Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This pr ....Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This project aims to harness cells’ exquisite biological properties to improve current detection techniques. It will integrate liposome-based sensors with microfluidics to perform analytical tasks ranging from food safety to diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100800
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Polymer micropatches applied to the skin for integrated capture and detection of circulating biomarkers. The purpose of this project is to develop a rapid and integrated technology for user-friendly biomarker detection at the point-of-care. We expect the device to rapidly detect proteins and/or antibodies, without the need for highly trained health workers or access to scientific laboratories.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,156.00
Summary
Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-partic ....Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-particle level and the choice of optimal SERS-active three-dimensional superstructures for use will be guided by empirical structure-activity correlations in combination with computer simulations. Tumour biomarkers for breast cancer will be employed as the model target for establishing the detection platform in a portable configuration for point-of-care diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic Separation Science: Innovative Technology for Characterising Complex Chemical Systems. At present there is a need for fast and detailed chemical analysis of complex samples, such as those important to biomedical diagnostics and forensic science. Innovative technology will be developed here in order to reduce analysis time whilst maintaining the integrity of the chemical information contained within the sample. This step change in separation science will directly aid biomedical diagn ....Microfluidic Separation Science: Innovative Technology for Characterising Complex Chemical Systems. At present there is a need for fast and detailed chemical analysis of complex samples, such as those important to biomedical diagnostics and forensic science. Innovative technology will be developed here in order to reduce analysis time whilst maintaining the integrity of the chemical information contained within the sample. This step change in separation science will directly aid biomedical diagnostics, forensic sample determination and industrial process monitoring through decreased analysis time with an increase in the chemical information gained. By performing chemical separations on a microfluidic scale a reduction in both the cost of analysis and impact of solvent waste on the environment will be achieved.Read moreRead less
Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performi ....Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performing research to fully understand, miniaturise and develop this method further, this project aims to enable the quantitative observation of nanoscaled biological machinery involved in cell-to-cell communication and DNA unfolding. Such a technology platform may have applications in areas such as biology, biotechnology and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100986
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,000.00
Summary
High-performance, portable ion-mobility surface-acoustic wave spectrometry. This project aims to develop a high-performance, cost-effective, palm-portable differential ion mobility spectrometer for universal chemical analysis that operates at atmospheric pressure and consumes minimal power. A significant problem in current analytical chemistry is the lack of rapid and cost-effective methods that can be used in the field for analysis of many different chemical species of environmental and biologi ....High-performance, portable ion-mobility surface-acoustic wave spectrometry. This project aims to develop a high-performance, cost-effective, palm-portable differential ion mobility spectrometer for universal chemical analysis that operates at atmospheric pressure and consumes minimal power. A significant problem in current analytical chemistry is the lack of rapid and cost-effective methods that can be used in the field for analysis of many different chemical species of environmental and biological importance. The project expects to enable the rapid and simultaneous separation and detection of many different ions from complex mixtures with high selectivity and sensitivity. The spectrometer can be implemented in the field for various applications such as atmospheric monitoring, disease diagnosis and chemical weapons detection.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC140100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,800,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Biodevices. ARC Training Centre in Biodevices. The Training Centre aims to assist Australian biodevice and diagnostics companies to develop the next generation of innovative and profitable products that address important healthcare needs in our communities. This will be achieved by addressing industry-specific challenges relating to the multidisciplinary nature of design and development in the biodevices and diagnostics sector; technology uptake and transfer to manufacturi ....ARC Training Centre in Biodevices. ARC Training Centre in Biodevices. The Training Centre aims to assist Australian biodevice and diagnostics companies to develop the next generation of innovative and profitable products that address important healthcare needs in our communities. This will be achieved by addressing industry-specific challenges relating to the multidisciplinary nature of design and development in the biodevices and diagnostics sector; technology uptake and transfer to manufacturing; the composition, maturity and size of local firms in the sector; and the development of high-level entrepreneurial skills for innovative industry researchers. The Training Centre will remove barriers to collaboration between universities and industry by delivering exceptional return on research investment.Read moreRead less
Smart surfaces for monitoring cellular activity in real time: from multiple to single cells. Cells are the fundamental building block of life. In the proposed research smart surfaces will be developed that can monitor the release of enzymes from single cells and from multiple cells. This work will be important for developing cell chips for drug discovery, toxin detection and biomedical research and devices to monitor infection.
A highly sensitive and selective nano-engineered sensor for the online monitoring of mercury vapour emissions from harsh industrial processes. The Australian alumina and aluminium industries contribute over $11 billion export income annually. All refineries, except one, operate in rural areas and are the main economic drivers in these regions. In order to maintain the industry's commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its processes and remain economically sustainable, innovative technol ....A highly sensitive and selective nano-engineered sensor for the online monitoring of mercury vapour emissions from harsh industrial processes. The Australian alumina and aluminium industries contribute over $11 billion export income annually. All refineries, except one, operate in rural areas and are the main economic drivers in these regions. In order to maintain the industry's commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its processes and remain economically sustainable, innovative technologies are required to monitor mercury emissions. The aim of this project is to develop robust sensors, for online monitoring of mercury vapours, that operate under challenging industrial environments. This project will also provide excellent training for young researchers in established international industrial research groups, thereby meeting skill shortages in the Australian resource sector.Read moreRead less
DNA exhibits new self-assembled structures due to clustered DNA methylation. This project aims to develop a technology to investigate detailed epigenetic patterns in DNA by directly interrogating the physical properties of DNA polymers in their native state. Epigenetics controls whether genes and genetic programs are turned on or off in living systems. The project will build on a recent discovery that key physical properties of native DNA polymers are strongly influenced by epigenetic patterns c ....DNA exhibits new self-assembled structures due to clustered DNA methylation. This project aims to develop a technology to investigate detailed epigenetic patterns in DNA by directly interrogating the physical properties of DNA polymers in their native state. Epigenetics controls whether genes and genetic programs are turned on or off in living systems. The project will build on a recent discovery that key physical properties of native DNA polymers are strongly influenced by epigenetic patterns created by living organisms. By fully understanding this phenomenon, this project aims to provide new tools for the study of epigenetics with broad potential applications in the life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less