New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the grou ....New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the ground work for the design of improved, more biocompatible structured stents to minimise the abnormal growth of cells on and around the stent, thereby reducing the occurrence of vascular complications. Thus this research could improve the success rate of stents implanted into patients with cardiovascular disease and reduce health costs.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354588
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Integrated Nanoscale Biosystems Network (INBN). The INBN will integrate high-priority research, already identified by the ARC, in materials nanoscience and engineering with nanoscale biology. The INBN will provide the means to consolidate world-class multidisciplinary Australian research groups in existing Centres of Excellence, including several Federation Fellows, into a nanobiotechnology focus. The significant outcomes of INBN are the critical mass of outstanding researchers in the nanobiosci ....Integrated Nanoscale Biosystems Network (INBN). The INBN will integrate high-priority research, already identified by the ARC, in materials nanoscience and engineering with nanoscale biology. The INBN will provide the means to consolidate world-class multidisciplinary Australian research groups in existing Centres of Excellence, including several Federation Fellows, into a nanobiotechnology focus. The significant outcomes of INBN are the critical mass of outstanding researchers in the nanobiosciences, facilitation of innovative research to produce novel intellectual property and provision of pathways into collaborative research with international scientists and industry, and the training and development of the next generation scientists for this emerging discipline.
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Biomolecular films on silicon substrates. Construction of hybrid carbon-silicon devices in which molecular organic molecular films are covalently linked to silicon wafers. Biomolecular nanostructures on silicon wafers can be studied using unique impedance spectroscopy instrumentation that we have developed as well as X-ray and neutron reflectometry. The system will be used to study a variety of molecular films as well as molecularly tethered lipid bilayer membranes that mimic aspects of cell mem ....Biomolecular films on silicon substrates. Construction of hybrid carbon-silicon devices in which molecular organic molecular films are covalently linked to silicon wafers. Biomolecular nanostructures on silicon wafers can be studied using unique impedance spectroscopy instrumentation that we have developed as well as X-ray and neutron reflectometry. The system will be used to study a variety of molecular films as well as molecularly tethered lipid bilayer membranes that mimic aspects of cell membranes and these will be used to investigate the effect of sterols on such membranes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989859
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistr ....A Multi-Resolution X-ray Microtomography Facility (NanoCT & MicroCT) for Non-Destructive 3D Characterisation. X-ray microtomography platforms are applicable to a wide diversity of research across many of the national research priority areas. The research outlined will provide insights into bone cancer and osteoporosis, promote breakthroughs in the understanding of tumour biology and drive new developments in novel biomaterials, all of which have significant national health benefits. In dentistry, research supported by this instrumentation will provide Australians with improvements to their dental health. Furthermore applications to industrial materials are providing Australian industries with better characterisation of their products that is leading to improved export performance and consequent improvement in Australia's balance of trade.Read moreRead less
Novel coding and decoding in suspension arrays for accelerated biomolecular discovery and personalised medicine. This project will establish an advanced multiplexing technique to rapidly analyse complex biological mixtures, such as cell lysates, food samples or body fluids. It will enable the analysis of not tens, but thousands or more distinctive molecular targets in a single test. This will build the foundations for future generation bioassays, paving the way to emerging personalised medicine. ....Novel coding and decoding in suspension arrays for accelerated biomolecular discovery and personalised medicine. This project will establish an advanced multiplexing technique to rapidly analyse complex biological mixtures, such as cell lysates, food samples or body fluids. It will enable the analysis of not tens, but thousands or more distinctive molecular targets in a single test. This will build the foundations for future generation bioassays, paving the way to emerging personalised medicine. This will lead to new personal diagnostics tools for rapid genotype profiling, to better tailor therapy to the individual patient's specific characteristics. As well as the potential to improve health outcomes, the project will generate significant intellectual property and the opportunity for development of new diagnostic instrumentation in Australia.Read moreRead less
Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to bio ....Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to biological hard tissues like bones and teeth. Efficient numerical methods will be developed to overcome difficulties encountered in material properties and loading conditions. The project will provide useful guidelines to design new, intelligent, multi-phase material systems, including biomaterial systems for biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will pr ....Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will provide longer lasting implants and reduce the need for repeated operations. This will improve the quality of life for implant recipients and reduce health care costs.Read moreRead less
Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a te ....Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a technology edge over their competitors and provide easy-to-use guidelines for the design of smart biological systems.Read moreRead less
Improving orthopaedic/dental devices by surface chemical modification. The estimated world market for the orthopaedic implants is expected to be US$125 billion by 2010. Australia imports most of it's orthopaedic implants with an estimated cost in excess of AUD300 million by 2010. The current rate of prosthetic failures in orthopaedic patients is unacceptably high. The project aims to develop new implants that integrate better into bone, thus reducing the rate of revision arthroplasty. This would ....Improving orthopaedic/dental devices by surface chemical modification. The estimated world market for the orthopaedic implants is expected to be US$125 billion by 2010. Australia imports most of it's orthopaedic implants with an estimated cost in excess of AUD300 million by 2010. The current rate of prosthetic failures in orthopaedic patients is unacceptably high. The project aims to develop new implants that integrate better into bone, thus reducing the rate of revision arthroplasty. This would lead to a significant reduction in the cost of health care in our aging population and improve the quality of life for prosthetic recipients. Knowledge gained will facilitate the optimization of orthopaedic and implant dentistry, promoting the technology transfer from academia to the relevant medical device industry.Read moreRead less
Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupl ....Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupling behaviour of viscoelastic and electric fields of the innovative smart biological soft tissue. These results will provide a guideline for future research in tissue engineering and help Australian biomedical science and industries improve the modern biotransducers and smart biomicro-devices.Read moreRead less