Our lab is primarily focused on MATRIX BIOLOGY IN MINERALIZED TISSUES in the context of how it modulates health, disease and regeneration. Currently, we are working on three key areas.
- We are exploring the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) (mainly collagen type I, small leucine rich proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans) in skeletal and alveolar bone and dentin maintenance and regeneration (including role in inflammation).
- Another area of interest is on collagen biomodification for the purpose of disease modulation that affect mineralized craniofacial and skeletal tissues (such as caries, erosion, periodontal disease, osteoporosis, diabetes).
- And the last area is on development of collagen-based and organic polymer scaffolds in conjunction with ECM, biologics or natural compounds to aid in craniofacial bone regeneration.
KEYWORDS: bone, dentin, calvaria, mandible, femur, periodontium, craniofacial, phytochemicals, proteoglycans, decorin, biglycan, glycosaminoglycans, heparan sulfate, low molecular weight heparin, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, collagen, osteoblast, osteoclast; aging, periodontal disease, regeneration, diabetes; biologics, scaffolds; microcomputed tomography, histology, Western Blotting, binding assay, overexpression, protein, animal models, electron microscopy, biomechanics