Creation of a super-resolution map of the bacterial cytokinesis machinery . Cell division is a fundamental process essential for life. Yet our understanding of this process on a molecular level is limited, mostly hampered by the inability to visualize the different components of the division machinery inside these tiny cells with adequate resolution. To overcome this barrier, capitalizing on recent advancements in imaging and molecular technologies combined with innovative engineering, this proj ....Creation of a super-resolution map of the bacterial cytokinesis machinery . Cell division is a fundamental process essential for life. Yet our understanding of this process on a molecular level is limited, mostly hampered by the inability to visualize the different components of the division machinery inside these tiny cells with adequate resolution. To overcome this barrier, capitalizing on recent advancements in imaging and molecular technologies combined with innovative engineering, this project aims to create a spatial and temporal map of the division machinery inside bacterial cells at unprecedented resolution. The expected outcomes are new knowledge on the mechanism of bacterial division and technological advances in biological imaging, informing applications in a wide variety of sectors.Read moreRead less
Bioinks that Advance 3D bioprinting of cells to the 4th dimension. The aim of this research is to provide a simple method for creating complex 3D cell cultures for in vitro cell based assays using 3D printing. A versatile polymer system as a bioink made from entirely commercially available components, will be advanced that gives a full range of soft tissue mimics and which can be dynamically change on-demand after printing of the 3D cell cultures. The latter will provide in vitro mimics of in vi ....Bioinks that Advance 3D bioprinting of cells to the 4th dimension. The aim of this research is to provide a simple method for creating complex 3D cell cultures for in vitro cell based assays using 3D printing. A versatile polymer system as a bioink made from entirely commercially available components, will be advanced that gives a full range of soft tissue mimics and which can be dynamically change on-demand after printing of the 3D cell cultures. The latter will provide in vitro mimics of in vivo events never previously possible with more realistic models of what is found in vivo. Applications are in fundamental cell biology, studying diseases and developing new drugs. The outcomes from this research will be new knowledge on designing cheap extracellular matrix mimics and high throughout 3D cell assays.Read moreRead less
Laser-free on-chip super-resolution microscopy. The project aims to develop a compact, cost-effective on-chip super-resolution microscope through an innovative combination of imaging algorithms, optics and integrated photonics. This project addresses limitations in imaging algorithms that increase laser system complexity and constrain imaging speed and applications, as well as nanostructure fabrication issues. Expected outcomes include the discovery of emitter self-interference microscopy, new k ....Laser-free on-chip super-resolution microscopy. The project aims to develop a compact, cost-effective on-chip super-resolution microscope through an innovative combination of imaging algorithms, optics and integrated photonics. This project addresses limitations in imaging algorithms that increase laser system complexity and constrain imaging speed and applications, as well as nanostructure fabrication issues. Expected outcomes include the discovery of emitter self-interference microscopy, new knowledge in imaging, photonics and biophysics, the world’s fastest super-resolution technology, compact on-chip nanoscopy that can be added to existing technology and proof of concept in three areas. Benefits are anticipated in commercialisation, improved photonics devices and usage in biophysics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100321
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Optical Metasurface for Single Small Extracellular Vesicle Analysis. This project aims to develop an innovative nanobiotechnology to study small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) – small biological particles that are important in intercellular communication. The technology will enable unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. It will generate new knowledge in both engineering and biological sciences by improving sEV image resolution and collecting information regarding the dist ....Optical Metasurface for Single Small Extracellular Vesicle Analysis. This project aims to develop an innovative nanobiotechnology to study small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) – small biological particles that are important in intercellular communication. The technology will enable unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. It will generate new knowledge in both engineering and biological sciences by improving sEV image resolution and collecting information regarding the distribution of different sEV subpopulations based on their protein phenotypes. Expected outcomes include a universal and ultrasensitive platform with many applications in analytical biochemistry such as disease diagnostics, environmental sciences, food safety and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitativel ....Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitatively at multiscales and the nanoscale phenomena will be linked to macroscopic performance. The results of this research should provide a fundamental understanding of tunable adhesion mechanisms for the design and development of optimized materials with superb performance of practical significance.
Read moreRead less
Reading the sequence of a single molecule of DNA . This project seeks to develop technology capable of accurately reading the sequence of a single DNA molecule for the first time. This is possible by combining state-of-the-art methods in DNA self-assembly, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and bioelectronics, to overcome fundamental limits in current technologies.
The outcome of accurate DNA sequencing at single molecule resolution, promises ground-breaking biological insight from a more ....Reading the sequence of a single molecule of DNA . This project seeks to develop technology capable of accurately reading the sequence of a single DNA molecule for the first time. This is possible by combining state-of-the-art methods in DNA self-assembly, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and bioelectronics, to overcome fundamental limits in current technologies.
The outcome of accurate DNA sequencing at single molecule resolution, promises ground-breaking biological insight from a more fine-grained view of the genetic world, game-changing technologies such as point-of-care genomics and in turn a substantial impact on the rapidly growing multi-billion-dollar DNA sequencing market. Read moreRead less
Biofabricated tissue mimics for nanoparticle design and development. Nanoparticles are widely used in commercial applications spanning biotechnology, health and environmental monitoring, and drug delivery. Materials scientists can generate large libraries of nanoparticles, but the toolbox available to test these nanoparticles is limited. We will use biofabrication to comprehensively evaluate the fate of polymer grafted nanocellulose across simulated tissue barriers. Model blood vessels with reci ....Biofabricated tissue mimics for nanoparticle design and development. Nanoparticles are widely used in commercial applications spanning biotechnology, health and environmental monitoring, and drug delivery. Materials scientists can generate large libraries of nanoparticles, but the toolbox available to test these nanoparticles is limited. We will use biofabrication to comprehensively evaluate the fate of polymer grafted nanocellulose across simulated tissue barriers. Model blood vessels with recirculating flow will help understand permeation; tunable matrices will establish ‘matrix structure—nanoparticle diffusion’ criteria. The outcome from this project will be an understanding of how plastic nanoparticles penetrate tissue, to guide nanomaterials design and mitigate risk associated with toxicity. Read moreRead less
Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected ....Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected outcomes include significant contributions to Australia's scholarly outputs, enhanced national capacity in disruptive nanotechnology, new opportunities for national value-add material manufacturing, and long-term benefits to biomedical and veterinary industries through new materials and nanotechnologies.
Read moreRead less
Integrated Nanoplatform for Multiomics Analysis of Cell-to-Cell Interaction. This project aims to develop an integrated nanoplatform for analysis of exosomes produced by host-pathogen interaction at the single cell level. This will be accomplished by engineering an innovative device involving plasmonic nanoparticles to probe exosomes molecular profiles over time. The intended outcome is a generic and robust platform for detailed molecular analysis of the consequences of cell-to-cell interactions ....Integrated Nanoplatform for Multiomics Analysis of Cell-to-Cell Interaction. This project aims to develop an integrated nanoplatform for analysis of exosomes produced by host-pathogen interaction at the single cell level. This will be accomplished by engineering an innovative device involving plasmonic nanoparticles to probe exosomes molecular profiles over time. The intended outcome is a generic and robust platform for detailed molecular analysis of the consequences of cell-to-cell interactions. Single cell scale will greatly improve detection accuracy for heterogeneous cell populations. Benefits will include new knowledge of cell-to-cell communication and intellectual property in manufacturing, which will foster collaborations across institutions and Australian industry by providing new technological solutions.Read moreRead less