Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

My research group has made important findings in short-pulsed laser nano material synthesis directly from solid targets (without the employment of chemical agents) and its functionalisation for various applications. We have discovered that synthesized nano-materials possess multiple phases 2) SERS-based ultrasensitive detection: This research program will investigate non-plasmonic SERS & apply the knowledge to develop techniques for in-situ monitoring of cell activity, sensing toxic chemicals, and detecting traces of explosives from standoff distances. 3)All-in-one therapeutic agents: Many of these engineered Bio Nano-Materials are multi-functionalized, such as with SERS enhancement, fluorescent enhancement and biocompatibility. Research of these bio-nanomaterials may lead to new cancer therapeutics that integrates several functions into a single medication that would enable mutli-mode diagnoses and impede the growth of cancer cells with no side effects on healthy cells. Our research in this area will contribute significantly to the improvement of the specificity, selectivity and safety of cancer nanomedicine. 4)Rapid healing wound dressing and antibacterial coating for textiles: The bioactivity and biocompatibility of the engineered 3-D nanostructures will be used for developing new bio-functionalized scaffolds and implantable materials in regenerative medicine and clinical tissue engineering, and the knowledge gained will be used to develop wound dressing and self-cleaning cloth for soldiers. In summary, the proposed research is multidisciplinary in nature and will result in high quality HQP training in the synthesis and functionalisation of next-generation nano-materials for diverse applications in chemical/bio sensing, defence, cancer therapy, wound healing and diagnostic applications.