Research Highlights 2007
Talks, Visits and Collaborations
Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) World Congress on Neuroscience, Melbourne, Australia 2007
Dr David Nayagam presented a paper at theInternational Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) World Congress on Neuroscience, Melbourne, Australia 2007 (Reference : Nayagam DAX, Clarey JC, Paolini AG, “Extracellular and Intracellular Neural Responses in the Ventral Complex of the Lateral Lemniscus”)
2nd Neural Stem Cells & Frontier Technologies for Brain Repair Workshop & The 2nd Australian Workshop in Computational Neuroscience, Adelaide, Australia 2007
Dr David Nayagam presented his paper at the 2nd Neural Stem Cells & Frontier Technologies for Brain Repair Workshop & The 2nd Australian Workshop in Computational Neuroscience held at Mt. Lofty, Adelaide, Australia 2007. The paper was titled “Neural Responses in the Ventral Complex of the Lateral Lemniscus”.
UoW - SJTU Joint Symposium
The first UoW-SJTU bilateral symposium on The Application of Nano and Energy Materials was held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) on 1st November 2007. The purpose of this symposium is to enhance existing collaborative research and develop further projects between the two universities.The symposium’s main focus was on the Synthesis of NanoMaterials and their application in bioelectronic, bionic, and electrochemical devices.
Lead by Prof Gordon Wallace (Executive Director ACES) and Prof Zifeng Ma (SJTU) the symposium was attended by Prof. Lee Astheimer (Acting DVC Research, UoW), Prof. Shi Dou, Prof. David Officer, Prof. Leon Kane-Maguire, Prof. Mark Walker, Prof. Nick Dixon and Dr Jun Chen from UoW (for programme click). Innovative research works explored the role of nano technology in areas as diverse as new battery technologies to biological processes involved in infections diseases. A number of new collaborative opportunities were identified.
Professor Alan M. Bond at Monash University, visit by Suriya Ounnunkad.
Students are important links in the collaborative network and are strongly encouraged to participate in intra-centre exchange visits to learn from the extensive expertise of the chief and associated investigators within the centre. For example, in order to understand the electrochemical properties of novel nanomaterials created within ACES, IPRI PhD student, Suriya Ounnunkad, undertook an intensive one-week training course with Professor Alan M. Bond at Monash University, Melbourne in early October 2007.
A powerful electrochemical characterisation technique, Fourier Transformed large-amplitude AC voltammetry, was established by Alan’s research group. The advantage of the AC technique is that it is able to provide, in one experiment, the equivalent of running numerous experiments simultaneously. Additionally, the technique allows for the electrode kinetics to be easily determined. During his visit Suriya found an interesting result in that fast electron transfer rates were obtained at novel carbon nanotube electrodes when a non-conducting biomedical polymer was intercalated into the nanotube network. It is hoped that these materials and further characterisation using FTACV results in the development of superior electrochemical devices.
2nd International Congress on Ionic Liquids (COIL-2)
As the chair of COIL-3 Professor Macfarlane gave the closing Plenary talk at the recent Ionic Liquids (ILs) Congress which was held in Yokohama, Japan in August where he invited the 520 delegates to the next meeting which will be held in Melbourne in May 2009. His talk focused on ILs with biological applications. Professor Forsyth also gave an invited talk on the application of Ionic Liquids in taming the reactivity of metals such as Lithium and Magnesium.
Health Options for 2020- Wollongong Science Centre by Professor Gordon Wallace
The Health Options for 2020 forum was moderated by Tony Arthur of ABC radio on Wednesday 29th August 2007. Professor Gordon Wallace was one of a panel talking to a community audience. Other invited speakers included Professor Wilf Yeo and Assoc Professor Ulrich Bommer from Medicine and Professor Linda Tapsell from Smart Foods.
Professor Wallace spoke of nanobionics where new materials have the potential to bridge the interface between electronics and biology. These materials can perform as actuators or 'muscles' that have the ability to work under a high strain and a high load. When biological molecules are incorporated into the materials it is possible to control interactions with cells, so these materials may eventually find use in medical implants. Already bionics today manipulate hearing (cochlear implant) and sight. Professor Wallace also spoke about 'talking knee straps' that aid medical officers with teaching AFL football players the correct landing techniques so as to reduce non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
Functional foods were discussed. Science is able to expose the health benefits of food by studying food itself; with many compounds able to promote body development and aid in disease prevention. Other speakers discussed molecular medicine, the science that investigates disease processes at the molecular level and telling how this may lead eventually to the development of novel treatment strategies for diseases. It may be possible to tailor drug therapy in individual patients!
ACES presentation at ICBN 2007 in Singapore
ACES Executive Research Director, Prof Gordon Wallace spoke on “ Nanostructured Organic Conductors - Bridging the Bionic Interface” at Society for Biological Engineering (SBE)’s 3rd International Conference on Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (ICBN) in Biopolis, Singapore during August 12-15, 2007. Read more>>
Royal Society London’s Solar Energy Meeting
Professor David Officer was one of the invited speakers at the Solar Energy and Artificial Photosynthesis meeting conducted by the Royal Society of London on the 17th–19th July. This satellite meeting of the 14th International Congress on Photosynthesis attracted about 250 attendees to the London meeting including 15 of the leading world experts such as Professor Sir Richard Friend (Cambridge), professor Sir Harry Kroto (Florida) and Professor Michael Grätzel (EPFL, Lausanne).
The meeting brought together scientists conducting research into natural photosynthesis and on photochemical, photo electrochemical and photovoltaic systems in order to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and concepts to advance technologies for solar energy conversion.
Professor Officer presented a talk on “Artificial Photosynthesis: Designing New Materials for Light Harvesting”. He said the potential for the efficient and sustainable use of solar energy using renewable materials was beautifully illustrated on a daily basis by photosynthesis, the harvesting of light by chlorophyll and the use of the resulting captured energy to split water or convert carbon dioxide into a chemical feedstock. He told the meeting that while the emulation of photosynthesis itself remains one of the great scientific challenges of the 21st century, the light harvesting component is effectively imitated by photoelectrochemical solar cells in which solar energy is captured by light harvesting dyes absorbed on nanocrystalline films of a semiconductor such as titanium dioxide.
16th International Conference on Solid State Ionics- Shanghai
Professors Doug Macfarlane and Maria Forsyth presented invited talks in Shanghai in July at SSI-16.
NanoTech Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas, visit by Dr Joselito M. Razal
Early in June 2007, Dr Joselito M. Razal visited Prof. Ray H. Baughman’s NanoTech Institute under the ARC Nanotechnology Network overseas travel fellowship program. He investigated ways of interfacing biomolecules into carbon nanotube architectures fabricated by dry spinning from process from CVD grown nanotube forest. The nanoscale morphology and electronic properties of these materials are attractive for studies involving the use of electrical stimulation for controlled drug release, or to promote nerve regrowth and/or muscle regeneration. During his stay Dr. Razal was chosen to be a mentor to Kelsey Musselman, a high school student,participating in the UTD Nanotech Institute’s NanoExplorer Program to gain exposure and learn current research in nanotechnology.
Whilst visiting UTD, Dr. Razal presented a talk to the UTD NanoTech and BioNano groups describing the results of his visit and his ongoing research in IPRI. Possible strategies for developing novel materials to assist in spinal cord regeneration were discussed with Prof. Ray Baughman and Prof. Mario Ortega and Pedro Galvan at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC).
Thank you to the ARCNN Overseas Travel Fellowship and the additional funding from ARC ACES (UOW) and the Robert A. Welch Foundation (UTD).
University of Guilan & IUT — IRAN, visit by Prof. Leon Kane-Maguire
Prof. Kane-Maguire (ACES) delivered the Keynote Address at the 6th Textile Engineering Conference in Iran, discussing “Organic Conducting Fibre: Wearable to Medical Implants” and “Nanostructured electrodes as new bionic materials” . Mr Javad Foroughi (PhD candidate at ACES) also presented a paper on polypyrrole fibres.
Whilst in Iran, Prof Kane-Maguire was a guest lecturer at the University of Guilan, Tabriz and Isfahan University of Technology (I.U.T.). UoW took this opportunity to establish a formal collaboration agreement with IUT, which is one of the top universities in Iran. This agreement will facilitate student and researcher exchanges, as well as the opportunity to purse joint research projects.
St Vincent's Hospital Neuroscience Research Retreat - Melbourne
Professors Wallace, Spinks and MacFarlane, of ACES, joined the St Vincent’s Hospital Neuroscience Research Retreat on May 18th-19th in Melbourne. Professor Wallace described recent work on conducting polymers and nerve cells, while Professor Spinks covered developments in artificial muscles and Professor MacFarlane described exciting recent results on the use of ionic liquids as a new protein storage media
Hanbat national University - Korea, visit by Prof. David Officer
Prof David Officer (ACES) with Prof Margaret Sheil (UoW DVC Research), together with Dr Benny Kim (IPRI), visited Daejon, Korea to participate in celebrations for the 80th Founding Anniversary of Hanbat University, with whom ACES has a collaborative research program. Prof Officer gave the initial presentation at the International Symposium on University-Industry Collaboration on ‘Energy transfer and nanostructures: From solar cells to bionics’.
The UoW team also visited Advanced Nano Products Co. Ltd., a US$12 million company commercialising nanoparticle research carried out by Professor Chang-Woo Park, and the nanofabrication facility at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Dublin City University visit by Dr Carol Lynam
Dr. Carol Lynam (ACES) visited Dublin City University, Ireland early in March this year. She spent time with Prof. Richard O’Kennedy’s and his group, who are world leaders in antibody engineering. The aim of this visit was to further develop strategies for functionalising carbon nanotubes (CNT’s) with antibodies. This work underpins research objectives relating to the development of implantable devices and biological sensing systems.
There are many different techniques available for the attachment of biological materials to CNT’s, which can be largely separated into covalent and non-covalent approaches. Carol, together with Dr. Niamh Gilmartin undertook experimental work with respect to establishing the feasibility of attaching antibodies to carbon nanotubes by either approach.
Bionic Ear Institute - Melbourne, visit by Brianna Thompson
Brianna Thompson has completed a 3 months trip to visit collaborators at the Bionic Ear Institute, Melbourne. While in Melbourne, Brianna was working with Dr. Rachael Richardson at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, to gain experience in animal and primary cell culture work. During her visit, work was completed on assessing the biological response to nerve growth factors that had been released from polypyrrole. This was studied in both in vitro (culturing primary nerve cells derived from the inner cell mass of rat pups) and in vivo (implanting polypyrrole-coated cochlear implant electrodes into guinea pigs) systems. Funding for the trip had been provided by the ARC Nanotechnology Network, as well as the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science. Brianna is excited about the possibilities that the trip has provided her and it is anticipated that the research completed during the visit should contribute to several papers.
Also during her time in Melbourne, initial work on biobattery-powered release of nerve growth factors from polypyrrole films was commenced in collaboration with Dr. Bjorn Winther-Jensen from Monash University.
last updated 1 February 2008
|
