Soft carbon nanotube materials. There is no doubt that the realisation of new bionic materials will dramatically improve quality of life for many individuals. The new soft conducting materials proposed will impact on several areas of bionics, including the development of the next generation Bionic Ear, conduits for spinal cord regeneration as well as muscle regeneration and other applications. This project will further enhance the international profile of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electro ....Soft carbon nanotube materials. There is no doubt that the realisation of new bionic materials will dramatically improve quality of life for many individuals. The new soft conducting materials proposed will impact on several areas of bionics, including the development of the next generation Bionic Ear, conduits for spinal cord regeneration as well as muscle regeneration and other applications. This project will further enhance the international profile of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science in the field of Bionics. The end-user network already in place will ensure all opportunities are fully exploited.Read moreRead less
Nanobionics. There is no doubt that the realization of new bionic materials capable of functioning at the cellular through to the mechanical level will dramatically improve quality of life for many individuals. For example, the studies proposed here will impact directly on endothelial and muscle cell growth (important for implants such as stents) and nerve cell regeneration (important for peripheral nerve cell and spinal chord repair). The establishment of the research team proposed within the f ....Nanobionics. There is no doubt that the realization of new bionic materials capable of functioning at the cellular through to the mechanical level will dramatically improve quality of life for many individuals. For example, the studies proposed here will impact directly on endothelial and muscle cell growth (important for implants such as stents) and nerve cell regeneration (important for peripheral nerve cell and spinal chord repair). The establishment of the research team proposed within the framework of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science builds on world class expertise and infrastructure. The end user network in place will ensure all opportunities are exploited to the full extent.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular activity modulated by interaction with nanostructures. Nanotechnological methods are able to reliably fabricate artificial nanostructures with dimensions similar to those of large biomolecules (a few to tens of nanometers). This study focuses on the interaction of artificial nanostructures with biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, and will enable scientists to better understand biomolecular recognition and binding events, which are central to all biological processes. The underst ....Biomolecular activity modulated by interaction with nanostructures. Nanotechnological methods are able to reliably fabricate artificial nanostructures with dimensions similar to those of large biomolecules (a few to tens of nanometers). This study focuses on the interaction of artificial nanostructures with biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, and will enable scientists to better understand biomolecular recognition and binding events, which are central to all biological processes. The understanding gained can then be used to design biomimetic surfaces for use in health monitoring and medical diagnostic devices with improved sensitivity, robustness and portability, thereby providing significant benefits to the health sector.Read moreRead less
Devices that use Ion Channels. The proposed device would supply the community of researchers in Australia and internationally with new techniques to enable them to quickly and conveniently investigate properties of ion channels and to speed the screening of potential ion channel targets for pharmaceutical hits and leads. In addition, the tethered membrane technology will be developed to fill an unmet need for a quick and biologically relevant test of EMC hazards. This will enhance the science an ....Devices that use Ion Channels. The proposed device would supply the community of researchers in Australia and internationally with new techniques to enable them to quickly and conveniently investigate properties of ion channels and to speed the screening of potential ion channel targets for pharmaceutical hits and leads. In addition, the tethered membrane technology will be developed to fill an unmet need for a quick and biologically relevant test of EMC hazards. This will enhance the science and technology infrastructure within Australia, taking it into original and exciting directions, contribute to training young Australian scientists and students, as well as enhance Australia's competitive position in the field of nanobiotechnology.Read moreRead less
Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnosti ....Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnostic techniques, and industrial and research tools.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Australian Centre for Electromaterials Science. The Centre will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society: those of renewable energy, sustainable industries and enhancing human health. Improvements in all these areas are possible by developing electromaterials with improved efficiency in the generation and transfer of electrical charge. By developing new nano-materials and new theories to explain their behaviour, the Centre will make advances in the areas ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Australian Centre for Electromaterials Science. The Centre will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society: those of renewable energy, sustainable industries and enhancing human health. Improvements in all these areas are possible by developing electromaterials with improved efficiency in the generation and transfer of electrical charge. By developing new nano-materials and new theories to explain their behaviour, the Centre will make advances in the areas of human health through the regeneration of damaged nerves (eg. in spinal injury) and development of artificial muscles; in renewable energy (plastic solar cells, lightweight batteries and electronic textiles) and in sustainable industries (recovery of precious metals and new corrosion protection technologies).Read moreRead less
Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimen ....Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimensions similar to the scale of the probed biomolecules. The project turns 'up-side down' the challenge of invasive nano-probing of biomolecules using it in an engineered manner. The fundamental understanding of linear molecular motors will impact on biomedical science and on the assessment of hybrid natural-artificial dynamic nano-devices.Read moreRead less
Analysis, Optimization, and Control of Scanning Atomic Force Microscope Micro-Cantilever Probes. Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM's) are widely used for the examination of samples smaller than can be observed with an optical microscope. A tiny 'finger', only a few atoms wide at its sharpest point, is used to 'feel' the surface of a sample. This project aims to increase the resolution of AFM images by actively controlling the sensor probe dynamics.
Better quality AFM images would allow scientists ....Analysis, Optimization, and Control of Scanning Atomic Force Microscope Micro-Cantilever Probes. Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM's) are widely used for the examination of samples smaller than can be observed with an optical microscope. A tiny 'finger', only a few atoms wide at its sharpest point, is used to 'feel' the surface of a sample. This project aims to increase the resolution of AFM images by actively controlling the sensor probe dynamics.
Better quality AFM images would allow scientists to further investigate the atomic and molecular structure of such samples as: metals, polymers, cells, and proteins.
This research will contribute to the design of an Australian made Scanning Probe Microscope. Development of local expertise will provide a valuable resource for Australian scientific and industrial research.
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Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be ....Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be developed that will add to the nation's skill base. The outcomes of the project will enhance Australia's knowledge capacity, research capability and will contribute significantly to each of the National Research Priorities.Read moreRead less
Micro Process Plants - Non-Newtonian flow and particle synthesis in confined geometries. Understanding the flow behaviour of well characterised non-Newtonian fluids within microfluidic and nanofluidic devices is of vital importance to development of novel high-value added services, products and devices within Australia's burgeoning biotechnology, environmental technology, communications and information technology industries. The outcomes of this project will provide new 'systematic' design stand ....Micro Process Plants - Non-Newtonian flow and particle synthesis in confined geometries. Understanding the flow behaviour of well characterised non-Newtonian fluids within microfluidic and nanofluidic devices is of vital importance to development of novel high-value added services, products and devices within Australia's burgeoning biotechnology, environmental technology, communications and information technology industries. The outcomes of this project will provide new 'systematic' design standards for microdevice manufacture for these industries, ultimately leading to the creation of new, exciting avenues for tailoring novel biotechnology and 'point-of-care' products for Australia.Read moreRead less