Prof Hans Coster

MSc PhD Syd., MInstP, CPhys, FAIP
Head - Biophysics & Bioengineering Research Group
Dept of Chemical Engineering, The University of Sydney

Contact Information: Room 468, Chemical Engineering Bldg (J01) The University of Sydney Sydney, 2006, Australia Tel: +61-2-9351 2256 Fax: +61-2-9351 2854 Email: click here

• Electrical properties of cell membranes and the electro-mechanics of living cells in electric fields, electrical breakdown of cell membranes. My research also includes studies of the assembly of proteins in cell membranes and the function of these protein ion transport and signalling units. I have been involved in the development of unique ultra low frequency impedance spectrometers which are used for the study of the assembly of bimolecular lipid membranes and the location and effects of antibiotics and other pharmacological agents in these membranes. Another area of interest is in organic molecular films covalently linked to silicon substrates.
• The use of a variety of physical techniques such as X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy, X-ray and neutron reflectometry and atomic force microscopy in addition to low frequency impedance spectroscopy to study the properties of such nanostructures on silicon.

• AC Impedance of the Bipolar Membrane of Low & High Frequencies. H.G.L. Coster, T.C. Chilcott & E.P. George, J. Membrane Sci., 100, 77-86 (1995).
• Forces on Biological Cells due to Applied Alternating (AC) Electric Fields I. H.G.L. Coster, T.L. Mahaworasilpa & E.P. George, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1193, 118-126 (1994).
• The Effect of Electric Fields on the Molecular Organisation & Pharmacological Response of Cell Membranes, in Electropharmacology (Eds. H. Keyzer, F. Gutman & G. Eckert), CRC Press, N.Y. (1990).
• AC Impedance Measurements on Chara corallina. III. Characterisation of the Plasma Membrane Coat Using a New Presentation of Impedance Spectra. T.C. Chilcott & H.G.L. Coster, Aust. J. Plant Physiol., 21, 147-168 (1994).
• The Effect of Benzyl Alcohol & Cholesterol on the Acyl Chain Order & Alkane Solubility of Bimolecular Phosphatidylcholine Membranes. H.G.L. Coster & D.R. Laver, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 861, 406-412 (1986).