Flinders University » Faculty of Science and Engineering

Voelcker Lab

Nanostructured Biointerfaces

Current Research

Exploring practical applications for Porous Materials.

The properties of, and potential applications for Diatom: Nature's Own Nanotechnology.

Voelcker Labs' Cell-based Microarray research, poised to benefit human health.

Exploring the composition of fibre forming protein aggregates and bone materials through Biological Surface Characterisation.

Investigating the formation and potential biomedical applications of Dendrimer Nanocomposites.

Working towards the creation of solid-phase polymerase chain reactions and DNA separations through Surface Engineering of Microfluidic Devices.

Welcome to the voelcker lab

We are interested in the interactions of biomolecules and cells with nanostructured interfaces play a pivotal role in a plethora of scenarios including human disease, cell adhesion and biofilm formation.

Research in the Voelcker Lab seeks to generate a profound level of understanding of these biointerfacial interactions by tailoring nanostructured materials such as porous silicon or carbon nanotubes for contact with biological material.

LH image courtesy of Jeff Coffer, Mengjia Wang, Xuan Tian.

Exemplar outcomes of this research include:

• Platforms for the ultrasensitive detection of biomolecules and cells
• Manipulation of biomolecules and cells spatiotemporally at surfaces with high precision
• Templated nanofabrication using biological nanostructured templates
• Stimuli-sensitive biointerfaces
• Screening tools for studying cell-surface interactions
• Preparation of robust artificial cell membranes
• Nanoporous devices for molecular transport and separation
• Optimised surface chemistries for microfluidics 

Our research seeks to engender biodevices and biomaterials, such as advanced diagnostic tools in the form of biosensors, cell microarrays for high-throughput screening, drug delivery vehicles and scaffolds for cell therapies.