Synthetic molecular transporters. This work involves the synthesis of artificial motors that transport cargo down linear tracks in a manner that is reminiscent of the function of biological motor proteins such as kinesin and myosin. Attachment of these molecular machines to solid surfaces will also be explored.
'Multi-Coloured' Tracers for Magnetic Particle Imaging . Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is predicted to be the future of imaging and will outperform all current imaging techniques by having 'colours', improved resolution and 3D precision. This project aims to create 'multi-coloured' high-performance MPI tracers by synthesising a range of the most effective magnetic nanoparticle structures. The expected outcome is the fundamental understanding of the relationships between nanoparticle structures ....'Multi-Coloured' Tracers for Magnetic Particle Imaging . Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is predicted to be the future of imaging and will outperform all current imaging techniques by having 'colours', improved resolution and 3D precision. This project aims to create 'multi-coloured' high-performance MPI tracers by synthesising a range of the most effective magnetic nanoparticle structures. The expected outcome is the fundamental understanding of the relationships between nanoparticle structures and their magnetic properties for the formation of MPI signals with distinct ‘colours’. The benefits will be a library of MPI tracers that are able to provide ‘coloured’, high intensity, precise signals beyond what can be achieved with other imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
Controlling chemistry with light-powered molecular machines. This project aims to develop easily prepared synthetic molecules capable of performing complex tasks, such as controlled molecular motion or signal amplification, using visible light both as a fuel and a reporting mechanism. The challenge of using non-destructive visible light to control molecular motion is one of the most fundamental in science. The development of small molecular 'swimmers' would represent a landmark advance in the fi ....Controlling chemistry with light-powered molecular machines. This project aims to develop easily prepared synthetic molecules capable of performing complex tasks, such as controlled molecular motion or signal amplification, using visible light both as a fuel and a reporting mechanism. The challenge of using non-destructive visible light to control molecular motion is one of the most fundamental in science. The development of small molecular 'swimmers' would represent a landmark advance in the field. An expected outcome of the project is the control and monitoring of synthetic small molecule motion and function using visible light. These fundamental studies should benefit society by reducing energy consumption and waste during processes from production to disposal.Read moreRead less
Go with the flow! Using diffusion to direct the transport of molecules. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the directed bulk transport of molecules by controlled diffusion and flow linked by chemical reactions and chemical concentration gradients. The significance of this project is it will provide the first detailed experimental data to test proposed theories and produce a fundamental understanding of how molecules can undergo controlled transport in dilute solutions. Expecte ....Go with the flow! Using diffusion to direct the transport of molecules. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the directed bulk transport of molecules by controlled diffusion and flow linked by chemical reactions and chemical concentration gradients. The significance of this project is it will provide the first detailed experimental data to test proposed theories and produce a fundamental understanding of how molecules can undergo controlled transport in dilute solutions. Expected outcomes include a new understanding of how molecules can be guided toward their desired targets, which could have applications in waste collection or sensing by concentrating analytes, and for understanding biological processes.Read moreRead less
Responsive ‘OFF-ON’ switchable anion receptors for transmembrane transport. The project aims to develop switchable anion transporters and new assays to monitor the switchability of these compounds. Anion transport into cells has been shown to trigger cell death and so could be used as a method of killing cancer cells. However in order to do this the transporter compounds must target cancer cells specifically and not affect normal cells. Should this project be funded it will provide new fundam ....Responsive ‘OFF-ON’ switchable anion receptors for transmembrane transport. The project aims to develop switchable anion transporters and new assays to monitor the switchability of these compounds. Anion transport into cells has been shown to trigger cell death and so could be used as a method of killing cancer cells. However in order to do this the transporter compounds must target cancer cells specifically and not affect normal cells. Should this project be funded it will provide new fundamental knowledge on transporter design (switching transport on in cancer cells) which will be applicable to the future development of transporter-based therapeutics. It will also also provide interdisciplinary training opportunities for a PDRA, PhD and Honours students in a successful Australia-Spain collaboration.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
New synthetic receptors for selective recognition and sensing of biologically important anions. Anions play roles in almost every biochemical process, so the ability to selectively detect specific anions has numerous applications. This project will design and synthesise molecules capable of detecting target anions under physiological conditions. This will provide innovative small molecule receptors for use in biomedicine.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100088
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
nano infrared and sub micron Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Nano infrared and sub micron raman spectroscopy and imaging: Near-field Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and imaging systems will be coupled to near-field scanning optical microscopes to provide IR spectroscopy and molecular images at less than 20 nanometre lateral resolution. This is unprecedented resolution for infrared fingerprinting and molecular imaging. For two months a year the spectroscopy system will be coupled to the IR beamline at ....nano infrared and sub micron Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Nano infrared and sub micron raman spectroscopy and imaging: Near-field Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and imaging systems will be coupled to near-field scanning optical microscopes to provide IR spectroscopy and molecular images at less than 20 nanometre lateral resolution. This is unprecedented resolution for infrared fingerprinting and molecular imaging. For two months a year the spectroscopy system will be coupled to the IR beamline at the Australian synchrotron, to provide full IR spectral coverage available to all Australian and New Zealand scientists. A confocal raman spectrometer will be upgraded to the ultraviolet to provide spectra at less than 150 nanometre resolution. These systems will provide a unique Australian resource for nanoscientists, biomedical researchers and materials scientists requiring molecular information on the nanoscale.Read moreRead less