Development of an implantable device to monitor lactate levels in blood: Monitoring the Performance of Australian athletes using Biosensor Technology. Sport is a critical area for social and economic investments. Novel medical monitoring systems using implantable biosensors will ensure optimal training programs for Australian athletes and maintain international competitiveness. Here we are developing a biosensor for real-time monitoring of lactate levels in athletes using frontier porous semicon ....Development of an implantable device to monitor lactate levels in blood: Monitoring the Performance of Australian athletes using Biosensor Technology. Sport is a critical area for social and economic investments. Novel medical monitoring systems using implantable biosensors will ensure optimal training programs for Australian athletes and maintain international competitiveness. Here we are developing a biosensor for real-time monitoring of lactate levels in athletes using frontier porous semiconductor technology and smart telemetry protocols to transfer the readings to a remote base unit. These highly innovative devices and the materials that they are made from have enormous commercial potential in biomedical engineering. There is a strong potential for Australia to have an important stake in this area by combining expertise in engineering, chemistry and nanostructured materials.Read moreRead less
Porous silicon biosensor for rapid detection of water-borne contaminants. We have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain transition metal complexes known as biomimetic catalysts. The catalysed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. Using this mechanism, we will develop a biosensor for the rapid detection of contaminants (toxins etc.) in water resources. Reservoir w ....Porous silicon biosensor for rapid detection of water-borne contaminants. We have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain transition metal complexes known as biomimetic catalysts. The catalysed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. Using this mechanism, we will develop a biosensor for the rapid detection of contaminants (toxins etc.) in water resources. Reservoir water treatment today is reactive rather than preventive because current analysis is slow. Our biosensor can be turned into a field kit to improve water quality management and prevent acts of deliberate sabotage to the water supply.Read moreRead less
Development of an interferometric nanoscale silicon biosensor. Voelcker et al. have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain supramolecular transition metal complexes known as functional mimics of metalloproteins. The catalyzed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. This project uses porous silicon degradation to develop a biosensor platform capable of detecting a ra ....Development of an interferometric nanoscale silicon biosensor. Voelcker et al. have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain supramolecular transition metal complexes known as functional mimics of metalloproteins. The catalyzed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. This project uses porous silicon degradation to develop a biosensor platform capable of detecting a range of analytes with high sensitivity. The project includes detection of an water-borne toxin, a plant virus and a cancer antigen as demonstrators of its wide applicability. Multiplexing of the biosensor to demonstrate its potential as high-throughput chip sensors is also included.Read moreRead less
Combining the soft with the hard: The assembly of artificial cell membranes on porous semiconductors. The platform technologies developed in this project will have a wide range of applications. They will reveal new insights into drug-membrane and drug-protein interactions underpinning development of a new generation of drugs acting on transmembrane proteins that are linked to a wide range of diseases. The development of membrane-based biosensing devices targeting ion channels, membrane active pe ....Combining the soft with the hard: The assembly of artificial cell membranes on porous semiconductors. The platform technologies developed in this project will have a wide range of applications. They will reveal new insights into drug-membrane and drug-protein interactions underpinning development of a new generation of drugs acting on transmembrane proteins that are linked to a wide range of diseases. The development of membrane-based biosensing devices targeting ion channels, membrane active peptides or toxins which can be applied to biomedical diagnostics, biotoxin detection, environmental and food control will be readily achievable. This international interdisciplinary nanobiotechnology programme and its outcomes will enhance Australia's abilities in frontier technologies and build research strength in nanobiotechnology.Read moreRead less