Materials & Fibres

Nanodiamonds

Fluorescent nanodiamonds (NDs) are an attractive nanoscale tool that have a range of unique properties which make them highly desirable for bioimaging and biosensing applications. Their fluorescence is produced via optical excitation of atomic defects, such as the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy centre, within the diamond crystal lattice. Possessing long-wavelength emission, high brightness, no photobleaching, no photoblinking, single photon emission at room temperature, nanometer size, biocompatibility, and an exceptional resistance to chemical degradation, make NDs almost the ideal fluorescent bioimaging nanoprobe.

Potential use and applications:

Bioimaging
Magnetic field sensing
Electric field monitoring
Radio frequency signal detection
Thermometry

Contacts

Prof Brant Gibson: brant.gibson@rmit.edu.au
Dr Philipp Reineck: philipp.reineck@rmit.edu.au

Key publications

Reineck, A. Francis, A. Orth, D. W. M. Lau, R. D. V. Nixon-Luke, I. Das Rastogi, W. A. W. Razali, N. M. Cordina, L. M. Parker, V. K. A. Sreenivasan, L. J. Brown and B. C. Gibson, ‘Brightness and Photostability of Emerging Red and Near-IR Fluorescent Nanomaterials for Bioimaging’, Advanced Optical Materials, (2016). DOI:10.1002/adom.201600212
Reineck and B. C. Gibson, ‘Near-infrared fluorescent nanomaterials for bioimaging and sensing’, Advanced Optical Materials, (2016) DOI: 10.1002/adom.201600446
Reineck, L. F. Trindade, J. Havlik, J. Stursa, Ash. Heffernan, A. Orth, M. Capelli, P. Cigler, D. A. Simpson, B. C. Gibson, ‘Not all fluorescent nanodiamonds are created equal: a comparative study’, Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, 36, 3, 1900009 (2019) DOI:10.1002/ppsc.201900009

Novel optical fibre design and fabrication

New fibre designs have been created for in-vivo and commercial applications. These designs control the guidance of light by the fibres to achieve novel functionalities such as imaging at the fibre tip or measuring chemicals or biological species in difficult to reach locations. Fibres can be designed for specific end-use applications, to create unique laser properties or sensor designs such as the exposed core optical fibres that allow for sensing to be performed along the entire length of fibre.

Potential uses and applications

In-vivo medical research or devices, e.g. in-vivo blood monitoring, oxidative stress monitoring
Chemical or pharmaceutical manufacture and process control
Industrial use, e.g. high temperature sensing, pressure sensing

Contacts

Prof Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem: heike.ebendorff@adelaide.edu.au
Dr Stephen Warren-Smith: stephen.warrensmith@adelaide.edu.au
Dr Erik Schartner: erik.schartner@adelaide.edu.au

Key references

Warren-Smith, S. C., Dowler, A., & Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2018). Soft-glass imaging microstructured optical fibers. Optics Express, 26(26), 33604-33612.
Schartner, E. P., Dowler, A., & Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2017). Fabrication of low-loss, small-core exposed core microstructured optical fibers. Optical Materials Express, 7(5), 1496-1502.

Protein Nanocages

Protein nanocages self-assemble from multiple protein subunits into hollow, symmetrical and complex nanostructures, which serve as containers for natural and non-natural cargoes (e.g. biomolecules, polymers and inorganics). Their capacity to encapsulate functional cargo, coupled with the ability to genetically and/or chemically functionalise their surfaces, enables protein nanocages to be custom-engineered for specific uses. Accordingly, protein nanocages have emerged as promising nano-machines with utility in biocatalysis, bioremediation, materials synthesis, electronics, sensing, vaccine development and drug delivery. At the CNBP, we have successfully developed encapsulin protein nanocages into a tunable platform technology for a multitude of practical and innovative applications.

Potential uses and applications:

Drug delivery
Vaccine development
Bioimaging
Biosensing
Bioelectronics
Nanomaterials synthesis
Biocatalysis
Synthetic biology (e.g. orthogonal organelles)

Contacts

Dr Andrew Care: andrew.care@mq.edu.au

Key publications

Diaz, D.; Vidal X.; Sandra F.; Sunna A.; Care A. Engineering encapsulin into a light-activatable nanoreactor for the “on demand” generation of reactive oxygen species. bioRxiv 2020 DOI:10.1101/2020.06.06.138305
Sandra, F.; Khaliq, N.U.; Sunna, A.; Care, A. Developing Protein-Based Nanoparticles as Versatile Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy and Imaging. Nanomaterials 2019, 9, 1329.DOI:3390/nano9091329

Silk

Silk fibroin, obtained from caterpillars, has exceptional characteristics due to its outstanding biocompatibility, high water and oxygen uptake, biodegradability, low toxicity, and non-allergenic nature. Silk fibron can also be used as a carrier for delivering drugs, growth factors, and bioactive agents, to wounds for example, while providing appropriate support for complete healing. In our research, we have shown that silk fibron is a highly attractive polymer for biophotonic devices due to its high optical transparency and easy functionalization with a variety of optical sensors. These qualities make silk an ideal candidate for the incorporation optical sensing materials.

Potential use and applications:

Bioimaging
Drug delivery
Wound healing
Biocompatible scaffolds
Hybrid sensing

Contacts

Prof Brant Gibson: brant.gibson@rmit.edu.au
Dr Asma Khalid: asma.khalid@rmit.edu.au

Key publications

Khalid, D. Bai, A. Abraham, A. Jadhav, D. Linklater, A. Matusica, D. Nguyen, B. J. Murdoch, N. Zakhartchouk, C. Dekiwadia, P. Reineck, D. Simpson, A. K. Vidanapathirana, S. Houshyar, C. A. Bursill, E. Ivanova, B. Gibson, ‘Electrospun nanodiamond-silk fibroin membranes: a multifunctional platform for biosensing and wound healing applications’ (2020). DOI: TBA Cite as: arXiv:2006.00614
Khalid, L. Peng, A. Arman, S. C. Warren-Smith, E. P. Schartner, G, M. Sylvia, M. R. Hutchinson, H. Ebendorff-Heidepriem, R. A. McLaughlin, B. C. Gibson, and J. Li, ‘Silk: a bio-derived coating for optical fiber sensing applications’, Sensors and Actuators: B. Chemical, 311, 127864, (2020) DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.127864

3D tissue engineering matrix

In the body cells are surrounded by a matter named extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM is produced by cells, has complex composition and structure, and regulates the cells’ viability and functionality. The ECM of the same organs of humans and animals is similar. The proposed 3D matrices are produced by removal of animal cells from animal tissues and represent organ-specific ECM. They are applicable for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering or for any reconstruction of the tissues outside the body for research purposes (e.g., testing of new drugs, engineering tools and analytical methods). Highly biocompatible matrices of >10 organs are available.

Acellular whole-organ porcine liver matrix produced by original non-perfusion method

Potential Uses and Applications:

3D cell culture (scaffolds)
Tissue engineering
Source material for organ-specific bioinks for 3D bioprinting
Tissues and organs living optical phantoms
Studies of mass and heat transfer in the tissue
Drug development
Drug testing
Nanomedicine development and testing
Animal replacement in research

Contact

Dr Anna Guller: annguller@gmail.com; a.guller@unsw.edu.au

Fine structure of the liver 3D matrix imaged by scanning electron microscopy

Key references

Guller A, Trusova I, Petersen E, Shekhter A, Kurkov A, Qian Y, Zvyagin A: ‘Acellular organ scaffolds for tumor tissue engineering.’ Micro+Nano Materials, Devices, and Systems. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2015. pp. 96684G-G-9. DOI: 1117/12.2202473
Khabir Z, Guller AE, Rozova VS, Liang L, Lai YJ, Goldys EM, Hu H, Vickery K, Zvyagin AV: ‘Tracing upconversion nanoparticle penetration in human skin.’ Colloids and surfaces B, Biointerfaces 2019, 184:110480. DOI:1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110480

Lanthanide up-and down-conversion nanoparticles

CNBP has established an advanced nanoparticle fabrication facility at Macquarie University with a focus on synthesis of single-core and core-shell up-conversion and down-conversion lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, specialised gold nanoparticles and mesoporous (usually silicon) nanoparticles. The facility offers 8 workstations with extraction and multi-gas supply, and is open to users from both MQ and other institutions, subject to strict induction and operational safety requirements. A key development in the facility is automated (computer-controlled) growth of lanthanide nanoparticles resulting in very high precision and repeatability in NP size, structure and doping concentrations. Post-synthesis capabilities include surface processing (functionalisation) and single nanoparticle characterisation.

Potential Uses and Applications:

Colour- and lifetime-codable luminescent bioprobes for biomedical diagnostics
Developments of hybrid materials
Energy conversion (in conjunction with photovoltaics)
Specialist gold/silver nanoparticles for plasmonic enhancement of luminescent and Raman-active nanoparticles
Mesoporous nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery

Contact

Dr Xianlin Zheng: xianlin.zheng@mq.edu.au
Dr Tom Lawson (Facility Manager): tom.lawson@mq.edu.au
Ass Prof Alfonso Garcia-Bennett: alf.garcia@mq.edu.au

Key references

LU Y, ZHAO J, ZHANG R, LIU Y, LIU D, GOLDYS E, YANG X, XI P, SUNNA A, LU J, SHI Y, LEIF R, HUO Y, SHEN J, PIPER J, ROBINSON J and JIN D, Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals, Nature Photonics 8 (2014) 33-37 DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2013.322.
ZHAO JB, LU ZD, YIN YD, MCRAE C, PIPER JA, DAWES JM, JIN DY and GOLDYS EM, Upconversion luminescence with tunable lifetime in NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals: role of nanocrystal size, Nanoscale 5 (2013) 944-952 DOI: 10.1039/c2nr32482b

TOOLS & CAPABILITIES