LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN ADSORPTION AT BIOMATERIALS AND BIO-DIAGNOSTICS INTERFACES. This project aims to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of undesired biological deposits on synthetic materials and thereby help establish the scientific basis for the rational design of materials with improved compatibility with biological fluids and the engineering of a new generation of biomedical implant devices and bio-diagnostic devices. It is well known that proteins accumulate on synt ....LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN ADSORPTION AT BIOMATERIALS AND BIO-DIAGNOSTICS INTERFACES. This project aims to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of undesired biological deposits on synthetic materials and thereby help establish the scientific basis for the rational design of materials with improved compatibility with biological fluids and the engineering of a new generation of biomedical implant devices and bio-diagnostic devices. It is well known that proteins accumulate on synthetic solid surfaces. This project proposes to investigate whether lipids and lipoproteins also play key roles in the initiation of biological adsorption processes. Combined with the study of the interfacial forces responsible, this information will guide the design of preventative strategies.Read moreRead less
In-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy of biological redox processes: nanoscale structure and morphology. The science behind this project underpins the development of nanobiotechnology. Immediate applications foreseen, are the development of biosensors and diagnostic devices based on our intimate knowledge of the nature of the protein attachment to a surface. Use of synthetic membranes to create biomimetic surfaces will impact significantly on our understanding of the role and contribution membranes ....In-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy of biological redox processes: nanoscale structure and morphology. The science behind this project underpins the development of nanobiotechnology. Immediate applications foreseen, are the development of biosensors and diagnostic devices based on our intimate knowledge of the nature of the protein attachment to a surface. Use of synthetic membranes to create biomimetic surfaces will impact significantly on our understanding of the role and contribution membranes have on protein structure, function hence disease.Read moreRead less
Solving the problem of detecting small molecules in complex samples: A Label-Free Electrochemical Immuno-biosensor for drugs and pesticides. Biosensors are portable analytical devices which can be used by the general public without specialist training. The proposed research will develop a biosensor for the detection of small molecules such as pesticides, poisons and drugs; a class of analytes where there is currently no viable biosensor technology. The simple to use device will benefit the Aus ....Solving the problem of detecting small molecules in complex samples: A Label-Free Electrochemical Immuno-biosensor for drugs and pesticides. Biosensors are portable analytical devices which can be used by the general public without specialist training. The proposed research will develop a biosensor for the detection of small molecules such as pesticides, poisons and drugs; a class of analytes where there is currently no viable biosensor technology. The simple to use device will benefit the Australian community by providing technology which will allow rapid and inexpensive monitoring of water as well as biomedical diagnosis. The research will also benefit Australia via providing the training of scientists to establish the new generation of Australia's bionanotechnology industry. Read moreRead less
Making Silicon Even More Useful: Functionalising Silicon to Produce Stable Electronic Devices in Aqueous Environments. Silicon is the wonder material of our time, being the foundation upon which our electronics and device industries are based. Silicon however would be even more useful if it could be stabilised so the surface did not oxidise in air and water. If this oxidation could be prevented silicon could be used in a whole range of new devices related to biotechnology, molecular electronics ....Making Silicon Even More Useful: Functionalising Silicon to Produce Stable Electronic Devices in Aqueous Environments. Silicon is the wonder material of our time, being the foundation upon which our electronics and device industries are based. Silicon however would be even more useful if it could be stabilised so the surface did not oxidise in air and water. If this oxidation could be prevented silicon could be used in a whole range of new devices related to biotechnology, molecular electronics and sensing. The project will develop a viable surface chemistry strategy for achieving this stabilisation and hence will greatly expand the scope of devices which can be fabricated from silicon. This will have significant scientific and economic benefits for Australia. We will exploit this new capability for cancer detection, cell engineering and biosensing.Read moreRead less
Surface adsorption, repulsion and attraction: A new experimental approach to surface forces. The ability to understand and manipulate the stability of finely dispersed particles (colloids) in water is essential to modern living. It is necessary in processes as diverse as water purification, minerals separation, food and paper production. The behaviour of the colloidal system can often be understood in terms of the interaction between the dispersed particles. This project aims to improve our abil ....Surface adsorption, repulsion and attraction: A new experimental approach to surface forces. The ability to understand and manipulate the stability of finely dispersed particles (colloids) in water is essential to modern living. It is necessary in processes as diverse as water purification, minerals separation, food and paper production. The behaviour of the colloidal system can often be understood in terms of the interaction between the dispersed particles. This project aims to improve our ability to predict the nature of the interaction between dispersed particles, through an understanding of the events at a particle surface during a collision with another particle. This will enable us to better understand and control real colloidal systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347970
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$186,000.00
Summary
Integrated Bio-nano-fabrication Facility. The project proposes the upgrade of a joint facility for the probing, fabrication and operation of hybrid bio-nano-devices. The facility will enhance the proposers' capabilities in the area of the fundamental and prototype-type research on biomolecular/cellular devices. The ultimate goal of these projects is to thrust Australian science in the era when the essential functions of cells can be replicated and controlled on devices that are smaller than livi ....Integrated Bio-nano-fabrication Facility. The project proposes the upgrade of a joint facility for the probing, fabrication and operation of hybrid bio-nano-devices. The facility will enhance the proposers' capabilities in the area of the fundamental and prototype-type research on biomolecular/cellular devices. The ultimate goal of these projects is to thrust Australian science in the era when the essential functions of cells can be replicated and controlled on devices that are smaller than living cells. The proposed facility has a modular structure consisting of additional nano-positioning, confocal microscope and zeta potential modules built on the existent laser tweezers/scissors, picoliter pipette and Atomic Force Microscope modules.Read moreRead less
A Generic Solution for Interfacing Electrodes with Biological Media. Electrodes are the critical element of stimulating implantable devices such as cardiac pacemakers, bionic eyes and cochlear implants, the most commercially successful biosensors, and are emerging as key to new technologies for testing new drug leads using cells. In all these applications of electrodes in biology there has never been a solution to stopping unwanted adsorption of biological material onto the electrode that does ....A Generic Solution for Interfacing Electrodes with Biological Media. Electrodes are the critical element of stimulating implantable devices such as cardiac pacemakers, bionic eyes and cochlear implants, the most commercially successful biosensors, and are emerging as key to new technologies for testing new drug leads using cells. In all these applications of electrodes in biology there has never been a solution to stopping unwanted adsorption of biological material onto the electrode that does not dramatically decrease electrode performance. The proposed research finally provides a solution via surface modification. This strategy will enhance the performance of all the devices above and will open doors to new applications of electrochemistry within biology.Read moreRead less
Correlation between surface force and morphology of self-assembled monolayer. As a most potential solid support for biological molecules without denaturing their functions, gold thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been studied extensively for surface fabrication. In this project we will prepare functional monolayers using newly synthesized thiol derivatives, evaluate correlation between surface force and surface morphology of the SAMs using the surface forces apparatus, and optimize the ....Correlation between surface force and morphology of self-assembled monolayer. As a most potential solid support for biological molecules without denaturing their functions, gold thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been studied extensively for surface fabrication. In this project we will prepare functional monolayers using newly synthesized thiol derivatives, evaluate correlation between surface force and surface morphology of the SAMs using the surface forces apparatus, and optimize the condition to fabricate biological devices such as immune sensors.Read moreRead less
Nanorheology: Hydrodynamic Slip in Newtonian Fluids. Understanding fluid flow across a surface is essential to a great number of technologies. For over one hundred years it has been assumed that the layer of fluid adjacent to the solid moves with the solid, this is known as the no-slip boundary condition. Recently direct force balance measurements of aqueous Newtonian solutions have indicated the presence of boundary slip. Using a newly developed nanorheology technique we will systematically inv ....Nanorheology: Hydrodynamic Slip in Newtonian Fluids. Understanding fluid flow across a surface is essential to a great number of technologies. For over one hundred years it has been assumed that the layer of fluid adjacent to the solid moves with the solid, this is known as the no-slip boundary condition. Recently direct force balance measurements of aqueous Newtonian solutions have indicated the presence of boundary slip. Using a newly developed nanorheology technique we will systematically investigate the conditions that control boundary slip. This information will be used to quantify, model and control boundary slip, progressing the fields of microfluidics, particle deposition, and colloid stability.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force meas ....Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force measurement Australian researchers are leaders. The proposed instrument expands the capabilities of this effort, and develops exciting new directions including the direct manipulation of molecules through a novel feedback and control (haptic) interface.Read moreRead less