Electric field induced surface attachment and detachment of proteins. Microarrays are revolutionising the diagnosis of disease by enabling large amounts of data on genetics and protein expression to be obtained from one sample. Biosensors for diseases and toxins rely on the same mechanism, namely attachment of biological macromolecules to a surface. We propose a new method for controlling the attachment by micromachining an electrode system to apply an electric field to chosen sites. Ultimately ....Electric field induced surface attachment and detachment of proteins. Microarrays are revolutionising the diagnosis of disease by enabling large amounts of data on genetics and protein expression to be obtained from one sample. Biosensors for diseases and toxins rely on the same mechanism, namely attachment of biological macromolecules to a surface. We propose a new method for controlling the attachment by micromachining an electrode system to apply an electric field to chosen sites. Ultimately microelectronic engineering methods will be used. This will give control over the attachment process with potential benefits of orienting attaching molecules, minimising non-specific attachment and enriching diagnostics by enabling interrogation of the force of attachment.Read moreRead less
Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzy ....Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzymatic reactions through which the analyte will convert to much simpler, reactive and hence measurable molecules. This project will enable to design miniaturised sensors for point-of-care detection of biomolecules that cannot be yet evaluated by the end users.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354588
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Integrated Nanoscale Biosystems Network (INBN). The INBN will integrate high-priority research, already identified by the ARC, in materials nanoscience and engineering with nanoscale biology. The INBN will provide the means to consolidate world-class multidisciplinary Australian research groups in existing Centres of Excellence, including several Federation Fellows, into a nanobiotechnology focus. The significant outcomes of INBN are the critical mass of outstanding researchers in the nanobiosci ....Integrated Nanoscale Biosystems Network (INBN). The INBN will integrate high-priority research, already identified by the ARC, in materials nanoscience and engineering with nanoscale biology. The INBN will provide the means to consolidate world-class multidisciplinary Australian research groups in existing Centres of Excellence, including several Federation Fellows, into a nanobiotechnology focus. The significant outcomes of INBN are the critical mass of outstanding researchers in the nanobiosciences, facilitation of innovative research to produce novel intellectual property and provision of pathways into collaborative research with international scientists and industry, and the training and development of the next generation scientists for this emerging discipline.
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Harnessing the bioactivity of proteins and polypeptides: understanding and controlling adsorption processes to optimise linker free immobilisation. This project will use physical techniques and simulations to understand the interactions of biomolecules and plasma activated surfaces, allowing control of the biomolecule layer composition, orientation and conformation. This control, together with the ability of these surfaces to "lock-in" the optimised layer, will create a new generation of biodevi ....Harnessing the bioactivity of proteins and polypeptides: understanding and controlling adsorption processes to optimise linker free immobilisation. This project will use physical techniques and simulations to understand the interactions of biomolecules and plasma activated surfaces, allowing control of the biomolecule layer composition, orientation and conformation. This control, together with the ability of these surfaces to "lock-in" the optimised layer, will create a new generation of biodevices.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,123,492.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therap ....ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therapeutics. The use of an individual patient’s cellular and molecular research findings will ultimately enable personalised diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.Read moreRead less
Synthetic extracellular matrices for control of cellular reprogramming. This project aims to design materials that control the cellular environment for the fast, efficient, and reproducible production of reprogrammed cells in embryo-like architectures. Regenerative medicine has entered a new era, where reprogramming a patient’s cells is now possible for studying and treating disease. The expected outcomes of this project include mechanistic details of cell reprogramming, design rules for 3D prin ....Synthetic extracellular matrices for control of cellular reprogramming. This project aims to design materials that control the cellular environment for the fast, efficient, and reproducible production of reprogrammed cells in embryo-like architectures. Regenerative medicine has entered a new era, where reprogramming a patient’s cells is now possible for studying and treating disease. The expected outcomes of this project include mechanistic details of cell reprogramming, design rules for 3D printing of living cells and commercially viable reprogramming materials. The project expects to contribute fundamental knowledge in materials and biomedical sciences, while providing tools that will benefit commercial ventures in cell and tissue manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Multivalent drug delivery carrier for the targeted delivery of platinum anticancer agents to hepatocytes. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often treated with chemotherapy using cytotoxic drugs. This systemic treatment results in the distribution of the drug throughout the body. Employing a polymer particle as a drug carrier for these drugs ensures a temporal control of the release and therefore supply of the drug within the body. By attaching carbohydrate moieties onto the surface of the polyme ....Multivalent drug delivery carrier for the targeted delivery of platinum anticancer agents to hepatocytes. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often treated with chemotherapy using cytotoxic drugs. This systemic treatment results in the distribution of the drug throughout the body. Employing a polymer particle as a drug carrier for these drugs ensures a temporal control of the release and therefore supply of the drug within the body. By attaching carbohydrate moieties onto the surface of the polymer particle the drug carrier can specifically be recognized by cell receptors, thus allowing a targeted delivery of the drug to the desired area in the body. A range of carbohydrate-based drug carriers will be synthesized and tested towards their interaction with hepatocytes to allow optimisation of this drug carrier system.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101518
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,000.00
Summary
Cellular responses to nanoparticles from cells on micropatterned surfaces. The mechanisms underlying cell-nanoparticle interactions remain largely unknown. It has hampered the design and development of innovative nano devices to be used for drug delivery, biomarkers and diagnostics. This project aims to explore the influences of cell size, density, geometry, intercellular communication and substrate properties on cell-nanoparticle interactions. A micropatterning technology is applied to precisel ....Cellular responses to nanoparticles from cells on micropatterned surfaces. The mechanisms underlying cell-nanoparticle interactions remain largely unknown. It has hampered the design and development of innovative nano devices to be used for drug delivery, biomarkers and diagnostics. This project aims to explore the influences of cell size, density, geometry, intercellular communication and substrate properties on cell-nanoparticle interactions. A micropatterning technology is applied to precisely control cell behaviour and provide a novel in vitro cellular model for nanoparticle studies. This project aims to significantly improve the understanding of cell-nanoparticle interactions to provide new insight into nanoparticle design and improve the efficacy of nano devices.Read moreRead less
Core-shell nanoparticle from polymers with pendant cyclodextrins. A better drug delivery system will be developed for the treatment of cancer with albendazole. These nanoparticles enhance the circulation time in the body, but also facilitate the delivery of the drug to the site of the tumour, which will increase the efficacy of the treatment. The nanoparticles are obtained by processing polymers with pendant cyclodextrin groups, which are a type of complex sugars. Aim of this work is the explora ....Core-shell nanoparticle from polymers with pendant cyclodextrins. A better drug delivery system will be developed for the treatment of cancer with albendazole. These nanoparticles enhance the circulation time in the body, but also facilitate the delivery of the drug to the site of the tumour, which will increase the efficacy of the treatment. The nanoparticles are obtained by processing polymers with pendant cyclodextrin groups, which are a type of complex sugars. Aim of this work is the exploration of synthetic routes to generate nanoparticles. Tailoring the underpinning polymer structure of these nanoparticles will allow the optimisation of the release of albendazole from the drug carrier, thus improving cancer treatment.Read moreRead less
Degradable hollow microspheres for liver cancer treatment. The expected outcome of this multidisciplinary approach is a controlled drug delivery system for the treatment of liver cancer. We aim to increase the understanding of drug release using polymeric microspheres and the influence of the polymer properties on the release kinetics resulting in the tailored drug release for liver cancer treatment. An indepth knowledge in drug delivery can lead to optimised release kinetics leding to an increa ....Degradable hollow microspheres for liver cancer treatment. The expected outcome of this multidisciplinary approach is a controlled drug delivery system for the treatment of liver cancer. We aim to increase the understanding of drug release using polymeric microspheres and the influence of the polymer properties on the release kinetics resulting in the tailored drug release for liver cancer treatment. An indepth knowledge in drug delivery can lead to optimised release kinetics leding to an increased patient convenience and life prolonging treatments.Read moreRead less