Nitroxide-containing scaffolds for controlling biofilm-related infections. Bacterial biofilms are a major problem in healthcare systems around the world as they cause persistent and chronic infections, including those associated with medical implants and cystic fibrosis. This project aims to develop new chemical approaches to deliver nitroxides at surface interfaces and in microparticles to facilitate long term control over biofilm growth. It is expected that these functionalised scaffolds will ....Nitroxide-containing scaffolds for controlling biofilm-related infections. Bacterial biofilms are a major problem in healthcare systems around the world as they cause persistent and chronic infections, including those associated with medical implants and cystic fibrosis. This project aims to develop new chemical approaches to deliver nitroxides at surface interfaces and in microparticles to facilitate long term control over biofilm growth. It is expected that these functionalised scaffolds will represent a breakthrough in the field and will have a profound impact by reducing infection rates associated with medical devices and improving airway clearance in cystic fibrosis patients.Read moreRead less
On-demand visible light degradable dental materials. This project aims to break new ground in the field of advanced adhesives by pioneering a unique system that can be cleaved with a defined visible light trigger, enabling the removal of previously bonded material without mechanical force. This would allow two materials to be strongly bonded, including dental crowns, braces and implants. The project will advance on-demand degradable materials design, introducing an advanced class of responsive n ....On-demand visible light degradable dental materials. This project aims to break new ground in the field of advanced adhesives by pioneering a unique system that can be cleaved with a defined visible light trigger, enabling the removal of previously bonded material without mechanical force. This would allow two materials to be strongly bonded, including dental crowns, braces and implants. The project will advance on-demand degradable materials design, introducing an advanced class of responsive networks for applications where reversible bonding is critical. It will have flow on benefits in future dental material applications and also have applications where simple-to-remove, temporary adhesives are required.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticles to combat cellular dysfunction. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise nanoparticles that can mediate the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. The project expects to develop nanoparticles with tailored chemical functionality to modulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species and develop a platform technology for addressing conditions where reactive species are overproduced. The project will research how nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties affect ....Nanoparticles to combat cellular dysfunction. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise nanoparticles that can mediate the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. The project expects to develop nanoparticles with tailored chemical functionality to modulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species and develop a platform technology for addressing conditions where reactive species are overproduced. The project will research how nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties affect their activity, and how they affect cellular function, tissue morphology and particle transport in a biological milieu. The project is expected to benefit the advanced manufacturing, veterinary and medical sectors and could lead to new chemotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
A new generation of photoresists for three- dimensional laser lithography. This project aims at a step-change in photoresist technology by introducing visible-light-induced photochemistry as the basis of next generation direct laser writing (DLW) technology. This willenable functional photoresists that allow precision coding of complex soft matter material properties on the three-dimensional nanoscale. The outcomes of the project will enable the mild fabrication of three-dimensional structures w ....A new generation of photoresists for three- dimensional laser lithography. This project aims at a step-change in photoresist technology by introducing visible-light-induced photochemistry as the basis of next generation direct laser writing (DLW) technology. This willenable functional photoresists that allow precision coding of complex soft matter material properties on the three-dimensional nanoscale. The outcomes of the project will enable the mild fabrication of three-dimensional structures with unique property control and resolution, benefitting diverse fields ranging from designer (stem) cell niches and lab-on-a-chip applications to photonic wire bonding.Read moreRead less
Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan- ....Mimicking the perivascular niche with boronolectin-based biomaterials. This project aims to address roadblocks in perivascular stem cell manufacturing by discovering novel mechanisms and materials that improve cell quality outcomes during extended culture. An innovative, interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials discovery, combining live cell-based screening of cell surface glycans, bio-inspired materials design and synthesis, and niche mimicry, will enable the discovery of cell surface glycan-mediated interactions that support long-term expansion and potency maintenance, and synthetic biomaterials that can mimic them. Significant benefits for stem cell researchers, manufacturers and end users are expected from the project and the application of this scalable biomaterial platform.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology. The CoE in Convergent Bio-Nano Science &Technology comprises a multi-disciplinary team focused on research aiming to understand and control the interface of materials with biological systems. The Centre will exploit knowledge of the bio-nano interface to design materials that transport and deliver vaccines, drugs and gene therapy agents, and to design new diagnostic agents and devices. Nanomedicines are on the cusp of revol ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology. The CoE in Convergent Bio-Nano Science &Technology comprises a multi-disciplinary team focused on research aiming to understand and control the interface of materials with biological systems. The Centre will exploit knowledge of the bio-nano interface to design materials that transport and deliver vaccines, drugs and gene therapy agents, and to design new diagnostic agents and devices. Nanomedicines are on the cusp of revolutionizing diagnosis and therapy in many diseases. The CoE will be the focus of bio-nano research activity in Australia, uniting universities, research agencies, institutes and companies. The expected outcomes are better diagnostic and therapeutic tools designed via an enhanced understanding of the bio-nano-interface.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100280
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Bio-inspired multifunctional inorganic nanostructured interfaces. Learning from nature involves taking ideas from nature and developing novel functional materials. This project aims to design novel bio-inspired multifunctional interfaces to prevent the adherence of crystals and solid particles to surfaces, achieve excellent mechanical resilience, and provide multiple photoresponses, based on a deep understanding of the fundamental physiochemical, mechanical, structural, and optical characteristi ....Bio-inspired multifunctional inorganic nanostructured interfaces. Learning from nature involves taking ideas from nature and developing novel functional materials. This project aims to design novel bio-inspired multifunctional interfaces to prevent the adherence of crystals and solid particles to surfaces, achieve excellent mechanical resilience, and provide multiple photoresponses, based on a deep understanding of the fundamental physiochemical, mechanical, structural, and optical characteristics of natural multifunctional surfaces/interfaces in the target natural species. This project aims to aid in the design of new bio-inspired smart materials and deliver novel technologies for materials synthesis for potential uses in the chemical industry, sustainable energy applications, and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Permanent Concentration Gradients Captured in Molecular and Framework Co-Crystals. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise molecular and framework co-crystals in which the molecular components are arranged in permanent concentration gradients. Synthetic crystals of this type are unprecedented. The concentration gradient has significant implications for the physical properties of the crystals (for example, optical, magnetic and electronic) as these must also vary in concert with ....Permanent Concentration Gradients Captured in Molecular and Framework Co-Crystals. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise molecular and framework co-crystals in which the molecular components are arranged in permanent concentration gradients. Synthetic crystals of this type are unprecedented. The concentration gradient has significant implications for the physical properties of the crystals (for example, optical, magnetic and electronic) as these must also vary in concert with the changing local molecular composition. These co-crystals promise unique magnetic and optical properties that will influence design of new smart solid-state materials with potential for use in future high-technology applications.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional and Multimodal Theranostics: Manipulating Material Properties for Advanced Diagnostics. The utilisation of polymers in nanomedicine requires a bottom-up approach, where the fundamental chemistry is well-established and understood before it enables an application. This project develops branched polymers as new nanomaterials for theranostics; imaging modalities that “switch-on” when miRNA is released will quantify how much nanomaterial gets to a specific site, while a built-in sens ....Multifunctional and Multimodal Theranostics: Manipulating Material Properties for Advanced Diagnostics. The utilisation of polymers in nanomedicine requires a bottom-up approach, where the fundamental chemistry is well-established and understood before it enables an application. This project develops branched polymers as new nanomaterials for theranostics; imaging modalities that “switch-on” when miRNA is released will quantify how much nanomaterial gets to a specific site, while a built-in sensor based on physical changes in the nanomaterial will measure the onset and progression of necrosis. The aim is to develop a fundamental understanding of how polymer architecture and functionality can be utilised to drive device performance, providing a platform to probe new technology and methodologies for development of next generation theranostics.Read moreRead less