Gut Absorption of Constrained Peptides for Local and Systemic Targeting. Aims: This project aims to investigate how peptides are absorbed across the intestinal wall and distributed to organs and fluids in a rodent model by combining bio-analysis and pharmacokinetics with high-resolution microscopy and imaging.
Significance: This project expects to generate the most comprehensive survey to date of the pathways and mechanisms of peptide absorption, biodistribution and immune cell targeting, by ....Gut Absorption of Constrained Peptides for Local and Systemic Targeting. Aims: This project aims to investigate how peptides are absorbed across the intestinal wall and distributed to organs and fluids in a rodent model by combining bio-analysis and pharmacokinetics with high-resolution microscopy and imaging.
Significance: This project expects to generate the most comprehensive survey to date of the pathways and mechanisms of peptide absorption, biodistribution and immune cell targeting, by implementing innovative approaches.
Expected Outcomes: Expected outcomes include significant new knowledge and a new multi-disciplinary platform for measuring peptide absorption.
Benefits: This should provide significant benefits by informing the future design of peptides for supplements, therapeutics and carriers. Read moreRead less
In vitro expression of macrocyclic peptides. This project aims to develop a novel strategy for the production of polypeptides with unnatural chemical groups using a sense codon reassignment approach. Novel peptides could be used in a range of pharmaceutical applications. Peptides made of 20 natural amino acids cover only a very small fraction of the available chemical and functional space. While a peptide’s functionality can be extended with unnatural amino acids, the methods for their site-sele ....In vitro expression of macrocyclic peptides. This project aims to develop a novel strategy for the production of polypeptides with unnatural chemical groups using a sense codon reassignment approach. Novel peptides could be used in a range of pharmaceutical applications. Peptides made of 20 natural amino acids cover only a very small fraction of the available chemical and functional space. While a peptide’s functionality can be extended with unnatural amino acids, the methods for their site-selective incorporation are inefficient. The project’s strategy relies on the depletion of selected tRNAs from an in vitro protein translation system and their replacement with synthetic tRNAs, charged with unnatural amino acids. It is expected that the developed technology could be used to rapidly generate and screen highly diversified macrocyclic peptide libraries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100121
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,000.00
Summary
A facility for the nanoscale imaging and characterisation of materials. Nanotechnology is dependent on measuring surface properties and this cutting-edge scanning probe microscopy facility will provide this capability. Atomic resolution imaging, along with spectroscopy for chemical information, and nanoindentation for physical information, will generate solutions for physical and life sciences, and materials engineering.
The cell biology of the albumin-FcRn receptor recycling system. The aim of this project is to define the cell biology of the albumin-FcRn (neonatal Fc receptor) recycling system. FcRn is a recycling membrane receptor that selectively protects serum proteins from intracellular degradation and prolongs their half-life. We will identify the key cell types involved in this recycling pathway, identify intracellular sites of ligand and FcRn interaction, assess the contribution of the haematopoietic sy ....The cell biology of the albumin-FcRn receptor recycling system. The aim of this project is to define the cell biology of the albumin-FcRn (neonatal Fc receptor) recycling system. FcRn is a recycling membrane receptor that selectively protects serum proteins from intracellular degradation and prolongs their half-life. We will identify the key cell types involved in this recycling pathway, identify intracellular sites of ligand and FcRn interaction, assess the contribution of the haematopoietic system and determine ligand half-life in mice. Findings generated will reveal the basic biology of an important physiological receptor, and enable the exploitation of FcRn-receptor interactions for design of recombinant albumin fusion-based therapies.Read moreRead less
The genes and pathways regulated by the AMYB80 network are involved in Arabidopsis pollen development. Tapetum is the inner layer of an anther essential for pollen formation. The project will study tapetal AtMYB80 network regulating pollen development. Knowledge of the network will be important in developing means to protect crop yields against cold and drought. Regulation of AtMYB80 activity is being used to create hybrid crops of high productivity.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101788
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Shape sorting of nanoparticles at oil-water interfaces in microchannels. This project aims to study the effect of shape on the adsorption of nanoparticles at an oil/water interface and develop a rapid, inexpensive, efficient, versatile method for shape sorting of nanoparticles using a microfluidic approach. This technique can be applied for fractionation of synthetic nanoparticles, biosample analysis and environmental monitoring.
Cause and effect: new mechanisms of particles formation in thunderstorms. This project aims to identify meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle formation and alteration during thunderstorms. How thunderstorms develop is well-understood. However, identifying meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle alteration during a thunderstorm is still not clear. This project will practically contribute to the evidence of the impact of air particulates, thereby having dire ....Cause and effect: new mechanisms of particles formation in thunderstorms. This project aims to identify meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle formation and alteration during thunderstorms. How thunderstorms develop is well-understood. However, identifying meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle alteration during a thunderstorm is still not clear. This project will practically contribute to the evidence of the impact of air particulates, thereby having direct implications for meteorological, and air pollution policy in Australia and worldwide. This project will allow researchers to understand the impact of these factors on the escalation of the causative effects, and to find a way to prevent unnecessary fatal outcomes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101101
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,741.00
Summary
Single-Molecule Circuitry for Nanoscale Electronic Devices. The aim of this project is to develop novel methods for forming robust single-molecule circuitry. The use of single molecules in electronics represents the next level of miniaturisation of electronic components, which would enable us to meet the expanding demands of modern technologies and to continue the downscaling trend in electronic devices. This project aims to address the requirements needed to translate single-molecule electronic ....Single-Molecule Circuitry for Nanoscale Electronic Devices. The aim of this project is to develop novel methods for forming robust single-molecule circuitry. The use of single molecules in electronics represents the next level of miniaturisation of electronic components, which would enable us to meet the expanding demands of modern technologies and to continue the downscaling trend in electronic devices. This project aims to address the requirements needed to translate single-molecule electronics from its current status as a fundamental tool to real-world applications. Key approaches will be the use of surface chemistry to develop new methods of wiring single molecules and the integration of robust single-molecule junctions with semiconducting electrodes. The expected project outcomes pave the way for single-molecule electronic and analytical devices.Read moreRead less
Developing a multicomponent platform for targeted gene delivery. Gene delivery systems are important tools in biological research and offer many exciting future prospects. Delivering gene material is very difficult in practice: rapid deterioration, poor cell uptake, and reaching the right tissue and cell types are major obstacles. Ways to overcome each barrier individually have been suggested in existing research but these components have not yet been combined in a single solution, which this pr ....Developing a multicomponent platform for targeted gene delivery. Gene delivery systems are important tools in biological research and offer many exciting future prospects. Delivering gene material is very difficult in practice: rapid deterioration, poor cell uptake, and reaching the right tissue and cell types are major obstacles. Ways to overcome each barrier individually have been suggested in existing research but these components have not yet been combined in a single solution, which this project will tackle. This proposal aims to create a technology to stabilise and deliver active gene material to target cells. The gene delivery tool developed in this project will advance biological research greatly with many potential future applications.Read moreRead less
On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and ....On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and selectivities increase on water’s surface rather than in its bulk will remove fundamental constraints on the viability of aqueous electro-synthesis – moving beyond current reactor designs to transform our view of electrochemistry and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry.Read moreRead less