Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dis ....Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dispersal, which is critical for the discovery of anti-biofilm molecules that do not fail due to resistance development. These breakthroughs should induce a step-change in our ability to reduce the occurrence of biofilm-related infection in fields ranging from medical and veterinary to biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
pH Switching of Radical Reactivity and Orbital Conversion. Radicals are reactive species that have an unpaired electron, which is usually located in the highest occupied orbital. This proposal uses a combination of theory and experiment to design a new class of radical anions whose unpaired electron is not the highest occupied orbital, and whose electronic configuration reverts to the normal aufbau configuration upon protonation. These special radical anions will display unprecedented radical st ....pH Switching of Radical Reactivity and Orbital Conversion. Radicals are reactive species that have an unpaired electron, which is usually located in the highest occupied orbital. This proposal uses a combination of theory and experiment to design a new class of radical anions whose unpaired electron is not the highest occupied orbital, and whose electronic configuration reverts to the normal aufbau configuration upon protonation. These special radical anions will display unprecedented radical stability that is pH switchable, as well as ferromagnetism and conductivity upon oxidation. This project will exploit these unusual properties in the design of pH-switchable protecting groups for radicals for synthesis and polymerisation, and determine their role in oxidative stress and enzyme kinetics.Read moreRead less
Supercharging antioxidant capacity. This project aims to deliver improved, tailor-made antioxidants that can better protect key biomolecules and other materials against collateral damage from oxidants within cells. Through fundamental chemistry research, this project aims to understand the relationship between antioxidant capacity and molecular structure, and, through computational chemistry, develop a predictive tool. This, in turn, will provide the means to design molecules that better protect ....Supercharging antioxidant capacity. This project aims to deliver improved, tailor-made antioxidants that can better protect key biomolecules and other materials against collateral damage from oxidants within cells. Through fundamental chemistry research, this project aims to understand the relationship between antioxidant capacity and molecular structure, and, through computational chemistry, develop a predictive tool. This, in turn, will provide the means to design molecules that better protect against oxidative processes. The expected outcome is improved technology to heal tissue damage and inflammation caused by enzymes.Read moreRead less
The role of hypohalous acids and related oxidants in the oxidative damage of biological systems: a computational investigation. The aim of this project is to decipher the molecular mechanisms of key reactions involved in oxidative damage to biomolecules. The study will lead to a better understanding of oxidative stress in biological systems and its role in chronic inflammatory disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100311
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Mimicking nature: computational design of better antioxidants. The project will address a major challenge in biochemistry: how to design antioxidants that effectively scavenge harmful free radicals. This will involve the use of state-of-the-art quantum chemistry calculations to determine the molecular mechanisms of natural antioxidants and to design artificial antioxidants with higher efficacy. This project will introduce new concepts and methodologies that build on recent breakthrough research, ....Mimicking nature: computational design of better antioxidants. The project will address a major challenge in biochemistry: how to design antioxidants that effectively scavenge harmful free radicals. This will involve the use of state-of-the-art quantum chemistry calculations to determine the molecular mechanisms of natural antioxidants and to design artificial antioxidants with higher efficacy. This project will introduce new concepts and methodologies that build on recent breakthrough research, revealing a novel mechanism of action of natural antioxidants. This will unravel the reaction mechanisms underlying defence against radical damage to key biomolecules, and will allow the design of bioinspired antioxidants for the treatment of oxidative-damage related diseases that affect millions of people.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100061
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$710,000.00
Summary
Extending frontiers of structural chemistry and biology through high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Multifrequency high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) instrumentation will provide forefront technologies in identifying, characterising, quantifying and visualising free radicals and metal ions that are involved in fundamental chemical and biological processes in science and nature.