The role of copper in the early ubiquitination pathway. This project aims to explore the role of copper in ageing and protein turnover. The removal of damaged or excess proteins is achieved by ubiquitin-tagging in all kingdoms of life. It has recently been observed that one of the earliest steps of this process appears to be driven by copper. This project aims to elaborate the precise biochemical mechanisms by which copper regulates this important tagging and protein turnover system. It proposes ....The role of copper in the early ubiquitination pathway. This project aims to explore the role of copper in ageing and protein turnover. The removal of damaged or excess proteins is achieved by ubiquitin-tagging in all kingdoms of life. It has recently been observed that one of the earliest steps of this process appears to be driven by copper. This project aims to elaborate the precise biochemical mechanisms by which copper regulates this important tagging and protein turnover system. It proposes to characterise the structure and function of a newly identified copper-dependent form of cell enzyme which could be involved in amplifying ubiquitin-tagged protein breakdown. Copper is essential for life in all domains. Identifying copper as a major regulator in protein clearance is important in understanding this fundamental biological machinery.Read moreRead less
Exploiting bacterial metal resistance machinery for metal ion nano-biosensors development. This project aims to integrate advanced materials chemistry, molecular biology, bio-electrochemical and synchrotron imaging approaches to understand the role of silver resistance machinery of bacteria in their ability to form silver nanoparticles. This aims to enable discovery of new metal-specific reductase enzymes. The fundamental biomolecular understanding of bacterial silver resistance will allow the u ....Exploiting bacterial metal resistance machinery for metal ion nano-biosensors development. This project aims to integrate advanced materials chemistry, molecular biology, bio-electrochemical and synchrotron imaging approaches to understand the role of silver resistance machinery of bacteria in their ability to form silver nanoparticles. This aims to enable discovery of new metal-specific reductase enzymes. The fundamental biomolecular understanding of bacterial silver resistance will allow the use of a silver-binding protein to develop a series of next-generation nano-biosensors. These biosensing platforms will provide high-throughput, cost-effective, selective, sensitive and continuous monitoring of heavy metal ions in effluents from mining and mineral processing industries in a real-time fashion.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102967
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Interaction between silver ions, silver nanoparticles and reactive oxygen species: implication to toxicity. The project investigates the ability of various different (supported and stabilised) types of nanosized silver particles (SNPs) to oxidatively degrade selected contaminants and or kill microorganism. The project also aims to determine the effect of solution condition (for example pH) and light on SNP longevity and hence their oxidative capacity.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100876
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Unifying chemical concepts for advanced molecular electronics applications. This project aims to build a physical-organic chemistry framework of transferable molecular descriptors for a relatively new but a rapidly developing area of unimolecular electronics (UE) using advanced computational chemistry tools. Established structure-property relationships will drive the cutting-edge applications of UE in sensing and catalysis and significantly expand our understanding of charge transport involving ....Unifying chemical concepts for advanced molecular electronics applications. This project aims to build a physical-organic chemistry framework of transferable molecular descriptors for a relatively new but a rapidly developing area of unimolecular electronics (UE) using advanced computational chemistry tools. Established structure-property relationships will drive the cutting-edge applications of UE in sensing and catalysis and significantly expand our understanding of charge transport involving free radicals and non-covalent assemblies. Expected outcomes of this project include new design guidelines and candidate molecular architectures for such practical applications as organocatalysis inside molecular junctions, molecular spintronics and molecular sensors for reactive oxygen species and nitroaromatic pollutants.Read moreRead less
Development of electric discharge assisted mechanical milling: blue sky technology for synthesis and processing of materials. This project will develop a novel waste and pollution free rapid powder processing technology. By plasma enhancement of reactivity between ingredients, this project will reduce processing times and save energy by up to 1000 per cent. As well as producing new science, the technological outcomes involve new materials, devices and processes of significance to local industrie ....Development of electric discharge assisted mechanical milling: blue sky technology for synthesis and processing of materials. This project will develop a novel waste and pollution free rapid powder processing technology. By plasma enhancement of reactivity between ingredients, this project will reduce processing times and save energy by up to 1000 per cent. As well as producing new science, the technological outcomes involve new materials, devices and processes of significance to local industries.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling the structure of thin polymer films used in photolithography. Each generation of computer has faster processors, larger memory and is smaller and cheaper than the preceding model. However continued advances are at risk due to inherent properties of these technologies. This project will understand the limits of current materials and develop new materials which will enable the next generation of devices.
Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms. The stabilisation of highly reactive carbanions underpins advances in chemical synthesis of new compounds including polymers, agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals. This project aims to deliver an innovative chemical reactivity platform, underpinned by copper carbanion complexes accessed via synthetic electrochemistry. Carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions but their high reactivity can be pr ....Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms. The stabilisation of highly reactive carbanions underpins advances in chemical synthesis of new compounds including polymers, agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals. This project aims to deliver an innovative chemical reactivity platform, underpinned by copper carbanion complexes accessed via synthetic electrochemistry. Carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions but their high reactivity can be problematic. Expected outcomes of this project are an understanding of why these novel copper compounds are stable and how they can be utilised as synthetic reagents. This should provide significant benefits in unlocking the synthetic potential of a new class of chemical compound that has until now remained unexplored.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale liquid interfaces: properties and molecular sensitivity. Challenges facing society in health and environment need new molecular measurements that are accurate, sensitive and fast. By use of nanoscale oil-water junctions, the project will develop new chemical and biological sensors that hold great promise for solving molecular measurement problems, including the ability to detect single molecules.
Redox-gel integrated electrode for ThermoCells. This project aims to synthesise flexible redox gel-electrolyte interpenetrated electrodes for an eco-friendly prototype wearable thermo-electrochemical cell that can power body-worn low-power wearable electronics. Wearable devices in the future are expected to include products related to personal wellness and healthcare and medical technology. These devices require a sustainable power source (without having to change a battery) for real time monito ....Redox-gel integrated electrode for ThermoCells. This project aims to synthesise flexible redox gel-electrolyte interpenetrated electrodes for an eco-friendly prototype wearable thermo-electrochemical cell that can power body-worn low-power wearable electronics. Wearable devices in the future are expected to include products related to personal wellness and healthcare and medical technology. These devices require a sustainable power source (without having to change a battery) for real time monitoring/communication. Turning body-heat into electricity by wearable thermo-electrochemical cells may provide a solution. The project could also contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse emissions.Read moreRead less
Design of multimodal polymeric nanoparticles as targeted carriers for the co-delivery of therapeutic molecules. This project will greatly enhance the tools available to oncologists by providing new treatment options, minimising side-effects to conventional chemotherapy approaches. In this project, the design of next generation of drug delivery will be developed using the most recent advances in materials sciences.