Effective Microfluidic Cell Sorting using Synergistic Acoustic and Optical manipulation. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique alone represented a US$860 million market in worldwide diagnostic and life science research devices for 2004. The development of a faster and cheaper device with similar efficacy, as per the objective of this work, has the potential of supplanting immunological methods of cell sorting and thus yield substantial economic returns to the nation. The research act ....Effective Microfluidic Cell Sorting using Synergistic Acoustic and Optical manipulation. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique alone represented a US$860 million market in worldwide diagnostic and life science research devices for 2004. The development of a faster and cheaper device with similar efficacy, as per the objective of this work, has the potential of supplanting immunological methods of cell sorting and thus yield substantial economic returns to the nation. The research activities in this project will strengthen Australia's research standing in the fields of microfluidics and lab-in-a-chip technologies. On a broader platform, it will contribute to Australia's high standing in the field of biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Micro-patterning of fluoropolymer surfaces for electronic and biomaterials applications. Formation of micro-patterned structures on fluoropolymers including PTFE, FEP and PVDF will be performed using micro-contact printing techniques in combination with surface graft co-polymerisation; an innovative convergence of two emerging technologies. Surface modification and structures formed will be investigated using contact angle measurements and mapping, and surface analytical techniques (XPS and TOFS ....Micro-patterning of fluoropolymer surfaces for electronic and biomaterials applications. Formation of micro-patterned structures on fluoropolymers including PTFE, FEP and PVDF will be performed using micro-contact printing techniques in combination with surface graft co-polymerisation; an innovative convergence of two emerging technologies. Surface modification and structures formed will be investigated using contact angle measurements and mapping, and surface analytical techniques (XPS and TOFSIMS). Processing methodologies will be identified which allow formation of micrometre scale tracks, and selected area deposition of sensor films and reactive biomaterials. Trial device fabrication will be undertaken using conditions and device structures similar to those required for production of diagnostic sensors and arrays, and polymer-based electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Asymmetrically Twisted Structures to form High-Power Rotary Micromotors for In-Vivo Swimming Microrobots. Major surgery is traumatic and risky, but often the only choice for the most serious of diseases that affect older people. In this study, we aim to provide doctors with a means to avoid major surgery and extend the capabilities of doctors to diagnose and treat patients using non- and minimally-invasive procedures: a powerful micromotor carrying its own power supply and a special flagellar pr ....Asymmetrically Twisted Structures to form High-Power Rotary Micromotors for In-Vivo Swimming Microrobots. Major surgery is traumatic and risky, but often the only choice for the most serious of diseases that affect older people. In this study, we aim to provide doctors with a means to avoid major surgery and extend the capabilities of doctors to diagnose and treat patients using non- and minimally-invasive procedures: a powerful micromotor carrying its own power supply and a special flagellar propeller to swim within the vascular and digestive systems of the human body to perform tasks via remote control. We also aim to understand the mechanisms underlying the operation of our motor system and flagellar motion in fluids to assist in the understanding of twisted blade structures and propulsion in fluids on the micro-scale.Read moreRead less