DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL BIOMATERIAL FOR BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING. Tissue engineering of bone is emerging as a viable therapy for treating large defects in load-bearing bone. We wish to develop methods for combining novel heparan sulphate molecules (known to deliver growth factors to cell surfaces and thereby cause changes in bone cell phenotype) with load-bearing, macro-porous, biodegradable mineral/polymer biomaterials. Through the study of release profiles, protein adsorption and cell responses ....DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL BIOMATERIAL FOR BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING. Tissue engineering of bone is emerging as a viable therapy for treating large defects in load-bearing bone. We wish to develop methods for combining novel heparan sulphate molecules (known to deliver growth factors to cell surfaces and thereby cause changes in bone cell phenotype) with load-bearing, macro-porous, biodegradable mineral/polymer biomaterials. Through the study of release profiles, protein adsorption and cell responses to these derivatised biomaterials, a novel approach to bone replacement materials can be developed.Read moreRead less
Multiplexed Molecular Reading of Protein Associations via Nanoscaled Devices. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these goals by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to rapidly ?read? information about complex protein associations. With the recent completion of the Human Ge ....Multiplexed Molecular Reading of Protein Associations via Nanoscaled Devices. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these goals by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to rapidly ?read? information about complex protein associations. With the recent completion of the Human Genome project, major opportunities exist to provide spectacular advances in human health care (eg, via novel diagnostics) provided that appropriate high-throughput biological reading devices can be developed. In developing such devices, this project also aims to catalyse the Australian Nanotechnology/Biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Smart Nanocapsules for Efficient Cellular Delivery of Bioactive Peptide Drugs. This project will bring about practical benefits in terms of developing efficient therapeutic drug delivery systems, which has a market growth estimated to be ca. 23% p.a. in the world. The novel encapsulation technology developed in this project is not only desirable for biomolecules but also applicable for other functional materials and will find wide applications in a number of fields, such as chemical, food proces ....Smart Nanocapsules for Efficient Cellular Delivery of Bioactive Peptide Drugs. This project will bring about practical benefits in terms of developing efficient therapeutic drug delivery systems, which has a market growth estimated to be ca. 23% p.a. in the world. The novel encapsulation technology developed in this project is not only desirable for biomolecules but also applicable for other functional materials and will find wide applications in a number of fields, such as chemical, food processing and cosmetic industries. Successful completion of the project can also strengthen our capacity to participate in new areas of research and positioning Australia at the forefront of bionanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Next-generation models to predict cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms. This project aims to address the need for improved predictions of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) harmful algal blooms. Accurate predictions of blooms with computer models are important to support management strategies to prevent their occurrence. This project is expected to generate new knowledge of strain-level variation in cyanobacteria that leads to toxic blooms. This project will lead to new knowledge of the significance ....Next-generation models to predict cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms. This project aims to address the need for improved predictions of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) harmful algal blooms. Accurate predictions of blooms with computer models are important to support management strategies to prevent their occurrence. This project is expected to generate new knowledge of strain-level variation in cyanobacteria that leads to toxic blooms. This project will lead to new knowledge of the significance of strain-level variation in cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms, how strains influence toxin production and models for prediction of bloom and toxins. The project will generate significant benefits for water security for the purposes human consumption and recreation, and ecosystem health.Read moreRead less
Charge-driven self-assembly of nanocomposites of ionic polymers and oxide nanoparticles. This project addresses the materials needs in platform technologies for more efficient and cleaner means of generating energy and utilising energy. It also aims at better catalysts for cleaner chemical processes. The novel nanocomposites with significantly increased active ionic sites and higher ionic conductivity, and better activity in catalysis will lead to possible new breakthroughs in technologies for e ....Charge-driven self-assembly of nanocomposites of ionic polymers and oxide nanoparticles. This project addresses the materials needs in platform technologies for more efficient and cleaner means of generating energy and utilising energy. It also aims at better catalysts for cleaner chemical processes. The novel nanocomposites with significantly increased active ionic sites and higher ionic conductivity, and better activity in catalysis will lead to possible new breakthroughs in technologies for energy, environmental and self-cleaning materials. The fabrication approach developed are also applicable to other functional nanomaterials, providing new opportunities for innovative nanotechnology to clearer and greener chemical and energy industries.
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Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these w ....Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these ways, in order to provide the information necessary to refine procedures and design new molecules suitable for advanced applications. Expected outcomes are new methods and architectures that can ultimately yield devices that act at the molecular level.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Characterization of Adsorption of Simple to Complex Fluids on Carbon Black and in Carbon Pores. The outcome of this project will help designing engineers with a molecular simulation model for adsorption of simple to complex fluids commonly used in industries. The success of this project translates to a significant saving because it requires minimum effort in experimentation.
Methane hydrate in carbon nanopores as a potential means for energy storage. This project deals with the innovative means to store methane (natural gas) in the form of methane hydrate in the nanospace of carbon pores. The significance of this project lies in the enhanced storage of methane at a moderate pressure, compared to the compressed natural gas technology. Expected outcome is the better and efficient utilization of natural gas in transportation industries, and the better understanding o ....Methane hydrate in carbon nanopores as a potential means for energy storage. This project deals with the innovative means to store methane (natural gas) in the form of methane hydrate in the nanospace of carbon pores. The significance of this project lies in the enhanced storage of methane at a moderate pressure, compared to the compressed natural gas technology. Expected outcome is the better and efficient utilization of natural gas in transportation industries, and the better understanding of the formation of methane hydrate in carbon nanopores.Read moreRead less
Characterization of Sub- and Super-Critical Fluids in Nanomaterials. In recent years, nano-porous materials have become the most potential media for applications in the areas of separation and purification, with materials such as carbon alloy, activated carbon fibre, carbon nanotube and their derivatives. Their effective utilisation depends on how well we characterise them for their adsorption capacities. In this project, we propose a new model for this characterisation and this model can be u ....Characterization of Sub- and Super-Critical Fluids in Nanomaterials. In recent years, nano-porous materials have become the most potential media for applications in the areas of separation and purification, with materials such as carbon alloy, activated carbon fibre, carbon nanotube and their derivatives. Their effective utilisation depends on how well we characterise them for their adsorption capacities. In this project, we propose a new model for this characterisation and this model can be used for the prediction of adsorption of multicomponent systems, which are common in separation and purification industries, without recourse to extensive experimentation. The success of this model could translate to cost savings in those industries.Read moreRead less
A novel modelling approach for understanding wildlife disease dynamics. This project aims to develop a novel framework for field wildlife disease systems, applied to chytrid fungal infection of an endangered frog species as a case study. The project expects to develop models able to be applied to many disease systems, improve understanding of host resistance and tolerance to infection, and improve capacity for mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. This work should have international impac ....A novel modelling approach for understanding wildlife disease dynamics. This project aims to develop a novel framework for field wildlife disease systems, applied to chytrid fungal infection of an endangered frog species as a case study. The project expects to develop models able to be applied to many disease systems, improve understanding of host resistance and tolerance to infection, and improve capacity for mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. This work should have international impact and provide significant national benefits in ensuring the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity.Read moreRead less