Innovative Technology for At-Scene Forensic Analysis using Microfluidics and Chemiluminescence. The major outcome of this project will be innovative reagents and strategies optimised for the detection of priority analytes such as drugs, explosives and chemical warfare agents. These will utilise a new technology platform based upon laboratory on a chip/microfluidics to enable the development of analytical methodologies suitable for use at crime scenes.This programme of research falls within a Nat ....Innovative Technology for At-Scene Forensic Analysis using Microfluidics and Chemiluminescence. The major outcome of this project will be innovative reagents and strategies optimised for the detection of priority analytes such as drugs, explosives and chemical warfare agents. These will utilise a new technology platform based upon laboratory on a chip/microfluidics to enable the development of analytical methodologies suitable for use at crime scenes.This programme of research falls within a National Research Priority namely 'Protecting Australia from terrorism and crime'. Through our current forensic science research collaboration the outcomes will build significantly on Australia's existing strengths in rapid detection using new analytical technologies.Read moreRead less
Advanced Separation Technologies and Chemometric Data Processing for Macromolecular Materials and Metabolite Profiling. The project will develop innovative separation technologies for specialised materials, which could lead the scientific export industry in Australia, with employment benefits to the community. Partner, Dow has links with researchers around the world, and this project will allow Australian researchers to access the network of Dow laboratories and projects and develop a long-term ....Advanced Separation Technologies and Chemometric Data Processing for Macromolecular Materials and Metabolite Profiling. The project will develop innovative separation technologies for specialised materials, which could lead the scientific export industry in Australia, with employment benefits to the community. Partner, Dow has links with researchers around the world, and this project will allow Australian researchers to access the network of Dow laboratories and projects and develop a long-term relationship. The analysis methods to be developed will focus on metabolite profiling which has relevance to a broad range of biological monitoring activities from human health, to plant genetics and breeding. New generation polymer materials will be characterised by using the new techniques developed. The methods will be platform technologies for future studies eg. anti-terrorism bio- and chemo-monitoring.Read moreRead less
Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and bl ....Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and blood products. Prions cause Bovine Spongiform Encaphalopathy and Creutzfeld Jacob Disease and attempts to control of these diseases would be greatly abetted by an optimal test for the disease-causing agent.Read moreRead less
Lab-on-a-chip mass spectrometry tools for testing illicit drugs. This project aims to develop fit-for-purpose mass spectrometry tools for roadside and workplace testing of illicit drugs. The technology will be based on nanostructured semiconductor chips that are surface-functionalised to enable molecular capture without extensive sample processing and subsequent detection by a novel combination of techniques. The technology is expected to be applicable to saliva, sweat and urine samples.
Novel semio-chemical approach to control the Australian Sheep Blowfly . The Australian Federal Government through the 'Smart Farming' initiative highlights the need for improved multidisciplinary measures in order to remain at the global forefront of the invention and adoption of technology. This multidisciplinary project (entomology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and genomics) will rapidly inform the management of fly strike on an important Australian resource merino sheep. This will bui ....Novel semio-chemical approach to control the Australian Sheep Blowfly . The Australian Federal Government through the 'Smart Farming' initiative highlights the need for improved multidisciplinary measures in order to remain at the global forefront of the invention and adoption of technology. This multidisciplinary project (entomology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and genomics) will rapidly inform the management of fly strike on an important Australian resource merino sheep. This will build the key biochemical data in order to develop a novel fly lure technology (at scale) to be used on farm delivering national benefit through improved animal welfare and safety considerations for producers, and will establish the best approach to disseminate this scientific information to stakeholders such as farmers.Read moreRead less
Fabrication and Application of Ion-Sensors Based on the Voltammetry of Nanocrystals Adhered to Electrode Surfaces. A significant need exists for the low cost determination of cations and anions in biologically (blood, urine), industrially (process streams) and environmentally (rivers, lakes) important fluids. In this project, skills in sensor design, scientific instrumentation, materials science, electrochemistry and analytical science provided by a consortium of scientists at Monash University ....Fabrication and Application of Ion-Sensors Based on the Voltammetry of Nanocrystals Adhered to Electrode Surfaces. A significant need exists for the low cost determination of cations and anions in biologically (blood, urine), industrially (process streams) and environmentally (rivers, lakes) important fluids. In this project, skills in sensor design, scientific instrumentation, materials science, electrochemistry and analytical science provided by a consortium of scientists at Monash University, the Victorian Institute for Chemical Sciences, Oxford Biosensors and Oxford University will be integrated to fabricate and develop applications of commercially viable ion-sensing systems. The principles to be utilised are based on novel forms of voltammetry of nanocrystals adhered to electrode surfaces.Read moreRead less
The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon ....The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon these successes, in order to develop innovative analytical strategies for forensic detection of certain illicit drugs and explosives. The results of this research have the potential to revolutionise key aspects of forensic analysis.Read moreRead less
Taxonomic discrimination and compositional analysis of microalgae using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The project aims to develop an automated system using infrared spectroscopy that can rapidly and inexpensively identify algae and quantify their chemical composition. The system, which would be based on statistical models developed from infrared spectral information, has the potential to enable rapid identification of blue-green algae at the strain level, allowing new algal bl ....Taxonomic discrimination and compositional analysis of microalgae using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The project aims to develop an automated system using infrared spectroscopy that can rapidly and inexpensively identify algae and quantify their chemical composition. The system, which would be based on statistical models developed from infrared spectral information, has the potential to enable rapid identification of blue-green algae at the strain level, allowing new algal blooms to be rapidly compared with those known to be toxic. Compositional analysis using infrared spectroscopy has the potential to measure all major classes of macromolecules simultaneously and precisely, at the single cell level, in a non-destructive manner that does not involve polluting chemicals.Read moreRead less
Identification and isolation of new pharmaceutical opiate analogues: today's problems tomorrow's solutions. This project will identify and characterise the impurity profiles across opiate alkaloid production, which will enhance the development of manufacturing processes through the reduction of problem impurities and provide potential new drug substances from the isolation of other opiate derived concomitant species.
Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perfo ....Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perform rapid on-site mapping of nutrients and other water quality parameters in large water bodies, intensive scale mapping of effluent mixing and dispersal zones, quick assessment of the impact of dredging and aquaculture, and compliance monitoring in effluent streams.
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