Microreactors for Organic Synthesis. Since the electronic revolution, miniaturisation has been the trend for devices from consumer electronics to scientific instruments. In this time very little has changed in the manner, or scale, that synthetic organic chemistry has been carried out even though advances in instrumentation mean that less compound is required for identification and analysis. This project aims to bridge the gap by developing recyclable miniaturised reaction vessels for the format ....Microreactors for Organic Synthesis. Since the electronic revolution, miniaturisation has been the trend for devices from consumer electronics to scientific instruments. In this time very little has changed in the manner, or scale, that synthetic organic chemistry has been carried out even though advances in instrumentation mean that less compound is required for identification and analysis. This project aims to bridge the gap by developing recyclable miniaturised reaction vessels for the formation of organic compounds on a scale thousands of times smaller than it is currently done. These devices will have applications in drug discovery programmes due to higher throughput and increased efficiency while minimising waste.Read moreRead less
High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphas ....High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphasis is placed on chemistry involving phosphorus compounds and unsaturated organic groups bonded to palladium, and on compounds containing groups that are able to join together to depart from palladium as organic compounds containing carbon-oxygen bonds.Read moreRead less
New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the conti ....New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the continued development of modern chemical and related industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic technology to help understand physical damage to brain cells. Understanding the organisation, structure and mechanisms of the human brain and nervous system remains one of the biggest challenges of science. This project aims to develop a new cell culture platform to form defined molecular networks of brain cells and to monitor changes throughout the network in response to a small localised injury within the network. This innovative platform will be used to help understand changes wi ....Microfluidic technology to help understand physical damage to brain cells. Understanding the organisation, structure and mechanisms of the human brain and nervous system remains one of the biggest challenges of science. This project aims to develop a new cell culture platform to form defined molecular networks of brain cells and to monitor changes throughout the network in response to a small localised injury within the network. This innovative platform will be used to help understand changes within cells in response to physical damage to networks of brain cells. This is one of the major causes of death and disability in developed nations, and is identified as a risk factor for a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease.Read moreRead less
Resolving dissolved organic matter: new multi-dimensional separation approaches. To fully understand and model global carbon cycles the source, nature and fate of oceanic dissolved organic carbon is an essential element. This project will develop, model and apply new orthogonol and complementary separation science based technologies to further the comprehensive characterisation and understanding of these complex systems.
Self-assembled nanolayers of functionalised latexes as selective and adaptable nano-stationary phases in separation science. A new approach is proposed for the design and synthesis of functionalised ion-exchange stationary phases for analytical nano-separation methods. Desired charged functional groups are first affixed chemically onto nanometre sized latex particles and these particles are then self-assembled mechanically as monoloayer coatings onto a suitable supporting template such as fused ....Self-assembled nanolayers of functionalised latexes as selective and adaptable nano-stationary phases in separation science. A new approach is proposed for the design and synthesis of functionalised ion-exchange stationary phases for analytical nano-separation methods. Desired charged functional groups are first affixed chemically onto nanometre sized latex particles and these particles are then self-assembled mechanically as monoloayer coatings onto a suitable supporting template such as fused silica, monolithic silica or polymer beds, microfibres or microtubes, and channels in microchips. The resultant coated surface then acts as a highly efficient ion-exchange stationary phase which will be used in a wide range of separation technologies including ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography and solid-phase microextraction.Read moreRead less
Integrated microfluidic device for the direct analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids. Due to the way in which multiple processes are integrated in a micro Total Analysis System (µTAS), they offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability and operator simplicity and safety. This has considerable potential benefit for Australia, specifically for the remote and rural analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids such a ....Integrated microfluidic device for the direct analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids. Due to the way in which multiple processes are integrated in a micro Total Analysis System (µTAS), they offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability and operator simplicity and safety. This has considerable potential benefit for Australia, specifically for the remote and rural analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids such as blood, serum, urine and saliva. These devices will have application for point-of-care testing in therapeutic drug monitoring, which will improve medical treatment and the patient's quality of life, as well as for on-site analysis in forensics for the rapid determination of illicit drugs and performance enhancing substances in our elite athletes.
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Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of novel ion-exchange polymer monolithic stationary phases for separation science. This project will provide highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by accelerating the design and development of new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples. The project will lead to very significant new intellectual property having extremely high commercial potential worldwide, and therefore t ....Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of novel ion-exchange polymer monolithic stationary phases for separation science. This project will provide highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by accelerating the design and development of new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples. The project will lead to very significant new intellectual property having extremely high commercial potential worldwide, and therefore the project has potential for considerable direct financial returns to Australia. The new technologies will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including pre-and post-blast identification of explosives in counter-terrorism applications; environmental, clinical, and forensic analysis; energy generation and foods. Read moreRead less
Enhanced peak capacity in ion chromatography through gradient elution and multidimensional separations. Current methodology in ion chromatography (IC) is limited in that very complex samples cannot be analysed because the peak capacity of conventional IC systems is insufficient. The proposed research will provide a huge increase in peak capacity so that samples of extreme complexity can be analysed. Samples of this type occur in many fields, including environmental, clinical, forensic, energy ge ....Enhanced peak capacity in ion chromatography through gradient elution and multidimensional separations. Current methodology in ion chromatography (IC) is limited in that very complex samples cannot be analysed because the peak capacity of conventional IC systems is insufficient. The proposed research will provide a huge increase in peak capacity so that samples of extreme complexity can be analysed. Samples of this type occur in many fields, including environmental, clinical, forensic, energy generation and foods. The ability to directly address such samples will therefore provide benefit to a wide range of sciences of great importance to Australia. Moreover, the proposed research will lead to significant new intellectual property which can be commercialised, thereby providing further direct national benefit.Read moreRead less
ON-LINE PRECONCENTRATION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROSEPARATIONS USING SEGMENTED CAPILLARIES. This project aims to develop new on-line methods for trace enrichment of analytes in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography. The capillaries to be used will comprise a preconcentration zone and a separation zone with the research focusing predominantly on the chemistry of the preconcentration zone. Preconcentrators formed from wall-coatings and solid stationary phases will be used. The ....ON-LINE PRECONCENTRATION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROSEPARATIONS USING SEGMENTED CAPILLARIES. This project aims to develop new on-line methods for trace enrichment of analytes in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography. The capillaries to be used will comprise a preconcentration zone and a separation zone with the research focusing predominantly on the chemistry of the preconcentration zone. Preconcentrators formed from wall-coatings and solid stationary phases will be used. The project will result in new, highly sensitive analytical methods for inorganic ions, low molecular weight acids and bases, and proteins and peptides. These methods will have application in a wide range of important areas including environmental analysis and biotechnology.Read moreRead less