In this work, we explore various 3-dimensional designs of bone regenerative scaffolds andevaluate their capacity to promote osseointegration.
Publications
2020
In this study, we describe for the first time a novel composite material made of hydroxyapatiteceramic and demineralized bone particles from human cadaveric bone. The material is 3D-printed into scaffolds for the purpose of regenerating new bone, and we discovered a previouslyunknown phenomenon whereby the human bone particles become re-mineralized when in close local proximity to the synthetic hydroxyapatite ceramic.
2018
This publication describes the adverse effects of dioxin on the capacity for human pre-osteoblasts to differentiate into functional osteoblasts. We explore the notion of using phytochemical-based antagonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor—such as resveratrol, found in red wine, and di-indolylmethane, found in cruciferous vegetables—to mitigate the adversebrought about by this major human toxicant
2017
This study, performed in collaboration with the Stupp Group, describes the development of a glycosylated peptide amphiphile which self-assembles into nanofibers that mimic heparan sulfate in their capacity to bind and biomimetically present pro-osteogenic growth factors. We show here that this novel nanofiber can potentiate the osteoinductive activity of bone morphogenetic protein-2 to more efficiently promote bone regeneration and spine fusion