Light-activated Bioconjugates for Applications in Synthesis and Biosensing. This project will allow the Australian biotechnology industry to develop better diagnostic biosensors that are controlled using light, making them cheaper and faster than the current generation of electronically controlled biosensors. Improvements in the response time of biosensors can be a matter of life and death, for instance, during a surgical operation. The project will benefit the pharmaceutical industry as it will ....Light-activated Bioconjugates for Applications in Synthesis and Biosensing. This project will allow the Australian biotechnology industry to develop better diagnostic biosensors that are controlled using light, making them cheaper and faster than the current generation of electronically controlled biosensors. Improvements in the response time of biosensors can be a matter of life and death, for instance, during a surgical operation. The project will benefit the pharmaceutical industry as it will allow the making of so-called chiral drugs cheaper and safer but problems with the purity of chiral drugs have in the past caused serious side-effects such as in the tragic case of thalidomide.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775590
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastr ....A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastructure also provides training of an international standard for undergraduate and post graduate students, thus building the skills capabilities of Australian scientists in the workforce.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
Molecular UV-A Sunscreen Filters: A Systematic Chemical Study. Australia has the world's highest melanoma and and non-melanoma skin cancer rate, with the latter representing the highest healthcare cost of any cancer. Current sunscreen formulations provide limited protection against solar ultraviolet-A radiation. This project is designed to improve this situation through developing new sunscreen filters for improved protection against ultraviolet-A radiation.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989374
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,000.00
Summary
South Australian High-Resolution and Ion-Mobility Mass Spectrometry Facility. The analytical facility will enhance (i) fundamental research to understand the mechanisms of the reactions of charged species with neutral molecules, and (ii) the provision of structural information, including the precise atomic composition of any molecule, small or large. Research supported by this facility includes (a)nanotechnology, including supramolecular chemistry, (b) bioscience: cancer research, neurodegenera ....South Australian High-Resolution and Ion-Mobility Mass Spectrometry Facility. The analytical facility will enhance (i) fundamental research to understand the mechanisms of the reactions of charged species with neutral molecules, and (ii) the provision of structural information, including the precise atomic composition of any molecule, small or large. Research supported by this facility includes (a)nanotechnology, including supramolecular chemistry, (b) bioscience: cancer research, neurodegenerate diseases (e.g. Parkinson's disease) osteoarthritis, inflammation, cardiac diseases and synthetic approaches to anticancer and other drugs.Read moreRead less
Targeting DNA with Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry. The interaction of molecules with DNA, the molecule that controls genetic information, is fundamental to drug design, diagnosis of disease and the environment. Chemists usually synthesise these molecules in the laboratory. We will use an innovative new approach to producing molecules that interact with DNA, that as fast and efficient and mirrors the processes used by Nature to make natural products. This research may lead to the design of new ....Targeting DNA with Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry. The interaction of molecules with DNA, the molecule that controls genetic information, is fundamental to drug design, diagnosis of disease and the environment. Chemists usually synthesise these molecules in the laboratory. We will use an innovative new approach to producing molecules that interact with DNA, that as fast and efficient and mirrors the processes used by Nature to make natural products. This research may lead to the design of new therapeutics, diagnostics and applications that will benefit the Australian community, and will provide excellent training of researchers in skills required for employment in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields.Read moreRead less
Peptide Nucleic Acid Based Sensors and Devices - An Investigation into PNA Versatility for Emerging Gene Technologies. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are analogues of DNA that may have important implications as therapeutic agents for the cure of diseases based on genetic defects. The attributes of PNAs that make them potentially viable as a drug are also well suited to their development as sensors and molecular devices. In this proposal, we wish to develop a series of PNAs containing photoactive ....Peptide Nucleic Acid Based Sensors and Devices - An Investigation into PNA Versatility for Emerging Gene Technologies. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are analogues of DNA that may have important implications as therapeutic agents for the cure of diseases based on genetic defects. The attributes of PNAs that make them potentially viable as a drug are also well suited to their development as sensors and molecular devices. In this proposal, we wish to develop a series of PNAs containing photoactive elements (a) as alternatives to commercially-available fluorophores, (b) for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and (c) to contribute to one of Science's most debated issues i.e. "does DNA mediate electron transport?"Read moreRead less
Smart bio-mimetic self-assembled gels for biomedical applications. Advanced materials that can be used to deliver drugs, repair scars and damaged tissue are the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Recently, a class of materials called self-assembled gels have shown enormous potential in this regard. Self-assembled gels have already demonstrated their use in drug delivery and are showing great promise in the treatment of spinal injuries. This project will create an even smarter version of these ....Smart bio-mimetic self-assembled gels for biomedical applications. Advanced materials that can be used to deliver drugs, repair scars and damaged tissue are the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Recently, a class of materials called self-assembled gels have shown enormous potential in this regard. Self-assembled gels have already demonstrated their use in drug delivery and are showing great promise in the treatment of spinal injuries. This project will create an even smarter version of these gels with biological activity, especially targeting cancer and suppressing tumour growth after surgery. Our approach will help to ensure that Australians can take a leading role in this highly exciting new area of biomedical research.Read moreRead less