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
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
Investigations into the Versatility of Peptide Nucleic Acid Conjugates. Neurodegeneration and cancer are two of the greatest frontiers in modern medicine. They impose significant medical, financial and social burdens on sufferers, carers and the wider community. Novel technologies with the ability to help diagnosis, enlighten researchers to the biological principles governing the disease and that can make a contribution to prevention, quality of life issues and survival of sufferers are of utmos ....Investigations into the Versatility of Peptide Nucleic Acid Conjugates. Neurodegeneration and cancer are two of the greatest frontiers in modern medicine. They impose significant medical, financial and social burdens on sufferers, carers and the wider community. Novel technologies with the ability to help diagnosis, enlighten researchers to the biological principles governing the disease and that can make a contribution to prevention, quality of life issues and survival of sufferers are of utmost importance. This project aims to make a significant contribution to these areas using antisense technologies against some previously studied targets.Read moreRead less