Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
Associate Professor

Idriss Blakey

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 60326

Background

​Associate Professor Blakey is a group leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Centre for Advanced Imaging. During his appointment at UQ he has been a recipient of a Vice Chancellor’s Research and Teaching Fellowship, an ARC Future Fellowship, a Linkage Projects International Fellowship, and a Queensland Government Smart State Fellowship. Prior to joining UQ he worked at Polymerat, a materials biotechnology startup company now listed on the ASX as AnteoTech.

Availability

Associate Professor Idriss Blakey is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Macromolecular and materials chemistry

Research interests

  • -

    Rational design, synthesis and self assembly of functional polymers and nanomaterials for nanofabrication, sensors and biomedical imaging agents.

Research impacts

Associate Professor Blakey's research interests focus on using advance material characterisation techniques to understand the relationships between the structure of designer polymers and their performance in applications such as nanomedicine, sensors and nanofabrication.

Industry

​Associate Professor Blakey engages widely with industry partners. This current invloves directly funded research with Tokyo Electron on projects associated with materials development for semiconductor manufacture. He is also a chief investigator on an ARC Research hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR), which involves numerous industry partners investigating the common industry challenges associated with targeted radiopharmaceutical development. Associate Professor Blakey has also previously been a chief investigator on numerous ARC Linkage projects with Intel, Sematech and the Dow Chemical Company as well as a chief investigator on the ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology (CIBIT). Key outcomes from these endevours have included novel materials and processes that have been described in joint publications and 6 fully granted patents, where 4 patents have been subject to licencing agreements with industry partners.

Collaborations

​My publications have involved international collaborations with academica and industry partners from countries such as USA, UK, Japan, Sweden, Belgium Finland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Key collaborating institutions include Universtiy of Nottingham, University of California Santa Barbara and the University of Exeter.

Funding

​Associate Professor Blakey has been awarded over $AUD 15M funding, via ARC Discovery grants, ARC Linkage grants, Fellowships and direct industry funding. Currently funding includes chief investigator roles on an ARC Discovery grant on developing novel hybrid materials using sequential infiltration synthesis and an ARC Research hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR).

Search Professor Idriss Blakey’s works on UQ eSpace

150 works between 2000 and 2025
All (150) Journal Article (97) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (49) Other Outputs (2)

81 - 100 of 150 works

2015

Conference Publication

Mapping the lyotropic phase behavior of diblock copolymer iongels

Bennett, Thomas, Blakey, Idriss, Thurecht, Kristofer and Jack, Kevin (2015). Mapping the lyotropic phase behavior of diblock copolymer iongels. American Chemical Society Meeting, American Chemical Society.

Mapping the lyotropic phase behavior of diblock copolymer iongels

2014

Journal Article

Imaging tumour distribution of a polymeric drug delivery platform in vivo by PET-MRI

Puttick, Simon, Boase, Nathan R. B., Blakey, Idriss and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2014). Imaging tumour distribution of a polymeric drug delivery platform in vivo by PET-MRI. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 90 (7), 1237-1244. doi: 10.1002/jctb.4489

Imaging tumour distribution of a polymeric drug delivery platform in vivo by PET-MRI

2014

Journal Article

Click functionalization of methacrylate-based hydrogels and their cellular response

Santander-Borrego, Miriem, Green, David W., Chirila, Traian V., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Blakey, Idriss (2014). Click functionalization of methacrylate-based hydrogels and their cellular response. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 52 (13), 1781-1789. doi: 10.1002/pola.27183

Click functionalization of methacrylate-based hydrogels and their cellular response

2014

Journal Article

Self assembly of plasmonic core-satellite nano-assemblies mediated by hyperbranched polymer linkers

Dey, Priyanka, Zhu, Shaoli, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Fredericks, Peter M. and Blakey, Idriss (2014). Self assembly of plasmonic core-satellite nano-assemblies mediated by hyperbranched polymer linkers. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2 (19), 2827-2837. doi: 10.1039/c4tb00263f

Self assembly of plasmonic core-satellite nano-assemblies mediated by hyperbranched polymer linkers

2014

Journal Article

Synthesis of a multimodal molecular imaging probe based on a hyperbranched polymer architecture

Boase, Nathan R. B., Blakey, Idriss, Rolfe, Barbara E., Mardon, Karine and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2014). Synthesis of a multimodal molecular imaging probe based on a hyperbranched polymer architecture. Polymer Chemistry, 5 (15), 4450-4458. doi: 10.1039/c4py00513a

Synthesis of a multimodal molecular imaging probe based on a hyperbranched polymer architecture

2014

Journal Article

Hyperbranched polymer-gold nanoparticle assemblies: role of polymer architecture in hybrid assembly formation and SERS activity

Dey, Priyanka, Blakey, Idriss, Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Fredericks, Peter M. (2014). Hyperbranched polymer-gold nanoparticle assemblies: role of polymer architecture in hybrid assembly formation and SERS activity. Langmuir, 30 (8), 2249-2258. doi: 10.1021/la4047462

Hyperbranched polymer-gold nanoparticle assemblies: role of polymer architecture in hybrid assembly formation and SERS activity

2014

Journal Article

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers as self-healing hydrogels: Effect of a bulky adamantyl substituent in the ureido-pyrimidinone monomer

Chirila, Traian V., Lee, Hui Hui, Oddon, Mathieu, Nieuwenhuizen, Marko M. L., Blakey, Idriss and Nicholson, Timothy M (2014). Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers as self-healing hydrogels: Effect of a bulky adamantyl substituent in the ureido-pyrimidinone monomer. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 131 (4) 39932, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1002/app.39932

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers as self-healing hydrogels: Effect of a bulky adamantyl substituent in the ureido-pyrimidinone monomer

2014

Journal Article

Multimodal polymer nanoparticles with combined 19F magnetic resonance and optical detection for tunable, targeted, multimodal imaging in vivo

Rolfe, Barbara E., Blakey, Idriss, Squires, Oliver, Peng, Hui, Boase, Nathan R. B., Alexander, Cameron, Parsons, Peter G., Boyle, Glen M., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2014). Multimodal polymer nanoparticles with combined 19F magnetic resonance and optical detection for tunable, targeted, multimodal imaging in vivo. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136 (6), 2413-2419. doi: 10.1021/ja410351h

Multimodal polymer nanoparticles with combined 19F magnetic resonance and optical detection for tunable, targeted, multimodal imaging in vivo

2014

Journal Article

Behavior of lamellar forming block copolymers under nanoconfinement: implications for topography directed self-assembly of sub-10 nm structures

Keen, Imelda, Cheng, Han-Hao, Yu, Anguang, Jack, Kevin S., Younkin, Todd R., Leeson, Michael J., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Blakey, Idriss (2014). Behavior of lamellar forming block copolymers under nanoconfinement: implications for topography directed self-assembly of sub-10 nm structures. Macromolecules, 47 (1), 276-283. doi: 10.1021/ma4019735

Behavior of lamellar forming block copolymers under nanoconfinement: implications for topography directed self-assembly of sub-10 nm structures

2014

Journal Article

Can ionic liquid additives be used to extend the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self-assembly?

Bennett, Thomas M., Pei, Kevin, Cheng, Han-Hao, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Jack, Kevin S. and Blakey, Idriss (2014). Can ionic liquid additives be used to extend the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self-assembly?. Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS and MOEMS, 13 (3) 031304, 031304.1-031304.9. doi: 10.1117/1.JMM.13.3.031304

Can ionic liquid additives be used to extend the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self-assembly?

2014

Conference Publication

SERS-barcoded colloidal gold NP assemblies as imaging agents for use in biodiagnostics

Dey, Priyanka, Olds, William, Blakey, Idriss, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Izake, Emad L. and Fredericks, Peter M. (2014). SERS-barcoded colloidal gold NP assemblies as imaging agents for use in biodiagnostics. Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy VI: Advances in Research and Industry, San Francisco, CA United States, 1-2 February 2014. Bellingham, WA United States: SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2037159

SERS-barcoded colloidal gold NP assemblies as imaging agents for use in biodiagnostics

2014

Conference Publication

Extending the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self assembly

Bennett, Thomas, Pei, Kevin, Cheng, Han-Hao, Thurecht, Kristofe J., Jack, Kevin S. and Blakey, Idriss (2014). Extending the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self assembly. Alternative Lithographic Technologies VI, San Jose, United States, 24-27 February 2014. Bellingham, WA, United States: SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2046296

Extending the scope of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) for directed self assembly

2013

Journal Article

A method for controlling the aggregation of gold nanoparticles: Tuning of optical and spectroscopic properties

Blakey, Idriss, Merican, Zul and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2013). A method for controlling the aggregation of gold nanoparticles: Tuning of optical and spectroscopic properties. Langmuir, 29 (26), 8266-8274. doi: 10.1021/la401361u

A method for controlling the aggregation of gold nanoparticles: Tuning of optical and spectroscopic properties

2013

Journal Article

SERS-based detection of barcoded gold nanoparticle assemblies from within animal tissue

Dey, Priyanka, Olds, William, Blakey, Idriss, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Izake, Emad L. and Fredericks, Peter M. (2013). SERS-based detection of barcoded gold nanoparticle assemblies from within animal tissue. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 44 (12), 1659-1665. doi: 10.1002/jrs.4399

SERS-based detection of barcoded gold nanoparticle assemblies from within animal tissue

2013

Conference Publication

Healing LER using directed self assembly: treatment of EUVL resists with aqueous solutions of block copolymers

Chuang, Ya-Mi, Cheng, Han-Hao, Jack, Kevin, Whittaker, Andrew and Blakey, Idriss (2013). Healing LER using directed self assembly: treatment of EUVL resists with aqueous solutions of block copolymers. Conference on Alternative Lithographic Technologies V, San Jose, CA United States, 25-28 February 2013. Bellingham, WA United States: S P I E - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.2012488

Healing LER using directed self assembly: treatment of EUVL resists with aqueous solutions of block copolymers

2013

Conference Publication

Biologically-responsive polymeric F-19 MRI agents

Whittaker, Andrew K., Thurecht, Kristofer J., Blakey, Idriss and Peng, Hui (2013). Biologically-responsive polymeric F-19 MRI agents. 245th National Spring Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), New Orleans LA, 07-11 April 2013. Washington, DC United States: American Chemical Society.

Biologically-responsive polymeric F-19 MRI agents

2012

Other Outputs

Nuclear magnetic resonance agent

Whittaker, A. K., Peng, H., Thurecht, K. J. and Blakey, I. (2012). Nuclear magnetic resonance agent. 2012-AU415 2012142670.

Nuclear magnetic resonance agent

2012

Conference Publication

EUVL compatible, LER solutions using functional block copolymers

Cheng, Han-Hao, Keen, Imelda, Yu, Anguang, Chuang, Ya-Mi, Blakey, Idriss, Jack, Kevin S., Leeson, Michael J., Younkin, Todd R. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2012). EUVL compatible, LER solutions using functional block copolymers. Conference on Alternative Lithographic Technologies IV, San Jose, CA, United States, 13-16 February 2012. Bellingham, WA, United States: S P I E - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.916744

EUVL compatible, LER solutions using functional block copolymers

2011

Journal Article

Comment on "Multimodal coupling of optical transitions and plasmonic oscillations in rhodamine B modified gold nanoparticles" by M. Stobiecka and M. Hepel, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 1131

Blakey, Idriss (2011). Comment on "Multimodal coupling of optical transitions and plasmonic oscillations in rhodamine B modified gold nanoparticles" by M. Stobiecka and M. Hepel, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 1131. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13 (36), 16444-16445. doi: 10.1039/c1cp20343f

Comment on "Multimodal coupling of optical transitions and plasmonic oscillations in rhodamine B modified gold nanoparticles" by M. Stobiecka and M. Hepel, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 1131

2011

Journal Article

Polysulfone based Non-CA resists for 193nm immersion lithography: Effect of increasing polymer absorbance on sensitivity

Chen, Lan, Goh, Yong Keng, Lawrie, Kirsten Jean, Chuang, Yami, Piscani, Emil, Zimmerman, Paul, Blakey, Idriss and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2011). Polysulfone based Non-CA resists for 193nm immersion lithography: Effect of increasing polymer absorbance on sensitivity. Radiation Physics And Chemistry, 80 (2), 242-247. doi: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2010.07.040

Polysulfone based Non-CA resists for 193nm immersion lithography: Effect of increasing polymer absorbance on sensitivity

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Innovative Double Patterning Strategies for Integrated Circuit Manufacture
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Materials for Capture of PFAS in Semiconductor Production
    Environment, Safety, and Health (ESH) Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Custom Synthesis 3
    TEL Technology Center, America, LLC
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Hybrid quantum sensors for rapid detection of chemical and biochemical agents as a tool to mitigate the risks of terrorist attacks
    Quantum 2032 Challenge Program
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
    ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Australian National Fabrication Facility (NCRIS22 - Grant administered by the Australian National Fabrication Facility Limited (ANNFL)
    Australian National Fabrication Facility Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Novel Hybrid Nanotechnologies by Infiltration of Functional Polymers
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    Programming anisotropy into responsive soft materials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Nanoparticles for quantification of downhole hydrogen sulfide content
    Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
    Open grant
  • 2018
    In vivo optical imaging into the next generation
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Designer materials for sensors, biomedical imaging and nanofabrication
    Vice-Chancellor's Research and Teaching Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Advanced Macromolecular Thin Film and Materials Characterisation Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Versatile and robust nanoparticle functionalization for diagnostic imaging
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Advanced Macromolecular Materials Characterisation Facility (AMMCF) (ARC LIEF Grant administered by The University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Photoreactive Block copolymers: Controlling the Nanostructure of Materials with Light
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Rational design of polymer surfaces for biomonitoring of mixtures of hazerdous chemicals
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Ultrafast Laser Photophysics Facilities for Physical, Chemical, Biological and Materials Sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Next Generation High Sensitivity Polymeric EUV Resists
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Ultra-high resolution and advanced analytical scanning electron microscope facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Calibration of surface enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS) with radiolabelling for quantification for ligands on gold nanoparticles
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Development of PET/MRI multimodal biomedical imaging agents
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Smart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents: From early detection to assessment of drug delivery mechanisms
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2010
    A new portable molecular imaging modality - dynamic nuclear polarization
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Multimodal biomedical imaging probes: development of advanced polymer nanocomposite devices for oncology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Advanced Lithographic Solutions using Block Copolymers: Integrating Self Assembly and Lithography
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Understanding the conformation of thermoresponsive polymer brushes on gold nanoparticles
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Double Exposure Photoresists for the 32 and 22 nm Lithographic Nodes
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Automated Microvave Reactor for Polymer Chemistry, Materials Development and Nanotechnology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Development of Novel Detergents for Green Solvent Systems and Their Self-Assembly into Nanostructures
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Synthesis and Performance of Novel Polymer Resists for 193 nm Immersion Lithography
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Polymer/Gold Nanocomposites: An Investigation of Potential Applications
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Hyphenated techniquest in polymer science and engineering
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2010
    Rational Design and Synthesis of High Sensitivity non-Chemically Amplified Resists
    Intel Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2008
    Smart State Fellowship: 193 nm Immersion Lithography High Refractive Polymer Development
    Queensland Government Smart State Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Synthesis and Characterisation of Encoded Hybrid Polymer/Gold Nanoparticles for Application in Bioassays
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Synthesis of Hybrid Nanoparticles for Use as Biosensors
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Idriss Blakey is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Plasmonic chemical dosimeters

    Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has been shown to be a highly promising molecular sensing technique, especially in aqueous and biological applications due to its high sensitivity, rich spectroscopic information, and excellent water compatibility. Due to the nature of SERS, a plasmonic metal substrate is required to achieve Raman signal amplification and gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies can provide an easy to modify, and simple to synthesise substrate that provide excellent Raman signal enhancement. Most SERS substrates directly detect chemical species when the adsorb to the gold nanoparticles. This approach is useful for simple samples but fails when applied to multicomponent samples such as biological samples. A second approach is to pre-label the gold nanoparticles with a molecule that has specific reactivity with an analyte of interest. This project will involve developing plasmonic chemical dosimeters that uses this second approach.

  • Surface modification of natural polymers

    Structural anisotropy in viscoelastic materials is desirable for directional-dependent responses to external stimuli (mechanical, electric field, temperature) and transport processes (diffusion, permeability, poroelasticity). It is commonly observed in nature within biological materials where it is crucial to the function of the eye (cornea, vitreous), muscles, and plant growth. However, the fabrication of viscoelastic synthetic materials (hydrogels) with complex structural anisotropy, particularly with the spatial heterogeneity required for biomimicry, has proved very difficult. This project seeks to address this by using charge directed self-assembly of block copolymers to modify the surface properties of nanocelluose, a naturally derived crystalline polymer. This change to the surface chemistry will manipulate the phase properties of these materials to form hydrogels that have applications ranging from biomaterials, to sensors and food additives.

  • Self assembly of block polymers for applications in nanofabrication

    Block copolymers are comprised of two distinct, but covalently linked polymer chains, which under certain circumstances form structures that are on the order of nanometers. By controlling the orientation and/or morphology of block copolymer domains it is possible to use them as a nanofabrication template in a range of applications, including advanced lithography, next generation batteries, high density magnetic storage media, membranes and metamaterials. A range of projects are available that will involve synthesis and/or morphological characterisation of block copolymers to advance the field of nanofabrication. Industry collaborators for some projects may include The Dow Chemical Company.

  • Tuning interfacial interactions of materials

    The interface of a material with its immediate environment can be crucial for its ultimate performance in a gamut of applications which include biomaterials, sensors, coatings (eg. paint) and nanofabrication. At the same time it is important for a material to have appropriate bulk properties, such as strength, durability, toughness and biodegradability, where in many cases the bulk and surface properties are incompatible or the cost is prohibitive. One approach to achieve the desired performance is to modify the surface properties of a material with appropriate bulk properties. A range of projects are available for investigating novel methods of surface modification and/or targeting novel applications.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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