Microspheres from (Sun)Light – A Sustainable Materials Platform. This project will break new ground in light-induced step-growth precipitation polymerisation techniques for polymer particle formation that do not require any initiator, surfactants, additives or heating, thus constituting an environmentally friendly process. The project will establish the underpinning photochemical particle formation processes and establish a broad monomer base for the production of particles with a wide property ....Microspheres from (Sun)Light – A Sustainable Materials Platform. This project will break new ground in light-induced step-growth precipitation polymerisation techniques for polymer particle formation that do not require any initiator, surfactants, additives or heating, thus constituting an environmentally friendly process. The project will establish the underpinning photochemical particle formation processes and establish a broad monomer base for the production of particles with a wide property profile, including particles with tailored surface properties and the ability to degrade upon a defined trigger signal. Scaling the particles' synthesis, including using Australian sunlight, will enable multi-gram production allowing real-world applications.Read moreRead less
Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent ....Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation in practical devices. The project will develop novel polymer sorbents to revolutionize the remediation of PFAS with high technical, economic and environmental feasibility, creating a pathway to a PFAS-free world, and ultimately protecting the natural environment.Read moreRead less
Sequence-Defined Polymers with Optical Information Readout. The project aim is to introduce the first optically readable sequence-defined polymers based on fluorophore excimers, whose information content can be read as simply as conventional barcodes. These macromolecular barcodes, embedded in solid polymer matrices, will overcome the current limitations of reading information from synthetic macromolecules. An interdisciplinary effort will fuse chemistry, law, and criminology to develop the tec ....Sequence-Defined Polymers with Optical Information Readout. The project aim is to introduce the first optically readable sequence-defined polymers based on fluorophore excimers, whose information content can be read as simply as conventional barcodes. These macromolecular barcodes, embedded in solid polymer matrices, will overcome the current limitations of reading information from synthetic macromolecules. An interdisciplinary effort will fuse chemistry, law, and criminology to develop the technology in ways that are expected to address illicit plastic waste trafficking – ending the anonymity of polymer waste by creating a regulatory and criminological paradigm for tracing plastic waste to hold actors in the value chain responsible.Read moreRead less
Innovative Double Patterning Strategies for Integrated Circuit Manufacture. The global computer chips industry is predicted to be worth in excess of 1.5 trillion USD by 2030. Despite its success, the industry is under threat due to rising costs of manufacture of the latest chips, in large part because of the complexity of the manufacturing process. This project aims to introduce new polymers for production of computer chips and, in collaboration with our industry partner, develop new methods of ....Innovative Double Patterning Strategies for Integrated Circuit Manufacture. The global computer chips industry is predicted to be worth in excess of 1.5 trillion USD by 2030. Despite its success, the industry is under threat due to rising costs of manufacture of the latest chips, in large part because of the complexity of the manufacturing process. This project aims to introduce new polymers for production of computer chips and, in collaboration with our industry partner, develop new methods of manufacture to enable the next generation of chips. The project has potential to generate valuable intellectual property, support new processes and equipment for our partners, and help train the next generation of Australian researchers in the growing field of polymeric nanotechnology. Read moreRead less
Advanced Fibre Interfaces in Active Water Management Systems. Flooding is a critical issue in Australia, generating considerable economic losses, including by stormwater contamination. The current project will pioneer an integrated solution for stormwater retention, while removing chemical pollutants. In collaboration with the company ROCKWOOL-Lapinus - based on a stonewool fibre platform - we will (i) design fibre coatings based on a versatile and chemically simple deposition process, (ii) inco ....Advanced Fibre Interfaces in Active Water Management Systems. Flooding is a critical issue in Australia, generating considerable economic losses, including by stormwater contamination. The current project will pioneer an integrated solution for stormwater retention, while removing chemical pollutants. In collaboration with the company ROCKWOOL-Lapinus - based on a stonewool fibre platform - we will (i) design fibre coatings based on a versatile and chemically simple deposition process, (ii) incorporate functionalities onto the fibres allowing active stormwater treatment to e.g. retain pollutants or target heavy metals and (iii) investigate these interfaces in-depth by advanced surface and interface characterisation methods to understand the fibre interface properties from nano- to macroscale.Read moreRead less
Smart affinity membranes for manufacture of high value therapeutic proteins. This project aims to develop next generation separation membranes for production of high-value proteins from serum. Through a combination of innovative chemistries, biotechnology and engineering, the project will enhance production, efficiency and resolution of membranes for separating complex mixtures, thereby contributing to broader understanding in membrane science. By establishing a strong collaborative link between ....Smart affinity membranes for manufacture of high value therapeutic proteins. This project aims to develop next generation separation membranes for production of high-value proteins from serum. Through a combination of innovative chemistries, biotechnology and engineering, the project will enhance production, efficiency and resolution of membranes for separating complex mixtures, thereby contributing to broader understanding in membrane science. By establishing a strong collaborative link between academic and industry researchers, this project has the potential to significantly value-add to existing and exciting Australian technology by enhancing the efficiency of plasma fractionation, improving isolation of large molecules from complex media and by improving the downstream manufacturing and bioprocessing pipeline. Read moreRead less
Novel Hybrid Nanotechnologies by Infiltration of Functional Polymers. Hybrid inorganic-organic materials have important applications in energy, environmental and health technologies. Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of polymers is a recently introduced approach to preparing such hybrid structures. Advancement in the field is however hampered by lack of fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of interactions of SIS molecules with polymers, and the narrow range of polymers studied so fa ....Novel Hybrid Nanotechnologies by Infiltration of Functional Polymers. Hybrid inorganic-organic materials have important applications in energy, environmental and health technologies. Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of polymers is a recently introduced approach to preparing such hybrid structures. Advancement in the field is however hampered by lack of fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of interactions of SIS molecules with polymers, and the narrow range of polymers studied so far. This project aims to build a fundamental framework for the development of SIS through systematic studies of interactions of polymers and SIS molecules. Expected outcomes include new methods for constructing nanostructures using functional polymers and novel fabrication processes exploiting polymer self-assembly.Read moreRead less
Novel polymeric microparticles for slow-release intrathecal delivery of analgesics. Unrelieved chronic pain is a large area of unmet medical need, adversely affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. This project seeks to develop innovative methods for delivering a novel pain-relieving medication into the spinal fluid in close proximity to the cells that transmit pain messages to the brain. The goal is to develop a new treatment to produce prolonged periods of pain relief in those pat ....Novel polymeric microparticles for slow-release intrathecal delivery of analgesics. Unrelieved chronic pain is a large area of unmet medical need, adversely affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. This project seeks to develop innovative methods for delivering a novel pain-relieving medication into the spinal fluid in close proximity to the cells that transmit pain messages to the brain. The goal is to develop a new treatment to produce prolonged periods of pain relief in those patients who do not obtain benefit from existing pain medications. The technology that will be developed has the potential to be applied to a broad range of analgesic drug treatments.Read moreRead less
Understanding production and application of alpha emitting radionuclides. This project aims to develop new materials to improve the efficiency of production of radionuclides, as well as tools to improve our understanding of isotope decay products to to improve efficiency of delivery. High performance polymers will be evaluated to establish optimal design properties for enhanced radionuclide collection from novel generators of isotopic lead (Pb-212), and new methods will be developed to improve u ....Understanding production and application of alpha emitting radionuclides. This project aims to develop new materials to improve the efficiency of production of radionuclides, as well as tools to improve our understanding of isotope decay products to to improve efficiency of delivery. High performance polymers will be evaluated to establish optimal design properties for enhanced radionuclide collection from novel generators of isotopic lead (Pb-212), and new methods will be developed to improve understanding of isotope product stability. Anticipated outcomes will provide greater production and utility of radioisotopes in radiopharmaceuticals, while building strong ties with partner AdvanCell Isotopes. This could improve manufacture of radionuclides, expanding capability and applications in radiopharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Structural understanding of the degradation of glucose polymers. Understanding starch and glycogen breakdown at the molecular level is important for human nutrition and health. The understanding from this project will lead to new means for the control and mitigation of nutritional diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, as well as improved foods.