Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100922
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Diamond cybernetics: nanocrystalline diamond for interfacing bionic devices with the human nervous system. Bionic devices will soon be used to treat disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's and depression. We will use diamond to create high resolution, permanent electrical connections between devices and the human nervous system. These diamond connections will preserve nerve health and make bionic devices more effective and able to last a lifetime.
Three-Dimensional Polymer Fibre Scaffolds with Functional Nano-structured Surface. The Partner Organisation to this research, CyGenics Ltd, is a world leader in cell biotechnology. A key challenge faced by the CyGenics and other biotech companies is the provision of tissue scaffolding materials that have the right three-dimensional macroscopic structure plus a suitable nano-structured surface micro-environment, similar to the natural extracellular matrix. This joint project combines expertise in ....Three-Dimensional Polymer Fibre Scaffolds with Functional Nano-structured Surface. The Partner Organisation to this research, CyGenics Ltd, is a world leader in cell biotechnology. A key challenge faced by the CyGenics and other biotech companies is the provision of tissue scaffolding materials that have the right three-dimensional macroscopic structure plus a suitable nano-structured surface micro-environment, similar to the natural extracellular matrix. This joint project combines expertise in polymer fibres, surface engineering and cell culture to tackle the key challenge. The outcome will help position the local polymer fibre and cell culture industries at the forefront of tissue scaffolding materials research and development. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100175
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,070.00
Summary
Three-dimensional additive bio-fabrication facility: printing bioprinters. This project aims to develop bioprinting systems that will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes. The 3D Additive Bio-Fabrication Facility - Printing Bioprinters capability will use 3D polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to create the next generation of bioprinting methodologies and 3D fabrication tools. It is the aim that these customised additive manufacturing systems will be used ....Three-dimensional additive bio-fabrication facility: printing bioprinters. This project aims to develop bioprinting systems that will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes. The 3D Additive Bio-Fabrication Facility - Printing Bioprinters capability will use 3D polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to create the next generation of bioprinting methodologies and 3D fabrication tools. It is the aim that these customised additive manufacturing systems will be used to produce structures wherein living cells are spatially organised in combination with appropriate biomaterials and bioactive components, such as drugs or growth factors, in order to influence subsequent biological behaviour.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100302
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,300.00
Summary
A long-lasting interface for communicating with the brain. This project aims to address the most urgent challenges in developing the next generation of implantable devices for communicating with the brain. Using a new type of carbon-based electrode, along with light therapy, this project expects to build innovative technologies that can greatly enhance the functionality and longevity of these devices. Expected outcomes include a novel tool that can be implemented to obtain detailed insights into ....A long-lasting interface for communicating with the brain. This project aims to address the most urgent challenges in developing the next generation of implantable devices for communicating with the brain. Using a new type of carbon-based electrode, along with light therapy, this project expects to build innovative technologies that can greatly enhance the functionality and longevity of these devices. Expected outcomes include a novel tool that can be implemented to obtain detailed insights into neural circuits, advancing our understanding of neural function and pioneering feedback and closed-loop neuroscience. This project should provide significant benefits in neuroscience research and the neural interface industry, both of which have the ultimate goal to unlock the mysteries of the brain.Read moreRead less
Establishing nanoscale design principles for non-viral genome engineering. This project aims to develop a bio-nanotechnology platform for non-viral genome engineering using dendronised polymers. The project will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology and cell biology, whilst providing training to the research community. Outcomes from the project will also provide significant benefits, such as positioning Australia at the forefront of genome engineerin ....Establishing nanoscale design principles for non-viral genome engineering. This project aims to develop a bio-nanotechnology platform for non-viral genome engineering using dendronised polymers. The project will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology and cell biology, whilst providing training to the research community. Outcomes from the project will also provide significant benefits, such as positioning Australia at the forefront of genome engineering.Read moreRead less
High-fidelity, long lasting, single-neuron brain machine interfaces. The ability to conduct stable, high resolution recording and stimulation within the brain is critically important to the development of technologies that interface electronics with the human body. Devices that interface directly with the brain are increasingly important in brain research, medical monitoring, treatment of neurological diseases or the enormous increase in brain-machine interface technologies. Carbon Cybernetics h ....High-fidelity, long lasting, single-neuron brain machine interfaces. The ability to conduct stable, high resolution recording and stimulation within the brain is critically important to the development of technologies that interface electronics with the human body. Devices that interface directly with the brain are increasingly important in brain research, medical monitoring, treatment of neurological diseases or the enormous increase in brain-machine interface technologies. Carbon Cybernetics have developed a high-density neural recording and stimulation array that employs fine carbon fibres as the electrode material. We aim to show that this array can record from the brain indefinitely, without loosing signal quality, and the same array can be used to stimulate the brain to recreate memories or sensations.Read moreRead less
Carbon Cybernetics: Next generation tools for neuroscience. The scope for technology that communicates directly with the human nervous system, is enormous. For fundamental study, the age of bionics is upon us. Biology has ways of recognising when a foreign body is present, thus implanted devices need to be camouflaged from the body's immune system. Today's bionic devices fail because they are rapidly rejected. We will use the element of biology, carbon, to construct a new class of technology for ....Carbon Cybernetics: Next generation tools for neuroscience. The scope for technology that communicates directly with the human nervous system, is enormous. For fundamental study, the age of bionics is upon us. Biology has ways of recognising when a foreign body is present, thus implanted devices need to be camouflaged from the body's immune system. Today's bionic devices fail because they are rapidly rejected. We will use the element of biology, carbon, to construct a new class of technology for future implants. Using a combination of permanent diamond and flexible carbon fibres we will create materials that are invisible to the immune system and last for decades. Seamlessly connecting our thoughts and actions with the power of human electronics. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100096
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
High resolution atomic force microscopy facility for bionanotechnology. This project aims to establish a collaborative high resolution atomic force microscopy facility. Nanoscale surface structure and the complex structure/mechanical-functional relationships underpin many biological processes, and understanding cell systems at the molecular level is expected to lead to scientific knowledge and therapeutic and other biotechnological applications. Expected outcomes include innovations in advanced ....High resolution atomic force microscopy facility for bionanotechnology. This project aims to establish a collaborative high resolution atomic force microscopy facility. Nanoscale surface structure and the complex structure/mechanical-functional relationships underpin many biological processes, and understanding cell systems at the molecular level is expected to lead to scientific knowledge and therapeutic and other biotechnological applications. Expected outcomes include innovations in advanced manufacturing in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries, underpinning economic returns from new industries.Read moreRead less
Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release ....Engineering drug transportation behaviour in polymeric gel systems. In collaboration with Seagull Technologies, this project aims to engineer, study and mathematically model ultrasound-assisted biomacromolecule transport behaviour within polymeric gel systems, which may be useful in new drug delivery methods. The intended outcome is a novel set of polymeric gel systems, which can reversibly bind a wide variety of drugs (small molecules, nucleic acid based drugs, proteins), in which drug release is triggered by an electric potential and drug transport is controlled by means of sonophoresis. The main advantage of drug delivery via sonophoresis is elimination of risks associated with injections such as infection and damage to local tissue, and elimination of patient discomfort, pain and fear.Read moreRead less
Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are d ....Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are disruptive advances in a number of key technological sectors, including biomedicine, pharmacy, energy and bioprocessing. Platform technology for cartilage tissue engineering has been chosen as an exemplar of the power of precision microparticles.Read moreRead less