Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Fluorine-labelled proteins for NMR spectroscopy. The technique developed in this project has direct impact on pharmaceutical research: NMR spectroscopy is used routinely to identify chemical compounds that bind to protein targets. This project includes the development of novel assignment techniques of 19F-labelled proteins, so that 19F-NMR can be used to detect specific binding interactions. One of the methods proposed here is designed to reveal structural information about the binding mode in s ....Fluorine-labelled proteins for NMR spectroscopy. The technique developed in this project has direct impact on pharmaceutical research: NMR spectroscopy is used routinely to identify chemical compounds that bind to protein targets. This project includes the development of novel assignment techniques of 19F-labelled proteins, so that 19F-NMR can be used to detect specific binding interactions. One of the methods proposed here is designed to reveal structural information about the binding mode in solution with atomic detail. This knowledge can significantly accelerate drug development. It is otherwise only available from crystal structures that can not always be determined.Read moreRead less
Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensio ....Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensions of the order of millionths of millimeters - forming so-called "smart nanomaterials". The materials prepared are expected to find application in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to the well-being of Australian citizens and the development of a robust Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Novel Dual Acting, Selenium Containing Antioxidants. Ischemic heart disease and chronic inflammation afflict a large segment of the Australian population, especially the ageing. These states are associated with free-radicals and other reactive oxygen species and can be controlled to some extent by the application of adenosine therapy. This project will combine the activity of adenosine agonists and enhancers with selenium-containing antioxidants, used to quench reactive oxygen spe ....Synthesis of Novel Dual Acting, Selenium Containing Antioxidants. Ischemic heart disease and chronic inflammation afflict a large segment of the Australian population, especially the ageing. These states are associated with free-radicals and other reactive oxygen species and can be controlled to some extent by the application of adenosine therapy. This project will combine the activity of adenosine agonists and enhancers with selenium-containing antioxidants, used to quench reactive oxygen species, to provide a powerful new class of pharmaceutical products designed to enhance the quality of life of Australians afflicted by diseases propagated by free-radicals.Read moreRead less
Design and synthesis of novel lanthanoid complexes for the fabrication of light emitting devices. There is a huge and still growing economy centred around the design and fabrication of low-cost Light Emitting Devices (LEDs), as demonstrated by the excess of US$1.3 billion invested in this field between 2000 and 2007. Nations focused on the production of new and more efficient materials will be at the forefront of these emerging technologies. The major thrust of this proposal, the design and prep ....Design and synthesis of novel lanthanoid complexes for the fabrication of light emitting devices. There is a huge and still growing economy centred around the design and fabrication of low-cost Light Emitting Devices (LEDs), as demonstrated by the excess of US$1.3 billion invested in this field between 2000 and 2007. Nations focused on the production of new and more efficient materials will be at the forefront of these emerging technologies. The major thrust of this proposal, the design and preparation of luminescent rare earths complexes, and their use for the fabrication of LEDS, represent a good opportunity for Australia to access this growing market. Read moreRead less
Nanogels: Next Generation Polymeric Particles. The existing knowledge in the formation of polymeric networks limits the technological development of polymer materials. This project will introduce new polymeric particles, called nanogels to open a new area in new polymeric architecture research. A number of new structures based on the nanogels will be developed. These new macromolecules will not only bring the polymer science into a new field, it will provide a great opportunity to discover the ....Nanogels: Next Generation Polymeric Particles. The existing knowledge in the formation of polymeric networks limits the technological development of polymer materials. This project will introduce new polymeric particles, called nanogels to open a new area in new polymeric architecture research. A number of new structures based on the nanogels will be developed. These new macromolecules will not only bring the polymer science into a new field, it will provide a great opportunity to discover the next generation of the polymeric products, particularly for application in automotive paint, drug delivery and bio-molecular separations.Read moreRead less
Biodegradable Porous HEMA-Based Polymers: Innovative Strategies for the Design and Tuneable Single-Step Production of a Novel Class of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. This project will lead to the development of new biocompatible, biodegradable, porous materials ideally suited to many applications in tissue engineering. These new biomaterials will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, via simple processes using non-toxic reagents. The key properties of the biomaterials will be controllable ....Biodegradable Porous HEMA-Based Polymers: Innovative Strategies for the Design and Tuneable Single-Step Production of a Novel Class of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. This project will lead to the development of new biocompatible, biodegradable, porous materials ideally suited to many applications in tissue engineering. These new biomaterials will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, via simple processes using non-toxic reagents. The key properties of the biomaterials will be controllable by appropriate choice of starting materials. The availability of these new biomaterials will facilitate future developments in tissue engineering, which will ultimately lead to improved medical outcomes in areas as diverse as joint and bone repair and organ regeneration. Local manufacture of these biomaterials would also contribute to the development of the Australian biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Modern Low Oxidation State/Low Coordination Main Group Chemistry: A New Domain for Australian Science. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. This will be aided by the return to Australia of an international leader in the field. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research program will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these ....Modern Low Oxidation State/Low Coordination Main Group Chemistry: A New Domain for Australian Science. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. This will be aided by the return to Australia of an international leader in the field. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research program will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns which will gain from the use of the proposed group 13 heterocycles in organic synthesis. Moreover, industries reliant on polymer supports in catalytic process or opto-electronic polymers will profit from the various polymers derived from phosphaalkynes.Read moreRead less
Development and Evaluation of Well-Defined Polymer-RNA Conjugates as Improved Therapeutics. Gene-based drugs offer an enormous potential to treat a wide range of diseases including, but not limited to, AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. However, effective delivery of these drugs in body is needed to convert their therapeutic potential to clinically applicable treatments. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop novel, polymer-gene hybrid materials for efficient delivery of gene based therapeuti ....Development and Evaluation of Well-Defined Polymer-RNA Conjugates as Improved Therapeutics. Gene-based drugs offer an enormous potential to treat a wide range of diseases including, but not limited to, AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. However, effective delivery of these drugs in body is needed to convert their therapeutic potential to clinically applicable treatments. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop novel, polymer-gene hybrid materials for efficient delivery of gene based therapeutics. Development of such advanced drug delivery systems will significantly enhance Australia`s power in biotechnology. Development and/or formation of new materials and strategies to improve the health quality of Australians, is an important anticipated outcome of this innovative project. Read moreRead less