'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
Complementary pairs for next generation self-assembled systems . This project will employ a set of complementary pairings where separate sites fit together at metal ions in a specific fashion orthogonal to other pairings, like two jigsaw pieces, while forming a poor fit with other pairings. These pairings will allow retention and transfer of structural information. In this way, the bulk combination of relatively simple precursors will lead to self-assembled structures with well-defined seque ....Complementary pairs for next generation self-assembled systems . This project will employ a set of complementary pairings where separate sites fit together at metal ions in a specific fashion orthogonal to other pairings, like two jigsaw pieces, while forming a poor fit with other pairings. These pairings will allow retention and transfer of structural information. In this way, the bulk combination of relatively simple precursors will lead to self-assembled structures with well-defined sequence identity. This program will make and use complex abiotic molecules, enhancing outcomes in molecular information storage and transfer, molecular recognition and sensing, chemical transformations, and energy transport events, leading to economic and environmental benefits for Australia in industry and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their cataly ....Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their catalytic ability. This project aims to prepare a large family of robust organic cages quickly and easily, and subsequently incorporate metals containing free active sites that point into the cage cavity. It is expected that this will deliver strong and selective guest binding, and efficient and selective catalysis.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
Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowled ....Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowledge and sustainable technologies that can better harness visible light for useful synthetic chemistry applications. The benefits will be more efficient and cost-effective routes to valuable molecules ubiquitous in everyday life.Read moreRead less
Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Sign ....Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development, spanning small scale mobile to large scale stationary storage applications.Read moreRead less
Next generation supramolecular frameworks. This project aims to prepare new supramolecular frameworks assembled by hydrogen or halogen bonds. It is anticipated that this work will increase fundamental understanding of supramolecular self-assembly processes and the dynamic processes that are possible within these rearrangeable systems. The project aims to prepare a family of related frameworks, which will allow a detailed comparison of the stability, porosity and biotechnological applicability of ....Next generation supramolecular frameworks. This project aims to prepare new supramolecular frameworks assembled by hydrogen or halogen bonds. It is anticipated that this work will increase fundamental understanding of supramolecular self-assembly processes and the dynamic processes that are possible within these rearrangeable systems. The project aims to prepare a family of related frameworks, which will allow a detailed comparison of the stability, porosity and biotechnological applicability of new supramolecular materials. The expected outcomes are the development of lightweight and benign organic systems that will have applications in the removal of toxic organic and heavy metal pollutants from water, and in the encapsulation and stabilisation of catalytically-active enzymes.Read moreRead less