Enhancing Selectivity and Detection in Miniaturised Analytical Separation Systems. Miniaturisation-compatible stationary phases and detection techniques will be developed for microseparation techniques of capillary electrochromatography and chip-based separation systems, and their analytical applications will be investigated. Replaceable stationary phases (RSP) of chromatographic particles suspended in reversible gels will be created by delivering a liquid RSP to the column followed by in situ ....Enhancing Selectivity and Detection in Miniaturised Analytical Separation Systems. Miniaturisation-compatible stationary phases and detection techniques will be developed for microseparation techniques of capillary electrochromatography and chip-based separation systems, and their analytical applications will be investigated. Replaceable stationary phases (RSP) of chromatographic particles suspended in reversible gels will be created by delivering a liquid RSP to the column followed by in situ immobilisation. This approach offers flexibility in optimising a number of parameters of the column and of its use for sample pre-treatment and preconcentration. Pulsed potentiometric detection will be developed for the abovementioned microseparation techniques, combining the advantages of pulsed amperometric techniques with the more universally responding potentiometric detection.Read moreRead less
Understanding, Control, and Optimisation of Free Volume Mediated Transport in Technologically Important Materials. The understanding gained by this work will enable Australian scientists to outpace their competitors in rational materials design for transport of atoms and molecules in materials while reducing the costly trial and error stage of research. Specific examples studied and new materials investigated have important technological significance from use in flat panel TV screens, to solid ....Understanding, Control, and Optimisation of Free Volume Mediated Transport in Technologically Important Materials. The understanding gained by this work will enable Australian scientists to outpace their competitors in rational materials design for transport of atoms and molecules in materials while reducing the costly trial and error stage of research. Specific examples studied and new materials investigated have important technological significance from use in flat panel TV screens, to solid state electrolytes for application in a wide range of electrochemical devices. The understanding gained by this work can be applied to a wide range of important materials e.g. separation membranes, nanofilters and catalysts which help address a number of National Research Priorities.Read moreRead less
Photodissociation mass spectrometry for lipidome analysis. This project aims to develop and apply novel bioanalytical mass spectrometry-based methods and workflows to illuminate the otherwise hidden structural diversity and molecular complexity of the lipidome. The structure of individual lipids define their specific biological functions. A major requirement of analytical methods employed for lipid analysis on a lipidome-wide scale, therefore, is to enable the detailed structural characterisatio ....Photodissociation mass spectrometry for lipidome analysis. This project aims to develop and apply novel bioanalytical mass spectrometry-based methods and workflows to illuminate the otherwise hidden structural diversity and molecular complexity of the lipidome. The structure of individual lipids define their specific biological functions. A major requirement of analytical methods employed for lipid analysis on a lipidome-wide scale, therefore, is to enable the detailed structural characterisation of the, potentially, tens of thousands of individual molecular lipid species that may be present within a sample of interest. This project will develop and optimise novel, ultraviolet photodissociation-tandem mass spectrometry methods which will be integrated within an automated lipidome analysis workflow, to enable comprehensive global lipidome profiling and to reveal the structural diversity of lipids involved in fundamental cellular signalling processes.Read moreRead less
Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, in ....Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, investigating these interactions in living cells and finally applying the technology to tissue samples. The outcome of this research will be new drug screening technologies and methodologies to address two of the most devastating diseases to afflict human kind, offering hope to the countless millions suffering from these diseases.Read moreRead less
Tissue Engineering of Human Heart Valve Grown In Vitro. Tissue engineering (TE) of heart valves is a new approach to cultivate a functional heart valve from human autologous cells. This innovative study aims to develop the technology to transplant cells onto a 3D biocompatible valve scaffold that is capable of mimicking native valve. The work proposed is a ground breaking study that will encompass development of a new biomaterial, manufacture of scaffolds using the Fused Deposition Modelling ra ....Tissue Engineering of Human Heart Valve Grown In Vitro. Tissue engineering (TE) of heart valves is a new approach to cultivate a functional heart valve from human autologous cells. This innovative study aims to develop the technology to transplant cells onto a 3D biocompatible valve scaffold that is capable of mimicking native valve. The work proposed is a ground breaking study that will encompass development of a new biomaterial, manufacture of scaffolds using the Fused Deposition Modelling rapid prototyping process, hemodynamic optimisation and in vitro cell culture. This will advance our knowledge in cellular and scaffold technologies and may ultimately lead to the development of a TE heart valve.Read moreRead less
Fluid dynamics and mechanical stress of tissue heart valves. Major problems with thrombo-embolic complications and leaflet failure and calcification still exist with bioprosthetic valves. Valves fabricated from polyether urethanes are efficient and can offer more resistance to calcification. No complete study on the haemodynamics and structure interactions is found in literature. Moreover, todate the effect of aortic wall motion on the blood flow has never been examined. A complete holistic ap ....Fluid dynamics and mechanical stress of tissue heart valves. Major problems with thrombo-embolic complications and leaflet failure and calcification still exist with bioprosthetic valves. Valves fabricated from polyether urethanes are efficient and can offer more resistance to calcification. No complete study on the haemodynamics and structure interactions is found in literature. Moreover, todate the effect of aortic wall motion on the blood flow has never been examined. A complete holistic approach to simulataneuosly simulating the fluid dynamics, the valve motion and the stress in a synthetic Polyether urethane valve is proposed. Cell adhesion study will also be carried out. The findings may yield to new insights into valve research.Read moreRead less
Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medic ....Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medical diagnosis or chemical/biological detection more readily accessible, portable and more efficient. Moreover, the fundamental studies, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex physics involved, has generic benefits to researchers in applied physics as well as providing practical protocols for microdevice development.Read moreRead less
Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applic ....Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from the characterization of this product could also be of benefit to several areas including chemical engineering, tissue engineering, tissue repair, polymer chemistry and food manufacture. The expertise generated and the possibility of collaboration, both academic and with industry would also benefit the community. Read moreRead less
Development of Novel Two-dimensional Techniques for Magnetic Resonance In-vivo Spectroscopy. Body chemistry alters with functionality, pain, ageing and disease. These changes can be recorded by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (MRS) in vivo in a whole body MR scanner. When changes in chemistry can be recorded rapidly, and the individual species assigned, it will be possible to make a definitive diagnosis and in some cases allow the tailoring of treatment on an individual basis. This is curre ....Development of Novel Two-dimensional Techniques for Magnetic Resonance In-vivo Spectroscopy. Body chemistry alters with functionality, pain, ageing and disease. These changes can be recorded by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (MRS) in vivo in a whole body MR scanner. When changes in chemistry can be recorded rapidly, and the individual species assigned, it will be possible to make a definitive diagnosis and in some cases allow the tailoring of treatment on an individual basis. This is currently hampered by our inability to separate the composite resonances in a one dimensional MR spectrum. Research will allow two dimensional MRS to be implemented and provide detailed chemical information on human organs in vivo. Read moreRead less
Synchrotron developments of new techniques in X-ray interactions with matter, resolving major discrepancies in Quantum Physics and Chemistry. Synchrotron science is a priority area for Australia, the USA, and most first world countries. Development of new ideas and tools for X-ray investigations is the key to future opportunities and is the subject of this proposal. We will develop new techniques for crystallographic electron-density studies, X-ray Anomalous Fine Structure (XAFS) and Multiple-wa ....Synchrotron developments of new techniques in X-ray interactions with matter, resolving major discrepancies in Quantum Physics and Chemistry. Synchrotron science is a priority area for Australia, the USA, and most first world countries. Development of new ideas and tools for X-ray investigations is the key to future opportunities and is the subject of this proposal. We will develop new techniques for crystallographic electron-density studies, X-ray Anomalous Fine Structure (XAFS) and Multiple-wavelength Anomalous Dispersion (MAD), and provide useful advances for X-ray lithography and radiography. Simultaneous investigation of form factors, absorption coefficients, anomalous dispersion and X-ray scattering will provide new experimental tests of relativistic atomic wavefunction calculations, molecular bonding and solid state coupled cluster theory. Major discrepancies will be resolved.Read moreRead less