and biological detections. This project is expected to bring significant scientific, economic and social benefits. We will develop a number of techniques for the controlled growth of nanowires and making functional nanoscale systems such as nanosensors. The nanosensors will have important applications in chemistry and biology. Some chemical species can be detected by nanosensors on molecular scale. The nanosensors could be used f ....Synthesis of nanowires and application as nanosensors for chemical and biological detections. This project is expected to bring significant scientific, economic and social benefits. We will develop a number of techniques for the controlled growth of nanowires and making functional nanoscale systems such as nanosensors. The nanosensors will have important applications in chemistry and biology. Some chemical species can be detected by nanosensors on molecular scale. The nanosensors could be used for early diagnostics of cancer disease, detection of viruses, and genomic DNA screening. The nanosensors could also provide a molecular tool for probing living cells without destroying them, through which we can track life within cells in real time.Read moreRead less