Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzy ....Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzymatic reactions through which the analyte will convert to much simpler, reactive and hence measurable molecules. This project will enable to design miniaturised sensors for point-of-care detection of biomolecules that cannot be yet evaluated by the end users.Read moreRead less
Scaling microfluidics for cell manufacture. Scaling microfluidics for cell manufacture. This project aims to scale microfluidic devices for cell manufacture. Large-scale cell manufacturing processes (cell selection, gene transfer and culture expansion) are expensive, multistep and labour-intensive processes. Lab-on-a-chip devices can automate and integrate these complex processes at microscale. This project will evaluate a prototype bioreactor. This research is expected to make cell therapies ch ....Scaling microfluidics for cell manufacture. Scaling microfluidics for cell manufacture. This project aims to scale microfluidic devices for cell manufacture. Large-scale cell manufacturing processes (cell selection, gene transfer and culture expansion) are expensive, multistep and labour-intensive processes. Lab-on-a-chip devices can automate and integrate these complex processes at microscale. This project will evaluate a prototype bioreactor. This research is expected to make cell therapies cheap enough to become standard treatment, which would benefit patients with diseases that are incurable by conventional therapies (surgery and drug treatments). It should also benefit the Australian advanced manufacturing sector, particularly biopharmaceutical and cell therapy industries.Read moreRead less
Application of Vortex Fluidics in Macroalgal Biorefinery. This project aims to improve seaweed processing to deliver multiple high-value products including alginate, fucoidan and laminarin, which have food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. The project integrates an advanced biorefinery process with a vortex fluidic device to accelerate chemical reactions, reduce the catalysts and chemicals used, and improve product yield and productivity. Application of the device in the critical steps of enzym ....Application of Vortex Fluidics in Macroalgal Biorefinery. This project aims to improve seaweed processing to deliver multiple high-value products including alginate, fucoidan and laminarin, which have food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. The project integrates an advanced biorefinery process with a vortex fluidic device to accelerate chemical reactions, reduce the catalysts and chemicals used, and improve product yield and productivity. Application of the device in the critical steps of enzymatic digestion, acid and alkaline extraction, and precipitation is intended to deliver significant water, energy, chemical and cost saving. It is anticipated that the innovation will lead to the establishment of a new sustainable seaweed processing industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Particle segregation and dynamics in inertial microfluidics systems. This project aims to produce microfluidic devices suitable for high-throughput cell sorting and cellular therapy in the biopharmaceutical industry. This project will combine state-of-the-art experimental approaches with advanced modelling techniques to design and develop the new generation of filtration systems for the pharmaceutical industry. The knowledge and models developed in this project will assist design and development ....Particle segregation and dynamics in inertial microfluidics systems. This project aims to produce microfluidic devices suitable for high-throughput cell sorting and cellular therapy in the biopharmaceutical industry. This project will combine state-of-the-art experimental approaches with advanced modelling techniques to design and develop the new generation of filtration systems for the pharmaceutical industry. The knowledge and models developed in this project will assist design and development of a unique platform for scalable, high-throughput, low-cost and continuous cell separation.Read moreRead less
Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechn ....Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechnology challenges to improve yield and product isolation and concentration. Improvements in drug manufacturing processes will assist drug affected communities and industry will benefit from value adding, greater market share and flexibility, increased innovation and de-risked processes and new products. Read moreRead less
A Nano-platform for affordable and ultra-sensitive bio-marker detection. This project aims to develop a next-generation nano-platform and lateral flow assays (LFA) device for ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers. LFA’s are used for the rapid detection of biomarkers; however, their sensitivity is relatively low. The preparation of innovative porous silica nanoparticles with uniform particle size and controllable structures (pore size, pore structure, internal surface functionality and density ....A Nano-platform for affordable and ultra-sensitive bio-marker detection. This project aims to develop a next-generation nano-platform and lateral flow assays (LFA) device for ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers. LFA’s are used for the rapid detection of biomarkers; however, their sensitivity is relatively low. The preparation of innovative porous silica nanoparticles with uniform particle size and controllable structures (pore size, pore structure, internal surface functionality and density) will enable higher loading of quantum dots and enhanced detection sensitivity. Improving the detection sensitivity of the inexpensive and disposable LFA diagnostic technology will open up new applications for rapid and accurate biomarker detection. The resulting technology will advance Australian industrial capability and competiveness in the global lateral flow assays market, which is estimated to be valued at US$ 6.78 billion by 2020.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101359
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Hierarchical 3D metal organic frameworks for the microfabrication of advanced biomedical devices. This project will produce three-dimensional porous structures for use in sensing devices and biomedical implants. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile ultra high surface area materials with controllable pore size, chemical properties and functionalisation. These new materials will be incorporated into portable biosensing devices which are highly sensitive and reliable. The project involves ....Hierarchical 3D metal organic frameworks for the microfabrication of advanced biomedical devices. This project will produce three-dimensional porous structures for use in sensing devices and biomedical implants. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile ultra high surface area materials with controllable pore size, chemical properties and functionalisation. These new materials will be incorporated into portable biosensing devices which are highly sensitive and reliable. The project involves three streams including preparation of the three-dimensional metal scaffolds utilizing state-of-the-art direct manufacturing technologies; integration of MOFs on the three-dimensional metal scaffolds using the metallic structure as the source of the MOF metal ions; and incorporation of bio-active molecules into the three-dimensional hierarchically porous structure for the purpose of bio-device fabrication.Read moreRead less
Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the proj ....Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a new toolkit that will enable wastewater treatment plants to design and optimize both existing and future pipeline systems. This will support the Australian wastewater industry to plan for future growth, increase throughput and efficiency, reduce environmental pollutants, and capital and operating costs.Read moreRead less
Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use ....Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use. The expected outcomes of the project will have a huge impact on industrial purification processing by providing a disruptive membrane technology, and will significantly reduce energy consumption and open up new routes for resources.Read moreRead less
Intracellular manufacturing - high performance biomaterials from methane. The aim of this project is to produce high performance biodegradable polymers directly from methane. The key innovation is employing cutting-edge community genomic and transcriptomic approaches to characterise intracellular production lines in order to tailor polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) copolymer microstructures. This is a truly multidisciplinary project bringing together engineers, polymer scientists and molecu ....Intracellular manufacturing - high performance biomaterials from methane. The aim of this project is to produce high performance biodegradable polymers directly from methane. The key innovation is employing cutting-edge community genomic and transcriptomic approaches to characterise intracellular production lines in order to tailor polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) copolymer microstructures. This is a truly multidisciplinary project bringing together engineers, polymer scientists and molecular biologists. It is expected that a direct outcome of the project will be the first PHBV copolymer from methane. As such, the project aims to develop technology for the production of tough, flexible and affordable biopolymers and, at the same time, provide an opportunity to add value to methane.Read moreRead less