Six teams at Monash University have been recognized with the award of Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for nanotechnology projects for a total of $2.4 million in the 2006 round announced in October:
Rational Design of Dendrimer Nanostructures for Site-Specific Drug Delivery, a collaboration between Starpharma Limited of Melbourne and the Victorian College of Pharmacy receives $246,400 over three years. Australia leads the world in dendrimer design and this project utilizes this expertise in rational drug design.
Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules, led by the School of Chemistry, receives $270,000 over three years. The project uses self assembly processes to produce chemically reactive nanosized assemblies. These can lead to the design of new advanced materials, such as catalysts, molecular sieves, molecular sensors and switches.
Ink jet micro fluidic spray drier for microencapsulated bioactive particles and nanosized particles, led by the Faculty of Engineering, receives $400,000 over three years. The project aims to develop a new method for producing designer smart particles for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Novel nanostructured alloy membranes for hydrogen permeation, led by the Department of Materials Engineering, receives $280,000 over three years. It aims to fabricate novel nanocomposite niobium based alloys to separate hydrogen without the use of palladium.
Advanced hierarchical materials for separation applications, a collaboration between Monash University and Fudan University of China, receives $865,000 over five years. The two institutions have strengths in nanomaterials research and applications and will work on developing a new class of materials for use in the chemical and biological industries. It will also pioneer new techniques for the nano-engineering materials.
Switchable interfaces receives $315,000 over three years to explore surfaces that can release/prevent bio-film formation and therefore provide novel solutions for corrosion protection, implants, and anti-fouling in medical devices as well as industrial piping. Dr Peter Binks, CEO of Nanotechnology Victoria Ltd, congratulated the University on its performance: “The award of ARC funding for $2.4 million of Linkage and Discovery projects demonstrates the continued emergence of Monash University as a leader in nanoscience in Australia. The new Institute of Nanoscience at Monash, led by Dr Abid Khan, will play an important role in Australian nanotechnology”.
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