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.
1 . 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).
2. Collagen biomodification and cell priming with phytochemicals for the purpose of disease modulation that affect mineralized craniofacial and skeletal tissues (such as caries, erosion, periodontal disease, osteoporosis, diabetes). The control of inflammation via phytochemicals is also a subfocus.
3. Development of collagen-based and organic polymer scaffolds in conjunction with ECM molecules, biologics or phytochemicals 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