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
Nanoarchitectured multifunctional porous superparamagnetic nanoparticles. This project aims to develop a method for the direct detection of biomarkers based on a new class of highly porous superparamagnetic nanoparticles with peroxidase-like activity. The particles will be used as dispersible capture agents for isolating specific targets in biological samples, and electrocatalytic nanozymes for naked-eye evaluation and electrochemical detection. The project is expected to develop simple, low-cos ....Nanoarchitectured multifunctional porous superparamagnetic nanoparticles. This project aims to develop a method for the direct detection of biomarkers based on a new class of highly porous superparamagnetic nanoparticles with peroxidase-like activity. The particles will be used as dispersible capture agents for isolating specific targets in biological samples, and electrocatalytic nanozymes for naked-eye evaluation and electrochemical detection. The project is expected to develop simple, low-cost, portable devices for the analysis of exosomes and exosomal miRNA in biological samples. The future development of this technology into diagnostic devices will improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier disease diagnosis and improved monitoring of treatment.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
Single molecule sensing on nanopillars: Reading complex molecular circuits. This project aims to develop an entirely new nanotechnology to visualise dynamic molecular circuits in real time, and within any biological sample as small as a single cell. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of cell biology and sensor technology, using innovative nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of the emerging field of single protein molecule interactions in c ....Single molecule sensing on nanopillars: Reading complex molecular circuits. This project aims to develop an entirely new nanotechnology to visualise dynamic molecular circuits in real time, and within any biological sample as small as a single cell. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of cell biology and sensor technology, using innovative nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of the emerging field of single protein molecule interactions in cellular pathways. Expected outcomes include a universal technology platform to detect single molecules in single cells, with potential to deliver valuable intellectual property of commercial interest and economic benefit through technological advancements.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
Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the r ....Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the receptor-ligand interactions using inexpensive miniature spectrometers - radically transforming these assays. This would generate fundamental and applied knowledge of materials sciences, photonic, and biointerfaces for label-free, ultra-sensitive, and selective assays to enable future drug and diagnostics target discovery. 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