Closing the data gap: High throughput screening of nanoparticle toxicity. The nanotechnology sector is experiencing an exponential growth period with over 100 products containing manufactured nanoparticles entering the market every year. Ensuring growth of the sector needs to be balanced against the imperative of protecting both human and environmental safety. This project aims to develop new methodological and conceptual avenues to close the gap between innovation in nanotechnology and risk ass ....Closing the data gap: High throughput screening of nanoparticle toxicity. The nanotechnology sector is experiencing an exponential growth period with over 100 products containing manufactured nanoparticles entering the market every year. Ensuring growth of the sector needs to be balanced against the imperative of protecting both human and environmental safety. This project aims to develop new methodological and conceptual avenues to close the gap between innovation in nanotechnology and risk assessment. This is intended to be achieved by developing and validating high-throughput in vitro toxicity screening platforms for manufactured nanoparticles. The approach is based on advanced lab-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies. The predictive power of the platform will be refined and optimised via ex-vivo and in-vivo models.Read moreRead less
Energy Transfer Across Organic-Inorganic Interfaces. This project seeks to advance our basic understanding of the energy transfer processes which are crucial to the operation of organic optoelectronic devices. Controlling energy transfer is central to the operation of electronic devices. As devices become smaller and more complex, the transfer of energy across interfaces between different materials begins to dominate their operation and characteristics. This project plans to use a range of compl ....Energy Transfer Across Organic-Inorganic Interfaces. This project seeks to advance our basic understanding of the energy transfer processes which are crucial to the operation of organic optoelectronic devices. Controlling energy transfer is central to the operation of electronic devices. As devices become smaller and more complex, the transfer of energy across interfaces between different materials begins to dominate their operation and characteristics. This project plans to use a range of complementary experimental approaches to study energy generation, transfer and diffusion across the nanoscale interface between organic and inorganic materials. Knowledge gained would provide a roadmap for bottom-up improvements to the efficiency of energy transfer across hybrid organic–inorganic interfaces, with a range of applications in optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100736
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,446.00
Summary
High performing multifunctional silicon nanomaterials for bio-applications. This project aims to develop high-performance, multifunctional silicon nanomaterials, and to understand their physicochemical properties for bio-imaging. A range of high-quality multifunctional silicon-based bio-probes with novel fluorescent and magnetic properties will be developed for enhancing bio-imaging. The outcomes of the project will further strengthen Australia’s leading position in the targeted areas of Advance ....High performing multifunctional silicon nanomaterials for bio-applications. This project aims to develop high-performance, multifunctional silicon nanomaterials, and to understand their physicochemical properties for bio-imaging. A range of high-quality multifunctional silicon-based bio-probes with novel fluorescent and magnetic properties will be developed for enhancing bio-imaging. The outcomes of the project will further strengthen Australia’s leading position in the targeted areas of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Plasma-assisted on-surface assembly for hydrogen production and beyond. This project aims to discover how to catalyse the formation and control the structure of functional materials with atomic precision using plasmas. New mechanisms of ultra-fast, plasma-catalytic on-surface nanoasembly will translate into energy-efficient, scalable digital fabrication of subnano-cluster and single-atomic-site catalysts over large 3D surface areas, tailored for advanced electrocatalysis. The outcomes including ....Plasma-assisted on-surface assembly for hydrogen production and beyond. This project aims to discover how to catalyse the formation and control the structure of functional materials with atomic precision using plasmas. New mechanisms of ultra-fast, plasma-catalytic on-surface nanoasembly will translate into energy-efficient, scalable digital fabrication of subnano-cluster and single-atomic-site catalysts over large 3D surface areas, tailored for advanced electrocatalysis. The outcomes including new concepts and insights into synergistic action of plasmas and solid surfaces will bridge atomic-scale materials formation and digital fabrication at industrial scales. The benefits including the new nanofabrication platform and clean energy will go beyond the demands of digital manufacturing and hydrogen economy. Read moreRead less
A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and ....A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and to use this knowledge in the designed synthesis of a new family of bio-inspired non-viral nanoparticles with both safety and high cellular delivery efficiency. The new and high performance nano-carriers will become a platform technology with broad bio-applications in gene therapy, cancer therapy and bio-imaging.Read moreRead less
Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our ....Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our view of catalysis. By investigating the role of static electricity over systems selected from different sub-disciplines of chemistry, the project will derive the ground and selection rules for reactivity and selectivity by electrostatics. The project is expected to show that for chemical reactions of practical and conceptual value a specific catalyst can be replaced by a generic electric field stimulus, an invisible catalyst, enabling cleaner and cheaper opportunities that current technologies cannot fulfil.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,375,000.00
Summary
An advanced electron microscope facility for nanomaterials, functional materials and minerals. An advanced electron microscope facility for nanomaterials, functional materials and minerals: Recent advances in electron microscopy provide instruments that can resolve at the atomic level and image both morphologically and chemically at these resolutions. These modern instruments are also less complex to operate therefore allowing many more researchers to access them directly. The High Resolution Sc ....An advanced electron microscope facility for nanomaterials, functional materials and minerals. An advanced electron microscope facility for nanomaterials, functional materials and minerals: Recent advances in electron microscopy provide instruments that can resolve at the atomic level and image both morphologically and chemically at these resolutions. These modern instruments are also less complex to operate therefore allowing many more researchers to access them directly. The High Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope will allow a complete, nano-scale characterisation of natural and synthetic materials in a broad range of scientific, engineering and industrial applications. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope will provide nano-science users with a tool that can image many of the processes in the formation of these nanostructures and particles.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101666
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,588.00
Summary
Engineering nanoparticles with enhanced adhesion at the nano-bio interfaces. This project aims to develop a next-generation adhesive nanoparticle platform through in-depth understandings of nanoparticle interactions with bio-interfaces. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the multidisciplinary research field at nano-bio-interfaces by using a recently developed nano-colloidal probe technology, instructing the rational design of nanoparticles with enhanced interface adhesive properti ....Engineering nanoparticles with enhanced adhesion at the nano-bio interfaces. This project aims to develop a next-generation adhesive nanoparticle platform through in-depth understandings of nanoparticle interactions with bio-interfaces. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the multidisciplinary research field at nano-bio-interfaces by using a recently developed nano-colloidal probe technology, instructing the rational design of nanoparticles with enhanced interface adhesive properties. Expected outcomes include a family of adhesive nanoparticles designed for nanopesticide and animal feed applications, with the potential to deliver valuable intellectual property of commercial interest and economic benefit through technology advancement.Read moreRead less
Understanding graphitization: developing a model for activated carbons. For over 60 years it has remained a puzzle why some carbons graphitise under heating while others do not. The question is of practical importance as oxidation of non-graphitising carbons produces activated carbon, a product of high value with industrial, medical and environmental applications. Using computational and experimental techniques the project will study the graphitisation process and pinpoint the structural element ....Understanding graphitization: developing a model for activated carbons. For over 60 years it has remained a puzzle why some carbons graphitise under heating while others do not. The question is of practical importance as oxidation of non-graphitising carbons produces activated carbon, a product of high value with industrial, medical and environmental applications. Using computational and experimental techniques the project will study the graphitisation process and pinpoint the structural elements which inhibit it. Based on these findings the project aims to develop a nanoscale atomistic model for activated carbons. This is expected to be an important contribution to the field of chemical engineering in which current models of activated carbon neglect either curvature in the network or the presence of oxygen.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