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New Vacancy: Post doctorate Fellowship (Marsden Fund)
Interactions of Biological cells with Bioimprinted Patterns
We will use our extensive experience in pattern formation including our unique capability of replicating the detailed topology of biological cells (Bioimprint) and our extensive knowledge in cell culture and functions to develop a model for studying the effects of substrate patterning on cell behaviour and growth.
We will study for the first time how cells interact with their positive and negative replicas of their exact signature. The outcome will have significant implications for the development of artificial tissues in which cells are affected by their neighbours, the use of implants and scaffolds in tissue repair and regeneration, and in the potential to direct cell function in treatments of pathologies such as cancer or in a diverse set of applications utilising stem cells.
This study is also expected to shed light on how the cells interact with surrounding environment and how patterns affect or guide organs in forming their final shape and size. It will help in developing a model for cell / surface interface interactions and to differentiate between the roles of chemical and topographical environments in cell growth.
We are looking for a candidate with micro-nanofabrication / bioengineering interest and hold a PhD degree in relevant subjects to carryout this exciting work. This project will provide a base for the construction of precisely engineered and controlled surfaces with topologies that will induce cells to develop to the cell phenotype with characteristics appropriate to a therapeutic goal.
Skills required:
• Good understanding of biological cells
• Practical experience in micro/nanofabrication
• Experience in Microscopy and imaging
The term of this appointment is for two years commencing May 2012.
This project is in collaborations with Christchurch School of Medicine/Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Christchurch Women's Hospital.
Please download position description and contact Associate Professor Maan Alkaisi for more details
Call for Abstracts - 3rd Australia & New Zealand Micro/Nanofluidics and Bionano Symposium in Wellington, NZ
Welcome to the 3rd Australia & New Zealand Micro/Nanofluidics and Bionano Symposium, to be held on 12-13 April 2012 at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The symposium is supported by The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, a Centre of Research Excellence in New Zealand (www.macdiarmid.ac.nz).
This meeting follows previous workshops held by the ANZ Microfluidics grouping (www.anzmicrofluidics.org) at Monash University (2009) and the University of New South Wales (2011). The format and scope will be similar to these meetings, with subject matter broadly encompassing microfluidics and nanofluidics, from fundamental and theoretical research, through to devices and applications. This symposium is being held in collaboration with the MacDiarmid Institute’s Bionanonetwork (BNN), so talks on bionanotechnology will be welcome and we hope to encourage some cross-fertilization with the fluidics community!
These research areas are experiencing strong growth on both sides of the Tasman as well as internationally. Apart from a chance to see and hear about some exciting research, there will be the opportunity to grow and build the ANZ fluidics network.
For more information and to register www.confer.co.nz/anznmf/index.htm
University of Canterbury Microfluidics Research
Featured in
New Zealand Science Teachers Magazine
New Zealand Association of Science Educators
The NZST is the official journal of the NZASE and features a veritable cornucopia of information on everything you wanted to know about science and science education but never thought to ask! Published three times a year (March, June and October) the NZST is a much sought after rollicking good read for practitioners, researchers and anyone interested in science and science education. The NZST is a unique publication that proudly celebrates local scientific and education endeavour.
Microfluidics is a new fast-growing area for research and development, and has already given us the ink-jet printer and improved medical technologies. Currently, there are two exciting projects being undertaken at the University of Canterbury, as Mathieu Sellier and Volker Nock explain.
Bioimprint Featured on Radio New Zealand National "Our Changing World" Programme
Aired on the 2nd of June 2011
From left to right: Volker Nock, Lynn Murray, John Evans, and Maan Alkaisi; and stained (blue) cells growing on a bioimprint surface
Developed at University of Canterbury and University of Otago, Christchurch, bioimprint technology replicates cellular surface features into a polymer mould. The resulting bioimprint can be used to take high resolution images or, more innovatively, to grow cells on a scaffold.
As Ruth Beran finds out, investigators Volker Nock, Lynn Murray, John Evans, and Maan Alkaisi are looking at variation in cell adhesion and the potential impact this surface modification tool may have on biomaterials and biological functioning. The research is currently being funded by a grant from the Marsden Fund, and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
Smallest Map of Christchurch Printed using Electron Beam Lithography
4 July 2003
A student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has made the smallest map of Christchurch ever printed. Ms Jullada Homtientong printed the map using Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), a technique in which a focused beam of electrons is scanned over a silicon chip coated with a thin polymer layer; wherever the electron beam exposes the polymer a pattern is formed after a subsequent chemical development process.
Images of the map are shown below. The whole of the city of Christchurch is contained in an area about 100 micrometres square (one micrometre is a thousandth of a millimetre), which is small enough to fit on a human hair. The streets themselves are only 100 nanometres wide (one nanometre is a millionth of a millimetre). The map is so small that it would just look like a speck of dust to the human eye, and a powerful electron microscope has been used to capture these images.
Jullada presents her minute map of Christchurch which she intends to squeeze onto this credit card sized map of the world.
This demonstration shows the power of nanotechnology in being able to create structures with incredible complexity in a very small area. This already finds practical application in the manufacture of modern computer chips, in which the dimensions of the wiring is already at about the 100 nanometre scale.
The University of Canterbury researchers are part of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, a New Zealand Centre of research Excellence. This institute aims to develop new materials and device technologies to serve the future needs of New Zealand science and technology related industries. Nanotechnology research is a key part of the Institute's work.