Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performi ....Trapping and Watching Biomolecular Complexes near Nanopores. This project aims to develop a technology to trap and interrogate nanosized molecular complexes in their natural state. Nanosized complexes in water provide the core machinery of biological systems and require detailed understanding to help unravel fundamental biological mechanisms. A prototype of a methodology has been developed to trap and interrogate nanoscaled objects as small as 190 nanometres within a nanopore device. By performing research to fully understand, miniaturise and develop this method further, this project aims to enable the quantitative observation of nanoscaled biological machinery involved in cell-to-cell communication and DNA unfolding. Such a technology platform may have applications in areas such as biology, biotechnology and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
DNA exhibits new self-assembled structures due to clustered DNA methylation. This project aims to develop a technology to investigate detailed epigenetic patterns in DNA by directly interrogating the physical properties of DNA polymers in their native state. Epigenetics controls whether genes and genetic programs are turned on or off in living systems. The project will build on a recent discovery that key physical properties of native DNA polymers are strongly influenced by epigenetic patterns c ....DNA exhibits new self-assembled structures due to clustered DNA methylation. This project aims to develop a technology to investigate detailed epigenetic patterns in DNA by directly interrogating the physical properties of DNA polymers in their native state. Epigenetics controls whether genes and genetic programs are turned on or off in living systems. The project will build on a recent discovery that key physical properties of native DNA polymers are strongly influenced by epigenetic patterns created by living organisms. By fully understanding this phenomenon, this project aims to provide new tools for the study of epigenetics with broad potential applications in the life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Next generation hybrid nanomaterials: bispecific antibody-targeted polymers. This project aims to develop and optimise a novel platform technology that will assist in the development of hybrid materials consisting of nanomaterials and biomolecules, which form the basis of many commercial diagnostic devices. A novel antibody, MIL38, will provide the test bed for the technology, which will aim to deliver a platform that is stable under physiological conditions and that enables facile conjugation o ....Next generation hybrid nanomaterials: bispecific antibody-targeted polymers. This project aims to develop and optimise a novel platform technology that will assist in the development of hybrid materials consisting of nanomaterials and biomolecules, which form the basis of many commercial diagnostic devices. A novel antibody, MIL38, will provide the test bed for the technology, which will aim to deliver a platform that is stable under physiological conditions and that enables facile conjugation of nanomaterials with antibodies. This project has the potential to rapidly improve the ligation process between synthetic nanomaterials and biologics, leading to more efficient synthesis of targeted diagnostics. This would provide a significant commercial advantage for any nanomaterials developed for the field, and specifically for this project, expedite translation of MIL38.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100067
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
The Vevo 2100 Micro-ultrasound plus LAZR Photoacoustic Imaging Platform . The Vevo 2100 micro-ultrasound plus LAZR photoacoustic imaging platform: The Vevo/LAZR ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging facility will allow researchers to achieve multiple outcomes: to visualise and quantify, non-invasively, tissue and molecular structures; the movement and behaviour of cells; and the delivery patterns of administered imaging dyes and nanoparticles in mouse models and reconstructed tissues. This will enabl ....The Vevo 2100 Micro-ultrasound plus LAZR Photoacoustic Imaging Platform . The Vevo 2100 micro-ultrasound plus LAZR photoacoustic imaging platform: The Vevo/LAZR ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging facility will allow researchers to achieve multiple outcomes: to visualise and quantify, non-invasively, tissue and molecular structures; the movement and behaviour of cells; and the delivery patterns of administered imaging dyes and nanoparticles in mouse models and reconstructed tissues. This will enable researchers to obtain anatomical, functional, physiological and molecular data simultaneously and in real-time, with resolution down to 40 micrometres. This will translate into both user efficiency and laboratory cost effectiveness, but more significantly is expected to result in greater understanding of fundamental mechanisms regulating the body's cell and tissue functions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101637
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,000.00
Summary
Plasmonic nanofocusing for super-resolution DNA imaging. Plasmonics (waves in a metal's electrons) can focus light to extreme concentrations that enable imaging techniques to resolve features well beyond the optical barrier known as the diffraction limit. This project aims to develop a routine methodology capable of extracting precise information from single DNA molecules by incorporating plasmonic components into a lab-on-a-chip device for use under conventional optical microscopes. The configu ....Plasmonic nanofocusing for super-resolution DNA imaging. Plasmonics (waves in a metal's electrons) can focus light to extreme concentrations that enable imaging techniques to resolve features well beyond the optical barrier known as the diffraction limit. This project aims to develop a routine methodology capable of extracting precise information from single DNA molecules by incorporating plasmonic components into a lab-on-a-chip device for use under conventional optical microscopes. The configuration would have the convenience and technological maturity associated with microscopes whilst being able to capture details of biomolecules with unprecedented detail. New DNA analyses will be made possible by the platform, such as studying the genomic diversity within a population of tumour cells.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100704
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,000.00
Summary
Development of Two-Dimensional MnO2 Nanosheets for a theranostic platform. This project aims to develop a novel diagnostic and therapeutic nanoplatform for cancer treatment that will improve cancer diagnosis and monitoring of treatment and reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy. The platform, based on biocompatible, ultrasmall and targeted two-dimensional manganese-oxide nanosheets, aims to combine simultaneous targeting, stimuli-responsive magnetic resonance imaging and drug release and delive ....Development of Two-Dimensional MnO2 Nanosheets for a theranostic platform. This project aims to develop a novel diagnostic and therapeutic nanoplatform for cancer treatment that will improve cancer diagnosis and monitoring of treatment and reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy. The platform, based on biocompatible, ultrasmall and targeted two-dimensional manganese-oxide nanosheets, aims to combine simultaneous targeting, stimuli-responsive magnetic resonance imaging and drug release and delivery. This should enable precise imaging of tumour tissues and enhanced drug delivery triggered by the physiological tumour microenvironment. The translation of this technology into clinical practice is likely to have significant benefits for the efficient treatment of cancer.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100345
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,616.00
Summary
Harnessing nanotechnology to unravel extracellular vesicle heterogeneity. This project aims to develop a suite of innovative nanotechnologies to study extracellular vesicles with unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the emerging field of extracellular vesicle (EV) biology, as well as cell biology, using advanced nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of EV heterogeneity and how phenotypic va ....Harnessing nanotechnology to unravel extracellular vesicle heterogeneity. This project aims to develop a suite of innovative nanotechnologies to study extracellular vesicles with unprecedented depth of analysis and single particle resolution. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the emerging field of extracellular vesicle (EV) biology, as well as cell biology, using advanced nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of EV heterogeneity and how phenotypic variations affect their role in cellular processes. Expected outcomes include a universal technology platform to study extracellular vesicles and other bioparticles, with potential to deliver valuable intellectual property of commercial interest and economic benefit through technological advancements.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100092
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
X-ray induced photoacoustic nanoprobe: Break depth dependency of bioimaging. This project aims to develop a nanoprobe using an X-ray excited luminescence “nanolaser” as the local light source to activate coupled responsive photoacoustic sensors. In-situ imaging of specific biomarkers at the molecular level is key to understanding their roles in physiological and pathological processes, but current imaging techniques using fluorescent probes cannot detect biomarkers in deep tissues due to shallow ....X-ray induced photoacoustic nanoprobe: Break depth dependency of bioimaging. This project aims to develop a nanoprobe using an X-ray excited luminescence “nanolaser” as the local light source to activate coupled responsive photoacoustic sensors. In-situ imaging of specific biomarkers at the molecular level is key to understanding their roles in physiological and pathological processes, but current imaging techniques using fluorescent probes cannot detect biomarkers in deep tissues due to shallow light penetration. By capitalising on the tissue penetrating property of X-rays and acoustic waves and collecting acoustic waves as the read-out signal, real-time monitoring of biomarkers in deep tissues could be achieved, advancing detection technology for deep-tissue biomarkers.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to unde ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to understand how single cells react to and communicate with their surroundings. This science will underpin a new generation of devices capable of probing the response of cells within individuals to environmental conditions or treatment, creating innovative and powerful new sensing platforms.Read moreRead less