Functional polymeric nanopores from cyclic peptide templates. This research programme will develop nanotubes prepared through the self-assembly of cyclic peptide/polymer conjugates into functional devices for applications as nanopores. The project will establish the fundamental knowledge required to develop these materials into nanoporous polymeric films and transmembrane channels. The research programme will establish new synthetic routes to the conjugates, ascertain the technique of assembly i ....Functional polymeric nanopores from cyclic peptide templates. This research programme will develop nanotubes prepared through the self-assembly of cyclic peptide/polymer conjugates into functional devices for applications as nanopores. The project will establish the fundamental knowledge required to develop these materials into nanoporous polymeric films and transmembrane channels. The research programme will establish new synthetic routes to the conjugates, ascertain the technique of assembly into nanotubes, with a particular focus on improving the precision with which we achieve structural control, and explore the use of the nanotubes to design nanopores, for applications in the manufacture of nanoporous materials, as antibiotic agents and as biosensors.Read moreRead less
New synthetic receptors for selective recognition and sensing of biologically important anions. Anions play roles in almost every biochemical process, so the ability to selectively detect specific anions has numerous applications. This project will design and synthesise molecules capable of detecting target anions under physiological conditions. This will provide innovative small molecule receptors for use in biomedicine.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100318
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,575.00
Summary
Surface coated nanodiamonds as drug delivery carriers and simultaneous imaging. The design and development of next-generation nanocarriers as drug delivery platforms is an ongoing challenge in chemical and material sciences. Nanodiamonds are attractive candidates due to their biocompatibility, ease of functionalisation, and non-bleaching fluorescence. This project proposes an innovative approach to graft various polymer chains onto the surface of nanodiamonds to produce polymer-inorganic hybrid ....Surface coated nanodiamonds as drug delivery carriers and simultaneous imaging. The design and development of next-generation nanocarriers as drug delivery platforms is an ongoing challenge in chemical and material sciences. Nanodiamonds are attractive candidates due to their biocompatibility, ease of functionalisation, and non-bleaching fluorescence. This project proposes an innovative approach to graft various polymer chains onto the surface of nanodiamonds to produce polymer-inorganic hybrid materials. This project will expand our knowledge of the influence of polymer chains on the stability of nanodiamonds and cellular uptake. The model drug gemcitabine and targeting bioactive ligands will also be conjugated onto the optimum produced hybrid materials for the drug delivery study.Read moreRead less
Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Sign ....Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development, spanning small scale mobile to large scale stationary storage applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100327
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,000.00
Summary
Linking supramolecular nanocages into multi-functional materials. This project aims to advance the complexity of metal-organic materials by ordering discrete nano-cage structures called "metal-organic polyhedra" in a multi-functional porous solid. The project expects to generate critical knowledge in the synthesis of high-performance materials by combining the advantages of metal-organic and dynamic covalent chemistry. The expected outcomes of the project include the development of materials tha ....Linking supramolecular nanocages into multi-functional materials. This project aims to advance the complexity of metal-organic materials by ordering discrete nano-cage structures called "metal-organic polyhedra" in a multi-functional porous solid. The project expects to generate critical knowledge in the synthesis of high-performance materials by combining the advantages of metal-organic and dynamic covalent chemistry. The expected outcomes of the project include the development of materials that are able to sequentially catalyse chemical reactions in a single-batch process. This project should deliver benefits for Australia’s emerging chemical manufacturing industry, such as a reduction in the cost, wastage and environmental impact of the chemical manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
Small molecule X-ray molecular structure elucidation facility. X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterisation. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry, amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-t ....Small molecule X-ray molecular structure elucidation facility. X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterisation. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry, amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-the-art research and training facilities for these techniques.Read moreRead less
Novel Synthetic Receptors for Recognition and Transport of Biologically Important Anions. Anion receptors are not currently tailored for the ‘real world’ biological environments (for example, physiological saline and membranes) in which anions perform their many critical roles. The project will design and synthesise a range of molecular receptors based on large, rigid, precisely functionalisable scaffolds, tailored specifically to complement both the shape, size and charge of target anions as we ....Novel Synthetic Receptors for Recognition and Transport of Biologically Important Anions. Anion receptors are not currently tailored for the ‘real world’ biological environments (for example, physiological saline and membranes) in which anions perform their many critical roles. The project will design and synthesise a range of molecular receptors based on large, rigid, precisely functionalisable scaffolds, tailored specifically to complement both the shape, size and charge of target anions as well as their native environment. The project will investigate the ability of these receptors to strongly bind their target anions with high selectivity in both aqueous systems and in membrane environments. This will lead to the development of innovative synthetic receptors that recognise and/or transport biological anions for use in biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100186
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Base stabilised dicarbon as a new building block for supramolecular organometallic chemistry. Diamond, coal and graphite are the forms of carbon ("allotropes") found in everyday life. The discovery of two further allotropes of carbon, the fullerenes and graphene both led to Nobel Prize awards. We have identified a method to stabilize another form of carbon, dicarbon, and will harness its properties for the formation of new materials.
Self-organised materials for flexible electronics. The emergence of organic electronics is transforming current electronic technologies that will lead to light-weight flexible devices such as foldable displays, building-integrated lighting and low-cost solar cells. The greatest improvements in efficiency and durability of devices will be achieved through precise control of material structure from molecular to bulk scales. This project will address this problem by designing smart materials that c ....Self-organised materials for flexible electronics. The emergence of organic electronics is transforming current electronic technologies that will lead to light-weight flexible devices such as foldable displays, building-integrated lighting and low-cost solar cells. The greatest improvements in efficiency and durability of devices will be achieved through precise control of material structure from molecular to bulk scales. This project will address this problem by designing smart materials that can self-organise and enhance the properties required for specific applications. New insights will be acquired in structure-property-function relations and successful concepts will be used to assemble well-defined macroscopic materials in organic electronic applications.Read moreRead less
Anion receptors with high selectivity in aqueous environments. This project aims to develop neutral anion receptors that can bind to anions such as chloride and sulphate both selectively and strongly in water and transport them across membranes. These receptors have uses in the environment and medicine. Available receptors are limited to organic solvents or cannot discriminate between anions. This project will design hydrogen bonding motifs and incorporate them into water-soluble macrocycles tai ....Anion receptors with high selectivity in aqueous environments. This project aims to develop neutral anion receptors that can bind to anions such as chloride and sulphate both selectively and strongly in water and transport them across membranes. These receptors have uses in the environment and medicine. Available receptors are limited to organic solvents or cannot discriminate between anions. This project will design hydrogen bonding motifs and incorporate them into water-soluble macrocycles tailored to complement the size and shape of target anions. This project will provide innovative technologies for the detection of anionic species in areas including environmental (e.g. monitoring of sulphate levels in wastewater) and biomedical applications (e.g. detection of chloride concentrations in blood).Read moreRead less