Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogeni ....Development of a market relevant DNA nano-vaccine platform. DNA vaccine technology can potentially provide a rapid response to existing or new pathogens, but its market success has been limited. By addressing key scientific and technical challenges, this project aims to develop a new and cost-effective DNA nanovaccine platform using a multiscale engineering approach. It is anticipated that novel nanoparticles for DNA delivery and an end-user-driven DNA vaccine technology with enhanced immunogenicity, stability and safety will be generated. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in nanomaterial science and a market ready technology platform, improving Australia’s capabilities in nanobiotechnology and vaccine development, as well as delivering a new value-added product for the Industry Partner. Read moreRead less
Development of Unprecedented Aluminosilicate Adjuvants. High-performance adjuvants are essential components of vaccine technology. Aluminium-based adjuvants are widely used, but provide weak cellular immunity and possible risk of neurotoxicity. Combining state-of-the-art nanotechnology and classic coordination chemistry, this project aims to apply a new design principle to create novel mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles with alkalinity, for use as nanoadjuvants. This project expects to adv ....Development of Unprecedented Aluminosilicate Adjuvants. High-performance adjuvants are essential components of vaccine technology. Aluminium-based adjuvants are widely used, but provide weak cellular immunity and possible risk of neurotoxicity. Combining state-of-the-art nanotechnology and classic coordination chemistry, this project aims to apply a new design principle to create novel mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles with alkalinity, for use as nanoadjuvants. This project expects to advance knowledge of how immune systems respond to changes in chemistry and nanostructure of aluminosilicate materials and enable the design of nanoadjuvants with enhanced cellular immunity and reduced toxicity. Outcomes include a new family of functional materials with unprecedented adjuvant performance.Read moreRead less
Next-Generation Multifunctional Nanoparticles for mRNA Transfection. This project aims to engineer a multifunctional nanoparticle platform tailored for mRNA delivery. An innovative assembly approach will be used to design nanoparticles with adjustable composition, asymmetry and surface topography. Uniquely, three functions will be integrated in one nanoparticle, with the goal to enhance transfection efficiency in target cells. This project expects to advance knowledge of mRNA transfection mechan ....Next-Generation Multifunctional Nanoparticles for mRNA Transfection. This project aims to engineer a multifunctional nanoparticle platform tailored for mRNA delivery. An innovative assembly approach will be used to design nanoparticles with adjustable composition, asymmetry and surface topography. Uniquely, three functions will be integrated in one nanoparticle, with the goal to enhance transfection efficiency in target cells. This project expects to advance knowledge of mRNA transfection mechanisms, and determine how cell-type dependent particle-mRNA interactions correlate with the nanoparticle structure and delivery performance. Outcomes include a new family of functional materials with improved mRNA delivery performance over benchmark systems to facilitate and broaden the application of mRNA technology.Read moreRead less
In-situ biofunctionalisation for additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing that incorporates printing of live cells can create hierarchical, multi-component structures that mimic biology. However, an ability to include spatially segregated biological cues is currently lacking. This project will develop plasma pen modules to selectively functionalise surfaces and interfaces, as they are being printed, with robustly immobilised hydrogels and biological signalling molecules to direct cell beha ....In-situ biofunctionalisation for additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing that incorporates printing of live cells can create hierarchical, multi-component structures that mimic biology. However, an ability to include spatially segregated biological cues is currently lacking. This project will develop plasma pen modules to selectively functionalise surfaces and interfaces, as they are being printed, with robustly immobilised hydrogels and biological signalling molecules to direct cell behaviour. The expected outcome is a green technology enabling the fabrication of structures that replicate the native environments of cells in the body to provide optimal efficacy in drug discovery and regenerative medicine, and significant benefits for the Australian biomedical sector.Read moreRead less
A new dimension of functionality for high surface-area-to volume materials. This project aims to develop processes that can successfully functionalise the inner surfaces of high surface area to volume structures with interconnected porosity. These structures underpin many processes in modern manufacturing. Examples include columns and fluidised beds for purification, materials for energy storage and conversion, biomedical scaffolds and structures for high sensitivity sensing. The efficacy of the ....A new dimension of functionality for high surface-area-to volume materials. This project aims to develop processes that can successfully functionalise the inner surfaces of high surface area to volume structures with interconnected porosity. These structures underpin many processes in modern manufacturing. Examples include columns and fluidised beds for purification, materials for energy storage and conversion, biomedical scaffolds and structures for high sensitivity sensing. The efficacy of these materials is strongly affected by the condition of the surfaces, but modifying the surfaces of internal pores deep within such structures presents major challenges. This project will provide environmental friendly, dry plasma processes to tailor surface functionality, improving the efficacy of existing processes and opening up new far reaching applications for such materials.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,115,000.00
Summary
Nanoscale-interactions making future functional materials more powerful . Traditional crystal chemistry can no longer meet the demands for development of new functional materials - the foundation of modern industry. The program aims to overcome this challenge by introducing a new strategy into experimental and theoretical research to transform our understanding and application of nanoscale structural and chemical features in materials. The program expects to build new crystal chemistry that incl ....Nanoscale-interactions making future functional materials more powerful . Traditional crystal chemistry can no longer meet the demands for development of new functional materials - the foundation of modern industry. The program aims to overcome this challenge by introducing a new strategy into experimental and theoretical research to transform our understanding and application of nanoscale structural and chemical features in materials. The program expects to build new crystal chemistry that includes nanoscale-interaction information and deep machine-learning to improve the predictability of material properties. Potential outcomes of the program include enhanced capacity for revolutionary materials development thus keeping Australia's leading position in innovative technology, benefiting academia and industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,476.00
Summary
Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device modul ....Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device module for a preconcentrator technology that will sorb explosive analytes, have low power requirements and be compatible with hand held explosives detectors. Security and law enforcement agencies should directly benefit from these findings, which would advance their safety and that of the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Monoatomic metal doping of carbon-based nanomaterials for hydrogen storage. This project aims to present a new concept of monoatomic metal doped carbon-based nanomaterials as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials (S-HSMs) for hydrogen fuel cells. The key feature for this synthesis is the use of the unique “defect” structures in carbon lattice as the efficient anchoring sites to immobilise the metal species at atomic level. This project is expected to create new knowledge of atomic inte ....Monoatomic metal doping of carbon-based nanomaterials for hydrogen storage. This project aims to present a new concept of monoatomic metal doped carbon-based nanomaterials as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials (S-HSMs) for hydrogen fuel cells. The key feature for this synthesis is the use of the unique “defect” structures in carbon lattice as the efficient anchoring sites to immobilise the metal species at atomic level. This project is expected to create new knowledge of atomic interface catalysis and develop practical applications of S-HSMs in storage tanks for fuel cells, leading to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and alleviation of air pollution. The success of this project will greatly enhance the Australian clean energy industries.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100029
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,545,000.00
Summary
Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several ....Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several industries including manufacturing, mining, water management and bioengineering. Providing access to previously unavailable structures and materials, the project will support Australia’s manufacturing sector by transforming established industries with next generation technologies. The project will also build capacity of nanoionics engineers and provide intellectual property for commercialised products.Read moreRead less
Conducting coatings for control and eradication of unwanted marine biofilms. Biofilms grow on all surfaces and environments posing environmental threats and economic issues globally, costing billions each year to those attempting to eradicate them. To date, biofilm's detailed response to variations in electrochemically generated redox stress and shear is unknown in marine environments. The project aims at (i) developing novel electrically conducting carbon based paints that are stable in marine ....Conducting coatings for control and eradication of unwanted marine biofilms. Biofilms grow on all surfaces and environments posing environmental threats and economic issues globally, costing billions each year to those attempting to eradicate them. To date, biofilm's detailed response to variations in electrochemically generated redox stress and shear is unknown in marine environments. The project aims at (i) developing novel electrically conducting carbon based paints that are stable in marine environments and (ii) investigating how marine biofilms respond to these coatings. The expected outcome of this project is the development of a green alternative antifouling technology that can be used on demand in marine applications. This provides a new solution for controlling the biofouling of surfaces immersed in oceans.Read moreRead less