SENSORS FOR AROMATIC MOLECULES BASED ON METAL ION ACTIVATED MOLECULAR RECEPTORS. This project aims to develop highly sensitive chemical sensors for aromatic compounds which will quantify their concentration, in situ, without elaborate sample preparation or instrumentation. The sensors will employ advanced supramolecular chemistry in which the aromatic molecule becomes trapped within a binding cavity in the three dimensional structure of a larger receptor molecule. Coincident with the entrapmen ....SENSORS FOR AROMATIC MOLECULES BASED ON METAL ION ACTIVATED MOLECULAR RECEPTORS. This project aims to develop highly sensitive chemical sensors for aromatic compounds which will quantify their concentration, in situ, without elaborate sample preparation or instrumentation. The sensors will employ advanced supramolecular chemistry in which the aromatic molecule becomes trapped within a binding cavity in the three dimensional structure of a larger receptor molecule. Coincident with the entrapment a change in the fluorescence level of the receptor occurs which signals the presence of the aromatic compound and its concentration. This research will stimulate economic and social benefits through the development of new environmental and medical sensing techniques and analytical diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Porous silicon biosensor for rapid detection of water-borne contaminants. We have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain transition metal complexes known as biomimetic catalysts. The catalysed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. Using this mechanism, we will develop a biosensor for the rapid detection of contaminants (toxins etc.) in water resources. Reservoir w ....Porous silicon biosensor for rapid detection of water-borne contaminants. We have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain transition metal complexes known as biomimetic catalysts. The catalysed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. Using this mechanism, we will develop a biosensor for the rapid detection of contaminants (toxins etc.) in water resources. Reservoir water treatment today is reactive rather than preventive because current analysis is slow. Our biosensor can be turned into a field kit to improve water quality management and prevent acts of deliberate sabotage to the water supply.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional mixed matrix membranes incorporating aligned carbon nanotubes. The pressure on water supplies in Australia will only increase in coming years meaning that effective and cheap means of recycling water must be found. By developing a carbon nanotube-based water filtration system, we intend to promote the growth of Australia's world-class reputation in water remediation. The technological outcomes from this research will lead to direct economic and environmental benefits for the comm ....Multifunctional mixed matrix membranes incorporating aligned carbon nanotubes. The pressure on water supplies in Australia will only increase in coming years meaning that effective and cheap means of recycling water must be found. By developing a carbon nanotube-based water filtration system, we intend to promote the growth of Australia's world-class reputation in water remediation. The technological outcomes from this research will lead to direct economic and environmental benefits for the community and offer commercial opportunities for industry. Training research scientists of the future forms an integral part of our program as it is crucial to maintain a critical mass in this potentially forthcoming water based economy.
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Development of an interferometric nanoscale silicon biosensor. Voelcker et al. have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain supramolecular transition metal complexes known as functional mimics of metalloproteins. The catalyzed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. This project uses porous silicon degradation to develop a biosensor platform capable of detecting a ra ....Development of an interferometric nanoscale silicon biosensor. Voelcker et al. have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain supramolecular transition metal complexes known as functional mimics of metalloproteins. The catalyzed degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, transducer and signal amplification stage. This project uses porous silicon degradation to develop a biosensor platform capable of detecting a range of analytes with high sensitivity. The project includes detection of an water-borne toxin, a plant virus and a cancer antigen as demonstrators of its wide applicability. Multiplexing of the biosensor to demonstrate its potential as high-throughput chip sensors is also included.Read moreRead less
Ion channel biosensors based on porous waveguides. Realising the importance of membrane proteins for the functioning of every organism, this project will develop technology to investigate membrane protein functions based on a novel approach combining nanotechnology and biology. The technology will lead to a bio-inspired sensor device capable of detecting minute quantities of molecular analytes.